Image display apparatus

• US 6,175,354 B1
• Filed: 11/03/1998
• Issued: 01/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Frontline Display International Ltd. (The Big Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Frontline Display International Ltd. (The Big Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Englefield, Matthew, Griffiths, Philip Morgan, Blissett, Carl Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEWIS, DAVID LEE
• Application Number:
  US09/180,163
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 345/31, 345/32, 345/39, 362/35, 362/84, 416/5
• US Class Current: 345/110
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/38 Blades for axial flow compressors F04D29/324
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0096 Fans, e.g. ceiling fans forced cooling of lighting devices characterised by the arrangement of fans F21V29/67
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/30 with moving light sources, e.g. rotating luminous tubes
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/33 being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/37 being movable elements G09F9/302 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/005 forming an image using a quickly moving array of imaging elements, causing the human eye to perceive an image which has a larger resolution than the array, e.g. an image on a cylinder formed by a rotating line of LEDs parallel to the axis of rotation

Abstract

An image display apparatus comprising a rotatable member carrying an array of light emitting devices; a drive for rotating the member, and a control for selectively energizing each of the light emitting devices in a predetermined sequence as the member rotates so as to present a visible image. The image display device is incorporated in a fan cooling unit having a plurality of blades, the rotatable member being one of the blades of the fan cooling unit. The fan cooling unit includes a sensing arrangement responsive to rotation of the blades, for triggering the control for the energization of the light emitting devices in dependence on the speed of rotation of the blades.

Claims

1. Image display apparatus comprising:

a rotatable member carrying an array of light emitting devices;

a drive for rotating said member; and

a control for selectively energizing each of said devices in a predetermined sequence as said member rotates so as to present a visible image, the apparatus being incorporated in a fan cooling unit having a plurality of blades, said member being one of the blades of the fan cooling unit; and

the fan cooling unit includes a sensing arrangement responsive to rotation of said blades, said sensing arrangement triggering said control for the energization of said devices in dependence on the speed of rotation of the blades.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control is carried by a circuit board which rotates with the blades of the fan cooling unit.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the fan cooling unit is provided with slip rings which rotate with the blades, there being a link between the slip rings and the circuit board for supplying power to the control via brushes in contact with the slip rings.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sensing arrangement senses the start and end of a revolution of said one of the blades.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said sensing arrangement comprises an infra-red source and an infra-red switch, one of said infra-red source and said infra-red switch being mounted on said one of the blades.