Apparatus and method for temperature compensation of liquid crystal matrix displays

A method of providing a compensated voltage to activate a liquid crystal display cell, said method comprising the steps of:

• identifying a desired optical transmission of said liquid crystal cell by a first digital signal group;
• identifying a temperature of said liquid crystal cell by second digital signal group;
• combining said first and said second digital signal groups to provide a combined first and second digital signal group;
• determining a third digital signal group from said combined first and second digital signal group, said third digital signal group identifying an acutal voltage to activate said liquid crystal cell, said actual voltage resulting in said desired optical transmission of said liquid crystal cell when applied thereto;
• converting said third signal group to said actual voltage;
• applying said actual voltage to said liquid crystal cell;
• and
• maintaining said liquid crystal cell within a predetermined temperature range.

A temperature compensated liquid crystal display comprising:

• at least one cell containing a liquid crystal material, an optical transmission of said cell determined by an activation voltage, wherein a desired optical transmission of said cell is identified by a second logic signal group;
• and
• voltage means for providing said activation voltage to said cell, said voltage means including;
• temperature means thermally coupled to said cell for providing a first logic signal group identifying a temperature of said cell, and
• conversion means responsive to a combination of said first logic signal group and to said second logic signal group for providing a desired activation voltage, said desired activation voltage providing said desired optical transmission by said cell when applied to said cell;
• a heater element thermally coupled to said cell;
• and
• a thermostat coupled to said temperature means and to said heater element, said temperature means and said temperature causing said heater element to maintain said cell within a predetermined temperature range.