Reflective display with front lighting

• US 5,943,802 A
• Filed: 04/07/1997
• Issued: 08/31/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mark IV Industries Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mark IV Industries Corporation
• Inventors: Tijanic, Veso S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dorner, Kenneth J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CONLEY, FREDRICK C
• Application Number:
  US08/833,469
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 40/450, 40/451, 40/452, 40/591, 40/559, 40/560, 362/26, 362/27, 362/31, 340/815.45, 340/815.53, 340/815.54, 340/815.62
• US Class Current: 40/591
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/375 the position of the elements being controlled by the application of a magnetic field

Abstract

Each element in an array of display elements has first and second limiting positions and in respective limiting positions selectively displays a bright and a dark surface in a viewing direction. A transparent sheet is intermediate the array and the viewer. Conductors on said sheet direct light toward said array.

Claims

1. In combination:

an array of display elements;

defining a viewing direction, forwardly of said array,

each such element having ON and OFF positions and selectively displaying a bright surface in the viewing direction in one of the ON and OFF positions and a dark surface in the viewing direction in the other of the ON and OFF positions,

a substantially transparent sheet for location in said viewing direction between a viewing direction between a viewer and said array,

at least one light source located on said sheet arranged to direct light toward said array,

conductors for energizing said at least one light source mounted on said sheet.

2. In combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one light source is a light emitting diode (`LED`).

3. In combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said display elements are disks rotatable on a transverse axis and arranged to display a bright or a dark side in the viewing direction.

4. In combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said array is contained in a housing and said transparent sheet forms a front wall of said housing.

5. In combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said transparent sheet is flexible.

6. In combination as claimed in claim 2 wherein said transparent sheet is flexible.

7. In combination as claimed in claim 2 wherein said at least one LED will be between said sheet and said array.

8. In combination as claimed in claim 2 wherein said at least one LED is connected across a gap in a substantially transparent conductor made of a conducting matrix.

9. In combination as claimed in claim 8 wherein said conductor is a conducting ink.

10. In combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said conductor is painted on said sheet.

11. In combination as claimed in claim 2 wherein said LED is contained in a casing which allows light from said LED to shine on at least one of said array elements.

12. In combination as claimed in claim 11 wherein said LED is combined with a transparent lens and wherein said casing comprises an opaque wall on said lens blocking light from said LED from directly reaching a viewer looking in said viewing direction, but allows such light to illuminate said display element.

13. In combination as claimed in claim 12 wherein said wall has a reflectant inside surface.