Composite display

• US 8,106,854 B2
• Filed: 01/10/2008
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Snaptrack Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm MEMS Technologies Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chui, Clarence
• Primary Examiner(s): Dharia, Prabodh M
• Application Number:
  US12/008,711
• Publication Number:
  US 20090002272A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,482 Days
• Field of Search: 345/110, 345/418, 345/690, 345/1.3, 345/4, 345 30- 33, 345/46, 345 82- 87, 345182-184, 345/581, 345/619, 348/743, 348/758, 348/51, 349/18.64, 352/107, 352/112, 352/115, 352/118, 362/249.02
• US Class Current: 345/31
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 19/12 using special optical effects
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/33 being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/37 being movable elements G09F9/302 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/026 Video wall, i.e. juxtaposition of a plurality of screens to create a display screen of bigger dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/005 forming an image using a quickly moving array of imaging elements, causing the human eye to perceive an image which has a larger resolution than the array, e.g. an image on a cylinder formed by a rotating line of LEDs parallel to the axis of rotation
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/32 semiconductive, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A composite display may include a compound paddle having a plurality of components and configured to sweep out an area. A plurality of pixel elements may be mounted on at least one component of the plurality of components. Selectively activating one or more of the plurality of pixel elements while the compound paddle sweeps the area causes can cause at least a portion of an image to be rendered.

Claims

1. A composite display, comprising:

a compound paddle including a plurality of components and configured to sweep out an area, wherein the plurality of components includes a first component configured for rotating about a first axis of rotation, the first component coupled to a second component having a second axis of rotation;

a plurality of pixel elements mounted on the first and second components; and

a control module configured for selectively activating one or more of the plurality of pixel elements while the compound paddle sweeps the area, causing at least a portion of an image to be rendered.

2. The composite display of claim 1, wherein at least one component of the plurality of components is associated with an axis of motion.

3. The composite display of claim 1, wherein one or more components of the plurality of components impart motion to one or more other components of the plurality of components.

4. The composite display of claim 1, wherein the second component is configured for rotating about the second axis of rotation.

5. The composite display of claim 1, wherein the first component is larger than the second component.

6. The composite display of claim 1, wherein the first component is smaller than the second component.

7. The composite display of claim 1, wherein pixel elements are mounted on both the first component and the second component.

8. The composite display of claim 1, wherein the first component is configured to provide rotary motion which is at least in part converted into translational motion for the second component by a coupling of the second component to the first component via a third component.

9. The composite display of claim 1, wherein the plurality of pixel elements are mounted on the second component.

10. The composite display of claim 1, wherein the sweep area includes a sector-like area.

11. The composite display of claim 1, wherein the first component is configured to impart motion to the second component.

12. The composite display of claim 11, wherein the plurality of pixel elements are mounted on the second component.

13. The composite display of claim 11, wherein the sweep area is nearly rectangular.

14. The composite display of claim 1, wherein at least one pixel element includes a light emitting diode (LED).

15. A method, comprising:

sweeping out an area with a compound paddle by rotating a first paddle about a first axis of rotation, the rotating causing motion to be imparted to a second paddle having a second axis of rotation; and

selectively activating one or more of a plurality of pixel elements disposed on the first paddle and the second paddle while the compound paddle sweeps the area, causing at least a portion of an image to be rendered.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein the rotating imparts a rotary motion to the second paddle.

16. A composite display, comprising:

a paddle configured to sweep out an area as the paddle rotates through angular positions about an axis; and

a plurality of pixel elements mounted on the paddle;

wherein one or more of a size and a shape of the paddle varies based on the angular position of the paddle and wherein selectively activating one or more of the plurality of pixel elements while the paddle sweeps the area causes at least a portion of an image to be rendered.

17. The composite display of claim 16, wherein the paddle includes a component of a compound paddle having a plurality of components.

18. A composite display, comprising:

an array of paddles, wherein each paddle in the array is configured to rotate about an axis to sweep an area, each paddle including a plurality of pixel elements;

a control module configured for selectively activating one or more of the plurality of pixel elements of each paddle while the paddle sweeps its associated area; and

one or more direct mount areas installed between the sweep areas of the array of paddles, wherein each direct mount area includes pixel elements that are fixed in place, wherein the control module is configured to control both the pixel elements of the paddles and the pixel elements that are fixed in place to cause at least a portion of an image to be rendered in the composite display.

19. The composite display of claim 18, wherein sweep areas of one or more paddles in the array do not overlap.

20. The composite display of claim 18, wherein sweep areas of one or more paddles in the array overlap.

21. The composite display of claim 18, wherein each direct mount area includes a stationary printed circuit board (PCB).

22. The composite display of claim 18, wherein one or more of the direct mount areas are in a different plane than the array of paddles.

24. An apparatus, comprising:

means for sweeping out an area with a compound paddle by rotating a first paddle about a first axis of rotation, the rotating causing motion to be imparted to a second paddle having a second axis of rotation; and

means for causing at least a portion of an image to be rendered by selectively activating one or more of a plurality of pixel elements disposed on the first paddle and the second paddle while the compound paddle sweeps the area.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the sweeping means includes means for imparting a rotary motion to the second paddle.