Fault tolerant intersecting beam display panel

• US 6,222,514 B1
• Filed: 05/06/1999
• Issued: 04/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael J. Deluca
• Original Assignee: Michael J. Deluca
• Inventors: DeLuca, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHANG, KENT WU
• Application Number:
  US09/306,328
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: 345/55, 345/88, 345/102, 345/65, 345/84, 345/93, 345/74, 345/76, 348/752, 348/754, 348/762, 348/763, 348/767, 348/768, 362/84
• US Class Current: 345/84
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/22 using controlled light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/189 Recording image signals; Reproducing recorded image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/194 Transmission of image signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/286 having separate monoscopic and stereoscopic modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/324 Colour aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/327 Calibration thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/337 using polarisation multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/39 the picture elements emitting light at places where a pair of light beams intersect in a transparent material
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/395 with depth sampling, i.e. the volume being constructed from a stack or sequence of 2D image planes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/398 Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof

Abstract

A two dimensional display panel produces a time variable image composed of light emitting pixels. The pixels are generated by a light emitting phosphor distributed within the panel, the pixels radiate light in response to being excited by charging and triggering energy beams. The energy beams are relatively invisible and may be generated by lasers or solid state diode energy sources. Wave guides within the panel direct the energy beams to the pixels. The wave guides may be composed of fiber optic threads and the display panel comprised of a fabric of woven fiber optic threads wherein pixels are produced at intersections of the woven fiber optic threads. The brightness of the pixels are controlled by regulating the duty cycle of a column driver relative to the duty cycle of a row driver. The display energy beams are driven to facilitate interface with a pen-like pointing device. In one embodiment the pen receives relatively invisible energy beams and in another embodiment the pen receives visible pixel light. In another embodiment, the invention has redundant energy beam sources and driving circuitry in order improve display system reliability.

Claims

1. A display apparatus comprising:

a panel having a display surface surrounded by an edge, said panel further having an illuminating material therein;

a first source for radiating a first energy beam through a first portion of the edge in a first direction along a first path;

a redundant source for radiating a redundant energy beam through another portion of the edge in a direction substantially opposite to the first direction and substantially along the first path;

a third source for radiating a third energy beam through a third portion of the edge,

wherein a first pixel of visible light energy is released by the illuminating material at an intersection of the first, redundant and third energy beams whereby the first pixel of visible light is released independent of a failure of either the first or redundant energy beam.

2. The display apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first pixel of visible light has a substantially constant location on the display surface.

3. The display apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising

a wave guide having a first end for receiving the first energy beam and a second end for receiving the redundant energy beam wherein said wave guide substantially defines the first path and substantially directs the first and redundant energy beams along the first path.

4. The display apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the third energy beam is radiated in a third direction along a third path and the apparatus further comprises

a third redundant source for radiating a third redundant energy beam through a third other portion of the edge in a direction substantially opposite to the third direction and substantially along the third path,

further wherein the first pixel of visible light energy is released at the intersection of the first, redundant, third and third redundant energy beams further whereby the first pixel of visible light is released independent of a failure of either said third or said third redundant energy beam.

5. The display apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising:

a second source for radiating a second energy beam through a second portion of the edge in substantially the first direction along a second path;

a second redundant source for radiating a second redundant energy beam through a second other portion of the edge in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction and substantially along the second path,

wherein a second pixel of visible light energy is released by the illuminating material at a second intersection of the second, second redundant and third energy beams whereby the second pixel of visible light is released independent of a failure of either the second or second redundant energy beam.

6. The display apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the third energy beam is radiated in a third direction along a third path and the apparatus further comprises

a third redundant source for radiating a third redundant energy beam through a third other portion of the edge in a direction substantially opposite the third direction and substantially along the third path,

further wherein the first pixel of visible light energy is released by the imaging phosphor at an intersection of the first, redundant, third and third redundant energy beams and the second pixel of visible light energy is released at the second intersection of the second, second redundant, third and third redundant energy beams and further whereby the first and second pixels of visible light are released independent of a failure of either said third or said third redundant energy beam.

7. The display apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising:

a driver means for controlling radiation of the first, second and third energy beams; and

a redundant driver means for controlling radiation of the redundant, second redundant and third redundant energy beams wherein said redundant driver means is substantially independent of said driver means.

8. The display apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising:

a timing means for controlling timing of radiation of the first, second and third energy beams;

a redundant timing means for controlling timing of radiation of the redundant, second redundant and third redundant energy beams wherein said redundant driver means is substantially independent of said driver means; and

a synchronization means coupled to said timing means and said redundant timing means wherein the first and redundant energy beams have substantially identical timing, and the second and second redundant energy beams have substantially identical timing, and the third and third redundant energy beams have substantially identical timing.

9. The display apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said synchronization means further comprises a fault detection means for determining in inequality in timing between said timing means and said redundant timing means and for generating a fault detection signal in response thereto.

10. A method of driving an intersecting beam display comprising the steps of:

radiating a first energy beam into an intersection;

radiating a redundant energy beam into the intersection; and

radiating a third energy beam into the intersection, wherein a first pixel of visible light occurs at the intersection and occurs independent of a failure of either the first or redundant energy beams and further wherein the intersection includes an illuminating material for converting the energy beams of the first and second wavelengths into light of a visible wavelength.

11. The method according to claim 10 wherein

the first and redundant energy beams have a substantially common and invisible first wave length,

the third energy beam has a substantially invisible second wavelength, and

the first pixel has a substantially.

12. The method according to claim 10 wherein

said step of radiating the first energy beam includes the step of radiating the first energy beam in a first direction along a first path, and

said step of radiating the redundant energy beam includes the step of radiating the redundant energy beam in a direction opposite the first direction and along the first path.

13. The method according to claim 10 further comprising the step of

radiating a second energy beam into a second intersection of the second and third energy beams, the second intersection having a location different from a location of the first intersection, wherein a second pixel of visible light occurs at the second intersection.

14. The method according to claim 10 further comprising the step of

radiating a third redundant energy beam into the intersection,

further wherein the first pixel of visible light occurs at the intersection and occurs independent of a failure of either the third or third redundant energy beams.

15. A method of driving an intersecting beam display comprising the steps of:

radiating a first energy beam into an intersection;

radiating a redundant energy beam into the intersection; and

radiating a third energy beam into the intersection, wherein a first pixel of visible light occurs at the intersection and occurs independent of a failure of either the first or redundant energy beams and further wherein

the first and redundant energy beams have a substantially common and invisible first wave length,

the third energy beam has a substantially invisible second wavelength, and

the first pixel has a substantially visible wavelength.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein the intersection includes an illuminating material for converting the energy beams of the first and second wavelengths into light of a visible wavelength.

17. The method according to claim 15 wherein

said step of radiating the first energy beam includes the step of radiating the first energy beam in a first direction along a first path, and

said step of radiating the redundant energy beam includes the step of radiating the redundant energy beam in a direction opposite the first direction and along the first path.

18. The method according to claim 15 further comprising the step of

radiating a second energy beam into a second intersection of the second and third energy beams, the second intersection having a location different from a location of the first intersection, wherein a second pixel of visible light occurs at the second intersection.

19. The method according to claim 15 further comprising the step of

radiating a third redundant energy beam into the intersection,

further wherein the first pixel of visible light occurs at the intersection and occurs independent of a failure of either the third or third redundant energy beams.