Patent Application
20110234599
The present invention relates to a method of displaying images using the Persistence of Vision or POV method, and more particularly, to a swing display device and method. This is a common method of displaying images via switching light sources in a manner that utilizes the human vision's tendency to retain an image that appears just before another, such that continuous discrete displays of images are construed as a continuous motion or transformation of images. Examples of light sources that may be used include light emitting diodes (LEDs) and organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs).
A typical practical example of the swing display device employing the POV display is as shown in
Referring to
Various publications and patents describing POV displays and its applications have been disclosed, such as US2003/0100332 (“Luminescent Signaling Displays Utilizing a Wireless Mobile Communication Device”) and US2003/0080924 (“Kinetic Device and Method for Producing Visual Displays”).
An essential component in having a properly formed image during a POV display is by ensuring proper display timings of the said light sources through proper synchronizing systems. Typically, motion sensors such as inertia reversal sensors are used to detect the start and end of the POV swings, direction of swings, etc. The use of such sensors usually would increase the production cost to their products that incorporate such POV display capabilities.
Hence, a more cost-effective solution needs to be introduced; one that is able to implement the POV display, while at the same time does not cost more than is necessary. It is an object of the present invention to meet these needs, by introducing a simple implementation of synchronizing swings and light sources to produce the POV image display, while potentially costing less than conventional systems.
The purpose of this invention is to provide a system to implement the POV display while at the same time does not cost more than is necessary.
According to the present invention, a swing display device for displaying a message image while swinging the swing display device back-and-forth in the air, comprises: a display image input operable to generate an image data representing the message image for display; a CPU operable to calculate a message image producing time for producing the message image during one swing of the swing display device, operable to divide the message image into a plurality of line segments which are sequentially produced with a calculated time interval, and operable to generate a first marginal time before the occurrence of the message image and a second marginal time after the occurrence of the message image; a timer operable to count a single swing time including the first marginal time, the message image producing time, and the second marginal time, and to produce a synchronizing signal after every single swing time; a timing indicator operable to produce a sign in response to the synchronizing signal; an array of light sources aligned vertically; and a controller operable to control the array of light sources to turn on and off the light sources in response to the information of said message image contained in one line segment.
It will be recognized that some or all of the Figures are schematic representations for purposes of illustration and do not necessarily depict the actual relative sizes or locations of the elements shown.
Referring to
The swing display device of the present invention can be formed as a stick type device only for the swing display purpose, but can be built in an existing device, such as a mobile phone, a fan, a toy, or any other unit. The description herein is particularly directed to the swing display device built in a mobile phone, as an example.
Referring to
The timing indicator, such as the light source indicator 106, is provided for producing a human sensible sign in response to the synchronizing signal, such as a sound signal, light signal or vibration signal. The synchronizing signal represents the swinging speed of the swing display device, in this case, the mobile phone 104. The light source indicator 106 produces a series of blinks in a calculated speed. The user swings the mobile phone back-and-forth facing the light source array 105 front, in synchronization with the tempo of the blinks such that the user swings the mobile phone in one direction and returns the mobile phone in the opposite direction in synchronization to the blink. If the blinking speed is fast, the swing speed should be fast in synchronization with the blinking speed.
Instead of the blinking light, the user may use beeping sound or any appropriate audible indicator as a synchronizing signal. In another example, instead of the blinking light, the user may use a short vibration as a synchronizing signal.
Next, the synchronizing signal is described in detail.
Referring to
At step 100, the swing display device is initiated.
At step 101, the user inputs a message, such as a character, a sentence, or any other image such as a smile face image, using the keys 120 in the device 104. According to a preferable embodiment, the message input can be accomplished via a suitable Graphical User Interface (GUI) or even direct typing by the user. It is assumed here that a character “I” is inputted as a message.
At step 102, the display sequence is carried out. During the display sequence, the device 104 produces a series of synchronizing signals at a calculated frequency.
Upon completion of display sequence 102, step 101 of user input can be repeated, when the user selects a new input to display.
Alternatively, the user may change the input to display while the display sequence is still being run. Through interrupt instruction INT 103, via a suitable Graphical User Interface (GUI) or even direct typing by the user, the display sequence 102 may re-start.
The user can end the display, for example by pressing a mechanical stop button or via a software GUI.
Referring to
At step 102B, the display sequence (DS) starts.
At step 102C, a synchronizing signal 1 is produced. In response to the synchronizing signal 1, the user swings the swing display device 4 in a forward direction FD, as shown in
As shown in
At step 102D, time delay TDA1 is counted. The time delay TDA1 is a period of time to accelerate the swing display device 104 to a pre-selected speed. In
At step 102E, a total display time TDISPT is calculated and counted. As shown in
The total display time TDISPT can be expressed as follows.
TDISPT=(CT−1)×TDISP
wherein CT is a number of line segments used for displaying the message. In the case of character “I”, the total display time TDISPT is equal to 2*TDISP, as apparent from
At step 102F, time delay TDD1 is counted. The time delay TDD1 is a period of time to decelerate the swing display device 104 to zero, i.e., to complete stop. In
At step 102G, a synchronizing signal 2 is produced. In response to the synchronizing signal 2, the user swings the swing display device 4 in a reverse direction RD, as shown in
At step 102H, time delay TDA2 is counted. The time delay TDA2 is a period of time to accelerate the swing display device 104 to a pre-selected speed. In
At step 102I, a total display time TDISPT is counted again. During the total display time TDISPT the message is displayed from the very end edge to the very beginning edge. In the case of character “I”, three line segments C3, C2 and C1 as shown in
At step 102J, time delay TDD2 is counted. The time delay TDD2 is a period of time to decelerate the swing display device 104 to zero, i.e., to complete stop. In
According to a preferred embodiment, TDA1=TDD2, and TDD1=TDA2. Thus, the synchronizing signals 1 and 2, generally referred to as synchronizing signals, are produced alternately at a calculated frequency.
The above steps are carried out in the embodiment shown in
At step 102B, display image input 110 receives the image data selected by the user. This is achievable, for example, via a suitable Graphical User Interface (GUI) designed for this purpose, by user typing, and other means.
The request to display the selected image will be communicated to a CPU. This CPU may be the CPU already present in a mobile phone (for cases of POV display on a mobile phone), or a stand-alone CPU (for cases of display devices with no CPUs present). The CPU processes the request sent by display image input 110 and calculates a single swing time. Subsequently, CPU 111 will communicate with timer 112 to cause light source indicator 106 to blink at least once to indicate the two extreme ends for the motion of the display device 104, which is an exemplary implementation of the synchronizing signals 1 and 2 (step 102C and 102G).
An alternative means to provide the synchronizing signal 1 would be to use audible sound generator 107, where the timer 112 will cause it to generate a sound (for example, to beep at least once).
Yet another alternate means would be for display device 104 to incorporate both light source indicator 106 and audible sound generator 107, thus both indications by the light source indicator 106 and audible sound generator 107 will be generated.
Yet another alternate means to provide the synchronizing signals 1 and 2 would be to use the vibrating means 108, for example, in the form of a vibration motor.
Yet another alternative means would be to use the vibrating means in tandem with the light source indicator 106 or audible sound generator 107.
The CPU 111 will also communicate with the controller 113 to cause the linear array of light sources 105 to light up according to the forward display step 102E and reverse display step 102I at TDISP intervals. An example of the controller 113 would be a Light Management Unit integrated circuit.
The calculated frequency of the synchronizing signal depends on the length of the message, such that when the message becomes long, the calculated frequency becomes low. In actual use, the user first learns, for example by listening to the beeping sound, the speed of the synchronizing signals. Then, the user swings the swing display device 104 in synchronization with the synchronizing signals. In this manner, the message can be produced in an overlap manner between the image produced during the swing of the forward direction FD and that produced during the swing of the reverse direction RD.
Referring to
Based on the second embodiment, the system comprises the following components: display image input 210, CPU 211, timer 212, light source indicator 106 (or audible sound generator 107 and vibrating means 108), controller 213 and an array of light sources 105.
The second embodiment works the same way as the previous embodiment. Hence, the full operation description will not be described here. Instead, the differences between the two embodiments will be described.
One difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is that the timer 212, internal to CPU 211, is used for all timing operations. Also, a driver block 214 is introduced to provide a drive signal with sufficient power to the audible sound generator 107 and vibrating means 108, for optional cases where the user wishes to use the audible sound generator 107 or vibrating means 108, in tandem or otherwise. Also, the controller 213 now would drive the array of light sources 105 and light source indicator 106.
Referring to
Based on the second embodiment, the system comprises the following components: display image input 310, CPU 311, timer 312, light source indicator 106 (or audible sound generator 107 and vibrating means 108), controller 313 and an array of light sources 105.
The third embodiment works the same way as the first embodiment. Hence, the full operation description will not be described here. Instead, the differences between the third and the first embodiments will be described.
One difference between the third embodiment and the first embodiment is that a common timer 312 that is external to the CPU is used for all timing operations. Also, a driver block 314 is introduced to provide a drive signal with sufficient power to the audible sound generator 107 and vibrating means 108, for optional cases where the user wishes to use the audible sound generator 107 or vibrating means 108, in tandem or otherwise.
