Display device comprising rotating display elements having a plurality of faces, and display panel composed of such devices
First Claim
1. A display device, comprising:
- an array of rotatable display elements, each display element having at least two faces of different color, the display elements being arranged in rows and columns;
first and second means for determining rotation of the rotatable elements to change which face of each rotating element is displayed by the display device;
means for controlling the first and second means for determining rotation, so as to form an image to be displayed by the display device;
at least one common shaft on which the rotatable display elements of each row or column rotate, the common shaft mounted in a frame of the display device;
friction couplings for connecting respective rotating elements to one of the common shafts; and
retractable members for inhibiting rotation of all rotating elements of respective columns or rows;
wherein each first means for determining rotation includes only one device for rotating in a step-by-step manner each common shaft; and
wherein each second means for determining rotation corresponds to only one retractable member.
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Abstract
Display device comprising an array of rotating display elements (4) which have at least two faces of different color and are arranged in rows and columns, means (8, 18) for actuating the said rotating elements in terms of rotation, intended to ensure the modification of the face of each rotating element appearing on the display, and means for controlling the actuating means (8, 18) so as to ensure the rotation of the said rotating elements in order to form an image to be displayed, characterized in that the rotating elements (4) of each row or column are arranged on a common shaft rotatably mounted in a frame of the device, each rotating element being connected to the shaft by a friction coupling, a device (8, 15) for driving in step-by-step rotation associated with each shaft and a retractable member (16) for blocking all the rotating elements (4) of each column or row in terms of rotation, one actuating device (18) being associated with each blocking member (16).
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A display device, comprising:
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an array of rotatable display elements, each display element having at least two faces of different color, the display elements being arranged in rows and columns; first and second means for determining rotation of the rotatable elements to change which face of each rotating element is displayed by the display device; means for controlling the first and second means for determining rotation, so as to form an image to be displayed by the display device; at least one common shaft on which the rotatable display elements of each row or column rotate, the common shaft mounted in a frame of the display device; friction couplings for connecting respective rotating elements to one of the common shafts; and retractable members for inhibiting rotation of all rotating elements of respective columns or rows; wherein each first means for determining rotation includes only one device for rotating in a step-by-step manner each common shaft; and wherein each second means for determining rotation corresponds to only one retractable member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A display panel comprising a plurality of modular display devices joined together, each modular display device including:
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an array of rotatable display elements, each display element having at least two faces of different color, the display elements being arranged in rows and columns; first and second means for determining rotation of the rotatable elements to change which face of each rotating element is displayed by the display device; means for controlling the first and second means for determining rotation, so as to form an image to be displayed by the display device; at least one common shaft on which the rotatable display elements of each row or column rotate, the common shaft mounted in a frame of the display device; friction couplings for connecting respective rotating elements to one of the common shafts; and retractable members for inhibiting rotation of all rotating elements of respective columns or rows; wherein each first means for determining rotation includes only one device for rotating in a step-by-step manner each common shaft; and wherein each second means for determining rotation corresponds to only one retractable member. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification