US 4,622,881 A · Visual display system with triangular cells

Abstract

Improvements to visual display units for producing aesthetically pleasing abstract lighting effects which employ light baffles to produce compartments which contain at least three light sources of different colors are disclosed. The benefits of a baffle arrangement defining compartments forming isoceles triangles with adjacent hypotenuses is described. Color range and fidelity are improved by employing four light sources with a combination of relatively broadband pigmented filters of red, yellow, and green and a relatively narrowband interference-type filter of blue. Improvements to the control system for visual display units of this type are also disclosed. A memory means if provided to record desired color values for each compartment in each of a number of patterns. A single arbitrary color number and a separate intensity value are recorded and at least one conversion table is employed to convert the color number and intensity to average power levels for the sources in the display. A keyboard is also provided, together with a memory means in which the lighting effects desired may be specified during a programming phase, whereby during operation the closure of each key will cause the automatic execution of a subroutine causing a preselected lighting effect to be produced.

Claims14

Dependent claims

In a visual display unit for producing aesthetically pleasing lighting effects, said display unit incorporating a diffusing surface and opaque light baffling means substantially perpendicular to that surface to produce a plurality of compartments of substantially similar shape, each such compartment containing at least three discrete light sources, each such light source adapted to produce a different color and separately controllable in intensity, the improvement comprising said light baffling means define compartments forming isoceles triangles having adjacent hypotenuses.

An improved lighting effect system comprising,

(a) a visual display unit including:
i. a diffuser surface
ii. a plurality of compartments each containing at least three discrete light sources, each source adapted to produce a different color, and each accepting a power input, and
(b) dimming means having an output coupled to the power input for each of the light sources in each of said plurality of compartments, each dimming means having a signal input, and varying the average voltage or current supplied to the power input of said light source in response to the value present at said input, and
(c) a first memory means for storing at least one first value for each of said plurality of compartments for each of a plurality of desired display conditions, the output of said said first memory means serving as an input to a second memory means, and
(d) a second memory means for storing at least one second value for each of a plurality of said first values, said second memory means having an input, and outputs coupled to said signal inputs of said dimming means, wherein the presence of a first value at the input of said second memory means will cause said second memory means to output said stored second value, and
(e) input means to specify said first and said second value, and
(f) control means to cause said first memory means to output said first value.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Visual display system with triangular cells

Life of this patent

Visual display system with triangular cells

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14