Lighted message fan
First Claim
1. A method of emitting a visual image from a lighted display, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing at least one body which is rotatable in at least one rotation direction about an axis of rotation;
defining a plurality of substantially circular image lines, each said image line overlying a respective said body, each said image line being concentrically disposed around a respective said axis of rotation at a respective radial distance from said axis of rotation;
providing a plurality of light sources carried by said at least one body, each said light source being associated with and overlying a respective said image line;
rotating said at least one body about said axis of rotation in a plurality of rotations;
determining a rotational speed of said at least one body;
calculating a plurality of positions for at least one of said light sources along said image line dependent upon said rotational speed;
individually switching said at least one light source between an energized state and a deenergized state dependent upon said calculated plurality of positions; and
remotely transmitting a digitally encoded version of the visual image to said electrical controller.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of emitting a visual image from a lighted display includes the step of providing at least one body which is rotatable in at least one rotation direction about an axis of rotation. A plurality of substantially circular image lines are defined, with each image line overlying a respective body. Each image line is concentrically disposed around a respective axis of rotation at a respective radial distance from the axis of rotation. A plurality of light sources are provided and are carried by the at least one body. Each light source is associated with and overlies a respective image line. The at least one body is rotated about the axis of rotation in a plurality of rotations. A rotational speed of the at least one body is determined. A plurality of positions are calculated for at least one of the light sources along the image line dependent upon the rotational speed. The at least one light source is individually switched between an energized state and a deenergized state dependent upon the calculated plurality of positions.
104 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of emitting a visual image from a lighted display, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing at least one body which is rotatable in at least one rotation direction about an axis of rotation; defining a plurality of substantially circular image lines, each said image line overlying a respective said body, each said image line being concentrically disposed around a respective said axis of rotation at a respective radial distance from said axis of rotation; providing a plurality of light sources carried by said at least one body, each said light source being associated with and overlying a respective said image line; rotating said at least one body about said axis of rotation in a plurality of rotations; determining a rotational speed of said at least one body; calculating a plurality of positions for at least one of said light sources along said image line dependent upon said rotational speed; individually switching said at least one light source between an energized state and a deenergized state dependent upon said calculated plurality of positions; and remotely transmitting a digitally encoded version of the visual image to said electrical controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of emitting a visual image from a lighted display, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a fan having a plurality of blades and being rotatable in two opposite rotation directions about an axis of rotation; defining a plurality of substantially circular image lines, each said image line overlying said fan, each said image line being concentrically disposed around said axis of rotation at a respective radial distance from said axis of rotation; providing a plurality of light sources carried by said plurality of blades of said fan, each said light source beings associated with and overlying a respective said image line; selecting one of said two opposite rotation directions; rotating said fan in said selected rotation direction about said axis of rotation in a plurality of rotations; determining a rotational speed of said fan; calculating a plurality of positions for at least one of said light sources along said image line dependent upon said rotational speed and said selected rotation direction; and
individually switching said at least one light source between an energized state and a deenergized state dependent upon said calculated plurality of positions.
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19. A method of emitting a visual image from a lighted display, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing at least one fan having a plurality of blades and being rotatable in at least one rotation direction about an axis of rotation; defining a plurality of substantially circular image lines, each said image line overlying a respective said fan, each said image line being concentrically disposed around a respective said axis of rotation at a respective radial distance from said axis of rotation, each said respective radial distance being different from other said respective radial distances providing a plurality of light sources carried by said plurality of blades of said at least one fan, each said light source being associated with and overlying a respective said image line; rotating said at least one fan about said axis of rotation in a plurality of rotations; determining a rotational speed of said at least one fan; calculating a plurality of positions for at least one of said light sources along said image line dependent upon said rotational speed; and individually switching said at least one light source between an energized state and a deenergized state dependent upon said calculated plurality of positions.
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Specification