Modular display system

The present invention relates to display devices and, in particular, to display devices comprising plural display elements. Large visual displays are comprised of an array of smaller display devices or modules, each of which displays a portion of the image to be displayed so that together the array of smaller display devices displays the complete image. Unlike conventional large displays which necessarily seek to minimize the edge areas of the smaller display elements that do not display an image so as to minimize the "seams" or gaps between the image portions, the present display device projects image portions scanned from less than the entire display area of the smaller display devices in an array to create an image on a substantially flat panel that is substantially free of visual "seams" or gaps between the image portions. Thus the display device may employ display elements that do not have narrow edges and that are not contiguous to generate overlapping sub-images. Image pixels in what would otherwise be "seams" or gaps are generated from the image data and are displayed in proper position and brightness in the displayed image, such as in the overlap regions of overlapping sub-images. Where the scanning beams are electron beams, the flat panel is a faceplate that includes phosphors that are excited by the electron beam to produce light, and where the beams are light beams, the flat panel is a distributor of light, such as a diffuser panel.