Apparatus and method for producing a viewscreen from a miniature high resolution chip

• US 5,870,072 A
• Filed: 05/18/1995
• Issued: 02/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Raja Singh Tuli
• Original Assignee: Raja Singh Tuli
• Inventors: Tuli, Raja Singh
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US08/443,447
• Time in Patent Office: 1,363 Days
• Field of Search: 345/106, 345/55, 359/44, 359/43, 359/40, 348/770
• US Class Current: 345/106
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/0147 based on thermo-optic effects G02F1/132 takes precedence

Abstract

A miniature single monolithic chip is to be used to create a viewscreen for Computers, Television or Video applications. Magnifying this display would produce an inexpensive screen capable of being mounted on face goggles, or alternate stand alone apparatus. Using an optic system, the eye could perceive an image of various size screens. The chip being so close to the eye would require very little illumination. Advantages of this apparatus are numerous especially due to low power consumption and light weight. Ideally this would be suitable for portable lap top Computer and Video systems. Dual chips could also be used to produce true Three Dimensional images capable of large screen viewing. The device can be back lit and projected onto large screens using transparent components. A heat sensitive coating on this chip changes appearance with temperature changes for each pixel on the display.

Claims

1. A monolithic, high density, high resolution, visual display chip comprising:

a layer of thermally sensitive material on said display chip which changes color due to a change in temperature;

said thermally sensitive material comprising a thermochromic material layer which changes color with a change in temperature;

wherein a first color changes to transparent when said material is heated from a lower temperature to a higher temperature, the transparent state maintained as long as the higher temperature is applied, said transparent state changes to the first color when said material is cooled from the higher temperature to the lower temperature;

an array of heating elements positioned underneath said thermally sensitive layer forms a matrix array of pixels, individual heating elements being located at pixel locations at the intersection of a plurality of electrically conductive row lines and column lines;

said heating elements having a specific thermal mass which allows the elements to maintain said higher temperature for one frame period of an image, wherein the thermal mass acts as a memory for the frame period or a portion thereof maintaining the transparent or opaque state;

means for establishing a current in selected ones of said thermal heating elements for raising the temperature level and altering the light reflecting properties of those portions of thermally sensitive materials which are in close proximity to said heating elements.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 such that it changes from transparent to opaque when said material is heated from the lower temperature to the higher temperature, the opaque state maintained as long as the higher temperature is applied, said opaque state changes to transparent when said material is cooled from the higher temperature to the lower temperature.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 such that it allows light to pass through said thermal mass and groups of primary colored filters to provide a projected color display, when the first color of thermally sensitive material changes to transparent when said material is heated from the lower temperature to the higher temperature.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 such that light is reflected off colored pads when the first color of thermally sensitive material changes to transparent, when said material is heated from the lower temperature to the higher temperature, providing a color display magnified through a lens system.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1 which uses a supplementary heat storage element means to protect the thermal mass elements from excessive exposures to high temperatures and provide a heat memory effect.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1 which uses a diode in series with each heating element to regulate the current flow path in directions to heat addressed pixels only.