Device Provided with a Wind Surface

• US 20070220790A1
• Filed: 11/25/2004
• Published: 09/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dream Control B.V.
• Original Assignee: Dream Control B.V.
• Inventors: Wagter, Hendrik
• Application Number:
  US10/580,280
• Publication Number:
  US 20070220790A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 40/218
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 17/00 Flags; Banners; Mountings therefor

Abstract

The invention relates to a device or to an assembly comprising one or more devices, wherein the device comprises a carrier, preferably an information carrier, and a holder for the information carrier, wherein the information carrier comprises a display for displaying changing and/or moving images and wherein the display at least partially forms a wind surface for under the influence of the wind moving at least the wind surface, wherein the device comprises control means for controlling the display. Preferably the device further comprises means for generating electric power from a motion of the wind surface.

Claims

1-50. -50. (canceled)

51. Assembly comprising one or more devices each comprising an information carrier and a holder for the information carrier, wherein the information carrier is movably connected to at least a portion of the holder,

wherein the information carrier comprises a wind surface for moving at least the wind surface under the influence of the wind,

wherein the wind surface comprises a display comprising a series of addressable surface parts situated in the surface, which surface parts can be switched to a first and a second state, wherein the surface parts in the first state visually differs from the surface parts in the second state,

wherein the device comprises control means for addressing the individual surface parts, and

wherein the display is suitable for retaining a certain image when, after placing said image, a power supply to the display is virtually stopped.

52. Assembly according to claim 51, wherein the display is an electroforetic display, an electrowetting display, an LCD or nano LCD.

53. Assembly according to claim 51, wherein the addressable surface parts are placed in columns and rows for forming a matrix display for displaying changing and/or moving images.

54. Assembly according to claim 52, wherein the addressable surface parts comprises an electroluminescent element, preferably a LED, preferably an organic LED, such as a polymer LED.

55. Assembly according to claim 51, wherein the device comprises a receiver for receiving data for displaying on the display, wherein the receiver is connected to the control means for transmitting the data from the receiver to the control means, wherein the receiver preferably comprises a wireless receiver, preferably a radio receiver, and wherein the receiver is preferably situated in the holder.

56. Assembly according to claim 51, wherein the assembly further comprises a data processing device, such as for instance a computer, for exchanging data with the individual or collective devices, preferably over a network, preferably the internet, preferably wireless, preferably over an IP protocol.

57. Assembly according to claim 51, wherein at least one of the one or more devices comprises a sensor for perceiving the surroundings of said device, the motion and/or direction of at least the wind surface of said device, wherein the sensor is connected to the control means of said device for transmitting a signal from the sensor to the control means, and wherein the control means are adapted for controlling the display in dependency on the sensor'"'"'s signal.

58. Assembly according to claim 57, wherein the sensor comprises a position sensor, velocity sensor, acceleration sensor, a person detection sensor for detecting persons in the vicinity of the device or a motion sensor for detecting the motion of the information carrier with respect to the holder.

59. Assembly according to claim 57, wherein the control means are adapted for forwarding the sensor'"'"'s signal or a derived quantity thereof to a data processing device, preferably for controlling the various devices for a multi-screen presentation of changing and/of moving images and/or the dynamic division of parts of a full picture over several displays.

60. Assembly according to claim 51, wherein the device further comprises means for generating electric power from a force exerted by the wind on the wind surface, preferably means for generating electric power from the movement of at least the wind surface under the influence of the wind, wherein the means for generating electric power can be connected to means for energy storage, such as for instance a battery, the display and/or the control means for supplying electric power thereto.

61. Assembly according to claim 60, wherein the wind surface of the device is rotatably connected to the holder and wherein the means for generating electric power comprise a rotating generator or dynamo, and wherein the wind surface preferably forms a wind turbine, a windmill or a rotor.

62. Assembly according to claim 51, wherein the display is bendable and preferably flexible, wherein the display is preferably made of an electronic fabric, preferably woven from yarn-shaped material comprising an electroforetic material.

63. Assembly according to claim 51, wherein the information carrier comprises a transparent housing for the display, wherein the housing preferably comprises a sealing protective layer for protecting the display from air, water and/or water vapour, and wherein the protective layer preferably comprises a transparent inorganic or organic coating or cover plate.

64. Assembly according to claim 51, wherein the information carrier is a flag or banner, wherein the flag or banner, preferably on two sides, is provided with the display, and wherein the holder comprises a flagpole and/or banner arm.

65. Assembly according to claim 64, wherein the information carrier is made of a flexible and/or elastic material, which material preferably at least partially surrounds the display, wherein the information carrier preferably comprises an electricity conducting and preferably elastic polymer for connecting the display to the control device.

66. Assembly according to claim 65, wherein the display can be retracted in the holder, preferably in the banner arm.

67. Assembly according to claim 65, wherein the edges of the display device are provided with an enveloping, gas-filled layer, such as a cushion or tube for protection against bumping.

68. Assembly according to claim 65, wherein the wind surface is at least partially provided with a piezoelectric foil situated in the wind surface, for generating electric power from the wind surface blowing in the wind.

69. Assembly according to claim 65, wherein the holder and/or the information carrier are provided with piezoelectric elements for absorbing a tensile force exerted by the wind on the wind surface, and for converting said tensile force in electric power.

70. Assembly according to claim 51, wherein the information carrier comprises a rotor, preferably a savonius-type rotor, which is placed so as to be rotatable about a substantially vertical axis of rotation, wherein the rotor has a substantially S-shaped cross-section in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rotor, and wherein the display preferably substantially follows the aerodynamic shape of the wind surface.

71. Device comprising an information carrier and a holder for the information carrier, wherein the information carrier is movably connected to at least a portion of the holder,

wherein the information carrier comprises a wind surface for moving at least the wind surface under the influence of the wind,

wherein the wind surface comprises a display comprising a series of addressable surface parts situated in the surface, which surface parts can be switched to a first and a second state, wherein the surface parts in the first state visually differs from the surface parts in the second state,

wherein the device comprises control means for addressing the individual surface parts, and

wherein the display is suitable for retaining a certain image when, after placing said image, a power supply to the display is virtually stopped.

72. Device according to claim 71, wherein the display is an electroforetic display, an electrowetting display, an LCD or nano LCD.

73. Device according to claim 71, wherein the addressable surface parts are placed in columns and rows for forming a matrix display for displaying changing and/or moving images.

74. Information carrier and/or holder suitable and intended for use in a device according to claim 71.