Flexible video displays and their manufacture

• US 20070052636A1
• Filed: 02/10/2003
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEW Visual Media Group LLC
• Original Assignee: NEW Visual Media Group LLC
• Inventors: Miller, Robert, Slater, Mark, Seeley, William, Kalt, Thomas, Kalt, Charles
• Granted Patent: US 7,705,826 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/83
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/024 Scrolling of light from the illumination source over the display in combination with the scanning of the display screen
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0633 by amplitude modulation of the brightness of the illumination source
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/064 by time modulation of the brightness of the illumination source
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0646 Modulation of illumination source brightness and image signal correlated to each other
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0666 for control of colour parameters, e.g. colour temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/34 by control of light from an independent source
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3413 Details of control of colour illumination sources
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/342 using several illumination sources separately controlled corresponding to different display panel areas, e.g. along one dimension such as lines
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/346 based on modulation of the reflection angle, e.g. micromirrors micromirrors devices per se G02B26/0833

Abstract

A high performance flexible, thin, flat panel display, has a linear array of switchable light emitting diodes (“LEDs”) to emit bands of light across the display, providing a light pattern programmable at video frequencies and a two-dimensional electropolymeric shutter array to convert the light pattern into a video image. In preferred embodiments, the light pattern can be varied or controlled spatially, with respect to both hue and intensity, by suitable drive signals, at points along the array determined by the location of individual LEDs, or groups of LEDs, and temporally as the shutters in the array are opened and closed, to provide a pleasing full color gamut for every pixel in the display. Closed shutters, displaying a reflective appearance, can be employed for background or other effects. The shutter array can be flexibly constructed and supported on a flexible substrate to provide a flexible display. Methods of manufacturing the display and displaying video images are also disclosed. Benefits include low cost, low energy consumption, good luminosity, freedom from exotic materials or manufacturing methods, configurability into rolls and other shapes and simplified drive electronics.

Claims

1. A pixellated electronic display comprising:

a) a plurality of linear pixel arrays, each linear pixel array including a light guide extending along the pixel array and having;

i) a longitudinally extending optical volume; and

ii) a longitudinal light outlet extending along the optical volume;

the light guides being arranged cooperatively, one with another, to provide a display area;

b) for each light guide;

i) a light source to provide a light beam traveling along the optical volume, the light source being electronically switchable between active and inactive states;

ii) a linear array of light-deflecting elements, one for each pixel, disposed along the light guide and operable to deflect a light beam traveling along the optical volume to emerge through the light outlet toward a viewer of the display area;

wherein, at each pixel, the deflected light beam is effective to change the pixel appearance.

2. An electronic display according to claim 1, being a video display, wherein the light-deflecting elements each comprise a movable shutter element having a reflective surface, each said shutter element being movable between an operative position where the light beam is reflected by the shutter element to emerge through the light outlet toward the viewer and a default position where the light beam is not reflected.

3. An electronic video display according to claim 2 wherein, in the default shutter position, the reflective surface of each shutter element is presented to the viewer and the shutter element closes a respective light outlet.

4. An electronic video display according to claim 3 wherein each light source is operable to pulse the light beam in synchronism with operation of the shutters in the respective linear array whereby the light beam pulses are selectively deflected one by each shutter element in the respective linear array.

5. An electronic video display according to claim 4 wherein each light source is selectively operable to generate successive light pulses having different colors, each color being selected from a full color range and wherein each successive light pulse is reflected to the viewer.

6. An electronic video display according to claim 4 wherein each light source comprises a red light-emitting diode device, a green light-emitting diode device, and a blue light-emitting diode device, the light-emitting diode devices, being operable separately to emit their respective colors or in combination to emit combinations of red, green and blue lights.

7. An electronic video display according to claim 6 wherein each shutter element is actuated electrostatically.

8. An electronic video display according to claim 1 wherein the light guides comprise channels in a support member.

9. An electronic video display according to claim 1 wherein the light channels are parallel to one another and wherein the support member comprises opaque divider walls optically separating adjacent channels.

10. An electronic video display according to claim 9 wherein the light channels have reflective inner surfaces throughout their optical lengths.

11. An electronic video display according to claim 9 wherein each light outlet comprises an optical opening along the optical length of a respective light guide and extends transversely of the divider walls.

12. An electronic video display according to claim 1 wherein each light volume is defined by a respective light outlet and by the inner surfaces of a light channel, all said inner light channel surfaces being reflective.

13. An electronic video display according to claim 12 wherein the light sources each comprise a light-emitting diode device at one end of a light channel, the light-emitting diode device being electronically drivable to emit a light beam into the light volume defined by the light channel.

14. An electronic video display according to claim 13 wherein the light-deflecting elements each comprise a movable shutter element having a reflective surface, each said shutter element being movable between an operative position where the light beam is reflected by the shutter element to emerge through the light outlet toward the viewer and a default position where the light beam is not reflected.

15. An electronic video display according to claim 14 wherein, in the default shutter position, the reflective surface of each shutter element is presented to the viewer and the shutter element closes a respective light outlet;

wherein each light source is operable to pulse the light beam in synchronism with operation of the shutters in the respective linear array whereby the light beam pulses are selectively deflected one by each shutter element in the respective linear array;

wherein each light source is selectively operable to generate successive light pulses having different colors, each color being selected from a full color range and wherein the selected light pulse is reflected to the viewer; and

wherein each light source comprises a light-emitting diode device capable of separately emitting red light, green light and blue light and combinations of said red green and blue light.

17. An electronic display according to claim 1 constructed of flexible materials and being flexible about at least one axis.

18. An electronic device comprising an electronic display according to claim 1, the device being selected from the group consisting of a television monitor, a computer monitor, a cellular phone, an information appliance, a traffic information sign, a sports scoreboard, a road, water, or air vehicle instrument, a road, water, or air vehicle instrument assembly, a location finder, a household appliance and an industrial appliance.

19. An electronic display comprising:

a) a plurality of light-emitting rows of illumination;

b) a plurality of columns of light switches, each column extending across the rows of illumination and having a switch registering with each crossed row of illumination; and

c) electronic drive circuitry to control the emission of light from the rows of illumination and to switch the light switches;

wherein each light switch can be switched to pass light from the respective registering row of illumination toward a viewer.

20. An electronic display comprising:

a) a plurality of side-by-side illuminated channels, the illumination of each individual channel being variable independently of the illumination of other channels; and

b) a plurality of rows of light switches, each row having one light switch for each channel of illumination;

wherein the light switches are electronically switchable to direct light from the respective registering channel of illumination toward a viewer.

21. An electronic video display comprising a plurality of longitudinally extending switchable light columns arranged contiguously one beside the other, each light column comprising:

a) a light channel extending along the column;

b) a switchable light source capable of outputting a light beam along the light channel; and

c) a line of light shutters extending alongside the light channel, each light shutter being operable to deflect light from the light beam to travel transversely of the light column toward a viewer.

24. A method according to claim 21 wherein the materials employed and the display produced are flexible.

22. An electronic pixel comprising:

a) a pixel opening having a pixel area in a display plane, the pixel area being viewable by a viewer located on one side of the display plane;

b) an electrostatically actuated movable light shutter element having a reflective surface and being movable between a default position where the reflective surface extends across the display area to reflect ambient light to the viewer and an operative position where a light beam traveling behind the display plane, with respect to the viewer, is reflected through the pixel opening toward the viewer.

25. A method according to claim 22 embodied in a continuous web manufacturing process.

23. A method of manufacturing a pixellated electronic display wherein light from each of a plurality of light sources can be distributed along light channels to an array of electrostatically actuated shutters, the method comprising:

a) assembly of an array of electrostatically actuatable shutter elements from polymeric film and conductive materials;

b) assembling the shutter array with a channelized light guide member having a plurality of parallel light channels alignable with the shutter elements; and

c) assembling at least one light source with each light channel.

26. A method of displaying a pixellated video image in a display area, the method comprising:

a) projecting a series of optically modulatable light beams from an array of light sources in side-by-side parallel bands across the display area;

b) selectively deflecting each projected light beam toward the viewer at one of a series of points along the respective display band, the series of points corresponding with a line of pixels in the video image;

c) selectively deflecting each projected light beam toward the viewer at another of the series of points along the respective display band;

d) repeating step c) until each beam has been deflected at all points in the series if required by the desired video image; and

e) modulating each light beam at the respective light source while performing steps b) and c) so that each point in each series along each parallel band comprise a pixel of the video image.

27. A light holder for guiding light beams output from multiple light sources into side by side light beams, the light holder comprising supports for the multiple light sources and mirrors to turn each of the light beams to travel transversely of the light sources, wherein the light beams are laterally spaced apart and the light beams of one such light holder can be interdigitated between those of another suitable positioned similar light holder so that the beams output from the two light holders are aligned in a plane.