Display apparatus

• US 5,024,511 A
• Filed: 04/25/1989
• Issued: 06/18/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Matsubara, Ken, Masuda, Tomohiko, Saito, Itaru, Kitano, Hirohisa, Shingaki, Kouichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Laroche, Eugene R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lester, Evelyn A.
• Application Number:
  US07/343,006
• Time in Patent Office: 784 Days
• Field of Search: 350/374, 350/384, 350/388, 350/390, 350/356, 350/333, 350/339 F, 350/355
• US Class Current: 359/245
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/0555 Operation of the cell; Circuit arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/06 Passive matrix structure, i.e. with direct application of both column and row voltages to the light emitting or modulating elements, other than LCD or OLED
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/0267 Details of drivers for scan electrodes, other than drivers for liquid crystal, plasma or OLED displays
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/34 by control of light from an independent source

Abstract

A display apparatus comprising a modulator sandwiched between two polarizers. The modulator includes a plurality of light transmitting windows arranged in a matrix on a substrate having an electrooptical effect. Each window is associated with an electrode pair for forming an electric field across the window. One scanning line electrically interconnects first electrodes in the electrode pairs of the windows arranged in a row. One signal line electrically interconnects second electrodes in the electrode pairs of the windows arranged in a column. A scanning circuit sequentially and individually electrifies the scanning lines. A signal circuit is operable in response to a synchronizing signal received from the scanning circuit and display information for electrifying one of the signal lines connected to the electrode pair of a selected window for forming an electric field. An electric field control circuit provides zero potential difference in the electrode pairs of the other windows than the selected window.

Claims

1. A display apparatus comprising:

a plurality of light transmitting windows arranged in a matrix on a solid-state modulator substrate having an electrooptical effect, said matrix including a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns;

a plurality of electrode pairs formed on one of an entry side surface and an exit side surface of said solid-state modulator substrate for forming electric fields across said light transmitting windows, respectively;

voltage application means for applying a voltage to each of said electrode pairs;

a plurality of scanning lines each electrically interconnecting first electrodes in the electrode pairs associated with the light transmitting windows arranged in one of said rows;

a plurality of signal lines each electrically interconnecting second electrodes in the electrode pairs associated with the light transmitting windows arranged in one of said columns;

a scanning circuit for sequentially and individually electrifying said scanning lines;

a signal circuit operable in response to a synchronizing signal received from said scanning circuit and display information for electrifying one of said signal lines connected to the electrode pair associated with a selected light transmitting window for forming an electric field;

an electric field control circuit for providing zero potential difference in the electrode pairs associated with the light transmitting windows except for said selected light transmitting window driven by said scanning circuit and said signal circuit for forming the electric field in accordance with said display information;

a first polarizer disposed on the entry side surface of said solid-state modulator substrate; and

a second polarizer disposed on the exit side surface of said solid-state modulator substrate.

5. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said signal circuit is connected to said signal lines through high voltage signal drive elements.

6. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said solid-state modulator substrate includes a mask for covering other parts than said light transmitting windows.

7. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said voltage application means applies a half-wave voltage to said electrode pairs.

8. A display as claimed in claim 1, wherein said voltage application means applies a variable voltage to said electrode pairs.

9. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein intersections of said signal lines and said scanning lines are separated by insulating films.

10. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said solid-state modulator substrate is formed of PLZT.

2. A display apparatus as claimed 1, wherein said scanning circuit is connected to said scanning lines through said electric field control circuit.

3. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said electric field control circuit includes diodes connected in a direction for allowing a selected electrode pair to be driven by said scanning circuit and said signal circuit forming the electric field.

4. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein said electric field control circuit includes discharging diodes connected in an opposite direction to said diodes, each of said discharging diodes being connected at one end thereof between one of said diodes and said electrodes, and grounded at the other end thereof.

11. A display apparatus comprising:

a plurality of three-dimensional light transmitting windows formed of a solid-state modulator substrate having an electrooptical effect, and arranged in a matrix including a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns;

a plurality of electrode pairs each formed on lateral surfaces of one of said three-dimensional light transmitting windows so as to be opposed to each other for forming an electric field across the light transmitting window;

voltage application means for applying a voltage to each of said electrode pairs;

a plurality of scanning lines each electrically interconnecting first electrodes in the electrode pairs associated with the light transmitting windows arranged in one of said rows;

a plurality of signal lines each electrically interconnecting second electrodes in the electrode pairs associated with the light transmitting windows arranged in one of said columns;

a scanning circuit for sequentially and individually electrifying said scanning lines;

a signal circuit operable in response to a synchronizing signal received from said scanning circuit and display information for electrifying one of said signal lines connected to the electrode pair associated with a selected light transmitting window for forming an electric field;

an electric field control circuit for providing zero potential difference in the electrode pairs associated with the light transmitting windows except for said selected light transmitting window driven by said scanning circuit and said signal circuit for forming the electric field in accordance with said display information;

a first polarizer disposed on the entry side surface of said solid-state modulator substrate; and

a second polarizer disposed on the exit side surface of said solid-state modulator substrate.

12. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said scanning circuit connected to said scanning lines through said electric field control circuit.

13. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said electric field control circuit includes diodes connected in a direction for allowing a selected electrode pair to be driven by said scanning circuit and said signal circuit for forming the electric field.

14. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein said electric field control circuit includes discharging diodes connected in an opposite direction to said diodes, each of said discharging diodes being connected at one end thereof between one of said diodes and said electrodes, and grounded at the other end thereof.

15. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said signal circuit is connected to said signals lines through high voltage signal drive elements.

16. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said solid-state modulator element includes a mask for covering other parts than said light transmitting windows.

17. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said voltage application means applies a half-wave voltage to said electrode pairs.

18. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said voltage application means applies a variable voltage to said eletrode pairs.

19. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein intersections of said signal lines and said scanning lines are separated by insulating films formed of a material selected from SiO₂, Si₃ N₄ and the like.

20. A display apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said solid-state modulator element is formed of PLZT.