Rotating display element and display unit using the same

• US 5,045,767 A
• Filed: 10/11/1989
• Issued: 09/03/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wakatake Masaru
• Original Assignee: Yoshimasa Wakatake
• Inventors: Wakatake, Yoshimasa
• Primary Examiner(s): Ro, Bentsu
• Application Number:
  US07/420,149
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 340/783, 340/806, 340/811, 310/187, 318/696, 318/685, 318/672, 318/671, 318/490, 318/436, 318/112, 318/103, 318/102, 318/49, 318/45, 318/40, 318/39
• US Class Current: 318/696
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/375 the position of the elements being controlled by the application of a magnetic field

Abstract

A rotating display element which is provided with a display surface member having four display surfaces which are selected by rotating the display surface member, and a display unit which uses the display element. The display surface member has incorporated therein a permanent magnet type motor mechanism and is driven by the permanent magnet type motor mechanism. The rotor of the motor mechanism has first and second double-pole permanent magnet members, and its stator has first and second magnetic members having wound thereon first and second exciting windings, respecitvely. The display unit has first and second power supply means for supplying power to the first exciting winding motor mechanism and third and fourth power supply means for supplying power to the second exciting windings. The four display surfaces of the display surface member can selectively be directed to the front by supplying power to the first exciting winding via the first or second power supply means and by supplying power to the second exciting winding via the third or fourth power supply means. A display panel can be constituted by arranging, in a matrix form, a number of such display units each employing the rotating display element.

Claims

1. A rotating display element, comprising:

a display surface member having four display surfaces;

and a permanent-magnet type motor mechanism;

wherein the display surface member is mounted on a rotor of the permanent magnet type motor mechanism housed therein;

wherein the display surfaces of the display surface member are arranged side by side around the axis of the rotor;

wherein either one of the rotor and the stator of the permanent magnet type motor mechanism has first and second double-pole permanent magnet members respectively having north and south magnetic poles and disposed side by side in the axial direction of the rotor;

wherein the north and south magnetic poles of the first double-pole permanent magnet member are spaced an angular distance of 180 degrees apart around the axis of the rotor;

wherein the north and south magnetic poles of the second double-pole permanent magnet member are disposed around the axis of the rotor at an angular distance of ±

α

°

(where 0°

≦

α

°

<

180°

) from the north and south magnetic poles of the first double-pole permanent magnet member and at an angular distance of 180 degrees from each other;

wherein the other of the rotor and the stator of the permanent magnet type motor mechanism has a first magnetic member provided with first and second magnetic poles which act on the north and south magnetic poles of the first double-pole permanent magnet member, a second magnetic member provided with third and fourth magnetic poles which act on the north and south magnetic poles of the second double-pole permanent magnet member, a first exciting winding wound on the first magnetic member in manner to excite its first and second magnetic poles in reverse polarities, and a second exciting winding wound on the second magnetic member in a manner to excite its third and fourth magnetic poles in reverse polarities;

wherein the first and second magnetic poles of the first magnetic member are disposed around the axis of the rotor at an angular distance of 180 degrees;

wherein the third and fourth magnetic poles of the second magnetic member are disposed around the axis of the rotor at an angular distance of ±

90 ±

α

from the first and second magnetic poles of the first magnetic member and at an angular distance of 180 degrees from each other;

wherein the north and south magnetic poles of the first and second double-pole permanent magnet members each extend over an angular range of approximately 90 degrees about axis of the rotor; and

wherein the first and second magnetic poles of the first magnetic member and the third and fourth magnetic poles of the second magnetic member each extend over an angular range of 45 degrees or less about the axis of the rotor.

2. A display unit comprising:

a rotating display element;

and a drive unit for driving the rotating display element;

wherein the rotating display element is provided with a display surface member having four display surfaces, and a permanent magnet type motor mechanism;

wherein the display surface member is mounted on a rotor of the permanent magnet type motor mechanism housed therein;

wherein the four of display surfaces of the display surface member are arranged side by side around the axis of the rotor;

wherein either one of the rotor and the stator of the permanent magnet type motor mechanism has first and second double-pole permanent magnet members respectively having north and south magnetic poles and disposed side by side in the axial direction of the rotor;

wherein the north and south magnetic poles of the first double-pole permanent magnet member are spaced an angular distance of 180 degrees apart around the axis of the rotor;

wherein the north and south magnetic poles of the second double-pole permanent magnet member are disposed around the axis of the rotor at an angular distance of ±

α

°

(where 0°

≦

α

°

<

180°

) from the north and south magnetic poles of the first double-pole permanent magnet member and at an angular distance of 180 degrees from each other;

wherein the other of the rotor and the stator of the permanent magnet type motor mechanism has a first magnetic member provided with first and second magnetic poles which act on the north and south magnetic poles of the first double-pole permanent magnet member, a second magnetic member provided with third and fourth magnetic poles which act on the north and south magnetic poles of the second double-pole permanent magnet member, a first exciting winding wound on the first magnetic member in manner to excite its first and second magnetic poles in reverse polarities, and a second exciting winding wound on the second magnetic member in a manner to excite its third and fourth magnetic poles in reverse polarities;

wherein the first and second magnetic poles of the first magnetic member are disposed around the axis of the rotor at an angular distance of 180 degrees;

wherein the third and fourth magnetic poles of the second magnetic member are disposed around the axis of the rotor at an angular distance of ±

90 ±

α

from the first and second magnetic poles of the first magnetic member and at an angular distance of 180 degrees from each other;

wherein the north and south magnetic poles of the first and second double-pole permanent magnet members each extend over an angular range of approximately 90 degrees about axis of the rotor;

wherein the first and second magnetic poles of the first magnetic member and the third and fourth magnetic poles of the second magnetic member each extend over an angular range of 45 degrees or less about the axis of the rotor; and

wherein the drive unit has first power supply means for supplying power to the first exciting winding so that the first and second magnetic poles of the first magnetic member are magnetized with the north and south magnetic poles, second power supply means for supplying power to the first exciting winding so that the first and second magnetic poles of the first magnetic member are magnetized with the south and north magnetic poles, third power supply means for supplying power to the second exciting winding so that the third and fourth magnetic poles of the second magnetic member are magnetized with the north and south magnetic poles, and fourth power supply means for supplying power to the second exciting winding so that the third and fourth magnetic poles of the second magnetic member are magnetized with the south and north magnetic poles.