Light emitting diode (LED) picture element

Abstract

A picture element lamp is disclosed that mixes light from LEDs in a light guide. The light guide expands the perceived light source and can redirect the light toward viewing locations.

1 . A display system comprising: 
 a group of lamps, each lamp including different colored LEDs so that the lamps can glow with different color light produced by mixing light of different colored LEDs, each lamp including a light guide using substantially total internal reflection to spread the light over a larger area; and    a control unit that drives the colors of the lamps in accordance with a video signal.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the lamps include a lamp housing.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the LEDs are positioned on a circuit board.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the group of lamps is a grid of lamps.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the pitch between lamps is 20 mm or greater.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the lamps includes a diffuser plates.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the diffuser plates increases the contrast of the color.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein light from the LEDs goes into one end of the light guide and comes out the front of the light guide.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the light guide includes a collimator.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the light guide includes facets for reflecting light forward.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the light guide is rectangular.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the light guide extends out from a base.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the light guide forms a bulb.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the bulb includes a center cavity.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a frame to hold the group of lamps.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising an additional frame containing another group of lamps.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a video processor adapted to provide the video signal to the control unit.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit uses a subset of the pixels in the video signal.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the subset is determined by address information.  
   
   
       20 . A display system comprising: 
 a group of lamps, at least some of the lamps being greater than or equal to 20 mm in pixel size and using at least one LED to produce light of different colors, the lamps including a light guide using substantially total internal reflection; and    a control unit that sets the color of the lamps in accordance with a video signal.