Radio channel display and method of display

• US 4,112,376 A
• Filed: 09/30/1976
• Issued: 09/05/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: US Controls Corporation
• Original Assignee: US Controls Corporation
• Inventors: Fosnough, Robert D., Nelson, Max A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Griffin, Robert L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bookbinder, Marc E.
• Application Number:
  US05/728,272
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: 325/15, 325/16, 325/21, 325/25, 325/176, 325/312, 325/455, 325/390, 325/391, 325/393, 325/461, 334/86, 334/87, 358/192, 340/202, 340/107, 340/336, 340/378 R, 116/124.1 R, 116/DIG. 29, 116/DIG. 31, 40/129 C, 40/28 C, 40/28 D, 40/130 E, 40/130 J, 313/113-115
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 1/045 Indication of the tuning band, the bandwidth, tone control, the channel number, the frequency, or the like

Abstract

A digital readout device for use in a motor vehicle having a manually adjustable channel-indicating control mounted in accessible relationship to the vehicle operator. A digital display device is remotely positioned from the control interiorally of the vehicle and has a two digit illuminated panel. The panel is affixed to an interior vehicle surface adjacent a vehicle window so that it will face outwardly of the vehicle and be visible to persons exteriorally of the vehicle and in particular to operators of vehicles in the near vicinity. A flat wire connector having a connectable harness intermediately thereof provides electrical communication between the control and the display device. The construction of the control and display devices each include an extruded channel structure. The channel is designed to provide a secure, camming action against the components of the control and the display device to hold them in secure, vibration-free position relative the vehicle, with the components being slidably assembled in the extruded portions.

Claims

1. A digital readout device for use in a motor vehicle for indicating CB radio channel selection comprising:

first means manually adjustable by the radio operator for visually indicating a selected one of a plurality of channels to the vehicle operator;

second means for visually and digitally indicating said selected channel to persons exteriorly of the vehicle;

third means for electrically coupling said first means to said second means to vary the digital indication on said second means concurrently with and corresponding to the manual adjustment of said first means;

said second means comprises a plurality of concave surfaces each having a parabolic curve cross-section;

a lamp having an elongated lamp filament axis generally parallel to the parabolic curve directrix and included within the parabolic curve;

said second means further comprises a channel-shaped display housing having a base and two generally parallel sides extending laterally from said base;

said sides having opposing faces;

each of the opposing faces on said sides having affixed thereto and protruding therefrom a respective elongated camming bar;

said bars being affixed to their respective faces along a longitudinal bar surface;

each bar having an arcuate cross-section;

a second elongated bar protruding from each of said opposing face and generally parallel to and transversely spaced from the camming bar;

each of said second bars having an abutment surface in facing relation to its respective camming bar;

a reflector plate having generally parallel concave camming surfaces at opposite edges of one face thereof and a second opposite face;

opposite edges of said opposite face registrable with said abutment surfaces, respectively;

said camming surfaces being in camming relation to said camming bars to urge each of said second face opposite edges in compressive relation towards their respective abutment surfaces;

a lamp support having a plurality of lamp pedestals protruding therefrom;

said pedestals being in digit representing arrangement;

a lamp being supported on and extending laterally from each of said pedestals;

said plate having a plurality of openings provided substantially centrally of said concave surfaces;

said openings being located in corresponding relation to said lamps for receiving said lamps;

means positioned in said housing for holding said support in vibration-resistant relation against said plate.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the equation of said parabolic curve has a constant of 2.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said filament passes through the focus of said parabolic curve.

4. A digital readout device for use in a motor vehicle for indicating CB radio channel selection comprising:

first means manually adjustable by the radio operator for visually indicating a selected one of a plurality of channels to the vehicle operator;

second means for visually and digitally indicating said selected channel to persons exteriorly of the vehicle;

third means for electrically coupling said first means to said second means to vary the digital indication on said second means concurrently with and corresponding to the manual adjustment of said first means;

said second means comprises a channel-shaped display housing having a base and two generally parallel sides extending laterally from said base;

said sides having opposing faces;

each of the opposing faces on said sides having affixed thereto and protruding therefrom a respective elongate camming bar;

said bars being affixed to their respective faces along a longitudinal bar surface;

each bar having an arcuate cross-section;

a second elongate bar protruding from each of said opposing faces and generally parallel to and transversely spaced from the camming bar;

each of said second bars having an abutment surface in facing relation to its respective camming bar;

a reflector plate having generally parallel concave camming surfaces at opposite edges of one face thereof and a second opposite face;

opposite edges of said opposite face registrable with said abutment surfaces, respectively;

said camming surfaces being in camming relation to said camming bars to urge each of said second face opposite edges in compressive relation towards their respective abutment surfaces.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 including a light conducting display panel being between said plate and said abutment surfaces;

said display panel being held in cammed securement in said housing between said plate and said abutment surfaces.

6. A digital readout device for use in a motor vehicle for indicating CB radio channel selection comprising:

first means manually adjustable by the radio operator for visually indicating a selected one of a plurality of channels to the vehicle operator;

second means for visually and digitally indicating said selected channel to persons exteriorly of the vehicle;

third means for electrically coupling said first means to said second means to vary the digital indication on said second means concurrently with and corresponding to the manual adjustment of said first means;

said first means comprises a channel-shaped switch housing having a base and two generally parallel sides extending laterally from said base and having opposing faces;

said opposing faces on said sides each having an elongate groove formed therein;

said grooves being generally parallel and opposed;

each of said grooves having a bed and generally laterally extending parallel walls;

each of said beds being slanted relative to their respective groove walls;

a switch plate being mounted in said housing transversely of said sides and having opposite edges extending respectively into said grooves;

said plate edges being in cammed relation to the respective slanted beds against their respective groove walls to securely hold said plate in said housing.