Picture reproduction system and method utilizing independent picture elements

• US 20030160739A1
• Filed: 01/21/2003
• Published: 08/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Silicon Constellations Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Silicon Constellations Incorporated
• Inventors: Silic, Bojan
• Granted Patent: US 7,657,097 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/30
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/00 Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes

Abstract

A system and method of producing an image using a plurality of independent pixel devices, each of which includes one or more light emitting or polarizing elements. The pixel devices are fixed (e.g. on the side of a building) or are moving (e.g. on water or falling in air) within an image space in which an image is to be formed. A controller determines, based upon the locations of the pixel devices within the image space, what portion of the image each pixel device is to reproduce, and then commands the pixel devices to use the emitting devices to reproduce the corresponding portion of the image. As the pixel devices move, the new locations of the pixel devices are mapped onto the image, and the control of the pixel devices is modified accordingly so that the image produced by the pixel devices is not distorted by their movement.

Claims

1. An image reproduction system, comprising:

a plurality of pixel devices that are individually placeable into an image space, each of the pixel devices including at least one light emitting element;

a controller for determining the locations of the pixel devices within the image space and for individually controlling the pixel devices based upon the determined locations to generate an image using the light emitting elements.

2. The image reproduction system of claim 1, wherein each one of the pixel devices includes:

a memory for storing pixel image information; and

a control device for operating the at least one light emitting element in the one pixel device based upon the stored pixel image information.

3. The image reproduction system of claim 1, wherein each one of the pixel devices includes:

a forward path receiver for receiving commands from the controller used to operate the at least one light emitting element in the one pixel device.

4. The image reproduction system of claim 3, wherein each one of the pixel devices includes:

a feedback signal source for sending information about the location of the one pixel device to the controller.

5. The image reproduction system of claim 1, further comprising:

a camera for monitoring the image generated by the light emitting elements, wherein the control of the pixel devices is responsive to the image monitored by the camera.

6. A method of producing an image in an image space, comprising:

placing a plurality of pixel devices into an image space, wherein each of the pixel devices includes at least one light emitting element;

determining the locations of the pixel devices within the image space; and

controlling the pixel devices based upon the determined locations to generate an image using the light emitting elements.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the pixel device control further includes:

mapping an image pattern over the determined locations of the pixel devices; and

controlling each one of the pixel devices to produce that portion of the image pattern mapped thereto using the at least one light emitting element in the one pixel device.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the location determination for each one of the pixel devices includes:

detecting a beacon signal from the one pixel device representing location information for the one pixel device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the beacon signals are generated by the light emitting elements.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

monitoring the image generated by the light emitting elements; and

modifying the control of the pixel devices in response to the monitored image.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

moving at least some of the pixel devices to new locations;

determining the new locations of the moved pixel devices; and

modifying the control of the moved pixel devices in response to the determined new locations.