Solid state color display system and light emitting diode pixels therefor

A matrix display comprising:

• a plurality of multi-color solid state LED pixels;
• each multi-color pixel comprising a plurality of differently colored electrically independent sets of LEDs and means arranging the LEDs of each pixel in a closely spaced pattern;
• each set of differently colored LEDs of each pixel being electrically interconnected by separate conductor means;
• means electrically separating the conductor means to the LEDs of one color at each pixel from the conductor means to the other LEDs at each pixel;
• source means of separate but coordinated series of separate signals collectively representative of the desired mixed color intensity to be visually obtained at each point in time from each pixel of the display;
• a plurality of separate means, one for each LED color at each pixel, by which said series of separate signals are simultaneously communicated respectively to each set of LEDs of each color of each pixel whereby (a) the resulting color mix at each pixel displayed to an observer at each point in time is a composite integration of the separate color intensity level signals simultaneously but separately delivered to the respective LEDs of each color of the pixel, (b) the composite color displayed to an observer of all pixels of the display will at each point in time comprise an integrated image comprising many colors across a large number of color combinations, and (c) the image and many colors thereof will change from time to time as the color intensity level signals of the series changes.

A matrix display comprising:

• a plurality of tri-color solid state LED pixels;
• each tri-color pixel comprising three differently colored electrically independent sets of LEDs and means arranging the LEDs of each pixel in a closely spaced pattern;
• each set of tri-colored LEDs of each pixel being electrically interconnected by separate conductor means;
• means electrically separating the conductor means to the LEDs of one color at each pixel from the conductor means to the other LEDs at each pixel;
• source means of three separate but coordinated series of signals collectively representative of the desired mixed color intensity to be visually obtained at each point in time from each pixel of the display;
• three separate means, one for each LED color at each pixel, simultaneously communicating said three series of separate signals respectively to each set of LEDs of each color of each pixel whereby (a) the resultant color mix at each pixel displayed to an observer at each point in time is a blended integration of the colors illuminated at each set of LEDs which corresponds to the period of LED illumination signals simultaneously but independently delivered to each of the respective LEDs of each color of the pixel, (b) the composite color displayed to an observer of all pixels of the display collectively will at each point in time comprise an integrated image comprising a large number of color combinations across a color spectrum, and (c) the image and many colors thereof of the display will change from time to time as the signals representing the color intensity level of each set of LEDs of each pixel changes.

A method of presenting successive visual images on a matrix display comprising;

• providing a plurality of tri-color solid state LED pixels arranged in a pattern;
• connecting the LEDs of each tri-color pixel to comprise three differently colored sets of LEDs;
• causing each set of tri-colored LEDs of each pixel to be electrically interconnected by separate conductor means;
• issuing three separate but coordinated series of signals per pixel from a source, the signals collectively representative of the desired hue and intensity to be obtained at each point in time from each set of differently colored LEDs of each pixel of the display;
• simultaneously communicating said three separate signals per pixel separately to each set of differently colored LEDs of each pixel whereby (a) the color mix displayed at each pixel to an observer at each point in time is a single color comprising a blended integration of the color illuminated at each set of LEDs which corresponds to the duration of illumination determined by signals simultaneously but separately delivered to each of the three sets of LEDs of each pixel, (b) the composite color displayed to an observer of all pixels of the display collectively will at each point in time comprise an intelligible integrated image comprising many hues across the color spectrum, and (c) the image and many hues of the display will change from time to time as the signals representing the intensity level of each set of LEDs of each pixel change.

A method of displaying images of varying colors within the spectrum on a matrix display comprising:

• providing an array comprising a large number of juxtaposed multi-color solid state integrated LED pixels arranged in a close matrix pattern, each pixel comprising sets of differently colored compactly arranged LEDs so that each pixel is an apparent composite point color light source to an observer of the array;
• controlling and selectively and separately electrical communicating from a source of video or computer signals several separate but coordinated series of signals respectively to each set of LEDs at each pixel;
• producing multi-color illumination at many if not all of the pixels at any point in time which visually comprise only one composite color at each pixel of a large number of color combinations resulting from selective illumination of the sets of differently colored LEDs of the pixel respectively which corresponds to the plurality of coordinated signals separately delivered to each set of LEDs of each pixel;
• changing said one composite color at each pixel from time to time as said plurality of coordinated signals changes whereby successive integrated images each comprising varying array of composite colors across the spectrum are sequentially visually illuminated on the matrix display.

A method by which composite color images are successively displayed on a matrix display comprising:

• presenting a plurality of multi-color solid state LED pixels arranged in a pattern for visual observation;
• constructing each multi-color pixel so that it comprises a plurality of differently colored sets of LEDs;
• electrically interconnecting each set of differently colored LEDs of each pixel by separate conductor means;
• issuing separate but coordinated signals along said separate conductor means respectively, the signals being representative of the desired color and intensity to be obtained at each point in time from each set of differently colored LEDs of each pixel of the display;
• communicating said signals separately along said separate conductor means respectively to each set of differently colored LEDs of each pixel;
• obtaining a single composite visual color at least many of the pixels at each point in time comprising a blended integration of the colors independently displayed at each set of LEDs forming the pixel which corresponds to the separate illumination duration determining signals simultaneously delivered to the differently colored sets of LEDs of each pixel;
• displaying an integrated matrix image of many colors over a large number of color combination across the spectrum comprising a visual integration of the single composite visual color being displayed at said pixels at each point in time;
• and
• changing the images and colors, across said large number of color combinations, of said display from time to time as the intensity level signals to the respective sets of LEDs of each pixel change.

A method of sequentially presenting different images each comprising a different arrangement of many colors from a wide range of colors comprising the steps of:

• simultaneously issuing separate signals from a source;
• separately communicating the separate signals respectively to electrically independent sets of LEDs of each of many pixels of a matrix display which signals collectively represent many colors of the large number of color combinations;
• controlling the period of illumination and intensity of each set of LEDs at each pixel with said signals to exactly and simultaneously produce (a) an LED color mix at each pixel visually comprising a single desired color from the large number of color combinations, and (b) a large readable display image comprising an image integration of the single mixed colors at each pixel;
• and
• repeating said issuing, separately communicating and controlling steps to change the single composite color visually displayed at selected pixels and the integrated visual image of the display to another desired pattern of many colors.

LED illumination apparatus adapted to a large LED matrix display system which provides a large number of color combinations, said LED illumination apparatus comprising:

• signal source means which provide an independent signal for each primary color;
• LED pixel means wherein each pixel comprises a plurality of LEDs comprising different primary colors, said LED pixel means providing one apparent source of light in the large matrix display, said light comprising an integral sum of the light from said LEDs to provide one color at any one point in time of a large number of color combinations;
• LED means interconnected in series and parallel diode matrices which provide X-Y addressing means without non-LED integrated circuits in said LED matrix;
• pulse wave modulation means comprising:
• LED addressing and exciting means which address and excite each LED of each pixel to illumination at the same instant;
• LED illumination extinguishing means which extinguish each LED independently at a variable time after the LEDs of a pixel have been illuminated, providing a duration of LED ON time which is dependent upon the strength of the signal from the signal source means for the color to be emitted by that LED;
• pixel addressing means which provide X-Y row, column addressing of pixels which selectively address multiple columns and groups of rows to reduce peak current levels and provide refresh rates which will eliminate apparent flicker;
• pixel module means, in combination, providing arrays of apparent point sources of light which provide a picture comprising a large number of color combinations.

An LED matrix display system for large number of color displays, comprising:

• message control means which provide a means of providing previously prepared messages for display;
• video digitizer means which provide digitized voltage levels of video signals;
• mode selection means which select between signals processed through the message control means and video digitizer means;
• memory means which provide retrievable storage for digitized voltage levels of video signals;
• LED illumination means which illuminate all colors of each pixel at a synchronous rate and time;
• pulse wave modulation means which extinguish the light individually from sets of LEDs by color within each pixel at variable times after synchronous illumination to provide a large number of color combinations;
• pixel addressing means which provide X-Y row, column addressing of pixels which selectively address multiple columns and groups of rows of LEDs to reduce peak current levels and provide refresh rates which minimize apparent flicker;
• pixel module means which provide serial/parallel arrays of primary colored LED means, said pixel module means providing levels of illumination required for large arrays and providing redundancy for increased pixel reliability;
• primary colored LED means providing light integrally summing to provide one color of a large number of color combinations;
• multiple pixel module means, in combination, providing an array of apparent point sources of light which provide a picture comprising a large number of color combinations.

LED illumination apparatus adapted to a large LED matrix display system which provides an infinite number of color combinations, said LED illumination apparatus comprising:

• signal source means which provide an independent signal for each primary color;
• color demodulator means which separate a color signal into three color driven analog signals;
• pixel module means which comprise primary colored LED pixel means, said pixel module means providing one apparent source of light in the large matrix LED display.
• pulse wave modulation means comprising:
• LED addressing and exciting means which address and excite each LED of each pixel to illumination at the same instant;
• LED illumination extinguishing means which extinguish each LED independently at a variable time after the LEDs of a pixel have been illuminated, providing a duration of LED ON time which is dependent upon the strength of the signal from the signal source means for the color to be emitted by that LED;
• pixel addressing means which provide X-Y row, column addressing of pixels which selectively address single columns and rows to reduce peak current levels and operate synchronously with an incoming video signal;
• multiple pixel module means, in combination, providing an array of apparent point sources of light which provide a picture comprising an infinite number of color combinations.

An LED matrix display system for infinite variety of color combinations LED displays, comprising:

• message control means which provide previously prepared messages for display;
• video input receiving means which receive signals to be sent to a synchronous separator means;
• synchronous separator means which separate incoming video input signals into vertical timing signals, frame timing signals, and signal to be sent to a color demodulator means;
• color demodulator means which separate a color signal into three color driven analog signals;
• column sample shift register means which provides gate timing means at which time sample and hold circuits are set for each pixel;
• pixel addressing means which provide X-Y row addressing of pixels which selectively address single columns and rows;
• pulse wave modulation means which extinguish the light individually from sets of LEDs by color within each pixel at variable times after synchronous illumination to provide an infinite number of color combinations;
• LED pixel means comprising red, blue, and green LED light emitting means, the output of which integrally sums to provide one color of an infinite number of color combinations;
• pixel module means, in combination, providing an array of apparent point sources of light which provide a picture comprising an infinite number of color combinations.