Method and apparatus for modulating the perceptible intensity of a light emitting display
First Claim
1. An apparatus for interrupting the presentation of a light emitting display, said light emitting display being of the type which emits light by the ionization discharge of a display medium, and which includes a system clock signal, the interruption of which causes an interruption in the presentation of the light emitting display, and which is capable of retaining display information on the interruption of a light sustaining signal as a result of the accumulation and retention of electrical charge across said display medium, such apparatus comprising:
- (a) turn-off means for generating a turn-off signal to indicate when the presentation of the light emitting display is to be interrupted;
(b) indication means for generating a retention signal which identifies when the light emitting display is capable of retaining display information;
(c) synchronization means coupled to said turn-off means and to said indication means for generating a gating signal which is in synchronization with the turn-off signal and the repetition signal; and
(d) stopping means coupled to said synchronization means for interrupting the system clock signal of the light emitting display in synchronization with the gating signal so that the presentation of the light emitting display is interrupted.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for modulating the perceptible intensity of the presentation of a light emitting display which light emitting display emits light by gas discharge and recombination of ions and free electrons of a display medium; includes a system clock, the interruption of which causes the interruption of the presentation of the light emitting display; and is capable of retaining display information upon the interruption of a light sustaining signal or the electrical power as a result of an accumulation and retention of electrical charge across the display medium. The apparatus comprising a repetition means for generating a repetition pulse train signal having a controllable frequency and duty cycle; an indication means for generating a retention signal that identifies when the light emitting display is capable of retaining display information; a synchronization means coupled to said repetition means and to said indication means for generating a gating signal which is synchronized with the retention signal and the repetition pulse train signal; and stopping means coupled to said synchronization means for interrupting the system clock in synchronization with the gating signal. Variations of this invention include circuitry which generates a control system clock signal by clock pulse train generator and modified stopping means. Other variations enable the light emitting display to be turned off over extended periods of time.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An apparatus for interrupting the presentation of a light emitting display, said light emitting display being of the type which emits light by the ionization discharge of a display medium, and which includes a system clock signal, the interruption of which causes an interruption in the presentation of the light emitting display, and which is capable of retaining display information on the interruption of a light sustaining signal as a result of the accumulation and retention of electrical charge across said display medium, such apparatus comprising:
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(a) turn-off means for generating a turn-off signal to indicate when the presentation of the light emitting display is to be interrupted; (b) indication means for generating a retention signal which identifies when the light emitting display is capable of retaining display information; (c) synchronization means coupled to said turn-off means and to said indication means for generating a gating signal which is in synchronization with the turn-off signal and the repetition signal; and (d) stopping means coupled to said synchronization means for interrupting the system clock signal of the light emitting display in synchronization with the gating signal so that the presentation of the light emitting display is interrupted. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for interrupting the presentation of a light emitting display, said light emitting display being of the type which emits light as a result of the ionization discharge of a display medium, and which includes an internal system clock signal, the interruption of which results in the interruption of the presentation of the light emitting display, and which is capable of retaining display information upon the interruption of a light sustaining signal as a result of the accumulation and retention of electrical charge across said display medium, such method comprising:
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(a) generating a turn-off signal to indicate when the presentation of the light emitting display is to be interrupted; (b) generating a retention signal to identify when the light emitting display is capable of retaining display information; (c) generating a gating signal in synchronization with the turn-off signal and the retention signal; and (d) interrupting the system clock signal in synchronization with the gating signal so that the presentation of the light emitting display is interrupted.
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9. An apparatus for modulating the perceptible intensity of the presentation of a light emitting display, said light emitting display being of the type which emits light by the ionization discharge of a display medium, and which includes a system clock signal, the interruption of which causes an interruption in the presentation of the light emitting display, and which is capable of retaining display information upon the interruption of a light sustaining signal as a result of the accumulation and retention of electrical charge across the display medium, such apparatus comprising:
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(a) repetition means for generating a repetition pulse train signal having an adjustable frequency which is lower than the frequency of the system clock signal; (b) indication means for generating a retention signal which identifies when the light emitting display is capable of retaining display information; (c) synchronization means coupled to said repetition means and to said indication means for generating a gating signal which is in synchronization with the repetition pulse train signal and the retention signal; and (d) stopping means coupled to said synchronization means for interrupting the system clock signal of the light emitting display in synchronization with the gating signal. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for modulating the perceptible intensity of a light emitting display, said light emitting display being of the type which emits light by the ionization discharge of a display medium, and which includes a system clock signal, the interruption of which causes an interruption in the presentation of the light emitting display, and which is capable of retaining display information on the interruption of a light sustaining signal as a result of the accumulation and retention of electrical charge across the display medium, such method comprising:
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(a) generating a repetition pulse train signal which has an adjustable frequency which is lower than the frequency of the system clock; (b) generating a retention signal which identifies when the light emitting display is capable of retaining display information; (c) generating a gating signal which is in synchronization with the repetition pulse train signal and the retention signal; (d) interruption the system clock in synchronization with the gating signal; (e) adjusting the duty cycle of the repetition pulse train signal so that the perceptible intensity of the light emitting display is modulated; and (f) adjusting the frequency of the repetition pulse train signal so that the perceptible intensity of the light emitting display is modulated and so that no perceptible flicker is detected.
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Specification