Moving visual display apparatus
First Claim
1. A visual message display apparatus for generating a visual message in space comprising,a rotating cylindrical drum having an outer peripheral essentially continuous display wall and having an axis of rotation,an array of individually energizable light sources secured to said light sources spaced in the direction of the axis of rotation of said drum to define a columnar light bank, each of said sources including an input adapted to individually activate said light sources,a logic control means, a power means, said logic control means and said power means being coupled to and rotating with said drum and including power supply output means connected to said logic control means and to said light soruces for energizing of said light sources, said logic control means including means for activating of the said light sources during each revolution of the drum to provide for sequential activation of the light bank during successive revolutions of said drum to thereby generate a visual message in space, said logic control means establishing a complete programmed control of the activation of and light sources, saidmeans coupled to said drum to rotate said drum and said interconnected logic control means and said power means and said light sources simultaneously and in predetermined fixed relation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A visual display apparatus for generating an apparent visual message includes an annular drum which is rapidly rotated. Three columnar light banks are secured to drum face and each include a plurality of lights. A microprocessor and power unit is mounted to and rotates with the drums and activates the lights to generate a message or character on the drum which defines one message display frame. The microprocessor includes a program for each of the light banks for individually energizing the lights. The program includes a message program and a fixed program for processing of the message data. The message scrolls across the drum in the direction opposite the drum rotation, and the total message may consist of a plurality of frames. Each display frame covers less than the drum periphery and includes a start column and a spaced end column. A position sensor initiates the processor and generates a train of timing signals, one for each drum travel display column. During each revolution the processor sequences and operates the light banks with the alignment thereof with each display column. The light banks are spaced two message columns and the processor sequentially monitors the start column and end column of each frame to restrict activation of the light banks to those within the frame and therebetween enables all three banks to produce the desired color message presentation.
74 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A visual message display apparatus for generating a visual message in space comprising,
a rotating cylindrical drum having an outer peripheral essentially continuous display wall and having an axis of rotation, an array of individually energizable light sources secured to said light sources spaced in the direction of the axis of rotation of said drum to define a columnar light bank, each of said sources including an input adapted to individually activate said light sources, a logic control means, a power means, said logic control means and said power means being coupled to and rotating with said drum and including power supply output means connected to said logic control means and to said light soruces for energizing of said light sources, said logic control means including means for activating of the said light sources during each revolution of the drum to provide for sequential activation of the light bank during successive revolutions of said drum to thereby generate a visual message in space, said logic control means establishing a complete programmed control of the activation of and light sources, said means coupled to said drum to rotate said drum and said interconnected logic control means and said power means and said light sources simultaneously and in predetermined fixed relation.
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12. A visual display apparatus for generating an apparent visual message in space defined by a matrix of vertical columns of light means, comprising
a moving display member having height slightly greater than the height of the message to be displayed and a length to continuously encompass the display area, drive means, a support member secured to said drive means and connected to said display member for cyclically moving the same, a plurality of light banks secured in close spaced relation to the display member and each being an array of lights spaced in the direction normal to the member movement, and each light having an individual input for controlling of said corresponding light, a logic control and power unit affixed to the support member and moving therewith, said logic control and power unit including a microprocessor and a power connection means having an input connected to supply power to said microprocessor and to said light segment inputs, said microprocessor having a programmed driver unit for each of said light banks and energizing of said banks to develop a visual display.
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16. A visual display apparatus for generating an apparent visual message in space defined by a matrix of vertical columns of light, comprising
an annular drum member having a depth slightly greater than the depth of the message to be displayed, a rotating drive means having an output shaft, a coupling member secured to said shaft, means connecting said drum to said coupling member, three light banks secured in close spaced relation to the periphery of the drum and each being an elongated light bank extending parallel to the axis of the drum, and each bank including a plurality of light segments having an individual input for controlling of said corresponding segment, a logic control and power unit mounted within said drum and rotating therewith, said logic control and power unit including a microprocessor and a power connection means having an input means connected having an input and connected to supply power to said logic control unit or to said microprocessor and to said light segment inputs, said microprocessor having a programmed driver unit for each of said light banks each of said driver units including a plurality of outputs for individually driving one or more of said light segments, the end light segments being interconnected to each other and to a common driver, said microprocessor including a program defining the message to be generated and a fixed program for processing of said message information and including means for energizing at least one predetermined column during each drum revolution, position sensing means for sensing the movement of a predetermined portion of the drum relative to a reference point of said motor, and connected to actuate said processor to initiate a light bank driving cycle and a series of signals during each revolution for sequencing the processor in timed relation to the alignment of the light banks and said display columns.
Specification