Update method for displaying highly dynamic events in multiplexed character displays

• US 5,952,985 A
• Filed: 08/16/1996
• Issued: 09/14/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aiwa Co., Ltd. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Core Engineering, Inc.
• Inventors: McKinney, Steven J., Aiello, Frank R. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kovalick, Vincent E.
• Application Number:
  US08/699,157
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• Field of Search: 345/33, 345/34, 345/42, 345/47, 345/51, 345/141, 345/74, 345/75
• US Class Current: 345/42
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/04 for presentation of a single character by selection from a plurality of characters, or by composing the character by combination of individual elements, e.g. segments using a combination of such display devices for composing words, rows or the like, in a frame with fixed character positions
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/06 using controlled light sources

Abstract

A method of updating characters within a multiplexed display used for displaying events including dynamic events which occur at a relatively faster rate. The display characters representing dynamic events are refreshed at a higher refresh frequency and more frequently during each display cycle. A plurality of display drivers including at least one grid driver controls the update and enablement of characters within the multiplexed display.

Claims

1. A method of enabling characters in a multiple character multiplexed display comprising the steps of:

enabling a first subset of the characters at a first frequency;

enabling a second subset of the characters at a second frequency different from the first frequency; and

wherein the display comprises a shift register including cells, each cell of the shift register being operatively connected to a respective character, and wherein the enabling steps comprise inputting into the shift register character enabling data to non-sequentially enable the characters.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of setting a total on-time for a character in the first subset of the characters to be substantially equivalent to a total on-time for a character in the second subset of the characters over a refresh cycle.

3. A multiplexed display device, comprising:

a plurality of display characters;

a display driver means for enabling a first subset of the display characters at a first frequency and enabling a second subset of the display characters at a second frequency; and

wherein the display device further comprises a shift register including cells, each cell of the shift register being operatively connected to a respective character, and wherein the display driver means being configured to input into the cells of the shift register non-sequential character enabling data.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein a total on-time for a display character in the first subset of the display characters is substantially equivalent to a total on-time for a display character in the second subset of the display characters over a refresh cycle.

5. A display device, comprising:

a multiple character multiplexed display;

a first character driver connected to a first subset of display characters and enabling the first subset of display characters at a first frequency; and

at least one additional character driver connected to a second subset of display characters and enabling the second subset of display characters at a second frequency different from the first frequency.

6. A display device as recited in claim 5, wherein the first and at least one additional character driver are grid drivers.

7. A display device as recited in claim 5, wherein the display is a vacuum fluorescent display further comprising a plate driver for inputting display character data.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein a total on-time for a display character in the first subset of display characters is substantially equivalent to a total on-time for a display character in the second subset of display characters over a refresh cycle.