Portable electronic display device

• US 3,981,002 A
• Filed: 03/18/1974
• Issued: 09/14/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mark R. Gardner
• Original Assignee: Mark R. Gardner
• Inventors: Gardner, Mark R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trafton, David L.
• Application Number:
  US05/452,192
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 340/323, 340/334
• US Class Current: 345/2.1
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 9/107 provided with means for displaying at will a time indication or a date or a part thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/04 for presentation of a single character by selection from a plurality of characters, or by composing the character by combination of individual elements, e.g. segments using a combination of such display devices for composing words, rows or the like, in a frame with fixed character positions

Abstract

Portable, electronic, indicia display apparatus, for use as a portable scoreboard, clock, and the like for athletic contests, and a portable display for commercial exhibitions, such as trade exhibitions and conventions, comprising (a) a portable remote display member having a panel upon which the desired information in the form of numbers, letters, and other indicia are displayed by a controlled energizing of electrical illumination elements, e.g. light bulbs, and (b) a portable control member, separate and remote from said display member, having a face panel capable of displaying essentially the same or more indicia displayed on the remote member face panel, and containing digital logic circuitry and manual input functions, e.g. switches and buttons, for controlling the indicia display on the remote member and control member face panels, with the system also being provided with a transmitter which transmits information from the control member to the remote display member via serial transmission of binary information. By means of logic circuits in the device of the present invention essentially all of the control circuitry is placed in the portable control member housing to provide a portable display device, useful as a basketball scoreboard and time clock, weighing less than about 75 pounds, and usually less than 50 pounds, for the entire assembly, including auxillary cable, carrying case, and supporting elements.

Claims

1. An electronic, portable display device comprisinga portable control member comprising a housing, a face panel on said housing, and a plurality of stationary electrically actuatable illumination elements adjacent to said face panel, said illumination elements being adapted, when energized to illuminate pre-determined segment areas of said face panel to define, by combinations of the resultant illuminated segment areas, indicia visible on said panel face,a portable, remote display member comprising a housing, a face panel on said housing, and a plurality of stationary electrically actuatable illumination elements adjacent to said face panel, said remote display illumination elements being adapted, when energized, to illuminate pre-determined segment areas of said remote display face panel to define, by a combination of said illuminatinated segment areas, indicia identical to selected indicia displayed on said control member face panel,first power circuit means having an output to said control member comprising a pulse having a frequency providing a timer signal,second power circuit means having an output to said control member comprising a pulse providing a binary data-carrying signal,circuit means, positioned in said control member, including:

a. timer signal counter circuits adapted to receive an input signal from said timer circuit, and containing means for a binary counting of input signals thereto, and being adapted, on signal, to output the binary counting of input signals thereto, and being adapted, on signal, to output the binary data in the counter means thereof,

b. a plurality of separate data signal counter circuits, each of said data counter circuits being adapted to receive an input signal from said second power circuit, each of said data signal counter circuits comprising means for the binary counting of the input signals thereto, and being adapted, on signal, to output simultaneously signals corresponding to the binary data in the counters thereof,

c. decoding circuits adapted to receive output signals from said data signal counter circuits, said decoding circuits including recoding-circuits for converting signals received from said data signal counter circuits into re-coded binary data for which the segment illumination pattern-coding of said illumination elements in said face panel of said control member and remote display member produce indicia corresponding to set values of output signals from said data signal counter circuits, said decoding circuits being adapted, on signal, to output simultaneously signals corresponding to said decoded binary data,

d. first latch circuits, said first latch circuits being adapted, to receive and store separately binary information transmitted thereto by simultaneous input signals and being responsive, on signal, to receive the outputs of said decoding circuits, and being adapted, on signal to serially output signals corresponding to binary data stored therein, as a data chain having a bit length corresponding to the number of said stored data bits therein,

e. illumination element driving circuits adapted for receiving output signal from said decoding circuits, and, on signal, effecting the energizing of said illumination elements in said control member face panel,

6. on-off manual switch means, positioned on the face panel of said control member for energizing and de-energizing each of said first power circuit, said second power circuit, said timer signal counter circuits, and said data signal counter circuits,

7. circuit means, positioned in said remote display member comprising;

a. signal receiver-register circuits adapted to receive and store separately information transmitted thereto in serial binary pulse bits, said signal receiver-register circuits to sense a peculiar signal indicating a receipt thereby of a complete binary data chain, and thereupon, to output binary data bits stored therein with simultaneous signals,

b. second latch circuits adapted to receive and store binary data bits, said second latch circuit means being adapted to receive on signal simultaneous output signals of said signal receiver-register circuits and being adapted on signal, to output simultaneously signals corresponding to the binary data stored therein,

c. illumination element driving circuits adapted for receiving output signals from said second latch circuits and, on signal, effecting an energizing of illumination elements in said remote member face panel,

3. The portable display device according to claim 1 wherein said remote display member is collapsible into an enclosed, portable container.

5. The portable display device according to claim 1 wherein said transmitter means includes a cable link between said control member and said remote display member.

6. The portable display device according to claim 1 wherein the total weight of said control member and said remote display member is less than 75 pounds.

2. transmitter means for simultaneous transmitting timing signals to said signal receiver-register circuits and, by serial transmission, binary data containing output signals from said first latch circuits to said signal receiver-register circuits, and said binary data-containing signal, when said serial transmission is complete to effect signal outputs from said signal receiver-register circuits.

4. The portable display device according to claim 2 wherein said remote display member housing comprises at least two separate housing components, connectable in series whereby a face panel of each of said separate housing component displays indicia corresponding to at least a portion of said data transmitted to said remote display member from said control member.