Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6812907
-
Patent Number
6,812,907
-
Date Filed
Wednesday, July 19, 200024 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, November 2, 200420 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Shalwala; Bipin
- Osorio; Ricardo
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 345 11
- 345 13
- 345 33
- 345 173
- 345 903
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
An electronic display comprises a plurality of independently operable segments. Each of the plurality of independently operable segments comprises a plurality of picture elements.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to display panels especially for use in portable devices and more specifically to a segmented display in which the segments may be individually enabled or disabled to minimize power use.
BACKGROUND
Electronic devices often require display panels to display text or graphics. However, display panels are expensive and power hungry devices. As electronic devices become more popular, efforts have been made to reduce power requirements. For example, more efficient display hardware and power management software is used in most new electronic devices. However, even with power management software to turn off the device when not in use, the most efficient displays remain too power hungry for use in some applications. In particular, portable or battery powered electronic devices often include display panels which are smaller than ideal, simply to conserve power. As a result, the devices have incredibly complex user interfaces designed for very small displays which cannot contain a large menu or detailed instructions.
For example, liquid crystal displays (LCD) have seen widespread use as portable devices have become increasingly powerful and popular. LCD's are used to display information either in monochrome (black and white) or color. LCD's are currently the most cost effective type of display when a lightweight small display is needed. LCD's also use less electrical power than other typical display technologies. As a result, LCD's are found in most portable electronic device which need to display information, such as digital cameras, portable computers, and children's toys.
An LCD typically consists of two sheets of glass separated by a sealed-in liquid crystal material which is normally transparent. The outer surface of each glass sheet is coated with a transparent electrically conductive material such as tin oxide or indium oxide. The coating on the front, or viewing, surface is etched into characters or symbols that will be displayed on the LCD. On LCD's which need to display more complex information, the coating on the top surface is etched into an array of small shapes which may be flexibly combined during operation to form characters or symbols. Each of the etched portions have electrical conductors leading to the edge of the LCD. When an electrical voltage is applied between the front and back electrode coatings, the normally orderly arrangement of the liquid crystal molecules is disrupted. This disruption causes the liquid crystal material between the energized electrode coatings to darken, while the surrounding unenergized liquid crystal material remains transparent. The etched portions on the front coating are selectively energized so that the corresponding darkened regions on the LCD form easily viewable characters or symbols. A backlight is often used to illuminate the LCD from behind, increasing the contrast between the transparent and darkened regions on the LCD to improve readability.
However, LCD's are not without their disadvantages. Even though they are very power efficient compared to other typical display technologies, the power required to operate an LCD can quickly drain the batteries in a portable device. Therefore, most portable devices such as digital cameras employ smaller than ideal LCD's, making it difficult to read characters on the display. The user interface of a portable device is also complicated by a smaller than ideal LCD, since large menus providing access to the device functions cannot be displayed on a small LCD. Large menus are therefore typically divided into many levels of small menus which are confusing and tedious to use. Images displayed on a smaller than ideal LCD are also difficult to view, and are so compressed that details are lost. A common example is the extraordinarily complex user interfaces common to today's digital cameras.
Other display devices are available for electronic devices, such as plasma discharge panels (PDP's), which can produce a much better image than LCD's. However, these generally require even more power than LCD's.
Consequently, a need exists for a display with relatively low power requirements allowing larger displays in electronic devices. A further need exists for a display with variable power requirements that can be adjusted according to the varying power needs of the display as larger or smaller images are displayed.
SUMMARY
To assist in achieving the aforementioned needs, the inventors have devised a segmented display panel for use in electronic devices, particularly in portable electronic devices such as digital cameras. The preferred segmented display has a smaller rectangular segment surrounded by a larger U-shaped segment. The two segments may be powered and operated independently or jointly. When only small items need to be displayed, the larger segment is turned off while the smaller segment display is active. When larger items need to be displayed, such as photographs, the two segments are jointly powered and are used together to display the items.
The invention may comprise an electronic display having a plurality of independently operable segments. Each of the plurality of independently operable segments comprises a plurality of picture elements.
The invention may also comprise a digital camera. The digital camera includes an optical imaging assembly, a storage device electrically connected to the optical imaging assembly, and segmented display means electrically connected to the storage device.
The invention may also comprise an electronic apparatus having a segmented display. The segmented display comprises a plurality of independently operable display segments, wherein each of the plurality of independently operable display segments is located adjacent at least one other of the plurality of independently operable display segments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
Illustrative and presently preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:
FIG. 1
is a front perspective view of a digital camera with a segmented display panel;
FIG. 2
is a rear perspective view of the digital camera of
FIG. 1
showing the segmented display panel;
FIG. 3
is a diagram of a segmented display panel having a first segment positioned along the top edge of a second segment;
FIG. 4
is a diagram of a segmented display panel having a first segment positioned in the upper left corner of a second segment;
FIG. 5
is a diagram of a segmented display panel having a first segment positioned along the left edge of a second segment;
FIG. 6
is a side view of a segmented display panel having LED array backlights;
FIG. 7
is a side view of a segmented display panel having side mounted cold cathode fluorescent lamp backlights;
FIG. 8
is a top view of two backlights for a segmented display panel having side-mounted light sources with fiber optic panels; and
FIG. 9
is a side view of a segmented display panel having a touch screen and passive artwork.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The drawing and description, in general, disclose an electronic display having a plurality of independently operable segments. Each of the plurality of independently operable segments comprises a plurality of picture elements.
The drawing and description also disclose a digital camera. The digital camera includes an optical imaging assembly, a storage device electrically connected to the optical imaging assembly, and segmented display means electrically connected to the storage device.
The drawing and description also disclose an electronic apparatus having a segmented display. The segmented display comprises a plurality of independently operable display segments, wherein each of the plurality of independently operable display segments is located adjacent at least one other of the plurality of independently operable display segments.
A segmented electronic display
22
may be used in electronic devices (e.g.,
10
) to provide a large display while conserving power in the device. Typical electronic devices benefitting from a segmented electronic display
22
include any electronic device that displays either large or small amounts of information during different operational states and for which power consumption is an issue. In particular, portable electronic devices such as a digital camera
10
benefit greatly by the use of a segmented electronic display
22
.
A digital camera
10
(
FIGS. 1 and 2
) having a segmented electronic display
22
may be used to detect and store the image of a subject or scene in electrical form. As digital cameras
10
have become more portable and computers have become more widely used, digital photography and document imaging has developed into a very useful tool. Digital photographs may be quickly reviewed and transmitted electronically to others without waiting for film development.
Digital cameras
10
are well-known in the art and are analogous to ordinary film-type cameras, except that the film is replaced with a photoelectric detector (e.g., a charge-coupled device (CCD)). The photoelectric detector converts the light received by the camera into electronic signals, which may be digitized and stored as digital image data. For example, the resulting digital image data may be stored in an electronic memory system, such as a random access memory (RAM), or may be stored on a magnetic or optical disk of the type commonly used to store digital data.
The segmented electronic display
22
in the digital camera
10
is used to display information for the photographer such as camera settings, the number of digital images stored in memory, or to display captured images, allowing the images to be previewed and deleted or retaken without printing them or transferring them to a computer.
The segmented electronic display
22
in a preferred embodiment has two segments, segment A
24
and segment B
26
, which are located adjacent one another to form one large display
22
. In the preferred embodiment, segment A
24
is a smaller rectangular display and segment B
26
is a larger, notched rectangle having a U-shape. Segment A
24
fits into the notch
30
in segment B
26
so that the segmented electronic display
22
forms a rectangle.
The two segments A
24
and B
26
may be operated independently or concurrently as needed. Simple information may be displayed on segment A
24
while segment B
26
remains shut down so that it draws little or no power. Complex information may be displayed on the segmented electronic display
22
by operating both segments A
24
and B
26
. For example, camera settings or menus may be displayed on segment A
24
while segment B
26
is left shut down, thus conserving power. A full image may be displayed on the entire segmented electronic display
22
by displaying a portion of the image on segment A
24
and the rest of the image on segment B
26
. Complicated portions of menus may also be displayed on the entire segmented electronic display
22
, thereby simplifying complex interaction tasks.
The digital camera
10
is designed or programmed to minimize power usage by shutting down segment B
26
whenever possible, using only segment A
24
to display simple information. The digital camera
10
thus powers the entire segmented electronic display
22
, including segment B
26
, only when complex information must be displayed.
The segmented electronic display
22
in an electronic device thus provides a large, easy to read display panel, while enabling the electronic device to conserve power when only simple information is displayed. The user interface of the electronic device can therefore be greatly improved, since large menus can be displayed on the entire segmented electronic display
22
without breaking them into deep and complicated layers of submenus. Large images may also be displayed on the entire segmented electronic display
22
when needed.
Before describing the segmented electronic display
22
, an exemplary digital camera
10
which may employ a segmented electronic display
22
will be described. A digital camera
10
(
FIGS. 1 and 2
) comprises a housing portion
14
which is sized to receive the various systems and components required by the digital camera
10
. For example, in the embodiment shown and described herein, the housing
14
is sized to receive an optical imaging assembly, a storage device to store the image data collected by the optical imaging assembly, and a control system for providing a user interface and for processing and formatting the image data. A lens
20
in the optical imaging assembly is located in the housing
14
to allow light to enter the digital camera
10
. The housing
14
may also be sized to receive a power source such as one or more batteries. At least one control button
12
, such as a shutter release button, is provided on the outside of the housing
14
. The digital camera
10
preferably includes an illumination system such as a flash
16
mounted on the outside of the housing
14
. The segmented electronic display
22
is also located on the outside of the housing
14
. Each of the foregoing systems and devices will now be described in detail.
The housing
14
of the digital camera
10
may comprise a generally rectangularly shaped structure sized to receive the various internal components of the camera
10
. The housing
14
is sized to receive the optical imaging assembly, which includes a lens
20
and an electrical photodetector. The lens
20
is preferably telecentric or near telecentric. The photodetector detects image light focused thereon by the lens
20
and comprises a CCD, although other devices may be used. A typical CCD comprises an array of individual cells or “pixels,” each of which collects or builds-up an electrical charge in response to exposure to light. Since the quantity of the accumulated electrical charge in any given cell or pixel is related to the intensity and duration of the light exposure, a CCD may be used to detect light and dark spots on an image focused thereon.
The term “image light” as used herein refers to the light that is focused onto the surface of the detector array by the lens
20
. The image light may be converted into digital signals in essentially three steps. First, each pixel in the CCD detector converts the light it receives into an electric charge. Second, the charges from the pixels are converted into analog voltages by an analog amplifier. Finally, the analog voltages are digitized by an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter. The digital data then may be processed and/or stored as desired.
A storage device is located in the housing
14
to store the image data collected by the optical imaging assembly. The storage device preferably comprises a random access memory (RAM), or may comprise a magnetic, optical, or other solid state storage medium. A control system is located in the housing
14
to process and format the image data, either before or after storage in the storage device. The control system preferably comprises a microprocessor and associated memory. Alternatively, the control system may comprise a hard-coded device such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The control system processes image data for display on the segmented electronic display
22
, among other tasks. For example, the control system also displays camera settings and menus on the segmented electronic display
22
, and processes user commands.
The segmented electronic display
22
, as will be described in more detail hereinafter, preferably comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD). The segmented electronic display
22
may also comprise any other suitable display device that is segmented to reserve power. The segmented electronic display
22
is preferably flat, but may alternatively have a non-flat contoured surface if desired.
Digital cameras and camera bodies are well-known in the art and could be easily provided by persons having ordinary skill in the art after having become familiar with the teachings of the present invention. Therefore, the housing
14
utilized in one preferred embodiment of the present invention, as well as the various ancillary systems and devices (e.g., battery systems and storage devices) that may be utilized in one preferred embodiment of the present invention will not be described in further detail herein.
During operation of the digital camera
10
, the camera
10
is oriented with the lens
20
directed at a subject. The subject may be monitored either through a viewfinder (not shown), or on the segmented electronic display
22
. When the digital camera
10
is properly oriented, the shutter release button
12
is pressed. The photodetector then converts the image light directed thereon by the lens
20
into electrical image data, which are stored in the storage device. The control system then processes the image data and displays the captured image on the segmented electronic display
22
.
Referring now to
FIG. 3
, a preferred segmented electronic display
22
comprises two interlocking or contiguous segments, segment A
24
and segment B
26
. Segment A
24
may be operated without segment B
26
, but segment B
26
is preferably always used in conjunction with segment A
24
to form a single large display panel. Segment A
24
has a height
32
of about 40 mm and a width
34
of about 40 mm. Segment B
26
has a notch
30
formed in a top edge
36
, giving it a U shape. The notch
30
is preferably centered along the top edge
36
of segment B
26
. Segment B
26
therefore has a base
40
with two arms
42
and
44
extending perpendicularly from the ends
46
and
50
of the base
40
. The base
40
has a height
52
of about 20 mm and a width
54
of about 80 mm. Each arm
42
and
44
has a height
32
of about 40 mm and a width
56
and
60
of about 20 mm. Segment B
26
therefore has a height
58
of about 60 mm. The notch
30
in segment B
26
has substantially the same size and shape as segment A
24
so that segment A
24
fills the notch
30
, with the top
62
aligned with the top
36
of segment B
26
. The two segments A
24
and B
26
thus combine to form a rectangular display
22
.
Segment A
24
has a shape and size that is optimized to display the user interface on the digital camera
10
, and is preferably square. Segment B
26
in conjunction with segment A
24
, in contrast, has a shape and size that is optimized to display images on the digital camera
10
, thus preferably has an aspect ratio to match that of the captured images. Note that the dimensions given herein are exemplary, based on the described digital camera
10
, but will be modified as needed according to the particular electronic device.
The digital camera
10
is programmed to use the smaller segment
24
whenever possible, minimizing power usage in the camera
10
, and to use both segments
24
and
26
when more information must be displayed than will fit on the smaller segment
24
alone. The digital camera
10
may also be programmed to shut down the larger segment
26
during extended periods of non-use, leaving it powered for only a predetermined amount of time after the user presses a control on the camera.
In a second exemplary configuration, as illustrated in
FIG. 4
, a segmented electronic display
70
may comprise two contiguous segments, segment A
72
and segment B
74
, with segment A
72
located in a corner of the display
70
. Segment A
72
has a height
76
of about 40 mm and a width
80
of about 40 mm. Segment B
74
has a notch
82
formed in the upper left corner
84
. Segment B
74
therefore has a base
86
with an arm
90
extending perpendicularly from the end
92
of the base
86
. The base
86
has a height
94
of about 20 mm and a width
96
of about 80 mm. The arm
90
has a height
76
of about 40 mm and a width
100
of about 40 mm. Segment B
74
therefore has a height
98
of about 60 mm. The notch
82
in segment B
74
has substantially the same size and shape as segment A
72
so that segment A
72
fills the notch
82
, with the top
102
of segment A
72
aligned with the top
104
of segment B
74
, and the left side
106
of segment A
72
aligned with the left side
110
of segment B
74
. The two segments A
72
and B
74
thus combine to form a rectangular display
70
.
In a third exemplary configuration, as illustrated in
FIG. 5
, a segmented electronic display
110
may comprise two contiguous segments, segment A
112
and segment B
114
, with segment A
112
located along a side of the display
110
. Segment A
112
has a height
116
of about 60 mm and a width
120
of about 40 mm. Segment B
114
has a height
122
of about 60 mm and a width
124
of about 40 mm. Segment A
112
and segment B
114
thus have the same height
116
and
122
, and the top
126
of segment A
112
is aligned with the top
130
of segment B
114
. The two segments A
112
and B
114
thus combine to form a rectangular display
110
having a width
132
of about 80 mm and a height
116
and
122
of about 60 mm.
As mentioned above, the configuration of the panels will depend upon the electronic device and may be modified from the exemplary embodiments above. Further, the number of independently operable panels may be varied according to the application.
In the preferred embodiment, the segmented electronic display consists of an LCD panel in which the liquid crystal portion is one solid unsegmented unit and the backlight under the liquid crystal portion is segmented to provide the variable power requirements in the display. For example, as illustrated in
FIG. 6
, a segmented electronic display
140
is made of a backlit LCD panel having a single unsegmented liquid crystal panel
142
and two light emitting diode (LED) arrays
144
and
146
mounted adjacent one another on a mounting surface
150
. The two LED arrays
144
and
146
provide a backlight for the LCD panel
142
to improve contrast and readability, as discussed previously. The two LED arrays
144
and
146
are independently operable so that the first LED array
144
backlights a first segment
152
and the second LED array
146
backlights a second segment
154
. Each of the two LED arrays
144
and
146
may be powered independently so that only one segment (e.g.,
152
) is illuminated or that both LED arrays
144
and
146
are powered together to form one large display panel.
The LCD panel
142
is preferably unsegmented, but different portions of the panel
142
are typically independently accessible. Therefore, picture elements in the first segment
152
may be accessed and turned on or off while only the first LED array
144
is powered, and picture elements in the first segment
154
are not accessed and are therefore left turned off while the second LED array
146
is unpowered.
Alternatively, if the LCD panel
142
uses power even when picture elements in the segments
152
and
154
are not turned on, the segments
152
and
154
may be electrically separated so that each can be independently powered like the LED backlights
144
and
146
. However, segmenting the liquid crystal in the LCD panel
142
may create a small visible discontinuity along the border between the segments.
The two LED arrays
144
and
146
are placed as closely together as possible so that a boundary
156
between them is as small as possible. To provide even illumination of the LCD panel
142
, light should be able to cross the boundary
156
between the two LED arrays
144
and
146
. Thus, when both segments
152
and
154
are being used together, and the two LED arrays
144
and
146
are powered simultaneously, light will blend across the boundary
156
between the two LED arrays
144
and
146
, effectively forming one uniform backlight. If the LCD segments
152
and
154
are opaque when unpowered, there will not be a glow in the unused segment (e.g.,
154
) along the boundary
156
from the powered LED array
144
. However, if the LCD segments
152
and
154
are transparent when unpowered, a glow may appear in the unused segment (e.g.,
154
) along the boundary
156
from the powered LED array
144
. In an alternative embodiment, the boundary
156
between the two LED arrays
144
and
146
may be opaque to separate the illumination from the two LED arrays
144
and
146
.
As discussed above, the picture elements in the segmented electronic display
140
may have any shape and size suitable for displaying information. For example, the picture elements may be an array of identical small generic shapes which are combined to form symbols, or may be entire symbols or parts of unique symbols.
Referring now to
FIG. 7
, another segmented electronic display
160
includes an LCD panel
162
having two segments
164
and
166
. As above, the two segments
164
and
166
are preferably formed by independently powerable backlights
170
and
172
. In this embodiment, the backlights
170
and
172
consist primarily of a pair of cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CFLs)
174
and
176
and a corresponding pair of diffusers
180
and
182
. The CFLs
174
and
176
are side mounted on the segmented electronic display and transmit light into the diffusers
180
and
182
which are mounted to a mounting surface
184
behind the LCD panel
162
. As light enters the sides of the diffusers
180
and
182
from the CFLs
174
and
176
, it is diffused up through the LCD panel
162
to backlight the panel
162
. However, side mounted backlights
170
and
172
are not as uniform as the back mounted LED arrays
144
and
146
discussed above. Light is brightest at the edges of the segmented electronic display
160
and falls off uniformly near the middle of the display
160
. In this embodiment, it may be desirable to provide an opaque boundary
186
between the diffusers
180
and
182
to prevent one CFL
174
from producing a gradient illumination across the entire segmented electronic display
160
even when the remote LCD segment
166
is unused.
Referring now to
FIG. 8
, another backlight
190
for a segmented electronic display is formed from side mounted light sources
192
and
194
which transmit light into arrays of optical fibers
196
and
200
, respectively. The optical fibers
196
and
200
form fiber optic panels
202
and
204
which lie behind an LCD panel. As light travels through the fiber optic panels
202
and
204
, part of the light crosses the walls of the fiber optic panels
202
and
204
to backlight the LCD panel. The light sources
192
and
194
are independently powerable to form two segments on the LCD panel, as discussed previously. The boundary
206
between the fiber optic panels
202
and
204
is preferably transparent or translucent to increase uniformity of illumination, as discussed above.
Many other types of lighting systems for LCD panels may be used to illuminate the segments in a segmented electronic display. Therefore, the exemplary embodiments discussed above should be seen as non-limiting.
Referring now to
FIG. 9
, another embodiment of a segmented electronic display
210
includes an LCD panel
212
backlit by two LED arrays
214
and
216
, mounted on a mounting surface
220
. The two LED arrays
214
and
216
are independently powerable to form two segments
222
and
224
on the LCD panel
212
. The boundary
226
between the two LED arrays
214
and
216
is preferably translucent or transparent, as discussed above.
A passive artwork layer
230
is placed over the LCD panel
212
containing artwork or symbols for use with a user interface. The artwork in the passive artwork layer
230
is only visible when the backlight behind the artwork is off. When the passive artwork layer
230
is backlit, the symbols are substantially transparent. For example, symbols may be located in the passive artwork layer
230
to cover only one segment
222
. When the associated LED array
214
is off, the symbols in the one segment
222
are reflective and are thus visible. When the LED array
214
is on, the symbols in the passive artwork layer
230
are backlit and become substantially transparent, thus are washed out to the point of becoming nearly invisible. This allows the unpowered segment to remain useful for the user interface even when the LCD panel is not powered.
A touch screen
232
is placed over the LCD panel
212
and the passive artwork layer
230
, allowing the user to operate a user interface by pressing points on the touch screen
232
. Touch screens are well known in the art and various components thereof are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,528,266 which is hereby incorporated by reference for all that it discloses. The touch screen
232
may also be used in conjunction with the passive artwork layer
230
to improve the user interface. For example, symbols such as menus or icons may be formed in the passive artwork layer
230
. When the symbols are not backlit, the symbols will be visible, and the user may press the touch screen
232
over the symbols to select functions in the electronic device. When the passive artwork layer
230
is backlit, the symbols become substantially transparent so that they do not interfere with image displays covering all segments of the segmented electronic display
210
.
In another embodiment of a segmented electronic display, the display consists of a plasma display panel (PDP) having at least two independently operable segments. A PDP (not shown) consists of an array of individually addressable cells which can be turned on or off to produce light, usually of varying colors. In a preferred PDP segmented electronic display, a user interface activates only one segment of the display, preserving power by leaving at least one segment unused, such as in the configurations shown in
FIGS. 3-5
.
Alternatively, the PDP may consist of two separate, electrically distinct panels which are independently powered. During use, PDP's are partially electrically charged so that a small increase in electricity causes addressed cells to turn on. This embodiment uses even less power than the previous embodiment because only the active segment of the PDP segmented electronic display is partially electrically charged. However, the segments of the PDP segmented electronic display must be placed very closely together with a very narrow boundary to avoid forming a dark line in the display. Other types of display technologies may also be segmented as discussed herein to preserve power in electronic devices.
While illustrative and presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein, it is to be understood that the inventive concepts may be otherwise variously embodied and employed, and that the appended claims are intended to be construed to include such variations, except as limited by the prior art.
Claims
- 1. An electronic display, comprising:a plurality of independently operable segments located in said electronic display, wherein said plurality of independently operable segments comprises a first segment and a second segment, each of said plurality of independently operable segments comprising a plurality of picture elements, wherein said second segment has a rectangular shape, and wherein said first segment has a rectangular shape with a notch, and wherein said second segment is disposed in said notch in said first segment so that said first segment and said second segment together have a rectangular shape.
- 2. The electronic display of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of independently operable segments comprises at least one boundary edge, and wherein at least one of said at least one boundary edges on each of said plurality of independently operable segments is at least partially contiguous with at least one of said at least one boundary edges on another of said plurality of independently operable segments.
- 3. The electronic display of claim 1, wherein said first segment is larger than said second segment.
- 4. The electronic display of claim 1, wherein said notch in said first segment is located along an edge of said first segment so that said first segment is U-shaped.
- 5. The electronic display of claim 1, wherein said plurality of independently operable segments comprise liquid crystal display elements.
- 6. The electronic display of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of independently operable backlights, wherein each of said independently operable backlights is located behind a different one of said plurality of independently operable segments.
- 7. The electronic display of claim 6, wherein said plurality of independently operable backlights comprise at least one light emitting diode.
- 8. The electronic display of claim 6, wherein said plurality of independently operable backlights comprise at least one fluorescent lamp.
- 9. The electronic display of claim 1, wherein said plurality of independently operable segments comprise plasma discharge display elements.
- 10. The electronic display of claim 1, wherein said plurality of picture elements comprise switchable dots, each of said switchable dots comprising a first state in which said switchable dot is visible and a second state in which said switchable dot is not visible.
- 11. The electronic display of claim 1, wherein said plurality of picture elements comprise switchable symbols, each of said switchable symbols comprising a first state in which said switchable symbol is visible and a second state in which said switchable symbol is not visible.
- 12. The electronic display of claim 1, further comprising a touch sensitive screen located over at least one of said plurality of independently operable segments.
- 13. An electronic display, comprising:a plurality of independently operable segments located in said electronic display, each of said plurality of independently operable segments comprising a plurality of picture elements; and passive artwork located over at least one of said plurality of independently operable segments, wherein said passive artwork is substantially visible when said least one of said plurality of independently operable segments under said passive artwork is off, and wherein said passive artwork is substantially transparent when said least one of said plurality of independently operable segments under said passive artwork is on.
- 14. The electronic display of claim 13, wherein said passive artwork comprises a film that is substantially reflective when not backlit and substantially transparent when backlit.
- 15. The electronic display of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of independently operable backlights, wherein each of said independently operable backlights is located behind a different one of said plurality of independently operable segments, and wherein said passive artwork is substantially visible when said plurality of independently operable backlights behind said passive artwork is off, and wherein said passive artwork is substantially transparent when said plurality of independently operable backlights behind said passive artwork is on.
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