Color control signal converter

• US 6,208,322 B1
• Filed: 04/23/1998
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• 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): BRIER, JEFFERY A
• Application Number:
  US09/065,805
• Time in Patent Office: 1,069 Days
• Field of Search: 345/83, 345/88, 345/150
• US Class Current: 345/83
• 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 color control signal converter for converting a digital code to a color control signal includes a device for controlling the duration of pulses in accordance with the digital code, and a device for developing the color control signal in accordance with the duration of the pulses.

Claims

1. A method for converting data to color control signals, the method comprising:

repeatedly developing a start signal;

receiving data representing the portions of a plurality of primary colors;

accumulating, in response to said start signal, counts respectively proportional to said data, and developing, when respective count is accumulated, a respective end of count signal;

developing, on a plurality of respective bistable outputs, equal in number to the plurality of said primary colors and respectively associated therewith, an active signal in response to said start signal and an inactive signal in response to the respective end of count signal; and

developing a plurality of color control signals, for controlling portions of light signals of said primary colors, in accordance with said active signals, respectively.

2. A method for converting data to color control signals, the method comprising:

repeatedly developing a start signal;

receiving data representing the portions of a first primary color;

accumulating, in response to said start signal, a count proportional to said data, and developing, when the count is accumulated, an end of count signal;

developing, on a bistable output, an active signal in response to said start signal and an inactive signal in response to said end of count signal;

developing a first color control signal, for controlling portions of light signals of said first primary color, in accordance with said active signal; and

developing a second color control signal, for controlling portions of light signals of a second primary color, in accordance with said inactive signal.

3. A method for converting data to color control signals, the method comprising:

repeatedly developing a start signal;

receiving data representing the portions of a first primary color;

accumulating, in response to said start signal, a count proportional to said data, and developing, when the count is accumulated, an end of count signal;

developing, on bistable means, a true output and a complementary output, said true output being set to its active condition in response to said start signal and to its inactive condition in response to said end of count signal, and said complementary output being in the opposite condition;

developing a first color control signal, for controlling portions of light signals of said first primary color, in accordance with said active condition of said true output; and

developing a second color control signal, for controlling portions of light signals of a second primary color, in accordance with said active condition of said complementary output.

4. A method for converting data to color control signals, the method comprising:

repeatedly developing a start signal;

receiving first data, representing the portions of a first primary color, second data, representing the portions of a second primary color, and third data, representing the portions of a third primary color;

accumulating, in response to said start signal, a first count proportional to said first data and developing when said first count is accumulated a first end of count signal, a second count proportional to said second data and developing when said second count is accumulated a second end of count signal, and a third count proportional to said third data and developing when said third count is accumulated a third end of count signal;

developing, on a first bistable output, a first active signal in response to said start signal and an inactive signal in response to said first end of count signal, developing, on a second bistable output, a second active signal in response to said start signal and an inactive signal in response to said second end of count signal, and developing, on a third bistable output, a third active signal in response to said start signal and an inactive signal in response to said third end of count signal;

developing a first color control signal, for controlling portions of light signals of said first primary color, in accordance with said first active signal;

developing a second color control signal, for controlling portions of light signals of said second primary color, in accordance with said second active signal; and

developing a third color control signal, for controlling portions of light signals of said third primary color, in accordance with said third active signal.

5. A method for converting data to color control signals, the method comprising:

repeatedly defining a cycle by developing a start signal at the beginning of each said cycle;

receiving, in accordance with said start signal, first data, representing the portions of a first primary color, second data, representing the portions of a second primary color, and third data, representing the portions of a third primary color;

accumulating, in response to said start signal and during each said cycle, a first count proportional to said first data and developing when said first count is accumulated a first end of count signal;

accumulating, in response to said start signal and during each said cycle, a second count proportional to said second data and developing when said second count is accumulated a second end of count signal;

accumulating, in response to said start signal and during each said cycle, a third count proportional to said third data and developing when said third count is accumulated a third end of count signal;

developing a first active signal in response to said start signal and an inactive signal in response to said first end of count signal;

developing a second active signal in response to said start signal and an inactive signal in response to said second end of count signal;

developing a third active signal in response to said start signal and an inactive signal in response to said third end of count signal;

developing, during each said cycle, a first color control signal, for controlling portions of light signals of said first primary color, in accordance with said first active signal;

developing, during each said cycle, a second color control signal, for controlling portions of light signals of said second primary color, in accordance with said second active signal; and

developing, during each said cycle, a third color control signal, for controlling portions of light signals of said third primary color, in accordance with said third active signal.

6. A color control signal converter comprising:

means for repeatedly developing a start signal;

input means for receiving data representing the portions of a plurality of primary colors;

means for accumulating, in response to said start signal, counts respectively proportional to said data, and for developing, when respective count is accumulated, a respective end of count signal;

bistable means including a plurality of bistable outputs, equal in number to the plurality of said primary colors and respectively associated therewith, each said bistable output developing an active signal in response to said start signal and an inactive signal in response to the respective end of count signal; and

means for developing a plurality of color control signals, for controlling portions of light signals of said primary colors, in accordance with said active signals, respectively.

7. A color control signal converter comprising:

means for repeatedly developing a start signal;

input means for receiving data representing the portions of a first primary color;

means for accumulating, in response to said start signal, a count proportional to said data, and for developing, when the count is accumulated, an end of count signal;

bistable means including a bistable output for developing an active signal in response to said start signal and an inactive signal in response to said end of count signal;

first means for developing a first color control signal, for controlling portions of light signals of said first primary color, in accordance with said active signal; and

second means for developing a second color control signal, for controlling portions of light signals of a second primary color, in accordance with said inactive signal.

8. A color control signal converter comprising:

means for repeatedly developing a start signal;

input means for receiving data representing the portions of a first primary color;

means for accumulating, in response to said start signal, a count proportional to said data, and for developing, when the count is accumulated, an end of count signal;

bistable means including a true output and a complementary output, said true output being set to its active condition in response to said start signal and to its inactive condition in response to said end of count signal, and said complementary output being in the opposite condition;

first means for developing a first color control signal, for controlling portions of light signals of said first primary color, in accordance with said active condition of said true output; and

second means for developing a second color control signal, for controlling portions of light signals of a second primary color, in accordance with said active condition of said complementary output.

9. A color control signal converter comprising:

means for repeatedly developing a start signal;

input means for receiving first data, representing the portions of a first primary color, second data, representing the portions of a second primary color, and third data, representing the portions of a third primary color;

means for accumulating, in response to said start signal, a first count proportional to said first data and for developing when said first count is accumulated a first end of count signal, a second count proportional to said second data and for developing when said second count is accumulated a second end of count signal, and a third count proportional to said third data and for developing when said third count is accumulated a third end of count signal;

bistable means including a first bistable output for developing a first active signal in response to said start signal and an inactive signal in response to said first end of count signal, a second bistable output for developing a second active signal in response to said start signal and an inactive signal in response to said second end of count signal, and a third bistable output for developing a third active signal in response to said start signal and an inactive signal in response to said third end of count signal;

first means for developing a first color control signal, for controlling portions of light signals of said first primary color, in accordance with said first active signal;

second means for developing a second color control signal, for controlling portions of light signals of said second primary color, in accordance with said second active signal; and

third means for developing a third color control signal, for controlling portions of light signals of said third primary color, in accordance with said third active signal.

10. A color control signal converter comprising:

means for repeatedly defining a cycle by developing a start signal at the beginning of each said cycle;

input means for receiving, in accordance with said start signal, first data, representing the portions of a first primary color, second data, representing the portions of a second primary color, and third data, representing the portions of a third primary color;

first means for accumulating, in response to said start signal and during each said cycle, a count proportional to said first data and for developing when said count is accumulated a first end of count signal;

second means for accumulating, in response to said start signal and during each said cycle, a count proportional to said second data and for developing when said count is accumulated a second end of count signal;

third means for accumulating, in response to said start signal and during each said cycle, a count proportional to said third data and for developing when said count is accumulated-a third end of count signal;

a first flip-flop including a bistable output for developing a first active signal in response to said start signal and an inactive signal in response to said first end of count signal;

a second flip-flop including a bistable output for developing a second active signal in response to said start signal and an inactive signal in response to said second end of count signal;

a third flip-flop including a bistable output for developing a third active signal in response to said start signal and an inactive signal in response to said third end of count signal;

first means for developing, during each said cycle, a first color control signal, for controlling portions of light signals of said first primary color, in accordance with said first active signal;

second means for developing, during each said cycle, a second color control signal, for controlling portions of light signals of said second primary color, in accordance with said second active signal; and

third means for developing, during each said cycle, a third color control signal, for controlling portions of light signals of said third primary color, in accordance with said third active signal.

11. A color control signal converter interposed between a data source and a color control input of a variable color light emitting diode optical device, said converter comprising:

an input responsive to said data source for receiving data representing the portions of a plurality of primary colors;

means for repeatedly developing a start signal;

means for accumulating, in response to said start signal, counts respectively proportional to said data, and for developing, when respective count is accumulated, a respective end of count signal;

bistable means including a plurality of bistable outputs, equal in number to the plurality of said primary colors and respectively associated therewith, each said bistable output developing an active signal in response to said start signal and an inactive signal in response to the respective end of count signal; and

an output for developing a color control signal for said color control input, in accordance with said active signals.

12. A color control signal converter interposed between a data source and a first color control input and a second color control input of a variable color light emitting diode optical device, said converter comprising:

an input responsive to said data source for receiving data representing the portions of a first primary color;

means for repeatedly developing a start signal;

means for accumulating, in response to said start signal, a count proportional to said data, and for developing, when the count is accumulated, an end of count signal;

bistable means including a bistable output for developing an active signal in response to said start signal and an inactive signal in response to said end of count signal;

a first output for developing a first color control signal for said first color control input, in accordance with said active signal; and

a second output for developing a second color control signal for said second color control input, in accordance with said inactive signal.

13. A color control signal converter interposed between a data source and a first color control input and a second color control input of a variable color light emitting diode optical device, said converter comprising:

an input responsive to said data source for receiving data representing the portions of a first primary color;

means for repeatedly developing a start signal;

means for accumulating, in response to said start signal, a count proportional to said data, and for developing, when the count is accumulated, an end of count signal;

bistable means including a true output and a complementary output, said true output being set to its active condition in response to said start signal and to its inactive condition in response to said end of count signal, and said complementary output being in the opposite condition;

a first output for developing a first color control signal for said first color control input, in accordance with said active condition of said true output; and

a second output for developing a second color control signal for said second color control input, in accordance with said active condition of said complementary output.

14. A color control signal converter interposed between a data source and a first color control input, a second color control input, and a third color control input of a variable color light emitting diode optical device, said converter comprising:

an input responsive to said data source for receiving first data, representing the portions of a first primary color, second data, representing the portions of a second primary color, and third data, representing the portions of a third primary color;

means for repeatedly developing a start signal;

means for accumulating, in response to said start signal, a first count proportional to said first data and for developing when said first count is accumulated a first end of count signal, a second count proportional to said second data and for developing when said second count is accumulated a second end of count signal, and a third count proportional to said third data and for developing when said third count is accumulated a third end of count signal;

bistable means including a first bistable output for developing a first active signal in response to said start signal and an inactive signal in response to said first end of count signal, a second bistable output for developing a second active signal in response to said start signal and an inactive signal in response to said second end of count signal, and a third bistable output for developing a third active signal in response to said start signal and an inactive signal in response to said third end of count signal;

a first output for developing a first color control signal for said first color control input, in accordance with said first active signal;

a second output for developing a second color control signal for said second color control input, in accordance with said second active signal; and

a third output for developing a third color control signal for said third color control input, in accordance with said third active signal.

15. A color control signal converter interposed between a data source and a first color control input, a second color control input, and a third color control input of a variable color light emitting diode optical device, said converter comprising:

means for repeatedly defining a cycle by developing a start signal at the beginning of each said cycle;

an input responsive to said data source for receiving, in accordance with said start signal, first data, representing the portions of a first primary color, second data, representing the portions of a second primary color, and third data, representing the portions of a third primary color;

first means for accumulating, in response to said start signal and during each said cycle, a count proportional to said first data and for developing when said count is accumulated a first end of count signal;

second means for accumulating, in response to said start signal and during each said cycle, a count proportional to said second data and for developing when said count is accumulated a second end of count signal;

third means for accumulating, in response to said start signal and during each said cycle, a count proportional to said third data and for developing when said count is accumulated a third end of count signal;

a first flip-flop including a bistable output for developing a first active signal in response to said start signal and an inactive signal in response to said first end of count signal;

a second flip-flop including a bistable output for developing a second active signal in response to said start signal and an inactive signal in response to said second end of count signal;

a third flip-flop including a bistable output for developing a third active signal in response to said start signal and an inactive signal in response to said third end of count signal;

a first output for developing, during each said cycle, a first color control signal for said first color control input, in accordance with said first active signal;

a second output for developing, during each said cycle, a second color control signal for said second color control input, in accordance with said second active signal; and

a third output for developing, during each said cycle, a third color control signal for said third color control input, in accordance with said third active signal.

16. A color control signal converter comprising:

means for repeatedly developing a first start signal and a second start signal;

input means for receiving first data representing the portion of a first primary color and second data representing the portion of a second primary color;

means for accumulating, in response to said first start signal, a count proportional to said first data and for developing, when the count is accumulated, a first end of count signal, and for accumulating, in response to said second start signal, a count proportional to said second data and for developing, when the count is accumulated, a second end of count signal;

bistable means including a first bistable output for developing a first active signal in response to said first start signal and an inactive signal in response to said first end of count signal, and a second bistable output for developing a second active signal in response to said second start signal and an inactive signal in response to said second end of count signal; and

means for developing a first color control signal, in accordance with said first active signal, for controlling portions of light signals of said first primary color, and a second color control signal, in accordance with said second active signal, for controlling portions of light signals of said second primary color.

17. A color control signal converter comprising:

means for repeatedly developing a first start signal, a second start signal, and a third start signal;

input means for receiving first data representing the portion of a first primary color, second data representing the portion of a second primary color, and third data representing the portion of a third primary color;

means for accumulating, in response to said first start signal, a count proportional to said first data and for developing, when the count is accumulated, a first end of count signal, for accumulating, in response to said second start signal, a count proportional to said second data and for developing, when the count is accumulated, a second end of count signal, and for accumulating, in response to said third start signal, a count proportional to said third data and for developing, when the count is accumulated, a third end of count signal;

bistable means including a first bistable output for developing a first active signal in response to said first start signal and an inactive signal in response to said first end of count signal, a second bistable output for developing a second active signal in response to said second start signal and an inactive signal in response to said second end of count signal, and a third bistable output for developing a third active signal in response to said third start signal and an inactive signal in response to said third end of count signal; and

means for developing a first color control signal, in accordance with said first active signal, for controlling portions of light signals of said first primary color, a second color control signal, in accordance with said second active signal, for controlling portions of light signals of said second primary color, and a third color control signal, in accordance with said third active signal, for controlling portions of light signals of said third primary color.

18. A color control signal converter interposed between a data source and a first color control input and a second color control input of a variable color light emitting diode optical device, said converter comprising:

input means responsive to said data source for receiving first data representing the portion of a first primary color and second data representing the portion of a second primary color;

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

means for accumulating, in response to said first start signal, a count proportional to said first data and for developing, when the count is accumulated, a first end of count signal, and for accumulating, in response to said second start signal, a count proportional to said second data and for developing, when the count is accumulated, a second end of count signal;

bistable means including a first bistable output for developing a first active signal in response to said first start signal and an inactive signal in response to said first end of count signal and a second bistable output for developing a second active signal in response to said second start signal and an inactive signal in response to said second end of count signal; and

output means for developing a first color control signal, in accordance with said first active signal, for said first color control input, and a second color control signal, in accordance with said second active signal, for said second color control input.

19. A color control signal converter interposed between a data source and a first color control input, a second color control input, and a third color control input of a variable color light emitting diode optical device, said converter comprising:

input means responsive to said data source for receiving first data representing the portion of a first primary color, second data representing the portion of a second primary color, and third data representing the portion of a third primary color;

means for developing a first start signal, a second start signal, and a third start signal;

means for accumulating, in response to said first start signal, a count proportional to said first data and for developing, when the count is accumulated, a first end of count signal, for accumulating, in response to said second start signal, a count proportional to said second data and for developing, when the count is accumulated, a second end of count signal, and for accumulating, in response to said third start signal, a count proportional to said third data and for developing, when the count is accumulated, a third end of count signal;

bistable means including a first bistable output for developing a first active signal in response to said first start signal and an inactive signal in response to said first end of count signal, a second bistable output for developing a second active signal in response to said second start signal and an inactive signal in response to said second end of count signal, and a third bistable output for developing a third active signal in response to said third start signal and an inactive signal in response to said third end of count signal; and

output means for developing a first color control signal, in accordance with said first active signal, for said first color control input, a second color control signal, in accordance with said second active signal, for said second color control input, and a third color control signal, in accordance with said third active signal, for said third color control input.