Patent Description:
<CIT> relates to a backlight apparatus and a display apparatus including the backlight apparatus. <CIT> relates to a backlight for an LCD display.

In a first aspect, there is provided a display as claimed in claim <NUM>.

In a further aspect, there is provided a system comprising a display in accordance with the first aspect, as claimed in claim <NUM>.

In a further aspect, there is provided a method, as claimed in claim <NUM>.

The method includes causing, by a processor of a display, a first group of light emitting diodes (LEDs) to pulse, wherein the display comprises a backlight and the processor, wherein the backlight comprises a plurality of LEDs, the plurality of LEDs comprising the first group of LEDs and a second group of LEDs, wherein the processor is communicatively coupled to the plurality of LEDs. The method further includes causing, by the processor, the second group of LEDs to pulse, wherein the first group of LEDs pulse out of phase from the second group of LEDs.

Such description makes reference to the included drawings which are exemplary only, which are not necessarily to scale, and in which some features may be exaggerated and some features may be omitted or may be represented schematically in the interest of clarity. In the drawings:.

Before explaining at least one example in detail, it is to be understood that the inventive concepts are not limited in their application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components or steps or methodologies set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. In the following detailed description of examples, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the inventive concepts. The inventive concepts disclosed herein are capable of other examples or of being practiced or carried out in various ways.

As used herein a letter following a reference numeral is intended to reference an example of the feature or element that may be similar, but not necessarily identical, to a previously described element or feature bearing the same reference numeral (e.g., <NUM>, 1a, 1b).

In addition, use of the "a" or "an" are employed to describe elements and components of examples.

Finally, as used herein any reference to "one example," or "some examples" means that a particular element, feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the example is included in at least one example of the inventive concepts disclosed herein. The appearances of the phrase "in some examples" in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same example, and examples of the inventive concepts disclosed may include one or more of the features expressly described or inherently present herein, or any combination of subcombination of two or more such features, along with any other features which may not necessarily be expressly described or inherently present in the instant disclosure.

Broadly, examples disclosed herein are directed to a method, system, and display configured to provide a dimming effect to a backlight.

Some examples provide a method to dim LED backlights that may be combined with a pulse width dimming method, a pulse frequency dimming method, and LED drive current method to significantly increase an LED backlight's dimming range. Some examples include a controller configured to drive multiple groups (e.g., sections) of backlight LEDs, with each group out of phase ( at less than <NUM>) from another group. Typically, backlights have a plurality of (e.g., several hundred) LEDs. For example, if the LEDs are driven at <NUM> but with half of the LEDS out of phase from the other half of the LEDS, minimum luminance would effectively be reduced by <NUM>%. The eye would not perceive flicker because the effective frequency of the two halves of LEDs is at <NUM>. For example, the groups of LEDs may be implemented spatially (e.g., uniformly spatially and/or interlaced) across the backlight with an optical diffuser implemented in a display stack so the viewer does not see the individual LEDs pulsing at <NUM> and cannot perceive the <NUM> rate at which the backlight is pulsing. Some examples may include the use of any suitable frequencies and/or any suitable number of groups of LEDs that are out of phase from other groups of LEDs. For example, four groups of LEDs pulsing at <NUM> may each be out of phase to reduce the luminance by a factor of <NUM>. Some examples include a means to extend dimming range of displays (e.g., flight deck backlit displays) and provide new capabilities currently not available.

Referring now to <FIG>, an exemplary system including a vehicle, namely, an aircraft <NUM> (e.g., such as a military or commercial aircraft)) including a display (e.g., a transmissive touchscreen display <NUM>) is depicted according to the inventive concepts. The transmissive touchscreen display <NUM> may be implemented as a vehicle transmissive touchscreen display (e.g., an aircraft transmissive touchscreen display (e.g., a military aircraft transmissive touchscreen display) implemented in a fight deck). The display is implemented as a flight deck display.

The display (e.g., the transmissive touchscreen display <NUM>) may include a display stack. The display stack may include a transparent protective cover <NUM>, a touchscreen sensor <NUM> (e.g., a projected capacitance touchscreen sensor or a resistive touchscreen sensor) implemented in a layer, a transparent substrate <NUM>, a transmissive display element <NUM> (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) element), a diffuser <NUM>, and a backlight <NUM>. The diffuser <NUM> may be positioned between the backlight <NUM> and the transmissive display element <NUM>. The diffuser <NUM> may be configured to mix the output of LEDs of the backlight <NUM> so that individual LEDs are not visible to user. The display stack may include additional layers or omit one or more of the depicted layers. The transmissive touchscreen display <NUM> may be implemented as any suitable transmissive touchscreen display, such as an LCD touchscreen display. The backlight <NUM> may include a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) (e.g., LEDs <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and/or <NUM>-<NUM>).

Referring now to <FIG>, an example of the display (e.g., the transmissive touchscreen display <NUM>) of <FIG> is depicted according to the inventive concepts. As shown in <FIG>, the transmissive touchscreen display <NUM> may include at least one controller <NUM> and a plurality of groups of LEDs (e.g., <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and/or <NUM>-<NUM>), as well as other components, equipment, and/or devices commonly included in a display (e.g., a transmissive touchscreen display), some or all of which may be communicatively coupled. The plurality of groups of LEDs (e.g., <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and/or <NUM>-<NUM>) may include any suitable number of groups, such as two, three, four, five,. <NUM>, or more.

The at least one controller <NUM> may be communicatively coupled with the plurality of groups of LEDs (e.g., <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and/or <NUM>-<NUM>). The at least one controller <NUM> may include at least one processor <NUM> and at least one memory <NUM>, which may be communicatively coupled. The processor <NUM> may be communicatively coupled with the plurality of groups of LEDs (e.g., <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and/or <NUM>-<NUM>), as well as other components of the display (e.g., the transmissive touchscreen display <NUM>). The processor <NUM> may be implemented as any suitable processor, such as a general purpose processor or a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). The processor <NUM> may be configured to run various software applications or computer code stored (e.g., maintained) in a non-transitory computer-readable medium (e.g., memory <NUM>) and configured to execute various instructions or operations. The processor <NUM> may be.

The processor <NUM> is configured to receive an instruction to adjust a dimness of the display (e.g., the transmissive touchscreen display <NUM>), such as an instruction to make the display dimmer. In response to the instruction, the processor <NUM> is configured to cause each of the plurality of groups of LEDs (e.g., <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and/or <NUM>-<NUM>) to pulse, wherein each of the plurality of groups of LEDs (e.g., <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and/or <NUM>-<NUM>) pulses out of phase from the other groups of LEDs (e.g., <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and/or <NUM>-<NUM>).

The backlight <NUM> may include the plurality of groups of LEDs (e.g., <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and/or <NUM>-<NUM>). The groups of LEDs (e.g., <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and/or <NUM>-<NUM>) are interspersed (e.g., intermingled and/or interlaced) across the backlight <NUM> such that a dimming effect is perceived across the whole display. A user in view of the display may perceive a dimming effect based at least on the groups of LEDs pulsing out of phase from one another as compared to the groups of LEDs pulsing in phase. An effective pulse frequency of the groups of LEDs is at least <NUM> Hertz Hz so as to have flickering imperceptible to a user, even though each of the of groups of LEDs (e.g., <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and/or <NUM>-<NUM>) has a pulse frequency of less than <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>, an example of the display (e.g., the transmissive touchscreen display <NUM>) of <FIG> is depicted according to the inventive concepts. As shown in <FIG>, the backlight <NUM> includes two groups of LEDs <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> that pulse out of phase from one another. An effective pulse frequency of the first group of LEDs <NUM> pulsing out of phase from the second group of LEDs <NUM>-<NUM> may be at least <NUM>. A pulse frequency of each of the first group of LEDs <NUM>-<NUM> and the second group of LEDs <NUM>-<NUM> may be between <NUM> and <NUM> (e.g., between <NUM> and <NUM><NUM>. A pulse frequency of each of the first group of LEDs <NUM>-<NUM> and the second group of LEDs <NUM>-<NUM> may be between <NUM> and <NUM> (e.g., between <NUM> and <NUM>). For example, the backlight <NUM> with two groups of LEDs <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, each pulsing at <NUM> out of phase from one another, may produce half the luminance when compared to a backlight with all LEDs pulsing at <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>, an example of the display (e.g., the transmissive touchscreen display <NUM>) of <FIG> is depicted according to the inventive concepts. As shown in <FIG>, the backlight <NUM> may include four groups of LEDs <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> that pulse out of phase from one another. An effective pulse frequency of the first group of LEDs <NUM>-<NUM>, the second group of LEDs <NUM>-<NUM>, the third group of LEDs <NUM>-<NUM>, and the fourth group of LEDs <NUM>-<NUM> pulsing out of phase from one another may be at least <NUM>. A pulse frequency of each of the four groups of LEDs <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> may be between <NUM> and <NUM> (e.g., between <NUM> and <NUM>). For example, the backlight <NUM> with four groups of LEDs <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM><NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, each pulsing at <NUM> out of phase from one another, may produce <NUM>/<NUM> the luminance when compared to a backlight with all LEDs pulsing at <NUM>.

For another example of the display (e.g., the transmissive touchscreen display <NUM>), the backlight <NUM> may include three groups of LEDs <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> that pulse out of phase from one another. An effective pulse frequency of the first group of LEDs <NUM>-<NUM>, the second group of LEDs <NUM>-<NUM>, and the third group of LEDs <NUM>-<NUM> pulsing out of phase from one another may be at least <NUM>. A pulse frequency of each of the three groups of LEDs <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> may be between <NUM> and <NUM> (e.g., between <NUM> and <NUM>). For example, the backlight <NUM> with three groups produce <NUM>/<NUM> the luminance when compared to a backlight with all LEDs pulsing at <NUM>.

While examples with two, three, or four groups of LEDs have been disclosed, some examples may include any suitable number (e.g., two, three, four, five, six,. <NUM>, or more) of groups of LEDs. According to the present invention, X groups of LEDs are utilized, and a pulse frequency of each of the X groups of LEDs is between <NUM>/X Hz and <NUM>. For example, the backlight <NUM> with X groups of LEDs, each pulsing at <NUM>/X Hz out of phase from one another, may produce <NUM>/X the luminance when compared to a backlight with all LEDs pulsing at <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>, a method <NUM> according to the inventive concepts disclosed herein may include one or more of the following steps. Additionally, for example, some examples may include performing one more instances of the method <NUM> iteratively, concurrently, and/or sequentially.

A step <NUM> may include causing, by at least one processor of a display, a first group of light emitting diodes (LEDs) to pulse.

A step <NUM> may include causing, by the at least one processor, a second group of LEDs to pulse, wherein the first group of LEDs pulse out of phase from the second group of LEDs.

As will be appreciated from the above, examples disclosed herein may be directed to a method, system, and display configured to provide a dimming effect to a backlight.

As used throughout and as would be appreciated by those skilled in the art, "at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium" may refer to as at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium (e.g., memory, storage, or a combination thereof; e.g., at least one computer-readable medium implemented as hardware; e.g., at least one non-transitory processor-readable medium, at least one memory (e.g., at least one nonvolatile memory, at least one volatile memory, or a combination thereof; e.g., at least one random-access memory, at least one flash memory, at least one read-only memory (ROM) (e.g., at least one electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM)), at least one on-processor memory (e.g., at least one on-processor cache, at least one on-processor buffer, at least one on-processor flash memory, at least one on-processor EEPROM, or a combination thereof), or a combination thereof), at least one storage device (e.g., at least one hard-disk drive, at least one tape drive, at least one solid-state drive, at least one flash drive, at least one readable and/or writable disk of at least one optical drive configured to read from and/or write to the at least one readable and/or writable disk, or a combination thereof), or a combination thereof).

It is to be understood that examples of the methods disclosed herein may include one or more of the steps described herein. Two or more of the steps disclosed herein may be combined in a single step, and in some examples, one or more of the steps may be carried out as two or more sub-steps.

Claim 1:
A display (<NUM>), wherein the display is a flight deck backlit display, comprising:
a backlight (<NUM>) comprising a plurality of light emitting diodes, LEDs, (<NUM>), the plurality of LEDs comprising X groups of LEDs, X being an integer greater than or equal to two, each group of the X groups interspersed vertically and horizontally in relation to other of the X groups; and
at least one processor (<NUM>) communicatively coupled to the plurality of LEDs, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:
receive an instruction to dim the display below a minimum luminance of all of the plurality of LEDs pulsing in phase at a pulse frequency of <NUM>;
in response to the instruction, cause each of the X groups of LEDs to pulse out of phase from the other groups of LEDs, and such that the pulse frequency of each of the X groups of LEDs is less than <NUM> and is between <NUM>/X Hz and <NUM>, with the effect that
the backlight has a reduced minimum luminance when pulsing the X groups of LEDs out of phase from one another at the pulse frequency less than <NUM> as compared to pulsing all of the plurality of LEDs in phase at <NUM>, and that
an effective pulse frequency of the X groups of LEDs pulsing out of phase from one another is at least <NUM> so that flickering is imperceptible to a user.