Variable color display system for sequentially exhibiting digital values

• US 6,166,710 A
• Filed: 06/18/1999
• Issued: 12/26/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Texas Digital Systems, Inc. (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Texas Digital Systems, Inc. (NCR Voyix Corporation)
• Inventors: Havel, Karel
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kevin M.
• Application Number:
  US09/335,970
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 340/815.43, 340/815.44, 340/815.45, 340/815.56, 345/33, 345/34, 345/38, 345/30, 345/39, 345/40, 345/44, 345/46, 345/48
• US Class Current: 345/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 13/02 for displaying measured electric variables in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 13/26 Circuits for controlling the intensity of the electron beam or the colour of the display
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 13/405 using a plurality of active, i.e. light emitting, e.g. electro-luminescent elements, i.e. bar graphs
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 15/125 for digital multimeters
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0452 Details of colour pixel setup, e.g. pixel composed of a red, a blue and two green components
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/0275 Details of drivers for data electrodes, other than drivers for liquid crystal, plasma or OLED displays, not related to handling digital grey scale data or to communication of data to the pixels by means of a current
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0666 for control of colour parameters, e.g. colour temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/14 Semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes

Abstract

A variable color display systems sequentially exhibits digital values in a color in accordance with the relation of the presently exhibited digital value to a past digital value. A memory, controlled by a timer, is provided for storing data representing the past digital value. A comparator compares the presently exhibited digital value with the data stored in the memory and develops a comparison signal accordingly, which is then used to control the color of the presently exhibited digital value.

Claims

1. A variable color digital display system comprising:

a plurality of adjacent variable color light emitting diode digital display elements for exhibiting a digital value;

timing means for developing sequential timing signals;

means for sequentially providing a digital indication, on said display elements, of a plurality of digital values, in accordance with said timing signals;

a memory for sequentially storing data corresponding to said digital values, in accordance with said timing signals;

a comparator for comparing the exhibited digital value with the data stored in said memory and for developing a first comparison signal when the exhibited digital value is equal to the data stored in said memory and a second comparison signal when the exhibited digital value is not equal to the data stored in said memory;

a color control for illuminating said digital indication in a first color in response to said first comparison signal and in a second color in response to said second comparison signal.

2. A variable color digital display system comprising:

a plurality of adjacent variable color light emitting diode digital display elements for exhibiting a digital value;

timing means for developing sequential timing signals;

means for sequentially providing a digital indication, on said display elements, of a plurality of digital values, in accordance with said timing signals;

a memory for sequentially storing data corresponding to said digital values, in accordance with said timing signals;

a comparator for comparing the exhibited digital value with the data stored in said memory and f or developing a first comparison signal when the exhibited digital value is larger than the data stored in said memory, a second comparison signal when the exhibited digital value is less than the data stored in said memory, and a third comparison signal when the exhibited digital value is equal to the data stored in said memory;

a color control for illuminating said digital indication in a first color in response to said first comparison signal, in a second color in response to said second comparison signal, and in a third color in response to said third color control signal.

3. A variable color digital display system comprising:

a plurality of adjacent variable color light emitting diode digital display elements for exhibiting a digital value;

timing means for developing a first timing signal and a second timing signal;

means for sequentially providing a digital indication, on said display elements, of a first digital value, in accordance with said first timing signal, and of a second digital value, in accordance with said second timing signal;

a memory for storing data corresponding to said first digital value, in accordance with said first timing signal;

means for comparing, in accordance with said second timing signal, said second digital value with the data stored in said memory and for developing a first comparison signal when said second digital value is equal to the data stored in said memory and a second comparison signal when said second digital value is not equal to the data stored in said memory;

a color control for controlling the color of said digital indication, in accordance with said second timing signal, for illuminating said digital indication in a first color in response to said first comparison signal and in a second color in response to said second comparison signal.

4. A variable color digital display system comprising:

a plurality of adjacent variable color light emitting diode digital display elements for exhibiting a digital value;

timing means for developing a first timing signal and a second timing signal;

means for sequentially providing a digital indication, on said display elements, of a first digital value, in accordance with said first timing signal, and of a second digital value, in accordance with said second timing signal;

a memory for storing data corresponding to said first digital value, in accordance with said first timing signal;

means for comparing, in accordance with said second timing signal, said second digital value with the data stored in said memory and for developing a first comparison signal when said second digital value is larger than the data stored in said memory, a second comparison signal when said second digital value is less than the data stored in said memory, and a third comparison signal when said second digital value is equal to the data stored in said memory;

a color control for controlling the color of said digital indication, in accordance with said second timing signal, for illuminating said digital indication in a first color in response to said first comparison signal, in a second color in response to said second comparison signal, and in a third color in response to said third comparison signal.

5. A variable color digital display system comprising:

a plurality of adjacent variable color light emitting diode digital display elements for exhibiting a digital value, each said display element including a color control input for controlling its color, the color control inputs of each of said display elements being interconnected for controlling the color of said display elements uniformly;

timing means for developing a first timing signal and a second timing signal;

means for sequentially exhibiting on said display elements a first digital value, in accordance with said first timing signal, and a second digital value, in accordance with said second timing signal;

a memory for storing data corresponding to said first digital value, in accordance with said first timing signal;

a comparator for comparing, in accordance with said second timing signal, said second digital value with the data stored in said memory, said comparator having a comparator output for developing a first comparison signal when said second digital value is equal to the data stored in said memory and a second comparison signal when said second digital value is not equal to the data stored in said memory, said comparator output being connected to the interconnected color control inputs of said display elements for controlling the color of the exhibited second digital value in accordance with its relation to the first digital value.

6. A variable color digital display system comprising:

a plurality of adjacent variable color light emitting diode digital display elements for exhibiting a digital value, each said display element including a first color control input, for illuminating said display element in a first color, and a second color control input, for illuminating said display element in a second color, the first color control inputs of each of said display elements being interconnected, and the second color control inputs of each of said display elements being interconnected, for controlling the color of said display elements uniformly;

timing means for developing a first timing signal and a second timing signal;

means for sequentially exhibiting on said display elements a first digital value, in accordance with said first timing signal, and a second digital value, in accordance with said second timing signal;

a memory for storing data corresponding to said first digital value, in accordance with said first timing signal;

a comparator for comparing, in accordance with said second timing signal, said second digital value with the data stored in said memory, said comparator having a first comparator output, for developing a comparison signal when said second digital value is equal to the data stored in said memory, and a second comparator output, for developing a comparison signal when said second digital value is not equal to the data stored in said memory, said first comparator output being connected to the interconnected first color control inputs of said display elements, and said second comparator output being connected to the interconnected second color control inputs of said display elements, for controlling the color of the exhibited second digital value in accordance with its relation to the first digital value.

7. A variable color digital display system comprising:

a plurality of adjacent variable color light emitting diode digital display elements for exhibiting a digital value, each said display element including a first color control input, for illuminating said display element in a first color, a second color control input, for illuminating said display element in a second color, and a third color control input, for illuminating said display element in a third color, the first color control inputs of each of said display elements being interconnected, the second color control inputs of each of said display elements being interconnected, and said third color control inputs of each of said display elements being interconnected, for controlling the color of said display elements uniformly;

timing means for developing a first timing signal and a second timing signal;

means for sequentially exhibiting on said display elements a first digital value, in accordance with said first timing signal, and a second digital value, in accordance with said second timing signal;

a memory for storing data corresponding to said first digital value, in accordance with said first timing signal;

a comparator for comparing, in accordance with said second timing signal, said second digital value with the data stored in said memory, said comparator having a first comparator output, for developing a comparison signal when said second digital value is larger than the data stored in said memory, a second comparator output, for developing a comparison signal when said second digital value is less than the data stored in said memory, and a third comparator output, for developing a comparison signal when said second digital value is equal to the data stored in said memory, said first comparator output being connected to the interconnected first color control inputs of said display elements, said second comparator output being connected to the interconnected second color control inputs of said display elements, and said third comparator output being connected to the interconnected third color control inputs of said display elements, for controlling the color of the exhibited second digital value in accordance with its relation to the first digital value.

8. A variable color digital display system comprising:

a plurality of adjacent variable color light emitting diode digital display elements for exhibiting a digital value, each said display element including a color control input for controlling its color;

timing means for developing a first timing signal and a second timing signal;

means for sequentially exhibiting on said display elements a first digital value, in accordance with said first timing signal, and a second digital value, in accordance with said second timing signal;

a memory for storing data corresponding to said first digital value, in accordance with said first timing signal;

means for comparing, in accordance with said second timing signal, said second digital value with the data stored in said memory and for developing a first comparison signal when said second digital value is equal to the data stored in said memory and a second comparison signal when said second digital value is not equal to the data stored in said memory;

a color control for applying said first comparison signal and said second comparison signal to said color control inputs for uniformly controlling the color of the exhibited second digital value in accordance with its relation to the first digital value.

9. A variable color digital display system comprising:

a plurality of adjacent variable color light emitting diode digital display elements for exhibiting a digital value, each said display element including a plurality of color control inputs for controlling its color;

timing means for developing a first timing signal and a second timing signal;

means for sequentially exhibiting on said display elements a first digital value, in accordance with said first timing signal, and a second digital value, in accordance with said second timing signal;

a memory for storing data corresponding to said first digital value, in accordance with said first timing signal;

means for comparing, in accordance with said second timing signal, said second digital value with the data stored in said memory and for developing a first comparison signal when said second digital value is larger than the data stored in said memory, a second comparison signal when said second digital value is less than the data stored in said memory, and a third comparison signal when said second digital value is equal to the data stored in said memory;

a color control for applying said first comparison signal, said second comparison signal, and said third comparison signal to said color control inputs for uniformly controlling the color of the exhibited second digital value in accordance with its relation to the first digital value.

10. A variable color digital display system comprising:

a plurality of adjacent variable color light emitting diode digital display elements for exhibiting a digital value, each said display element including a color control input for controlling its color;

timing means for developing a first timing signal and a second timing signal;

means for sequentially exhibiting on said display elements a first digital value, in accordance with said first timing signal, and a second digital value, in accordance with said second timing signal;

a registered comparator for storing data corresponding to said first digital value, in accordance with said first timing signal, for comparing, in accordance with said second timing signal, said second digital value with said data, and for developing a first comparison signal when said second digital value is equal to said data and a second comparison signal when said second digital value is not equal to said data;

a color control for applying said first comparison signal and said second comparison signal to said color control inputs for uniformly controlling the color of the exhibited second digital value in accordance with its relation to the first digital value.

11. A variable color digital display system comprising:

a plurality of adjacent variable color light emitting diode digital display elements for exhibiting a digital value, each said display element including a plurality of color control inputs for controlling its color;

timing means for developing a first timing signal and a second timing signal;

means for sequentially exhibiting on said display elements a first digital value, in accordance with said first timing signal, and a second digital value, in accordance with said second timing signal;

a registered comparator for storing data corresponding to said first digital value, in accordance with said first timing signal, for comparing, in accordance with said second timing signal, said second digital value with said data, and for developing a first comparison signal when said second digital value is larger than said data, a second comparison signal when said second digital value is less than said data, and a third comparison signal when said second digital value is equal to said data;

a color control for applying said first comparison signal, said second comparison signal, and said third comparison signal to said color control inputs for uniformly controlling the exhibited second digital value in accordance with its relation to the first digital value.

12. A variable color digital display system comprising:

a plurality of adjacent variable color light emitting diode digital display elements for exhibiting a digital value, each said display element including a first color control input, for illuminating said display element in a first color, and a second color control input, for illuminating said display element in a second color, the first color control inputs of each of said display elements being interconnected, and the second color control inputs of each of said display elements being interconnected, for controlling the color of said display elements uniformly;

timing means for developing a first timing signal and a second timing signal;

a memory for storing data corresponding to a first digital value, in accordance with said first timing signal;

means for exhibiting on said display elements a second digital value, in accordance with said second timing signal;

means for comparing, in accordance with said second timing signal, said second digital value with the data stored in said memory, said comparator having a first comparator output, for developing a comparison signal when said second digital value is equal to the data stored in said memory, and a second comparator output, for developing a comparison signal when said second digital value is not equal to the data stored in said memory, said first comparator output being connected to the interconnected first color control inputs of said display elements, and said second comparator output being connected to the interconnected second color control inputs of said display elements, for controlling their color accordingly.

13. A variable color digital display system comprising:

a plurality of adjacent variable color light emitting diode digital display elements for exhibiting a digital value, each said display element including a first color control input, for illuminating said display element in a first color, a second color control input, for illuminating said display element in a second color, and a third color control input, for illuminating said display element in a third color, the first color control inputs of each of said display elements being interconnected, the second color control inputs of each of said display elements being interconnected, and said third color control inputs of each of said display elements being interconnected, for controlling the color of said display elements uniformly;

timing means for developing a first timing signal and a second timing signal;

a memory for storing data corresponding to a first digital value, in accordance with said first timing signal;

means for sequentially exhibiting on said display elements a second digital value, in accordance with said second timing signal;

means for comparing, in accordance with said second timing signal, said second digital value with the data stored in said memory, said comparator having a first comparator output, for developing a comparison signal when said second digital value is larger than the data stored in said memory, a second comparator output, for developing a comparison signal when said second digital value is less than the data stored in said memory, and a third comparator output, for developing a comparison signal when said second digital value is equal to the data stored in said memory, said first comparator output being connected to the interconnected first color control inputs of said display elements, said second comparator output being connected to the interconnected second color control inputs of said display elements, and said third comparator output being connected to the interconnected third color control inputs of said display elements, for controlling their color accordingly.

14. A variable color digital display system comprising:

a plurality of adjacent variable color light emitting diode digital display elements for exhibiting a digital value, each said display element including a color control input for controlling its color;

timing means for developing a first timing signal and a second timing signal;

a memory for storing data corresponding to a first digital value, in accordance with said first timing signal;

means for sequentially exhibiting on said display elements a second digital value, in accordance with said second timing signal;

means for comparing, in accordance with said second timing signal, said second digital value with the data stored in said memory and for developing a first comparison signal when said second digital value is equal to the data stored in said memory and a second comparison signal when said second digital value is not equal to the data stored in said memory;

a color control for applying said first comparison signal and said second comparison signal to said color control inputs for uniformly controlling the color of the exhibited second digital value in accordance with its relation to the first digital value.

15. A variable color digital display system comprising:

a plurality of adjacent variable color light emitting diode digital display elements for exhibiting a digital value, each said display element including a plurality of color control inputs for controlling its color;

timing means for developing a first timing signal and a second timing signal;

a memory for storing data corresponding to a first digital value, in accordance with said first timing signal;

means for sequentially exhibiting on said display elements a second digital value, in accordance with said second timing signal;

means for comparing, in accordance with said second timing signal, said second digital value with the data stored in said memory and for developing a first comparison signal when said second digital value is larger than the data stored in said memory, a second comparison signal when said second digital value is less than the data stored in said memory, and a third comparison signal when said second digital value is equal to the data stored in said memory;

a color control for applying said first comparison signal, said second comparison signal, and said third comparison signal to said color control inputs for uniformly controlling the color of the exhibited second digital value in accordance with its relation to the first digital value.

16. A variable color digital display system comprising:

a single variable color light emitting diode digital display element for exhibiting a digital value, said display element including a color control input for controlling its color;

a counter for developing a first timing signal and a second timing signal;

a memory for storing data corresponding to a first digital value, in accordance with said first timing signal;

a decoder for providing a digital indication, on said display element, of a second digital value, in accordance with said second timing signal;

a comparator for comparing, in accordance with said second timing signal, said second digital value with the data stored in said memory, said comparator including a comparator output for developing a first comparison signal when said second digital value is equal to the data stored in said memory and a second comparison signal when said second digital value is not equal to the data stored in said memory;

a color control for applying said comparator output to said color control input, for illuminating said digital indication in a first color in response to said first comparison signal and in a second color in response to said second comparison signal.

17. A variable color digital display system comprising:

a single variable color light emitting diode digital display element for exhibiting a digital value, said display element including a first color control input for illuminating, upon activation of said first color control input, said display element in a first color and a second color control input for illuminating, upon activation of said second color control input, said display element in a second color;

a counter for developing a first timing signal and a second timing signal;

a memory for storing data corresponding to a first digital value, in accordance with said first timing signal;

a decoder for providing a digital indication, on said display element, of a second digital value, in accordance with said second timing signal;

a comparator for comparing, in accordance with said second timing signal, said second digital value with the data stored in said memory, said comparator including a first comparator output for developing a comparison signal when said second digital value is equal to the data stored in said memory and a second comparator output for developing a comparison signal when said second digital value is not equal to the data stored in said memory;

a color control for applying said first comparator output to said first color control input, for illuminating said digital indication in a first color in response to the comparison signal developed on said first comparator output, and for applying said second comparator output to said second color control input, for illuminating said digital indication in a second color in response to the comparison signal developed on said second comparator output.

18. A variable color digital display system comprising:

a single variable color light emitting diode digital display element for exhibiting a digital value, said display element including a first color control input for illuminating, upon activation of said first color control input, said display element in a first color, a second color control input for illuminating, upon activation of said second color control input, said display element in a second color, and a third color control input for illuminating, upon activation of said third color control input, said display element in a third color;

a counter for developing a first timing signal and a second timing signal;

a memory for storing data corresponding to a first digital value, in accordance with said first timing signal;

a decoder for providing a digital indication, on said display element, of a second digital value, in accordance with said second timing signal;

a comparator for comparing, in accordance with said second timing signal, said second digital value with the data stored in said memory, said comparator including a first comparator output for developing a comparison signal when said second digital value is larger than the data stored in said memory, a second comparator output for developing a comparison signal when said second digital value is less than the data stored in said memory, and a third comparator output when said digital value is equal to the data stored in said memory;

a color control for applying said first comparator output to said first color control input, for illuminating said digital indication in a first color in response to the comparison signal developed on said first comparator output, for applying said second comparator output to said second color control input, for illuminating said digital indication in a second color in response to the comparison signal developed on said second comparator output, and for applying said third comparator output to said third color control input, for illuminating said digital indication in a third color in response to the comparison signal developed on said third comparator output.

19. A variable color display device comprising:

a variable color light emitting diode display element for exhibiting a digital value;

timing means for developing sequential timing signals;

means for sequentially providing a digital indication, on said display element, of a plurality of digital values, in accordance with said timing signals;

memory means for storing data corresponding to said digital values, in accordance with said timing signals;

means for comparing the value of the exhibited digital indication with the data stored in said memory means, and for developing a comparison signal accordingly; and

means for controlling the color of said digital indication in accordance with said comparison signal.

20. A variable color display device comprising:

a variable color light emitting diode display element for exhibiting a digital value;

timing means for sequentially developing a first timing signal and a second timing signal;

memory means for storing data corresponding to a first digital value, in accordance with said first timing signal;

means for providing a digital indication, on said display element, of a second digital value, in accordance with said second timing signal;

means for comparing the value of said second digital indication with the data stored in said memory means, and for developing a comparison signal accordingly; and

means for controlling the color of said digital indication in accordance with said comparison signal.

21. A variable color display device comprising:

a variable color light emitting diode display element for exhibiting a digital value;

timing means for sequentially developing a first timing signal and a second timing signal;

memory means for storing data corresponding to a first digital value, in accordance with said first timing signal;

means for providing a digital indication, on said display element, of a second digital value, in accordance with said second timing signal;

means for comparing the value of said second digital indication with the data stored in said memory means, and for developing a first comparison signal when the value of said second digital indication is larger than said data, and a second comparison signal when the value of said second digital indication is less than said data; and

means for illuminating said digital indication in a first color in response to said first comparison signal, and in a second color in response to said second comparison signal.

22. A variable color display device comprising:

a variable color light emitting diode display element for exhibiting a digital value;

timing means for sequentially developing a first timing signal and a second timing signal;

memory means for storing data corresponding to a first digital value, in accordance with said first timing signal;

means for providing a digital indication, on said display element, of a second digital value, in accordance with said second timing signal;

means for comparing the value of said second digital indication with the data stored in said memory means, and for developing a first comparison signal when the value of said second digital indication is larger than said data, a second comparison signal when the value of said second digital indication is less than said data, and a third comparison signal when the value of said second digital indication is equal to said data; and

means for illuminating said digital indication in a first color in response to said first comparison signal, in a second color in response to said second comparison signal, and in a third color in response to said third comparison signal.

23. A variable color display device comprising:

a variable color light emitting diode display element for exhibiting a digital value and including a first color control input for illuminating, in response to an active color control signal, said digital value in a first color, and a second color control input for illuminating, in response to an active color control signal, said digital value in a second color;

timing means for sequentially developing a first timing signal and a second timing signal;

memory means for storing data corresponding to a first digital value, in accordance with said first timing signal;

means for providing a digital indication, on said display element, of a second digital value, in accordance with said second timing signal;

means for comparing the value of said second digital indication with the data stored in said memory means, said means for comparing including a first comparator output for developing a comparison signal when the value of said second digital indication is larger than said data, and a second comparator output for developing a comparison signal when the value of said second digital indication is less than said data; and

means for coupling said first comparator output to said first color control input and said second comparator output to said second color control input.

24. A variable color display device comprising:

a variable color light emitting diode display element for exhibiting a digital value;

timing means for sequentially developing a first timing signal and a second timing signal;

memory means for storing data corresponding to a first digital value, in accordance with said first timing signal, and including a memory output indicative of the stored data;

means for providing a digital indication, on said display element, of a second digital value, in accordance with said second timing signal;

means for comparing, including a first input responsive to said memory output and a second input responsive to the value of said second digital indication, for developing a comparison signal in accordance with the relation of the value of said digital indication to said stored data; and

means for controlling the color of said digital indication in accordance with said comparison signal.