Methods and apparatus for ultra-violet stimulated displays

Abstract

A display element for use in a display device that exhibits extended illumination longevity and uniformity, as well as a wide viewing angle, is provided. The element can include a light source that emits ultraviolet light, a liquid crystal device having a plurality of independently controllable (i.e., addressable) shutters, a screening element between the light source and the liquid crystal device, a plurality of luminescent elements optically aligned with the shutters, and a regulated power supply. Display devices, calibration techniques, and power management methods are also provided.

1 .- 65 . (canceled)  
   
   
       66 . A system permitting video or still image content to be displayed on selected ones of multiple electronic display devices at selected times according to system customers, wherein the system comprises: 
 a network connected to a plurality of electronic display devices, wherein at least one of the devices comprises: 
 a plurality of light sources that emits ultraviolet light,  
 a plurality of independently controllable shutters,  
 a plurality of luminescent elements optically aligned with each of the shutters, wherein each of the luminescent elements absorbs at least some of the ultraviolet light and converts it to visible light, and  
 a regulated power supply for supplying power to the light source; and  
   at least one central information processing station comprising: 
 a customer interface permitting the system customers to access the system,  
 means for permitting the system customers to review options concerning orders,  
 means for permitting the system customers to place an order for display of visual content on at least one of the electronic display devices, and  
 means for transmitting the content to the at least one of the electronic display devices.  
   
   
   
       67 . The system of  claim 66  wherein the electronic display devices are located in outdoor or indoor high traffic areas for advertising purposes, wherein the content comprises advertising content, and wherein the central information processing station includes means for receiving advertising content from the system customers.  
   
   
       68 . The system of  claim 66  wherein the electronic display devices are located in movie theaters, wherein the content comprises movies in digital form, and wherein the system customers comprise movie theater operators.  
   
   
       69 . A system for the distribution of movie content owned by content providers and for display of the movie content in digital movie theaters according to the dictates of movie theater operators who are system customers, wherein the system comprises: 
 a network connected to a plurality of electronic movie display devices in movie theaters, wherein each of the devices comprises: 
 a plurality of light sources that emits ultraviolet light,  
 a plurality of independently controllable shutters,  
 a plurality of luminescent elements optically aligned with each of the shutters, wherein each of the luminescent elements absorbs at least some of the ultraviolet light and converts it to visible light, and  
 a regulated power supply for supplying power to the light source; and  
   at least one central information processing station including: 
 a customer interface permitting system customers to access the system,  
 means permitting a system customer to review movie content available in digital form to the customer,  
 means permitting the customer to schedule and purchase movie content for display on at least one of the electronic movie display devices, and  
 means for transmitting the movie content to the customer's movie theater location.  
   
   
   
       70 . The system of  claim 69  wherein the display devices are selected from the group consisting of LED displays, LCD shutter-type display screens, digital light processing systems, reflective LCD display devices, and any combination thereof.  
   
   
       71 .- 80 . (canceled)  
   
   
       81 . A method of providing networked display screens, the method comprising: 
 (a) providing a plurality of display screens, wherein the plurality of display screens are in communication with a network, wherein at least one of the display screens comprises: 
 (i) one or more ultraviolet light sources,  
 (ii) a plurality of independently controllable shutters, and  
 (iii) a plurality of luminescent elements, wherein each of the luminescent elements is optically aligned with at least one of the one or more light sources, wherein each of the luminescent elements is further optically aligned with a respective shutter of the plurality of shutters, wherein each of the luminescent elements is configured to absorb at least a portion of ultraviolet light emitted by the at least one of the one or more light sources and convert the absorbed portion of ultraviolet light to visible light;  
   (b) providing at least one server, wherein the server is configured to store advertising content, wherein the server is in communication with the network;    (c) providing a customer interface, wherein the customer interface is in communication with the network, wherein the customer interface is configured to receive: 
 (i) advertising content from an advertiser, and  
 (ii) an order to display the advertising content from the advertiser;  
   (d) receiving advertising content from a first advertiser via the customer interface;    (e) receiving an order to display the advertising content from the first advertiser via the customer interface; and    (f) displaying the received advertising content on at least a portion of the plurality of display screens in accordance with the order to display the advertising content.    
   
   
       82 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein the order to display the advertising content comprises a scheduling order, wherein the scheduling order comprises a selection by the first advertiser of one or both of display location or display time for display of the received advertising content on at least a portion of the plurality of display screens.  
   
   
       83 . The method of  claim 81 , further comprising providing a schedule of available locations and times for video content to be displayed on the display screens.  
   
   
       84 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein the network comprises the Internet.  
   
   
       85 . The method of  claim 81 , further comprising storing at least a portion of the received advertising content on the server.  
   
   
       86 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein the at least one of the display screens further comprises a liquid crystal device.  
   
   
       87 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein at least one of the one or more ultraviolet light sources comprises a light emitting diode.  
   
   
       88 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of shutters are positioned between the one or more ultraviolet light sources and the plurality of luminescent elements.  
   
   
       89 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein at least one of the display screens comprises an electronic billboard.  
   
   
       90 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein each display screen is in communication with a respective server.  
   
   
       91 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein the received advertising content is displayed on a first display screen, the method further comprising capturing an image of the first display screen while the advertising content is being displayed in the first display screen to confirm proper display of the advertising content on the first display screen.  
   
   
       92 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein the customer interface is web-based.  
   
   
       93 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein the act of displaying comprises transmitting the received advertising content to selected display screen locations using an Internet protocol.  
   
   
       94 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein the act of displaying comprises transmitting the received advertising content to selected display screen locations using wireless communications.  
   
   
       95 . The method of  claim 81 , wherein the act of displaying comprises implementing a transmission mechanism selected from the group consisting of high speed cable, a satellite link, a dedicated telephony connection, a high-speed communications line, a cellular or PCS data transmission device, the Internet, a radio or radio pulse transmission device, a high speed optical fiber, and physical delivery of a medium storing advertising content.