Methods and systems of pixel illumination

Abstract

A method of illuminating a pixel on a display to a desired brightness level that includes dividing a time required to reach a maximum brightness level into one or more time slices, varying a pixel voltage associated with the pixel according to a sequence of voltage values over the one or more time slices, and gradually increasing the brightness of the pixel according to the pixel voltage.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS/FIGURES

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate the present invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the invention.

FIG. 1 is a process flowchart for increasing the brightness of a pixel.

FIG. 2 is another process flowchart for increasing the brightness of a pixel.

FIG. 3 is an example block diagram of a pixel element.

FIG. 4 is an example timing diagram for pixel voltage generation.

FIG. 5 is an example bit sequence to brightness level mapping.

Claims

1. A method of increasing the brightness of a pixel on a display to a desired brightness level, comprising: (a) dividing a time required to reach a maximum brightness level into one or more time slices; and(b) varying a pixel voltage associated with the pixel according to a sequence of voltage values over the one or more time slices;wherein the brightness of the pixel is gradually increased, and wherein the desired brightness level is reached at an end of the sequence of voltage values.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired brightness level corresponds to an integral of the pixel voltage over the time required to reach the maximum brightness level.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the pixel is illuminated starting with a first time slice of the time required to reach the maximum brightness level.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more time slices are of substantially equal durations.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more time slices are of different durations.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the sequence of voltage values determines a time rate of illumination of the pixel over the one or more time slices.

7. A method of illuminating a pixel on a display to a desired brightness level, comprising: (a) loading a control field associated with the pixel with a first bit of a bit sequence for a corresponding time slice of a control field time;(b) maintaining, when a value of the first bit is zero, a previous value of a pixel voltage associated with the pixel for a duration of the corresponding time slice;(c) updating, when the value of the first bit is one, a value of the pixel voltage according to an input voltage and maintaining the updated value of the pixel voltage for the duration of the time slice; and(d) repeating steps (a)-(c) for subsequent bits of the bit sequence and corresponding time slices of the control field time,wherein an integral over time of the pixel voltage corresponds to the desired brightness level of the pixel.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein time slices are selected according to a time slice distribution function, said time slice distribution function defining a time duration for each time slice, and wherein a sum of the time slices is equal to the control field time.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the time slices of the control field time are of substantially equal durations.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the time slices of the control field time are of different durations.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein step (c) further comprises: (e) updating, when both the value of the first bit is one and a value of an enable signal is one, the value of the pixel according to an input voltage and maintaining the updated value of the pixel voltage for the duration of the time slice.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein a value of the input voltage is selected according to a voltage sequence, the voltage sequence defining the value of the input voltage over each time slice of the control field time.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the voltage sequence comprises one or more voltage values.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the control field is loaded with the bit sequence over the control field time, and wherein the bit sequence corresponds to the desired brightness level of the pixel based on the time slice distribution function and the voltage sequence.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the desired brightness level of the pixel is achieved using a unique bit sequence.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the desired brightness level of the pixel is achieved using one or more bit sequences.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the pixel is illuminated starting with the first bit of the bit sequence before reaching the desired brightness level of the pixel at an end of the bit sequence.

18. A pixel structure, comprising: a capacitor having a first port and a second port;a control bit element configured to receive a data signal and a select signal and to output a control signal; anda logic circuit configured to receive the control signal and an enable signal and to output a signal to control a switch that is configured to couple an input voltage to the first port of the capacitor.

19. A method for illuminating a display, comprising: (a) illuminating a first pixel of the display according to a first time series of brightness levels; and(b) illuminating a second pixel of the display according to a second time series of brightness levels;thereby gradually illuminating the display to provide a substantially uniform illumination.