Displaying measuring instrument

• US 4,242,980 A
• Filed: 02/10/1978
• Issued: 01/06/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Friedrich Wilhelm Zube
• Original Assignee: Friedrich Wilhelm Zube
• Inventors: Go, Thiam L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yasich, Daniel M.
• Application Number:
  US05/876,699
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: 324/57 R, 340/378 R, 340/336, 340/166 EL, 340/324 A, 340/753, 340/754, 116/202
• US Class Current: 116/202
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 7/002 giving both analog and numerical indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 13/02 for displaying measured electric variables in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 13/08 Electromechanical recording systems using a mechanical direct-writing method

Abstract

A displaying measuring instrument with combined digital and analog display. The lowest order digit of the measuring value to be displayed is indicated by means of a linear scale made up of scale marks, the mark corresponding to the instantaneous value of the measuring value differing in appearance from the surrounding, thus indicating the instantaneous value of the lowest order digit. The higher order digits of the measuring value are displayed by conventional numeral indicators located at the lower end of the linear scale. Thus, the higher order digits are displayed strictly digitally, whereas the lowest order digit is displayed both digitally (by the particular scale mark concerned) and analogously (by the location along the scale of that particular scale mark).

Claims

1. Displaying measuring instrument in which a measured value of a quantity is displayed by a selective change of illumination state of predetermined visual display elements arranged in a display panel, comprising a plurality of discrete display elements, each element having more than one illumination state and each element adapted to change its illumination state to illuminate from within said element upon energization, at least some of which display elements of the display panel being arranged in a straight line, each of which said display elements arranged in a straight line representing a uniform, discrete measured quantity from the next nearest display element in the straight line, and means successively changing the illumination state of said display elements to correspond to a new measured value when said measured value is changed to said new measured value, wherein each of said visual display elements comprises a shape selected from one of a first shape and a second shape, wherein said first shape is distinguishably different from said second shape, and wherein the display elements arranged in a straight line, periodic ones of said display elements comprise said second shape, and all other of said display elements comprise said first shape, said visual display elements comprised of said second shape being further comprised of an alphanumeric indication arranged in a closed border around said alphanumeric indication, the alphanumeric indication and the closed border changing its illumination state upon energization, said measuring instrument further comprising at least one tab supported in close proximity to said straight line of visual display elements on said display panel, and moveable linearly along said straight line so as to be in close proximity to said visual display elements, each tab comprising a light-sensitive element adapted to provide a signal when the visual display element nearest to said tab is energized and is illuminated from within.

2. Measuring instrument according to claim 1 wherein said visual display elements arranged in a straight line comprise the least significant digit indication of said display panel, said measuring instrument further comprising at least a next least significant digit alphanumeric indicator connected to display an alphanumeric indication in response to said measured value of a quantity.

3. The measuring instrument of claim 2 wherein said alphanumeric indicator comprises means to indicate the polarity of the measured value being displayed.