Color sequential display panels

• US 6,097,352 A
• Filed: 10/14/1997
• Issued: 08/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kopin Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kopin Corporation
• Inventors: Zavracky, Matthew, Chern, Wen-Foo, Richard, Alan, Gale, Ronald P., Salerno, Jack P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US08/949,662
• Time in Patent Office: 1,022 Days
• Field of Search: 345/8, 345/9, 345/84, 345/88, 345/102, 345/7
• US Class Current: 345/7
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0156 with optionally usable elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3117 by using a sequential colour filter producing two or more colours simultaneously, e.g. by creating scrolling colour bands

Abstract

An active matrix display panel is operated by a color sequential system to form color images. A color generator is disposed between a light source and the display panel for sequentially providing red, green and blue light. A color sequential drive circuit controls the color generator and the pixels of the display panel. The color generator is preferably a multi-stage multiple wavelength blocking filter incorporating fast switching surface stabilized liquid crystal cells.

Claims

1. A sequential color display for a communications device comprising:

a wireless transceiver that receives image data;

a light source comprising a plurality of light emitting devices (LEDS) that emit a plurality of different colors;

a display panel optically coupled to the light source, the display panel including an array of pixel electrodes and an array of pixel circuits, each pixel circuit being formed with a single crystal silicon material; and

a sequential color circuit connected to the display panel and the light source such that the light source generates a plurality of colors in temporal sequence, the sequential color circuit controlling a sequence of image frames formed on the display panel from the received image data at a rate of 60 frames per second or more.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the light emitting devices comprise red, green and blue LEDs.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the device comprises a portable telephone.

4. The device of claim 1 further comprising a reflector around the light source.

5. The device of claim 1 further comprising a diffuser.

6. The device of claim 1 further comprising a lens that enlarges color images formed on the display panel.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the display comprises an active matrix display.

8. The device of claim 1 further comprising a camera.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the light source comprises a red, a green and a blue light source.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein the display and the sequential color circuit are positioned in a display module housing that is attached to a transceiver housing.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the device comprises a head mounted display system.

12. The device of claim 1 further comprising a control processor connected to the sequential color circuit.

13. The device of claim 2 further comprising a memory connected to the control processor.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein the display comprises an active matrix circuit bonded to a transmissive substrate.

15. A method of displaying images with a portable communications device comprising:

providing a matrix display panel having an array of pixel electrodes and pixel circuits, the pixel circuits being formed with a single crystal silicon material;

providing a light source including a plurality of light emitting devices (LEDs) emitting light of a plurality of different colors;

receiving image data with a wireless transceiver;

generating a plurality of image subframes from the received image data for each color image frame at a rate of 60 frames per second or more, each subframe having a different color; and

displaying each subframe in temporal sequence on the matrix display panel using the light source to display a color image frame.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising providing a portable telephone housing that contains the transceiver.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising providing a display housing that houses the display, the display housing being pivotably connected to the telephone housing.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of providing an active matrix liquid crystal display panel.

19. A portable communications device comprising:

a wireless transceiver that receives image data;

a light source including a plurality of light emitting devices (LEDs) emitting a plurality of different colors;

a liquid crystal display panel optically coupled to the light source, the display panel including an active matrix circuit formed with a single crystal silicon material; and

a sequential color circuit connected to the display panel and the light source such that the light source generates a plurality of colors in sequence to illuminate the display panel at a rate of 60 frames per second or more.

20. The device of claim 19 wherein the liquid crystal display panel is connected to a camera mounted ona device housing.