Packet-based digital display system

• US 7,429,983 B2
• Filed: 10/26/2006
• Issued: 09/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callahan Cellular LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Cheetah Omni LLC
• Inventors: Islam, Mohammed N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh; Duc Q
• Application Number:
  US11/553,212
• Publication Number:
  US 20070101398A1
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: 345/204
• US Class Current: 345/204
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0808 by means of one or more diffracting elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6408 Unicasting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3102 using two-dimensional electronic spatial light modulators micromechanical modulators as such G02B26/0833; liquid crystal modulators as such G02F1/13

Abstract

An all-digital display system includes an electronic processor that is operable to receive an internet protocol video packet and to generate a control signal based at least in part on the internet protocol video packet. In one particular embodiment, the electronic processor includes at least a header processor, a CPU electronic processor, and a display processor unit. The all-digital display system also includes one or more light sources capable of generating one or more optical signals and one or more light modulating chips. The one or more light modulating chips are operable to receive the one or more optical signals and to modulate the one or more optical signals based at least in part on the control signal. The all-digital display system further comprises one or more display screens operable to receive the modulated signals communicated from the light modulating chips.

Claims

1. A display device comprising:

an electronic processor capable of receiving and processing a digital input signal, the digital input signal comprising an internet protocol format having at least a header and a payload, wherein the digital input signal is substantially free from digital-to-analog conversions while being processed by the electronic processor and wherein at least a portion of the payload comprises video information, the electronic processor comprising;

a header processing unit capable of processing at least a portion of the header of the digital input signal;

a central processor unit capable of receiving the payload and the processed portion of the header of the digital input signal, wherein the central processor unit is coupled to one or more memory devices and one or more buffering devices; and

a display processor unit coupled to the central processor unit, wherein the display processor unit generates an electronic control signal based at least in part on the portion of the payload that comprises the video information of the digital input signal;

a light processing unit capable of receiving at least a portion of the electronic control signal from the display processor unit and modulating light based at least in part on the portion of the electronic control signal, wherein the light processing unit comprises;

a light source capable of generating one or more optical signals;

an optical filter coupled to the light source, the optical filter operable to receive the one or more optical signals generated by the light source and to filter at least infrared and ultra-violet portions of the one or more optical signals;

a light integrator coupled to the light source, the light integrator operable to receive the one or more optical signals and to equalize any spatial distribution of the one or more optical signals;

a color demultiplexer coupled to the light integrator, the color demultiplexer operable to receive the one or more optical signals and to separate the one or more optical signals into one or more bands of wavelengths;

a light directing optics coupled to the color demultiplexer, the light directing optics comprising one or more lenses and one or more mirrors, the light directing optics capable of shaping and directing the one or more bands of wavelengths;

one or more light modulating chips coupled to the light directing optics and to the display processor unit, the one or more modulating chips operable to receive one or more of the bands of wavelengths from the light directing optics and to modulate the one or more of the bands of wavelengths based at least in part on the electronic control signal; and

a collection optics operable to receive the modulated bands of wavelengths and to communicate the modulated bands of wavelengths for display; and

one or more display screens operable to receive the modulated bands of wavelengths communicated from the light modulating chips and to display the modulated bands of wavelengths.

2. The display device of claim 1, wherein at least some of the one or more light modulating chips are selected from the group consisting of a digital micro-mirror device, a liquid-crystal-on-silicon device, and a liquid crystal display device.

3. The display device of claim 1, wherein the light processing unit is a rear projection display or television.

4. The display device in claim 3, further comprising a user interface unit coupled to the central processor unit, at least a fraction of the video information comprising an advertisement, and wherein the advertisement is based at least in part on an input entered into the user interface unit.

5. The display device of claim 4, wherein the advertisement is unicast to the display device.

6. The display device of claim 1, wherein the video information is multiplexed with voice and data.

7. The display device of claim 6, wherein at least one of the one or more display screens comprises a plurality of virtual windows originating from the same light processing unit and wherein different virtual windows communicate each of at least a fraction of voice, data, and video information.

8. The display device of claim 1, wherein the display processor unit is coupled through a wireless connection to the electronic processor.

9. The display device of claim 1, wherein the display device integrates substantially the functions of a router, a set-top box, an external hard drive, and a display.

15. The light processing device of claim 1, wherein the electronic processor is further coupled to a network selected from the group consisting of a fiber distribution network, a coaxial distribution network, and a hybrid fiber/coaxial network.

10. A light processing device comprising:

an electronic processor capable of receiving and processing a digital input signal, the digital input signal comprising an internet protocol format having at least a header and a payload, wherein at least a portion of the payload comprises at least multiplexed voice, data, and video information, and wherein the electronic processor comprises;

a header processing unit capable of processing at least a portion of the header of the digital input signal; and

a central processor unit capable of receiving the payload and the processed portion of the header of the digital input signal, wherein the central processor unit is coupled to one or more memory devices and one or more buffering devices;

a display processor unit coupled to the central processor unit, wherein the display processor unit generates an electronic control signal based at least in part on the payload of the digital input signal;

a light processing unit capable of receiving at least a portion of the electronic control signal from the display processor unit and modulating light based at least in part on the portion of the electronic control signal, wherein the light processing unit comprises one or more light modulating chips coupled to light directing optics, the one or more modulating chips operable to modulate a one or more of the bands of wavelengths based at least in part on the electronic control signal;

one or more display screens operable to receive the modulated bands of wavelengths communicated from the one or more light modulating chips and to display the modulated bands of wavelengths, wherein at least one of the one or more display screens comprises a plurality of virtual windows originating from the same light processing unit and wherein different virtual windows communicate each of at least a fraction of voice, data, and video information.

11. The light processing device of claim 10, wherein at least some of the one or more light modulating chips are selected from the group consisting of a digital micro-mirror device, a liquid-crystal-on-silicon device, and a liquid crystal display device.

12. The light processing device of claim 10, wherein the light processing unit is a rear projection display or television.

13. The light processing device of claim 12, further comprising a user interface unit coupled to the central processor unit, at least a fraction of the video information comprising an advertisement, and wherein the advertisement is based at least in part on an input entered into the user interface unit.

14. The light processing device of claim 13, wherein the advertisement is unicast to the light processing device.

16. A light processing device comprising:

an electronic processor capable of receiving and processing a digital input signal, the digital input signal comprising an internet protocol format having at least a header and a payload, wherein at least a portion of the payload comprises voice, data, and video information, wherein at least a fraction of the video information comprises an advertisement, and wherein the electronic processor comprises;

a header processing unit capable of processing at least a portion of the header of the digital input signal; and

a central processor unit capable of receiving the payload and the processed portion of the header of the digital input signal, wherein the central processor unit is coupled to one or more memory devices and one or more buffering devices;

a display processor unit coupled to the central processor unit, wherein the display processor unit generates an electronic control signal based at least in part on the payload of the digital input signal;

a light processing unit capable of receiving at least a portion of the electronic control signal from the display processor unit and modulating light based at least in part on the portion of the electronic control signal, wherein the light processing unit comprises one or more light modulating chips coupled to light directing optics, the one or more modulating chips operable to modulate a one or more of the bands of wavelengths based at least in part on the electronic control signal;

one or more display screens operable to receive the modulated bands of wavelengths communicated from the one or more light modulating chips and to display the modulated bands of wavelengths; and

a user interface unit coupled at least to the central processor unit, wherein the advertisement of the at least a fraction of the video information is based at least in part on an input entered into the user interface unit and wherein the advertisement is multiplexed with other video information, voice information, and data of the payload.

17. The light processing device of claim 16, wherein the advertisement is unicast to the light processing device.

18. The light processing device of claim 16, wherein at least some of the one or more light modulating chips are selected from the group consisting of a digital micro-mirror device, a liquid-crystal-on-silicon device, and a liquid crystal display device.

19. The light processing device of claim 16, wherein at least one of the one or more display screens comprises a plurality of virtual windows originating from the same light processing unit and wherein different virtual windows communicate each of at least a fraction of voice, data, and video information.

20. The light processing device of claim 16, wherein the device integrates the functions of a router, a set-top box, an external hard drive, and a display, and wherein the electronic processor is further coupled to a network selected from the group consisting of a fiber distribution network, a coaxial distribution network, and a hybrid fiber/coaxial network.