Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Plural display systems – Tiling or modular adjacent displays
Reexamination Certificate
1997-11-06
2001-03-27
Shankar, Vijay (Department: 2778)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Plural display systems
Tiling or modular adjacent displays
C345S004000, C345S903000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06208319
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a display device, especially to a type of display device which is attached on a wall, such as an electric bulletin board, an advertisement sign board or the like.
BACKGROUND ART
Wall display devices, such as electric bulletin boards and advertisement sign boards, are widely used as means for providing information to many and unspecific people on streets. Such a wall display device usually includes a number of display elements arranged on a plane to form a two-dimensional matrix array of pixels in which an individual element is used for a pixel. The respective display elements are electrically actuated in various manner to display information. In an electric bulletin board, for example, one light bulb is used as one display element for one pixel, and a plurality of the light bulbs are arranged in matrix. By illuminating those of the light bulbs in specified positions, it is possible to display letters and pictures. Recently electric bulletin boards using light emitting diodes in place of light bulbs are widely used.
In an advertisement sign board, “panel display elements” are used as display elements to constitute respective pixels. The “panel display elements” are not light emitting themselves but have a plurality of display faces only one of which is actually displayed. Usually one of the display faces to be displayed can be selected by using a rotary mechanism, such as a motor or the like. One display face is selected for each pixel, whereby letters or pictures can be displayed.
Display elements for respective pixels, which are thus provided by light bulbs, light emitting diodes, panel display elements or the like, are electrically actuated. The light bulbs and the light emitting diodes, for example, can be switched between their light emitting state and non-light emitting state by On/Off control of electric power supply. By conducting the On/Off control on the respective light bulbs or the respective light emitting diodes which provide respective pixels, only required pixels can be selectively illuminated, whereby required information can be displayed. In the panel display elements the On/Off control of electric power supply to the motor is conducted, whereby those of the display faces to be actually displayed can be selected. The On/Off control is conducted on the respective panel display elements providing the respective pixels, whereby a required display face for each pixel can be displayed and required information can be displayed.
In the above-described display devices, needless to say, larger numbers of pixels are necessary for improvement of their display resolution. Accordingly it is necessary that a large number of display elements for respective pixels are arranged in a matrix. However, in order to increase a number of display elements, a number of wiring lines for the display elements must be increased. Therefore, a structure of a display device becomes complicated, which need much labor for its manufacture and maintenance. This results in higher manufacturing costs and maintenance costs.
In order to solve such problems, in the International Application No. PCT/JP95/00901 based on the Patent Cooperation Treaty, there is disclosed a novel technology in which a large number of display units having address recognition function are arranged in a matrix form to thereby constitute a display device. In this novel display device, since respective display units have address recognition function, it is possible to respectively independently control individual display units by a common signal through a common transmission passage. Accordingly, even if the number of display elements is increased, there is no possibility that wiring becomes complicated. Namely, if a particular display instruction is to be given to a specific display unit, it is sufficient to give such a display instruction along with address information indicating this specific display unit. When such an approach is employed, even if a common signal transmission passage is used as wiring for the respective display units, the individual display units can judge, by making reference to the address information, whether or not the given display instruction is directed to themselves.
In addition, in the International Application No. PCT/JP96/00058 based on the Patent Cooperation Treaty, there is disclosed a novel display device providing individual display units with memories in which respective display operations are stored in advance. In this display device, since the display units store respective own display operations for themselves in advance, it is possible to execute the display operations stored in advance even if no instruction is given from the external.
An object of this invention is to provide a novel technique for more efficiently operating a display device which provides a large number of display elements in a matrix form corresponding to respective pixels to constitute a two-dimensional pixel arrangement, wherein the respective display elements are driven by electric power to vary their display state.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
(1) A first feature of the invention resides in a display device in which a plurality of display elements are arranged in a matrix form to constitute a two-dimensional pixel arrangement so as to display information on the two-dimensional pixel arrangement, each of the display elements having a function to change a display state of a pixel by applying electric power, the display device comprising:
a device body including plural display elements for constituting the two-dimensional pixel arrangement and a controller for changing display states of the plural display elements;
an electric power source for delivering electric power to the display elements; and
a control unit for delivering a display signal for designating display states of the display elements;
wherein plural kinds of divisional modes for dividing the two-dimensional pixel arrangement into plural blocks are defined, the respective divisional modes being represented by divisional level information indicating fineness of division, and address information for indicating the respective blocks are defined for the respective divisional modes;
wherein the control unit delivers, to the controller, a display signal including divisional level information, address information and data information; and
wherein, when the display signal is supplied to the controller, the controller executes a display operation for changing a display state of a display element or elements belonging to a particular block indicated by the address information so that the display state is changed to a new state indicated by the data information, the particular block being selected from among the plural blocks which are obtained when the two-dimensional pixel arrangement is divided by a divisional mode indicated by the divisional level information.
(2) A second feature of the invention resides in a display device having the first feature:
wherein a divisional mode indicated by a divisional level n is defined in which the two-dimensional pixel arrangement is divided by 2
n
in length and breadth directions so that 2
2n
number of blocks are obtained and N kinds of divisional modes are defined with respect to n=1, 2, . . . i, . . . N.
(3) A third feature of the invention resides in a display device having the second feature:
wherein, with respect to four blocks obtained in a divisional mode indicated by a divisional level n=1, they are respectively indicated by addresses consisting of 2 bits of 00, 01, 10, 11; and
wherein, with respect to 2
2i
blocks obtained in a divisional mode indicated by a divisional level n=i, they are respectively indicated by addresses obtained by adding any one of 00, 01, 10, 11 to low order sides of addresses indicating 2
2(i−1)
blocks obtained in a divisional mode indicated by a divisional level n=(i−1).
(4) A fourth feature of the invention resides in a display device having the third feature:
wherein divisional level information, addre
Fourie Inc.
Ladas & Parry
Said Mansour M.
Shankar Vijay
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