Electronic display apparatus

• US 4,298,868 A
• Filed: 04/11/1980
• Issued: 11/03/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John R. Spurgeon
• Original Assignee: John R. Spurgeon
• Inventors: Spurgeon, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAFTON, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US06/139,178
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 340/755, 362/35, 362/252, 362/811, 315/211, 273/1 E, 358/240, 358/241
• US Class Current: 345/31
• CPC Class Codes: A63J 17/00 Apparatus for performing colour-music
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/008 Leisure, hobby or sport articles, e.g. toys, games or first-aid kits; Hand tools; Toolboxes
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/04 for geometry, trigonometry, projection or perspective for surveying G09B25/06
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/06 for physics
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/30 with moving light sources, e.g. rotating luminous tubes
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/30 in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements panels comprising a number of electrodes in a single cell controlling light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. electro-optical or magneto-optical cell, G02F1/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/811 Psychedelic lighting

Abstract

An apparatus is provided to produce an optical illusion of variable geometric patterns. The apparatus may be used as an electronic toy, display or kinetic art mural, as well as a demonstration aid in geometry, physics or physiology. An array of light emitting diodes mounted on a rotating disk or carrier is selectively activated to control the geometric patterns formed.

Claims

1. An electronic display apparatus, comprising:

(a) a disk member;

(b) a plurality of light emitting means mounted with said disk member;

(c) means for rotating said disk member; and

(d) electronic control circuit means for selectively activating said plurality of light emitting means to selectively form differing visual images for viewing, said circuit means comprising;

(1) input means for forming an electronic control signal defining the pattern, position, size and shape of the visual images to be formed as specified by a user; and

(2) decoder means for decoding the electronic control signals to selectively activate said plurality of light emitting means to form the specified visual images.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said decoder means is mounted on said disk member with said plurality of light emitting means.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said input means further includes:

means for adjusting the pattern of the image formed by said plurality of light emitting means.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said input means further includes:

means for adjusting the position of the image formed by said plurality of light emitting means.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said input means further includes:

means for adjusting the size of the image formed by said plurality of light emitting means.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said input means further includes:

means for adjusting the shape of the image formed by said plurality of light emitting means.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said input means further includes:

means for adjusting the density of the image formed by said plurality of light emitting means.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further including:

means for controlling the speed of rotation of said disk member.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further including:

means for synchronizing the rotation of said disk member with the specified visual image.