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US 6,677,936 B2Granted
Color display system for a camera
AssigneeKopin Corporation
InventorsJeffrey Jacobsen, John C. C. Fan, Stephen A. Pombo, Matthew Zavracky, Rodney Bumgardner, Alan Richard, Wen-Foo Chern
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to a microdisplay system that utilizes a small high resolution active matrix liquid crystal display with an illumination system and a magnifying optical system to provide a viewfinder in a electronic image record system such as a digital camera or video camera. The matrix display can be transmissive or reflective using sequential lighting. The system can use an alternating common voltage which allows reduced power consumption. In addition an internal heating system in the display allows the system to be used at low temperatures.
Claims30
An electronic image viewing device comprising:
- a device housing;
- an image sensor that is mounted to the housing and senses an image;
- a signal processor that is mounted to the housing and processes signals from the image sensor;
- a display circuit that is electrically connected to the signal processor and generates display data based on the processed signals;
- a light valve display that is mounted to the housing and presents the display data as an image;
- a light emitting diode (LED) light source that is optically coupled to the display for illuminating the image presented on the display;
- a lens optically coupled to the display that focuses the image on the display for viewing by a user;
- and
- a power management circuit that controls the power consumption of the display, the power management circuit lowering the power consumption of the display after the image is illuminated until the next image is ready to be presented on the display, without comparing images.
6 more elements
An electronic image recording and viewing device comprising:
- an image sensor that senses an image, the sensor being positioned within a housing;
- a signal processor that processes signals from the image sensor;
- a memory that is connected to the processor and that stores an image;
- a color sequential matrix display within the housing for displaying the images and having an any of at least 75,000 pixel electrodes in a first plane and a counterelectrode panel extending in a second plane that is parallel to the first plane, the array of pixel electrodes having a display area of less than 100mm2;
- a light source that directs a plurality of colors onto the matrix display in sequence;
- a display lens that focuses an image on the matrix display, for viewing by a user;
- and
- a display control circuit that is connected to the matrix display and actuates the pixel electrodes to display the image on the matrix display, the display control circuit also including a first switch and a second switch under the control of a timing circuit, the first switch selecting between a high or a low common voltage applied to the counterelectrode panel and the second switch being set to scan inverted image data into the matrix display, the display control circuit actuating the pixel electrodes to display the image, flashing the light source to illuminate the image, switching the first switch to switch the common applied voltage to the counterelectrode panel to erase the image, and switching the second switch to invert the image and scan the inverted image into the matrix display, the time sequence of the actuating, flashing, switching the first switch and second switch being determined by the timing circuit.
5 more elements
A method of recording and displaying an image on an active matrix display that is positioned in a camera housing comprising;
- sensing an image with an image sensor positioned within the housing;
- recording processed signals of the image in a memory electrically connected to the sensor;
- generating display data with a display circuit based on the processed signals;
- presenting the display data as an image on an active matrix display;
- flashing a light source to illuminate the image;
- displaying the image for viewing through a lens that focuses the image on the display;
- and
- controlling the power consumption of the display with a power management circuit by lowering the power consumption of the display after the image is illuminated until the next image is ready to be presented on the display, without comparing the images.
5 more elements
An electronic image viewing device comprising:
- an image sensor that senses an image;
- a signal processor that processes signals from the image sensor;
- a matrix display connected to the signal processor, and having an array of at pixel electrodes in a first plane and a counterelectrode panel extending in a second plane that is parallel to the first plane, the display presenting an image based on the signals from the image sensor;
- a light source that is optically coupled to the display for illuminating the display;
- a display control circuit that is connected to the display and actuates the pixel electrodes to display the image on the display, the display control circuit also including a first switch and a second switch under the control of a timing circuit, the first switch selecting between a high or a low common voltage applied to the counterelectrode panel, and the second switch being set to scan inverted image data into the display, the display control circuit actuating the pixel electrodes to display the image, flashing the light source to illuminate the image, switching the first switch to switch the common applied voltage to the counterelectrode panel to erase the image, and switching the second switch to invert the image and scan the inverted image into the display, the time sequence of the actuating, flashing, switching the first switch and second switch being determined by the timing circuit;
- and
- a power management circuit that controls the power consumption of the display, the power management circuit lowering the power consumption of the display after the image is illuminated until the next image is ready to be presented on the display, without comparing images.
4 more elements
A method of operating an electronic image viewing device comprising:
- sensing an image with an image sensor that is mounted to a housing;
- processing signals from the image sensor;
- generating display data based on the processed signals;
- presenting the display data as an image with a light valve display that is mounted to the housing;
- illuminating the image presented on the display with a light emitting diode (LED) light source tat is optically coupled to the display;
- focusing the illuminated image for viewing by a user;
- and
- controlling the power consumption of the display with a power management circuit, the power management circuit lowering the power consumption of the display after the image is illuminated until the next image is ready to be presented on the display, without comparing images.
5 more elements
A method of operating an electronic image recording and viewing device comprising:
- sensing an image with an image sensor, the sensor being positioned within a housing;
- processing signals from the image sensor;
- storing an image ma memory;
- displaying the image with a color sequential matrix display within the housing, the matrix display having an ray of at least 75,000 pixel electrodes in a first plane and a counterelectrode panel extending in a second plane that is parallel to the first plane, the array of pixel electrodes having a display area of less than 100mm2;
- directing a plurality of colors onto the matrix display from a light source in sequence;
- focusing an image from the matrix display on a display lens, for viewing by a user;
- and
- from a display control circuit that is connected to the matrix display, actuating the pixel electrodes to display the image on the matrix display, the display control circuit also including a first switch and a second switch under the control of a timing circuit, the first switch selecting between a high or a low common voltage applied to the counterelectrode panel, and the second switch being set to scan inverted image data into the matrix display, the display control circuit actuating the pixel electrodes to display the image, flashing the light source to illuminate the image, switching the first switch to switch the common applied voltage to the counterelectrode panel to erase the image, and switching the second switch to invert the image and scan the inverted image into the matrix display, the time sequence of the actuating, flashing, switching the first switch and second switch being determined by the timing circuit.
5 more elements
A method of operating an electronic image viewing device comprising:
- sensing an image with an image sensor;
- processing signals from the image sensor with a signal processor;
- presenting an image on a matrix display based on the signals from the image sensor, the matrix display having an array of at pixel electrodes in a first plane and a counterelectrode panel extending in a second plane that is parallel to the first plane;
- illuminating the display with a light source;
- from a display control circuit, actuating the pixel electrodes to display the image on the display, the display control circuit also including a first switch and a second switch under the control of a timing circuit, the first switch selecting between a high or a low common voltage applied to the counterelectrode panel, and the second switch being set to scan inverted image data into the display, the display control circuit actuating the pixel electrodes to display the image, flashing the light source to illuminate the image, switching the first switch to switch the common applied voltage to the counterelectrode panel to erase the image, and switching the second switch to invert the image and scan the inverted image into the display, the time sequence of the actuating, flashing, switching the first switch and second switch being determined by the timing circuit;
- and
- from a power management circuit, controlling the power consumption of the display, the power management circuit lowering the power consumption of the display after the image is illuminated until the next image is ready to be presented on the display, without comparing images.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.