Display methods and systems
First Claim
1. A method of controlling a display element within an array of display elements by utilizing row and column signals, comprising:
- integrating a control circuit within a display element wherein said row and column lines are operably connected to said control circuit which connects to said display element;
maintaining a sufficient power on said row and column lines for continuously powering said control circuit and associated display element;
communicating an activation signal between said row and column lines to which said control circuit is connected;
activating said display element upon receipt of said activation signal by said control circuit; and
maintaining said display element activation by said control circuit from the power on said row and column lines for a predetermined duration after said activation signal is no longer being received.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system of controlling element activation within arrays subject to row and column address signaling. The display, or other form of output device, is configured with circuitry for controlling element activation. The multiplexed row and column signals are utilized for commanding activation of the element, whereas power is constantly provided for driving the display element. By way of example, an embodiment is described wherein the row and column lines can be driven from providing steady-state power to selecting the element for activation or deactivation during the next multiplexing interval. Additional display embodiments are described to suit various applications.
289 Citations
68 Claims
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1. A method of controlling a display element within an array of display elements by utilizing row and column signals, comprising:
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integrating a control circuit within a display element wherein said row and column lines are operably connected to said control circuit which connects to said display element;
maintaining a sufficient power on said row and column lines for continuously powering said control circuit and associated display element;
communicating an activation signal between said row and column lines to which said control circuit is connected;
activating said display element upon receipt of said activation signal by said control circuit; and
maintaining said display element activation by said control circuit from the power on said row and column lines for a predetermined duration after said activation signal is no longer being received. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A display element configured for being connected to a set of row and column addressing lines, comprising:
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a visual output element adapted for displaying at least two states within a display element;
a control circuit within said display element which is adapted for connecting between a single row and a single column within the set of row and column addressing lines, and said visual output element;
an activation signal detector within said control circuit, said activation signal detector being adapted for detecting an activation signal on said row and said column lines; and
a visual output element driver within said control circuit, said visual output element driver being adapted for driving said visual output element from power received between the row and column lines;
said control circuit being adapted to activate said visual output element driver to supply power to said visual output element upon detection of an activation signal from said activation signal detector and to continue supplying said power for a predetermined duration after said activation signal is no longer present. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A system for displaying visual information on a multiplexed array of display elements interconnected on a grid of row and column address lines, comprising:
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a row and column driver circuit adapted for activating selected display elements within said array in response to signals received from an image controller;
said row and column driver adapted for outputting a sufficient continuous power between said row and column and superimposing control signals thereupon for controlling said activating of said selecting display elements;
a display element adapted with a element control circuit interposed between the connection to said row and column lines and a visual output element;
said element control circuit adapted for activating said visual output element in response to controlling signals received over said row and column lines from said row and column driver circuit and maintaining the visual output element in an active state for a predetermined duration while other rows and columns of display elements are being activated during the multiplexing of the display.
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19. A method of controlling a display element within an array of display elements by utilizing row and column signals separate from a power bus being applied to said display elements, comprising:
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integrating a control circuit within a display element;
detecting the presence of an activation signal between said row and column lines by said control circuit; and
directing power from a power bus by said control circuit to said display element for a predetermined interval following said detected signal. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A method of extending the active interval of a display element within a multiplexed array of elements interconnected with row and column lines, comprising:
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integrating a control circuit within a display element;
charging a capacitor at a first rate in response to the presence of power between said row and column lines as said display element is being selected during multiplexing; and
supplying power at a second rate from said capacitor to a visual output element within said display element;
wherein said first rate substantially exceeds said second rate wherein the time over which the visual output element is active exceeds the time for which power was available between the row and column lines.
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22. A method of programming individual input and/or output circuit elements within an array to an address associated with their physical position within the array, said elements within said array being operably connected to a common bus, comprising:
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(a) entering a programming mode for said elements within which non-volatile memory locations may be loaded;
(b) receiving clocking from the common bus;
(c) maintaining an address count based on clocking from said common bus;
(d) comparing external events against a predetermined threshold; and
(e) loading said address count into said non-volatile memory when said external event crosses said predetermined threshold;
whereby said element when not in programming mode will be responsive to a relationship between the address on the common bus and the address count loaded in said non-volatile memory. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A circuit element configured for being programmed to respond according to its specific position within an array of circuit elements interconnected by a set of common signals, comprising:
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address extraction circuit within said circuit element adapted for extracting addressing information from said common signals;
sensing element operably connected to said circuit element;
non-volatile memory; and
control circuitry within said circuit element adapted for programming extracted addressing information from said common signals into said non-volatile memory in response to a predetermined threshold condition being crossed for said sensing element;
whereby said control circuitry is further adapted for responding to said programmed addressing information for outputting from said set of common signals and/or collecting data for communication over said set of common signals.
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46. A method of programming physical element position upon a circuit element connected to a set of common signals within an array of circuit elements, said programming performed based on the proximity of neighboring elements, comprising:
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(a) maintaining an address value based on signals registered from said set of common signals;
(b) entering a programming mode;
(c) registering a trigger signal from an adjacent circuit element;
(d) loading said address value which has been maintained at a predetermined offset from said trigger signal into a memory, wherein said address in said memory forms the address of said circuit element to which said element will respond when operating in a non-programming mode; and
(e) generating a trigger signal to a proximal circuit element at a predetermined time for programming this subsequent circuit element within the array. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. An apparatus for displaying a text or graphics legend in response to rotating a control knob, comprising:
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a rotating knob adapted for connection to a rotary encoding means;
electronic ink with a backing electrode; and
a plurality of electrodes adapted for passing over said electronic ink in response to the motion of said rotating knob and setting the display state thereof in response to signals received from a controller.
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57. An apparatus for displaying text and graphics from a movable member subject to angular displacements of a non-predetermined rate, comprising:
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a display providing at least one row of pixels and adapted for being aligned extending radially along said movable member;
means for determining angular position of said display during the travel of said movable member; and
a controller adapted to register the angular position of said movable member containing said display and generate a display output in response to angular position. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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66. An apparatus for displaying text and graphics from the rotating blades of a fan, comprising:
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a display providing at least one row of pixels and adapted for being aligned extending radially along said blades;
means for determining angular position of said display during the travel of said fan; and
a controller adapted to register the angular position of said blade containing said display and generate a display output in response to angular position.
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67. An apparatus for displaying text and graphics from a rotating wheel, comprising:
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a display providing at least one row of pixels and adapted for being aligned extending radially along said wheel;
means for determining angular position of said display during the travel of said wheel and a controller adapted to register the angular position of said wheel containing said display and generate a display output in response to angular position. - View Dependent Claims (68)
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Specification