Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Plural physical display element control system – Display elements arranged in matrix
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-20
2004-05-25
Hjerpe, Richard (Department: 2674)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Plural physical display element control system
Display elements arranged in matrix
C345S103000, C345S903000, C345S032000, C345S085000, C345S086000, C345S108000, C345S109000, C345S110000, C345S111000, C340S815400, C340S815420, C340S815500, C340S815520, C340S815540, C340S815730, C340S815750, C340S815760
Reexamination Certificate
active
06741225
ABSTRACT:
The invention relates to a device for generating an image on an image surface with N×M image elements which can be illuminated individually, comprising a plurality of semiconductor radiation sources, each of which generates radiation with at least one color, an optical imaging means with a beam guidance, by means of which a plurality of image elements can be illuminated with each of the semiconductor radiation sources.
The devices known so far for generating an image with laser radiation sources operate on the basis of projection devices, i.e. a large distance is provided between the optical imaging means and the image surface and the plurality of radiation sources serves to illuminate an integral fraction of the N image elements of one row or M image elements of one column or the entire N image elements of one row or the entire M image elements of one column at one point of time and to transfer to the next plurality of image elements at the next point of time. The optical imaging means is preferably arranged such that it comprises the radiation of all the radiation sources and images this onto the image surface as a unit and from time to time switches the illumination of a first plurality of image elements further onto the next plurality of image elements.
Proceeding from these known solutions, the object underlying the invention is to create a device for generating an image, with which it is possible to generate an image on an image surface in as simple a manner as possible using radiation sources.
This object is accomplished in accordance with the invention, in a device for generating an image of the type specified at the outset, in that the image surface is divided into a plurality of continuous image surface sections, each comprising a two-dimensional ensemble of image elements, that an illumination unit is associated with each of the image surface sections and that each illumination unit has at least one semiconductor radiation source and an optical imaging means of its own which is associated with this illumination unit and images a radiation outlet onto the corresponding image surface section in a free beam propagation.
The advantage of the inventive solution is to be seen in the fact that the individual illumination units can be arranged and assembled in a simple manner at the required distance from the image surface since, on account of the free beam propagation between the illumination units and the corresponding image surface sections of the image surface, no beam-guiding elements whatsoever, such as, for example, light guides, are required between the illumination units and the image surface in order to guide the radiation to the individual image elements since this is accomplished by the optical imaging means associated with the illumination unit with a free beam propagation.
The advantage of the inventive solution is also to be seen in the fact that with it it is possible to design the beam guidance more simply since the radiation of an illumination unit is used merely to illuminate one of the image surface sections and thus the beam can be guided in a simple manner.
In particular, a beam guidance in the form of a beam deflection is simple to realize since the beam has to be moved only over the dimensions of an image surface section and does not, as in the state of the art, have to be moved over the entire extension of the image surface at least in one direction.
When the dimension of the image elements and the image surface remains the same and a maximum deflection angle can be realized with simple means, this solution allows the distance between image surface and optical imaging means to be configured to be so small that the entire device can be designed as a flat screen.
As a result of the inventive idea of creating individual illumination units with at least one radiation source and an optical imaging means expressly associated therewith a concept is available which allows a plurality of identical illumination units corresponding to the number of image surface sections to be produced and these to be combined with one another in order to illuminate the total number of image surface sections.
Furthermore, it is also possible with this solution to design the optical imaging means in a more simple manner than the optical imaging means known from the state of the art, with which it was necessary to image a radiation field with an appreciably large cross section, consisting of the plurality of radiations, and to deflect this in at least one direction over large dimensions.
In order to be able to produce inventive devices in a particularly efficient manner it is preferably provided for the illumination units to be of an identical design. This possibility allows the illumination units for inventive devices to be produced in large quantities, wherein even illumination units produced with faults do not increase the production costs significantly since these can be eliminated by way of test procedures prior to the assembly of the illumination units to form inventive devices.
In this respect, it is particularly favorable when the illumination units are identically constructed and identically controllable modules so that the control of the illumination units can also be brought about particularly advantageously.
A particularly favorable arrangement of the illumination units provides for these to be arranged in a surface extending approximately parallel to the image surface. Such an arrangement of the illumination units allows the positioning of the illumination units relative to one another to be automated during the assembly of an inventive device.
This arranging of the illumination units may be realized particularly advantageously when the illumination units are arranged on a support, with which an exact positioning of the illumination units relative to one another is possible.
The exact positioning of the illumination units may be realized particularly expediently when these are provided with identical holding members and are held by them in corresponding receiving means on the support.
With respect to the type and arrangement of the image surface sections, no further details have so far been given.
In principle, the image surface sections could have different sizes.
It is, however, particularly favorable when the image surface is constructed from groups of image surface sections of the same size, i.e. the entirety of the image surface sections has several groups of image surface sections and within each of the groups of image surface sections these have the same size.
However, it is not a precondition that the image surface sections within one group are located immediately next to one another but rather it is likewise conceivable to arrange the image surface sections from different groups so as to be interconnected to one another.
The provision of groups of the same image surface sections likewise allows for a simplification during the production of the illumination units since identical illumination units can be made available for each group of image surface sections.
It is, however, even more advantageous when all the image surface sections have an identical size so that identical illumination units can be used for the image surface.
With respect to the shape and size of the image surface sections, further details have likewise not been given so far. One advantageous embodiment, for example, provides for the image surface sections to have maximum extensions which are in the same order of magnitude in the two directions defining the image surface and extending transversely to one another. This means that the image surface sections are not intended to have any line-like shape but at the most a rectangular shape.
It is, however, particularly advantageous when the image surface sections have maximum extensions which are approximately of the same size in the two directions defining the image surface. This means that the image surface sections have a shape approximating a regular polygon or a square.
One particularly advantageous solution provides for the image su
Brauch Uwe
Opower Hans
Deutsches Zentrum fuer Luft -und Raumfahrt e.V.
Hjerpe Richard
Lesperance Jean
Lipsitz Barry R.
McAllister Douglas M.
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