Video information display system and display apparatus applicable to the same

• US 6,747,613 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2001
• Issued: 06/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Kochi, Tetsunobu, Miyawaki, Mamoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Mengistu, Amare
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEWIS, DAVID LEE
• Application Number:
  US09/777,669
• Publication Number:
  US 20010040549A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,217 Days
• Field of Search: 345/330, 345/178, 345/2, 345/204, 345/1.1, 345/3.1, 345/7, 345/9, 348/751, 348/743, 348/744, 348/750-781, 359/41, 359/292, 359/456, 359/460, 340/702, 340/757, 353/30-33, 353/94, 353/122, 349/5-8
• US Class Current: 345/9
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133553 Reflecting elements associated to illuminating devices G02F1/133605
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/136277 formed on a semiconductor substrate, e.g. of silicon
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/18 Use of a frame buffer in a display terminal, inclusive of the display panel
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/002 to project the image of a two-dimensional display, such as an array of light emitting or modulating elements or a CRT
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3611 Control of matrices with row and column drivers
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/006 Details of the interface to the display terminal specific for a display terminal using a CRT G09G1/167; using a flat panel G09G3/2096; circuits for interfacing with colour displays G09G5/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/7441 the modulator being an array of liquid crystal cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/148 Interfacing a video terminal to a particular transmission medium, e.g. ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3147 Multi-projection systems displays in general H04N9/12; video walls G06F3/1446, G09G2300/026

Abstract

A display apparatus for displaying video information by superimposing a plurality of images obtained through a plurality of display systems, each including a light source, a reflection type liquid crystal panel and an optical system. The apparatus includes at least either of a system selector for selecting at least one of the plurality of display systems and a modifier for modifying the attributes of the image obtained through one of the display systems.

Claims

1. A display apparatus comprising:

a plurality of display systems, each comprising a light source, a reflection type liquid crystal panel and an optical system, said plurality of display systems including a black-monochromatic system, a red-monochromatic system, a green-monochromatic system and a blue-monochromatic system;

display means for displaying superimposingly a plurality of images obtained through said plurality of display systems;

means for selecting at least one display system for displaying at least one of a black-monochromatic display, a black-monocolor mixture display, a full color display, and a black-full color mixture display;

switching means for switching the selection of said plurality of display systems according to a selection by said selecting means;

an interface to at least one information terminal; and

an image processing circuit for controlling said plurality of display systems, such that said plurality of display systems conduct the black-monochromatic display, the full color display, the black-monocolor display, or the black-full color mixture display.

2. A display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said liquid crystal panel is illuminated by light from said light source only in the vicinity of monochromatic and color display regions.

3. A display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a monochromatic signal having a black signal in a color displaying region, and a color signal having a black signal in a monochromatic displaying region are produced.

4. A display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said optical system includes a schlieren optical system.

5. A display apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a mirror and a pinhole arranged on a focal point of a lens disposed on said liquid crystal panel.

6. A display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said liquid crystal panel is a polymer type.

7. A display apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an anti-reflection film disposed on a front surface of a transparent substrate, on which an illumination light from said light source toward a liquid crystal panel is incident, and on a rear surface of said transparent substrate opposite to said front surface.