Patent ID: 6417864
Filing Date: 2002-07-09
Classification: G09G

Abstract:
A light modulating device comprising an addressable matrix of modulating elements, and addressing means for selectively addressing each element in order to vary the transmission level of the element relative to the transmission levels of other elements, the addressing means including spatial and/or temporal dither means for addressing separately addressable spatial bits of each element with different combinations of spatial dither signals and/or for addressing at least part of each element with different combinations of temporal dither signals applied to separately addressable temporal bits corresponding to subframes of different periods to produce a plurality of different transmission levels, and state selection means for switching at least a part of each element between different states corresponding to different transmission levels by means of ON and OFF switching signals, wherein the state selection means includes transition responsive means for providing a transitional transmission level in response to a transition in transmission level between adjacent elements and/or successive frames, which transition involves changing the state of one of the bits between a first state corresponding to a first transmission level and a second state corresponding to a second transmission level, said transitional transmission level involving changing the state of said one bit to an intermediate state corresponding to a transmission level which is intermediate the first transmission level and the second transmission level.