diff --git a/displayword.lua b/displayword.lua
index 920b2e3..397a91a 100644
--- a/displayword.lua
+++ b/displayword.lua
@@ -1,34 +1,39 @@
 -- Module displaying of the words
 function generateLEDs(words, color)
  
- local white=string.char(0,0,0)
+ local space=string.char(0,0,0)
+ -- update the background color, if set
+ if (colorBg ~= nil) then
+   space = colorBg
+ end
+
  local buf=color
  -- line 1----------------------------------------------
  if (words.itis == 1) then
     buf=color:rep(2) -- ES
     -- K fill character
-    buf=buf .. white:rep(1)
+    buf=buf .. space:rep(1)
     buf=buf ..color:rep(3) -- IST
     -- L fill character
-    buf=buf .. white:rep(1)
+    buf=buf .. space:rep(1)
  else
-    buf=white:rep(7)
+    buf=space:rep(7)
  end
  if (words.fiveMin== 1) then
     buf= buf .. color:rep(4) -- FUENF
   else
-    buf= buf .. white:rep(4)
+    buf= buf .. space:rep(4)
  end
  -- line 2-- even row (so inverted) --------------------
  if (words.twenty == 1) then
     buf= buf .. color:rep(7) -- ZWANZIG
   else
-    buf= buf .. white:rep(7)
+    buf= buf .. space:rep(7)
  end
  if (words.tenMin == 1) then
     buf= buf .. color:rep(4) -- ZEHN
   else
-    buf= buf .. white:rep(4)
+    buf= buf .. space:rep(4)
  end
  -- line3----------------------------------------------
  --TODO ggf. auch ueber viertel vor abbildbar
@@ -36,125 +41,125 @@ function generateLEDs(words, color)
     if (threequater ~= nil) then
         buf= buf .. color:rep(11) -- Dreiviertel
     else
-        buf= buf .. white:rep(4)
+        buf= buf .. space:rep(4)
         buf= buf .. color:rep(7) -- VIERTEL
     end
   elseif (words.quater == 1) then
-    buf= buf .. white:rep(4)
+    buf= buf .. space:rep(4)
     buf= buf .. color:rep(7) -- VIERTEL
  else
-    buf= buf .. white:rep(11)
+    buf= buf .. space:rep(11)
  end
  --line 4-------- even row (so inverted) -------------
  if ((words.before == 1) or (words.threequater == 1 and threequater == nil)) then
-    buf=buf .. white:rep(2) 
+    buf=buf .. space:rep(2) 
     buf= buf .. color:rep(3) -- VOR
   else
-    buf= buf .. white:rep(5)
+    buf= buf .. space:rep(5)
  end
  if (words.after == 1) then
     buf= buf .. color:rep(4) -- NACH
-    buf= buf .. white:rep(2) -- TG
+    buf= buf .. space:rep(2) -- TG
   else
-    buf= buf .. white:rep(6)
+    buf= buf .. space:rep(6)
  end
  ------------------------------------------------
  if (words.half == 1) then
     buf= buf .. color:rep(4) -- HALB
-    buf= buf .. white:rep(1) -- X
+    buf= buf .. space:rep(1) -- X
   else
-    buf= buf .. white:rep(5)
+    buf= buf .. space:rep(5)
  end
  if (words.twelve == 1) then
     buf= buf .. color:rep(5) -- ZWOELF
-    buf= buf .. white:rep(1) -- P
+    buf= buf .. space:rep(1) -- P
   else
-    buf= buf .. white:rep(6)
+    buf= buf .. space:rep(6)
  end
  ------------even row (so inverted) ---------------------
  if (words.seven == 1) then
     buf= buf .. color:rep(6) -- SIEBEN
-    buf= buf .. white:rep(5)
+    buf= buf .. space:rep(5)
   elseif (words.one == 1) then
-    buf= buf .. white:rep(5)
+    buf= buf .. space:rep(5)
     buf= buf .. color:rep(4) -- EINS
-    buf= buf .. white:rep(2)
+    buf= buf .. space:rep(2)
  elseif (words.two == 1) then
-    buf= buf .. white:rep(7)
+    buf= buf .. space:rep(7)
     buf= buf .. color:rep(4) -- ZWEI
  else
-    buf= buf .. white:rep(11)
+    buf= buf .. space:rep(11)
  end
  ------------------------------------------------
  if (words.three == 1) then
-    buf= buf .. white:rep(1)
+    buf= buf .. space:rep(1)
     buf= buf .. color:rep(4) -- DREI
-    buf= buf .. white:rep(6)
+    buf= buf .. space:rep(6)
   elseif (words.five == 1) then
-    buf= buf .. white:rep(7)
+    buf= buf .. space:rep(7)
     buf= buf .. color:rep(4) -- FUENF
  else
-    buf= buf .. white:rep(11)
+    buf= buf .. space:rep(11)
  end
  ------------even row (so inverted) ---------------------
  if (words.four == 1) then
     buf= buf .. color:rep(4) -- VIER
-    buf= buf .. white:rep(7)
+    buf= buf .. space:rep(7)
   elseif (words.nine == 1) then
-    buf= buf .. white:rep(4)
+    buf= buf .. space:rep(4)
     buf= buf .. color:rep(4) -- NEUN
-    buf= buf .. white:rep(3)
+    buf= buf .. space:rep(3)
  elseif (words.eleven == 1) then
-    buf= buf .. white:rep(8)
+    buf= buf .. space:rep(8)
     buf= buf .. color:rep(3) -- ELEVEN
  else
-    buf= buf .. white:rep(11)
+    buf= buf .. space:rep(11)
  end
  ------------------------------------------------
  if (words.eight == 1) then
-    buf= buf .. white:rep(1)
+    buf= buf .. space:rep(1)
     buf= buf .. color:rep(4) -- ACHT
-    buf= buf .. white:rep(6)
+    buf= buf .. space:rep(6)
   elseif (words.ten == 1) then
-    buf= buf .. white:rep(5)
+    buf= buf .. space:rep(5)
     buf= buf .. color:rep(4) -- ZEHN
-    buf= buf .. white:rep(2)
+    buf= buf .. space:rep(2)
  else
-    buf= buf .. white:rep(11)
+    buf= buf .. space:rep(11)
  end
  ------------even row (so inverted) ---------------------
  if (words.clock == 1) then
     buf= buf .. color:rep(3) -- UHR
   else
-    buf= buf .. white:rep(3)
+    buf= buf .. space:rep(3)
  end
  if (words.six == 1) then
-    buf= buf .. white:rep(2)
+    buf= buf .. space:rep(2)
     buf= buf .. color:rep(5) -- SECHS
-    buf= buf .. white:rep(1)
+    buf= buf .. space:rep(1)
   else
-    buf= buf .. white:rep(8)
+    buf= buf .. space:rep(8)
  end
  
  if (words.min1 == 1) then
     buf= buf .. color:rep(1)
   else
-    buf= buf .. white:rep(1)
+    buf= buf .. space:rep(1)
  end
  if (words.min2 == 1) then
     buf= buf .. color:rep(1)
   else
-    buf= buf .. white:rep(1)
+    buf= buf .. space:rep(1)
   end
  if (words.min3 == 1) then
     buf= buf .. color:rep(1)
   else
-    buf= buf .. white:rep(1)
+    buf= buf .. space:rep(1)
   end
  if (words.min4 == 1) then
     buf= buf .. color:rep(1)
   else
-    buf= buf .. white:rep(1)
+    buf= buf .. space:rep(1)
   end
   collectgarbage()
   return buf