Patent ID: 7164397

Claim:
In a digital display system comprised of a multiplicity of individual pixels for providing a spot of light wherein the color and brightness of each of said pixels is determined by combining the “on” time of one or more digital bits for a display frame, a method of using non-standard bits to increase brightness comprising: defining an output brightness dynamic range between a minimum level and a maximum level, said dynamic range comprised of a first portion and a second portion; receiving an input signal, said input signal ranging from a minimum input level through a threshold input level to a maximum input level; selecting a combination of digital bits from a primary group of digital bits in response to said input signal when said input signal is between said minimum input level and said threshold input level, and wherein said threshold level requires a combination of substantially all of said primary group of bits; selecting a combination of digital bits comprising at least one bit from a secondary group of bits and selected ones of said primary group of bits for brightness input signals between said threshold level and said maximum input level; generating a selected output brightness level of a first pixel of said display within said first portion of said dynamic range in response to a combination of digital bits selected from said primary group of digital bits and wherein said combination of selected digital bits are all selected from said digital bits of said first group; and generating a selected output brightness level of a second pixel of said display within said second portion of said dynamic range in response to a combination of digital bits selected from both of said secondary digital bits and said primary group of digital bits.