Display device with variable color background for evaluating displayed value

• US 6,690,343 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2001
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/1986
• 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): Liang, Regina
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, FRANCIS N
• Application Number:
  US09/812,970
• Publication Number:
  US 20010015708A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 345/46, 345/204, 345/82-83, 345/55, 345/76, 345/56, 324/115, 324/33-34, 340/815.45, 340/815.43, 340/815.44
• US Class Current: 345/83
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 13/02 for displaying measured electric variables in digital form
• 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: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/33 being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes
• 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 3/14 Semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/32 semiconductive, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/02 characterised by the way in which colour is displayed details of colour display specific for CRTs G09G1/28; specific for flat matrix panels other than liquid crystal displays G09G3/2003; specific for liquid crystal displays G09G3/3607
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/04 using circuits for interfacing with colour displays

Abstract

A method for automatically evaluating the displayed value comprises the steps of receiving data for display, exhibiting a display indication of the data on a light emitting diode display area substantially surrounded by a variable color background area, comparing the value of the data with a limit, and controlling color of the background area in accordance with the result of the comparison. A display device for automatically evaluating the displayed value includes a light emitting diode display area substantially surrounded by a variable color background area and a device for receiving data for display and for exhibiting them on the display area. A comparator compares the value of the data with a limit and accordingly develops a comparison signal which is used to control the color of the background area to automatically indicate the significance of the displayed data.

Claims

1. A display device comprising:

a display area including a plurality of display elements, each said display element including a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged in a pattern for selectively exhibiting a plurality of display units;

a plurality of variable color background areas, each said background area being adjacent to one of said display elements;

each said background area including a plurality of light emitting diodes for emitting, when forwardly biased, light signals of respective colors;

each said background area including a plurality of background buses to which said light emitting diodes in said background area are commonly coupled in accordance with their colors, for being forwardly biased upon selective activation of said background buses, each said background bus including a plurality of background color control inputs; and

means for respectively coupling said background color control inputs of all said background buses.

2. A method for evaluating a displayed value comprising:

receiving data for display;

exhibiting a character indication of said data on a light emitting diode display device, said display device having a relatively flat display surface substantially surrounded by a variable color light emitting diode background area aligned with said display surface, said background area being capable of illuminating in a selective color in response to a color control signal;

comparing the value of said data with a limit;

developing a color control signal in accordance with the relation of the value of said data to said limit; and

applying said color control signal for controlling color of said background area.

3. A method for evaluating a displayed value comprising:

receiving data for display;

exhibiting a character indication of said data on a light emitting diode display device, said display device having a relatively flat display surface substantially surrounded by a variable color light emitting diode background area aligned with said display surface, said background area being capable of illuminating in a selective color in response to a color control signal;

comparing the value of said data with a limit and developing a comparison signal accordingly; and

applying a color control signal, in accordance with said comparison signal, for controlling color of said background area.

4. A method for evaluating a displayed value comprising:

receiving data for display;

exhibiting a character indication of said data on a light emitting diode display device, said display device having a relatively flat display surface substantially surrounded by a variable color light emitting diode background area aligned with said display surface, said background area being capable of illuminating in a selective color in response to a color control signal;

comparing the value of said data with a limit;

developing a first color control signal when the value of said data is equal to said limit;

developing a second color control signal when the value of said data is not equal to said limit;

applying said first color control signal, when said first color control signal is developed, for illuminating said background area in a first color; and

applying said second color control signal, when said second color control signal is developed, for illuminating said background area in a second color.

5. A method for evaluating a displayed value comprising:

receiving data for display;

exhibiting a character indication of said data on a light emitting diode display device, said display device having a relatively flat display surface substantially surrounded by a variable color light emitting diode background area aligned with said display surface, said background area being capable of illuminating in a selective color in response to a color control signal;

comparing the value of said data with a first limit and with a second limit, the value of said first limit being less than the value of said second limit;

developing a first color control signal when the value of said data is either less than said first limit or greater than said second limit;

developing a second color control signal when the value of said data is simultaneously greater than said first limit and less than said second limit;

applying said first color control signal, when said first color control signal is developed, to said background area for illuminating it in a first color; and

applying said second color control signal, when said second color control signal is developed, to said background area for illuminating it in a second color.

6. A method for evaluating a displayed value comprising:

receiving data for display;

exhibiting a character indication of said data on a light emitting diode display device, said display device having a relatively flat display surface substantially surrounded by a variable color light emitting diode background area aligned with said display surface, said background area being capable of illuminating in a selective color in response to a color control signal;

comparing the value of said data with a first limit and with a second limit, the value of said first limit being less than the value of said second limit;

developing a first color control signal when the value of said data is less than said first limit;

developing a second color control signal when the value of said data is simultaneously greater than said first limit and less than said second limit;

developing a third color control signal when the value of said data is greater than said second limit;

applying said first color control signal, when said first color control signal is developed, to said background area for illuminating it in a first color;

applying said second color control signal, when said second color control signal is developed, to said background area for illuminating it in a second color; and

applying said third color control signal, when said third color control signal is developed, to said background area for illuminating it in a third color.

7. A method for evaluating a displayed value comprising:

receiving data for display;

exhibiting a character indication of said data on a light emitting diode display device, said display device having a relatively flat display surface substantially surrounded by a variable color light emitting diode background area aligned with said display surface, said background area being capable of illuminating in a selective color in response to a color control signal;

comparing the value of said data with a low limit and a with high limit, and developing a color control signal accordingly;

applying said color control signal to said background area for illuminating it in a first color when the value of said data lies within the bounds of said low limit and said high limit; and

applying said color control signal to said background area for illuminating it in a second color when the value of said data lies outside the bounds of said low limit and said high limit.

8. A method for evaluating a displayed value comprising:

receiving data for display;

exhibiting a character indication of said data on a light emitting diode display device, said display device having a relatively flat display surface substantially surrounded by a variable color light emitting diode background area aligned with said display surface, said background area being capable of illuminating in a selective color in response to a color control signal;

comparing the value of said data with a low limit and a with high limit, and developing a color control signal accordingly;

applying said color control signal to said background area for illuminating it in a first color when the value of said data is less than said low limit;

applying said color control signal to said background area for illuminating it in a second color when the value of said data lies within the bounds of said low limit and said high limit; and

applying said color control signal to said background area for illuminating it in a third color when the value of said data is greater than said high limit.

9. A method for evaluating a displayed value comprising:

receiving data for display;

exhibiting a character indication of said data on a light emitting diode display device, said display device having a relatively flat display surface substantially surrounded by a variable color light emitting diode background area aligned with said display surface, said background area including a color control input for illuminating it in a selective color;

comparing the value of said data with a limit and developing a comparison output indicative of their relation; and

coupling said comparison output to said color control input.

10. A method for evaluating a displayed value comprising:

receiving data for display;

exhibiting a character indication of said data on a light emitting diode display device, said display device having a relatively flat display surface substantially surrounded by a variable color light emitting diode background area aligned with said display surface, said background area including two color control inputs for illuminating it in one of two colors;

comparing the value of said data with a low limit and with a high limit and developing two comparison outputs indicative of their relation; and

coupling said two comparison outputs to said two color control inputs, respectively.

11. A method for evaluating a displayed value comprising:

receiving data for display;

exhibiting a character indication of said data on a light emitting diode display device, said display device having a relatively flat display surface substantially surrounded by a variable color light emitting diode background area aligned with said display surface, said background area including three color control inputs for illuminating it in one of three colors;

comparing the value of said data with a low limit and with a high limit and developing three comparison outputs indicative of their relation; and

coupling said three comparison outputs to said three color control inputs, respectively.

12. A display device for evaluating a displayed value comprising:

means for receiving data for display;

a light emitting diode display device for exhibiting a character indication of said data, said display device having a relatively flat display surface substantially surrounded by a variable color light emitting diode background area aligned with said display surface, said background area being capable of illuminating in a selective color in response to a color control signal;

means for comparing the value of said data with a limit;

means for developing a color control signal in accordance with the relation of the value of said data to said limit; and

means for applying said color control signal for controlling color of said background area.

13. A display device for evaluating a displayed value comprising:

means for receiving data for display;

means for exhibiting a character indication of said data on a light emitting diode display device, said display device having a relatively flat display surface substantially surrounded by a variable color light emitting diode background area aligned with said display surface, said background area being capable of illuminating in a selective color in response to a color control signal;

means for comparing the value of said data with a limit and for developing a comparison signal accordingly; and

means for applying a color control signal, in accordance with said comparison signal, for controlling color of said background area.

14. A display device for evaluating a displayed value comprising:

means for receiving data for display;

means for exhibiting a character indication of said data on a light emitting diode display device, said display device having a relatively flat display surface substantially surrounded by a variable color light emitting diode background area aligned with said display surface, said background area being capable of illuminating in a selective color in response to a color control signal;

means for comparing the value of said data with a limit;

means for developing a first color control signal when the value of said data is equal to said limit;

means for developing a second color control signal when the value of said data is not equal to said limit;

means for applying said first color control signal, when said first color control signal is developed, for illuminating said background area in a first color; and

means for applying said second color control signal, when said second color control signal is developed, for illuminating said background area in a second color.

15. A display device for evaluating a displayed value comprising:

means for receiving data for display;

means for exhibiting a character indication of said data on a light emitting diode display device, said display device having a relatively flat display surface substantially surrounded by a variable color light emitting diode background area aligned with said display surface, said background area being capable of illuminating in a selective color in response to a color control signal;

means for comparing the value of said data with a first limit and with a second limit, the value of said first limit being less than the value of said second limit;

means for developing a first color control signal when the value of said data is either less than said first limit or greater than said second limit;

means for developing a second color control signal when the value of said data is simultaneously greater than said first limit and less than said second limit;

means for applying said first color control signal, when said first color control signal is developed, to said background area for illuminating it in a first color; and

means for applying said second color control signal, when said second color control signal is developed, to said background area for illuminating it in a second color.

16. A display device for evaluating a displayed value comprising:

means for receiving data for display;

means for exhibiting a character indication of said data on a light emitting diode display device, said display device having a relatively flat display surface substantially surrounded by a variable color light emitting diode background area aligned with said display surface, said background area being capable of illuminating in a selective color in response to a color control signal;

means for comparing the value of said data with a first limit and with a second limit, the value of said first limit being less than the value of said second limit;

means for developing a first color control signal when the value of said data is less than said first limit;

means for developing a second color control signal when the value of said data is simultaneously greater than said first limit and less than said second limit;

means for developing a third color control signal when the value of said data is greater than said second limit;

means for applying said first color control signal, when said first color control signal is developed, to said background area for illuminating it in a first color;

means for applying said second color control signal, when said second color control signal is developed, to said background area for illuminating it in a second color; and

means for applying said third color control signal, when said third color control signal is developed, to said background area for illuminating it in a third color.

17. A display device for evaluating a displayed value comprising:

means for receiving data for display;

means for exhibiting a character indication of said data on a light emitting diode display device, said display device having a relatively flat display surface substantially surrounded by a variable color light emitting diode background area aligned with said display surface, said background area being capable of illuminating in a selective color in response to a color control signal;

means for comparing the value of said data with a low limit and a with high limit, and for developing a color control signal accordingly;

means for applying said color control signal to said background area for illuminating it in a first color when the value of said data lies within the bounds of said low limit and said high limit; and

means for applying said color control signal to said background area for illuminating it in a second color when the value of said data lies outside the bounds of said low limit and said high limit.

18. A display device for evaluating a displayed value comprising:

means for receiving data for display;

means for exhibiting a character indication of said data on a light emitting diode display device, said display device having a relatively flat display surface substantially surrounded by a variable color light emitting diode background area aligned with said display surface, said background area being capable of illuminating in a selective color in response to a color control signal;

means for comparing the value of said data with a low limit and a with high limit, and for developing a color control signal accordingly;

means for applying said color control signal to said background area for illuminating it in a first color when the value of said data is less than said low limit;

means for applying said color control signal to said background area for illuminating it in a second color when the value of said data lies within the bounds of said low limit and said high limit; and

means for applying said color control signal to said background area for illuminating it in a third color when the value of said data is greater than said high limit.

19. A display device for evaluating a displayed value comprising:

means for receiving data for display;

means for exhibiting a character indication of said data on a light emitting diode display device, said display device having a relatively flat display surface substantially surrounded by a variable color light emitting diode background area aligned with said display surface, said background area including a color control input for illuminating it in a selective color;

means for comparing the value of said data with a limit and for developing a comparison output indicative of their relation; and

means for coupling said comparison output to said color control input.

20. A display device for evaluating a displayed value comprising:

means for receiving data for display;

means for exhibiting a character indication of said data on a light emitting diode display device, said display device having a relatively flat display surface substantially surrounded by a variable color light emitting diode background area aligned with said display surface, said background area including two color control inputs for illuminating it in one of two colors;

means for comparing the value of said data with a low limit and with a high limit and for developing two comparison outputs indicative of their relation; and

means for coupling said two comparison outputs to said two color control inputs, respectively.

21. A display device for evaluating a displayed value comprising:

means for receiving data for display;

means for exhibiting a character indication of said data on a light emitting diode display device, said display device having a relatively flat display surface substantially surrounded by a variable color light emitting diode background area aligned with said display surface, said background area including three color control inputs for illuminating it in one of three colors;

means for comparing the value of said data with a low limit and with a high limit and for developing three comparison outputs indicative of their relation; and

means for coupling said three comparison outputs to said three color control inputs, respectively.