Bar code registration of optically addressed photo-luminescent displays

• US 6,604,683 B1
• Filed: 08/06/2001
• Issued: 08/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Jones, Michael R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hess, Daniel A.
• Application Number:
  US09/923,030
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462, 345/156, 345/45, 395/106, 707/530, 348/800
• US Class Current: 235/462.14
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10059 transponder driven
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10356 using a plurality of antennas, e.g. configurations including means to resolve interference between the plurality of antennas
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/02 by tracing or scanning a light beam on a screen

Abstract

An optically addressed photo luminescent display having a printed bar code pixel identifier on an internal side for providing feedback of scanning beam to pixel registration.

Claims

1. An apparatus for generating an image comprising:

a photo-luminescent phosphor display surface having a plurality of pixels thereon which are adapted and configured to be addressable with an optical beam;

an optical addressing and excitation means disposed on a rear side of said surface when an opposing first side of said surface is a primary direction of image viewing;

wherein said optical addressing and excitation means includes a light beam;

a plurality of unique reflective identifiers disposed on said back side;

said plurality of unique reflective identifiers being placed, oriented and configured to reflect light incident thereon from said light beam and thereby create a plurality of identifying reflections; and

,

a photodetector adapted and configured to receive the plurality of identifying reflections and provide a registration feedback signal to said light beam.

2. An apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of unique reflective identifiers is a plurality of bar codes.

3. An apparatus of claim 2 wherein said bar codes are printed bar codes.

4. An apparatus of claim 2 wherein said light beam is a scanning light beam.

5. An apparatus of claim 4 wherein said scanning light beam is a UV light beam.

6. An apparatus of claim 5 wherein said optical addressing and excitation means further comprises acousto-optical modulators which are adapted, positioned and configured for scanning said UV light beam across said rear side of said display surface.

7. An apparatus of claim 6 further comprising a collimating lens disposed between a source of said UV light beam and said plurality of bar codes.

8. An apparatus of claim 7 wherein said source of a UV light beam is a laser.

9. An apparatus of claim 5 wherein said optical addressing and excitation means further comprises x-y mirrors which are adapted, positioned and configured for scanning said UV light beam across said rear side of said display surface.

10. An apparatus for generating an image comprising:

a display surface having a plurality of pixels thereon which are adapted and configured to be addressable with an optical beam;

an optical addressing means disposed on a rear side of said surface when an opposing first side of said surface is a primary direction of image viewing;

wherein said optical addressing means includes a light beam;

a plurality of unique reflective identifiers disposed on said back side;

said plurality of unique reflective identifiers being placed, oriented and configured to reflect light incident thereon from said light beam and thereby create a plurality of identifying reflections;

a photodetector adapted and configured to receive the plurality of identifying reflections and provide a registration feedback signal to said light beam;

wherein said plurality of unique reflective identifiers is a plurality of bar codes;

wherein said light beam is a scanning light beam;

wherein said scanning light beam is a light beam;

wherein said optical addressing means further comprises acousto-optical modulators which are adapted, positioned and configured for scanning said UV light beam across said rear side of said display surface;

a collimating lens disposed between a source of said UV light beam and said plurality of bar codes;

wherein said source of a UV light beam is a laser; and

a dielectric UV blocking element.

11. An apparatus of claim 10 wherein said dielectric UV blocking element is an optical bandstop filter or a frequency dependent reflector.

12. An apparatus of claim 10 wherein said dielectric UV blocking element is a frequency dependent reflector.

13. An apparatus of claim 10 wherein said display surface is a phosphor panel.

14. An apparatus of claim 13 wherein said phosphor panel is a multi-color pixelated phosphor panel.

15. A method of registering a scanning beam in an optically addressed display comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of unique registration bar codes disposed on an interior side of a phosphor display surface;

optically addressing and exciting phosphor on said interior side of said phosphor display surface with a light source;

receiving a plurality of reflections from said light source where said plurality of reflections is influenced by said unique registration bar codes; and

,

adjusting a directional aspect of a light beam originating from said light source in response to receiving said plurality of reflections.

16. A method of claim 15 wherein said plurality of unique registration bar codes is a plurality of reflective bar codes.

17. A method of claim 16 wherein said step of adjusting a directional aspect is accomplished through use of a feedback mechanism employing a photodetector.

18. A method of claim 17 wherein said step of receiving a plurality of reflections includes receiving a plurality of reflections from reflective bar codes which are associated with individual color elements within a pixelated display.

19. A method of claim 17 wherein said display surface is a photo-luminescent phosphor panel.

20. An improved optically addressed phosphor display of the type having a pixelated phosphor panel;

and a scanning optical beam which is adapted and configured to be used to address individual pixels within said pixelated phosphor panel, where the improvement comprises;

a plurality of unique registration bar codes disposed interior of said pixelated phosphor panel, where each of said plurality of unique registration bar codes is spatially associated with a unique pixel on said pixelated phosphor panel; and

,

a feedback mechanism coupled with said scanning optical beam for adjusting an operational registration characteristic of said scanning optical beam in response to reflections, received by a photodetector, from said plurality of unique registration bar codes.