Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Plural physical display element control system – Display elements arranged in matrix
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-24
2001-05-08
Chang, Kent (Department: 2673)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Plural physical display element control system
Display elements arranged in matrix
C345S055000, C359S326000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06229509
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to a system for producing images, and more particularly, to apparatus for producing two dimensional electronically generated images.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Television receivers and other display systems use a cathode ray tube having a fluorescent coating deposited on a slightly curved screen inside the tube. In a black and white tube an electron gun directs a beam of electrons toward the screen with the electron beam being scanned over the surface of the screen by vertical and horizontal deflection systems. A control grid varies the amount of current in the beam to vary the brightness of different areas on the screen. In a color tube a trio of beams are each intensity controlled and each beam is directed toward one of three colors of phosphor on the screen. However, in both black and white and in color television the image can be viewed only from the front of the screen, which is opposite from the side of the screen containing the phosphor. Further, the electron gun requires that a cathode ray tube display system be thick. And still further, the display is constructed of a rigid glass to facilitate direction of the electron beam upon the phosphor.
More recent flat panel displays have significantly reduced the thickness of display systems. Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) systems require individually electrically addressable pixels on the display surface which are switched between transparent and opaque states. The pixels gate light generated typically from an electroluminescence light panel in order to generate the display. Such displays require complex circuitry to activate each pixel, and are visible typically from the side opposite to the electroluminescence panel.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,870,485 to Downing; Elizabeth A., et. al., Sep. 26, 1989, entitled: THREE DIMENSIONAL IMAGE GENERATING APPARATUS HAVING A PHOSPHOR CHAMBER, hereby incorporated by reference, describes a three dimensional image generating apparatus having a three dimensional image inside an image chamber. Such a system has been publicly demonstrated. An imaging phosphor distributed through the image chamber is excited by a pair of intersecting laser beams which cause the phosphor to emit visible light and form an image as the intersecting beams move through the image chamber. The imaging phosphor is a rapidly-discharging, high conversion efficiency, electron trapping type which stores energy from a charging energy beam for a very short time, such as a few microseconds. The imaging phosphor releases photons of visible light when energy from a triggering energy beam reaches phosphor containing energy from the charging beam. This triggering results in radiation of visible light from each point where the charging energy beam crosses the triggering energy beam. A first scanning system directs the charging energy beam to scan through a space in the image chamber and a second scanning system directs the triggering energy beam to scan through space in the image chamber. These two energy beams intersect at a series of points in space to produce a three dimensional image inside the image chamber. The energy beams are provided by a pair of lasers with one beam in the infrared region and the other in the blue, green, or ultraviolet portion of the spectrum. However, an electromechanical mirror based beam steering mechanism makes the display bulky, subject to vibration of the display and the glass cube is rigid.
Thus, what is needed is a thin flexible display panel having multi-color light generating pixels which may be viewed from either side of the panel and requires no moving parts to generate the display.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A display apparatus comprises a panel having a display surface surrounded by an edge and an imaging phosphor therein. A first source for radiating a first energy beam enters through a first portion of the edge, a second source for radiating a second energy beam enters through a second portion of the edge, and a third source for radiating a third energy beam enters through a third portion of the edge. A first pixel of visible light energy is released by the imaging phosphor at an intersection of the first and third energy beams, and a second pixel of visible light energy is released by the imaging phosphor at an intersection of the second and the third energy beams, the first and second pixels of visible light having a substantially constant location on the display surface.
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Deluca Joan
Deluca Michael
Chang Kent
IdeoCo.com
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