Analog display device

• US 4,688,029 A
• Filed: 06/21/1984
• Issued: 08/18/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Futaba Denshi Kogyo KK
• Original Assignee: Futaba Denshi Kogyo KK
• Inventors: Kawasaki, Hiroaki, Kanetsuna, Nobumitsu
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/622,875
• Time in Patent Office: 1,153 Days
• Field of Search: 340/753, 340/754, 340/755, 340/793, 340/670, 340/52 R, 340/59, 340/521, 340/525, 340/618, 73/149, 73/861, 73/861.15, 73/223, 73/313, 73/322
• US Class Current: 345/40
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 3/08 with provision for safeguarding the apparatus, e.g. against abnormal operation, against breakdown
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 7/00 Indicating measured values
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 13/407 using a plurality of passive display elements, e.g. liquid crystal or Kerr-effect display elements G01R13/408 takes precedence

Abstract

An analog display device is disclosed which is capable of accurately displaying warning about input data. The device comprises a plurality of high range display segments and a plurality of low range display segments which are of any shape and alternately arranged in parallel to one another. At least a part of the low range display segments carries out display of color different from that of the high range display segments.

Claims

1. An analog display device comprising:

a plurality of range scales each being capable of independent illumination;

a level display section having a plurality of high range display segments for indicating the remaining amount of the quantity being measured as a fraction between the maximum measurable amount of the quantity being measured a predetermined amount less than the maximum measurable amount of the quantity being measured and a plurality of low range display segments for indicating the remaining amount of the quantity being measured as a fraction between zero and the predetermined amount, said high and low range display segments being interspersed alternately arranged and in parallel to one another;

a level selection circuit for generating a high level signal when the magnitude of the quantity being measured is above the predetermined amount and for generating a low level signal when the magnitude of the quantity being measured is decreased below the predetermined amount and for selectively illuminating one of said range scales in response to said high level and low level signals;

a high range level comparator driver connected to each of said high range display segments for selectively illuminating said high range display segments depending upon the remaining amount of the quantity being measured;

a low range level comparator driver connected to each of said low range display segments for selectively illuminating said low range display segments depending upon the remaining amount of the quantity being measured; and

a range display section connected to said level selection circuit for indicating whether the remaining amount of the quantity being measured is above or below the predetermined amount.

2. The analog display device as defined in claim 1, wherein said low range display segments comprise color display elements emitting a color different from the color emitted by said high range display segments.

3. The analog display device as defined in claim 2, wherein said low range display segments comprise color display elements emitting a warning color selected from the group consisting of red, orange, and yellow.

4. The analog display device as defined in claim 1, wherein said high range display segments comprise color display elements emitting a safety color selected form the group consisting of green, blue, and white.

5. The analog display device as defined in claim 4, wherein said low range display segments include a first plurality of color display elements emitting a warning color selected from the group consisting of red and orange and a second plurality of color display elements emitting a color other than said safety and warning colors.

6. The analog display device as defined in claim 1, and further comprising a means for controlling the luminance of said display segments in said level display section.

7. The analog display device as defined in claim 6, wherein said means for controlling the luminance of said display segments comprises a pulse with control circuit.

8. The analog display device as defined in claim 6, wherein said means for controlling the luminance of said display segments comprises a voltage control circuit.

9. An analog display device comprising:

a plurality of range scales each being capable of independent illumination;

a level display section having a plurality of high range display segments for indicating the remaining amount of the quantity being measured as a fraction between the maximum measurable amount of the quantity being measured and a predetermined amount less than the maximum measurable amount of the quantity being measured and a plurality of low range display segments for indicating the remaining amount of the quantity being measured as a fraction between zero and the predetermined amount, said high and low range display segments being interspersed alternately and in parallel to one another, and means for selectively illuminating one of said range scales in response to said measured amount of said quantity being measured;

a driver connected to each of said high range and low range display segments for selectively illuminating said high range and low range display segments depending upon the remaining amount of the quantity being measured;

a means for controlling the luminance of said display segments, said means for controlling the luminance of said display segments being connected to said driver;

a high range comparator connected to said means for controlling the luminance of said display segments for selecting said high range display segments depending upon the remaining amount of the quantity being measured; and

a low range level comparator connected to said means for controlling the luminance of said display segments for selecting said low range display segments depending upon the remaining amount of the quantity being measured.

10. The analog display device as defined in claim 9 and further comprising a range display section connected to said driver for indicating whether the remaining amount of the quantity being measured is above or below the predetermined amount.

11. The analog display device as defined in claim 9, wherein said low range display segments comprise color display elements emitting a color different from the color emitted by said high range display segments.

12. The analog display device as defined in claim 9, wherein said high range display segments comprise color display elements emitting a safety colors selected from the group consisting of green, blue, and white.

13. The analog display device as defined in claim 12, wherein said low range display segments includes a first plurality of color display elements emitting a warning color selected from the group consisting of red and orange and a second plurality of color display elements emitting the same color as said high range display segments.