Patent ID: 6018237
Filing Date: 2000-01-25
Classification: G01R,G09G

Abstract:
A variable color display device comprising:means for repeatedly defining a cycle by developing a start signal at the beginning of each said cycle;input means for receiving a plurality of data representing the portions of a plurality of primary colors;means for accumulating, in response to said start signal, counts respectively proportional to said data, and for developing, when respective count is accumulated, a respective end of count signal;a plurality of display areas arranged in a pattern for exhibiting, upon selective activation, a plurality of display units, each said display area including a plurality of light emitting diodes for emitting, when forwardly biased, light signals of respective primary colors, and means for combining said light signals in said display area to obtain a light signal of a composite color;means for decoding including a decoder input, for receiving an input code defining a selected display unit, and a plurality of decoder outputs, said decoder outputs being coupled to said light emitting diodes in accordance with their positions in said pattern, said decoder outputs producing selective decoder output signals for selecting certain of said display areas, corresponding by their positions in said pattern to the selected display unit, in response to a specific input code;bistable means including a plurality of bistable outputs, equal in number to the plurality of said primary colors and respectively associated therewith, each said bistable output developing an active signal in response to said start signal and an inactive signal in response to the respective end of count signal; andmeans for forwardly biasing certain ones of said light emitting diodes, in accordance with said decoder output signals, for emitting the portions of light signals of said primary colors, in accordance with said active signals, respectively.