Microdisplay for portable communication systems

• US 7,372,447 B1
• Filed: 03/03/1997
• Issued: 05/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kopin Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kopin Corporation
• Inventors: Jacobsen, Jeffrey, Fan, John C. C., Pombo, Stephen A., Zavracky, Matthew, Bumgardner, Rodney, Richard, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): PIZIALI, JEFFREY J
• Application Number:
  US08/810,646
• Time in Patent Office: 4,089 Days
• Field of Search: 348 14- 15, 349/62, 345/87, 345/88, 345/92, 345/94, 345 98-100, 345/102
• US Class Current: 345/102
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 25/002 Magnifying glasses
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0408 Integration of the drivers onto the display substrate
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/0235 Field-sequential colour display
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/0283 Arrangement of drivers for different directions of scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/063 Waveforms for resetting the whole screen at once
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0209 Crosstalk reduction, i.e. to reduce direct or indirect influences of signals directed to a certain pixel of the displayed image on other pixels of said image, inclusive of influences affecting pixels in different frames or fields or sub-images which constitute a same image, e.g. left and right images of a stereoscopic display
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/041 Temperature compensation
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/021 Power management, e.g. power saving
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0407 Resolution change, inclusive of the use of different resolutions for different screen areas
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0492 Change of orientation of the displayed image, e.g. upside-down, mirrored
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/001 using specific devices not provided for in groups G09G3/02 - G09G3/36, e.g. using an intermediate record carrier such as a film slide; Projection systems; Display of non-alphanumerical information, solely or in combination with alphanumerical information, e.g. digital display on projected diapositive as background slide projectors per se G03B23/00 = 42 HP
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3406 Control of illumination source illumination devices structurally associated with liquid crystal cells G02F1/1336
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3614 Control of polarity reversal in general
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3648 using an active matrix G09G3/367 - G09G3/3696 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3659 the addressing of the pixel involving the control of two or more scan electrodes or two or more data electrodes, e.g. pixel voltage dependant on signal of two data electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3688 suitable for active matrices only
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/18 Timing circuits for raster scan displays specially adapted for television H04N ; synchronisation between the display unit and other display units, videodisc player G09G5/12
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/39 Control of the bit-mapped memory
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/391 Resolution modifying circuits, e.g. variable screen formats
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/021 : using combined folding and rotation motions combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 : Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0247 : comprising more than two body parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 : comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0264 : for a camera module assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/20 : including a rotatable camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 : Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3141 : Constructional details thereof details not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/14

Abstract

The invention relates to a microdisplay system that utilizes a small high resolution active matrix liquid crystal display with an illumination system and a magnifying optical system to provide a hand held communication display device. The system can employ an LED illumination system and cellular communication or processor circuits within a compact housing to provide communication devices such as pagers, telephones, televisions, and hand held computer devices with a compact high resolution video display.

Claims

1. A docking system for a telephone comprising:

a hand held housing having a plurality of control elements and a connection port that electrically connects a control processing circuit within the housing to a wireless telephone that docks with the housing, the control processing circuit receiving image data from the telephone, and generating display data based on the image data;

an active matrix liquid crystal display mounted to the housing, the display receiving the display data from the control processing circuit, and presenting the display data as an image;

a light source mounted within the band held housing, the light source illuminating the image presented on the display; and

a power management circuit that lowers the power consumption of the control processing circuit after the image is illuminated until display data for the next image from the control processing circuit is ready to be presented to the matrix display, the power consumption of the control processing circuit being lowered between sequentially generated display data, the power management circuit arranged for receiving control signals for lowering the power consumption, the control signals resulting from signals from the control processing circuit that are initiated by the control processing circuit, the power management circuit and the control processing circuit being connected together and arranged in a configuration that lowers the power consumption in a self regulating manner.

2. A docking system as in claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a first display port and a second display port.

3. A docking system as in claim 2 wherein the matrix display can be mounted to the housing at the first port or the second port.

4. A docking system as in claim 1 wherein the matrix display further comprises an array of transistor circuits formed with single crystal silicon, the array of transistor circuits being bonded to an optically transmissive substrate with an adhesive layer.

5. A docking system as in claim 1 further comprising a color sequential display circuit coupled to the matrix display and the control processing circuit.

6. A docking system as in claim 1 wherein the active matrix liquid crystal display is a color sequential display system and the light source includes an LED backlight.

7. A docking system as in claim 1 further comprising a timing circuit connected to the active matrix liquid crystal display and coupled to the control processing circuit for controlling the sequential flow display data to the display.

8. A docking system as in claim 1 further comprising a battery carried by the housing.

9. A docking system as in claim 1 wherein the light source includes an LED light source that is optically coupled to the display and further comprising a lens that magnifies the image presented on the display.

10. A docking system as in claim 9 wherein the LED light source is a backlight.

11. A docking system as in claim 9 wherein the LED light source is optically coupled to the matrix display with a side illumination device.

12. A docking system as in claim 9 further comprising a display subbousing, the display subhousing carrying the active matrix liquid crystal display, the light source and the lens, wherein the display subhousing can be moved from a storage position to an operating position.

13. A docking system as in claim 12 wherein the lens is moved from within the housing in the storage position and is viewable in the operating position.

14. A docking system as in claim 12 wherein the display subhousing rotates relative to the housing between the storage position and the operating position.

15. A docking system as in claim 12 wherein the display subhousing translates relative to the housing between the storage position and the operating position.

16. A docking system as in claim 12 wherein the display both rotates and moves translationally relative to the housing between a storage position and an operating position.

17. A docking system as in claim 9 further comprising a display subhousing module, the display subhousing module carrying the active matrix liquid crystal display, the light source, and the lens, wherein the display subhousing is detachable from the housing.

18. A docking system as in claim 17 further comprising at least two display module ports, each port is adapted to couple with the display subbousing both electrically and physically.

19. A docking system as in claim 1 further comprising a camera.

20. A docking system as in claim 1 wherein the active matrix liquid crystal display has at least 640×

480 pixel electrodes.

41. A docking system as in claim 1, wherein the active matrix liquid crystal display includes an array of at least 75,000 pixel electrodes having a display area of less than 158 mm².

21. A docking system for a telephone comprising:

a hand held housing having a plurality of control elements and a connection port that links a control processing circuit within the housing to a telephone attachable to the housing, the control processing circuit receiving image data from the telephone, and generating display data based on the image data;

an active matrix liquid crystal display mounted to the housing and connected to the control processing circuit, the display receiving the display data from the control processing circuit, and presenting the display data as an image;

a light source mounted within the hand held housing, the light source illuminating the image presented on the display;

a battery in the housing that provides power to the display and the light source; and

a power management circuit that lowers the power consumption of the control processing circuit after the image is illuminated until display data for the next image from the control processing circuit is ready to be presented to the matrix display, the power consumption of the control processing circuit being lowered between sequentially generated display data, the power management circuit arranged for receiving control signals for lowering the power consumption, the control signals resulting from signals from the control processing circuit that are initiated by the control processing circuit, the power management circuit and the control processing circuit being connected together and arranged in a configuration that lowers the power consumption in a self regulating manner.

22. A docking system for a telephone as in claim 21 wherein the connection port electrically connects the control processing circuit to the telephone attached to the housing.

23. A docking system for a telephone as in claim 22 wherein the system has both a low resolution alphanumeric display and a high resolution display.

24. A docking system as in claim 21 wherein the control processing circuit mounted in the housing is a central processing unit.

25. A docking system as in claim 21 further comprising a display subbousing, the display subhousing carrying the active matrix liquid crystal display, the light source, and a lens that magnifies the image presented on the display, wherein the display subhousing can be moved from a storage position to an operating position.

26. A docking system as in claim 21 further comprising a camera.

27. A docking system as in claim 26 wherein the light source includes at least one light emitting diode (LED).

28. A docking system as in claim 27 wherein the active matrix liquid crystal display is a color sequential display system and the LED is a backlight.

29. A docking system as in claim 21 wherein The active matrix liquid crystal display has at least 640×

480 pixel electrodes.

42. A docking system for a telephone as in claim 21, wherein the active matrix liquid crystal display has an array of at least 75,000 pixel electrodes and a display area of less than 158 mm².

30. A method of displaying an image on a docking system in conjunction with a wireless telephone, comprising:

linking an external port of the telephone with a connection port of a docking station of the docking system to dock the telephone with the docking station and to provide a communication link between the telephone and the docking station; and

operating a display control processing circuit of the docking station, the control processing circuit being connected to an active matrix liquid display of the docking station, the control processing circuit receiving image data from the telephone through the communication link, and generating display data based on the image data, the image data being presented on the display as an image,

illuminating the image presented on the display with a light source; and

operating a power management circuit that lowers the power consumption of the control processing circuit after the image is illuminated until display data for the next image from the control processing circuit is ready to be presented to the matrix display, the power consumption of the control processing circuit being lowered between sequentially generated display data, the power management circuit arranged for receiving control signals for lowering the power consumption, the control signals resulting from signals from the control processing circuit that are initiated by the control processing circuit, the power management circuit and the control processing circuit being connected together and arranged in a configuration that lowers the power consumption in a self regulating manner.

31. A method of displaying an image on a docking system as in claim 30 further comprising powering the docking station with a battery carried by the docking station.

32. A method of displaying an image on a docking system as in claim 31 further comprising providing a camera to provide imaging capability.

33. A method of displaying an image on a docking system as in claim 32 further comprising selecting whether the image from the camera is seen on the display, transmitted to a remote location, or both.

34. A method of displaying an image on a docking system as in claim 32 wherein the matrix display is an active matrix liquid display with a color sequential display circuit.

43. A method of displaying an image on a docking system as in claim 30, wherein the active matrix liquid crystal display includes an array of at least 75,000 pixel electrodes having a display area of less than 158 mm².

35. A docking system for a telephone comprising:

hand held housing having a plurality of control elements and a connection port that links a color sequential display control processing circuit within the housing to a telephone attachable to the housing, the control processing circuit receiving image data from the telephone, and generating display data based on the image data;

an active matrix liquid crystal display mounted to the housing and connected to the control processing circuit, the display receiving the display data from the control processing circuit, and presenting the display data as an image;

a light emitting diode mounted within the hand held housing, the light emitting diode illuminating the image presented on the display;

a battery in the housing that provides power to the display and the light emitting diode; and

a power management circuit that lowers the power consumption of the control processing circuit after the image is illuminated until display data for the next image from the control processing circuit is ready to be presented to the matrix display, the power consumption of the control processing circuit being lowered between sequentially generated display data, the power management circuit arranged for receiving control signals for lowering the power consumption, the control signals resulting from signals from the control processing circuit that are initiated by the control processing circuit, the power management circuit and the control processing circuit being connected together and arranged in a configuration that lowers the power consumption in a self regulating manner.

36. A docking system for a telephone as in claim 35 wherein the connection port electrically connects the circuit to the telephone attached to the housing.

37. A docking system for a telephone as in claim 36 wherein the system has both a low resolution alphanumeric display and a high resolution display.

38. A docking system for a telephone as in claim 35 wherein the display control processing circuit in the housing is a central processing unit.

39. A docking system as in claim 35 further comprising a display subhousing, the display subbousing carrying the active matrix liquid crystal display, the light emitting diode and a lens that magnifies the image presented on the display, wherein the display subhousing, can be moved from a storage position to an operating position.

40. A docking system as in claim 39 further comprising a camera.

44. A docking system for a telephone as in claim 35, wherein the active matrix liquid crystal display includes an array of at least 640×

480 pixel electrodes having an active area of less than 158 mm².