Apparatus for displaying a color image from digital data

• US 6,857,748 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2004
• Issued: 02/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IMAX Theatres International Limited (IMAX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Zolla, Robert J., Roddy, James E., Blish, Nelson A., Horvath, Louis S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Judy
• Assistant Examiner(s): SEVER, ANDREW T
• Application Number:
  US10/840,682
• Publication Number:
  US 20040207821A1
• Time in Patent Office: 292 Days
• Field of Search: 349/69, 349/5, 349/8, 349/9, 349/10, 349/15, 353 29- 34, 353/48, 353/7, 353/8, 353/81, 353 84- 87, 353/122
• US Class Current: 353/31
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/00 Projectors or projection-type viewers; Accessories therefor devices for changing pictures G03B23/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3158 for controlling the spectrum
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3188 Scale or resolution adjustment scaling in general G06T3/40; resolution modifying circuits for displays in general G09G5/391

Abstract

A display system (10) for digital color images using six color light sources (12) or two or more multicolor LED arrays (212, 213) or OLEDs (220, 222) to provide an expanded color gamut. Apparatus (10) uses two or more spatial light modulators (20, 21), which may be cycled between two or more color light sources (12) or LED arrays (212, 213) to provide a six-color display output. Pairing of modulated colors using relative luminance helps to minimize flicker effects.

Claims

1. An apparatus for displaying a color image from digital data comprising:

(a) a first OLED for forming a first multicolor image beam;

(b) a second OLED for forming a second multicolor image beam;

(c) combining means for combining said first and second multicolor image beams to form a fill multicolor image beam;

(d) Projection means for projecting said full multicolor image beam onto a display surface; and

wherein said first multicolor image beam comprises a first set of colors and said second multicolor image beam comprises a second set of colors and said first set of colors is not identical to said second set of colors.

2. A method for displaying a color image from digital data comprising:

(a) providing image data for at least a first and a second color to a first OLED and emitting said at least said first and said second color from said first OLED as a first multicolor modulated beam;

(b) providing image data for at least a third and a fourth color to a second OLED and emitting said at least said third and said fourth color from said second OLED as a second multicolor modulated beam;

(c) combining said first and said second multicolor modulated beams to form a combined multicolor modulated beam; and

(d) directing said combined multicolor modulated beam to a display surface.

3. A method for displaying a color image according to claim 2 wherein said fourth color is substantially identical to said second color and wherein the act of combining said first and said second multicolor modulated beams offsets said second multicolor modulated beam from said first multicolor modulated beam, increasing the pixel resolution of said combined multicolor modulated beam thereby.