Multi-segment alphanumeric display

• US 6,525,700 B1
• Filed: 05/04/1999
• Issued: 02/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Smith
• Original Assignee: Robert Smith
• Inventors: Smith, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIMNHUNG T
• Application Number:
  US09/305,020
• Time in Patent Office: 1,393 Days
• Field of Search: 345/33, 345/34, 345/35, 345/32, 345/39, 345/44, 345/46, 345/82, 345/83
• US Class Current: 345/34
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/35 being liquid crystals G09F9/302 takes precedence; liquid crystal materials C09K19/00; liquid crystal panels comprising a number of electrodes in a single cell per se G02F1/13

Abstract

A multi-segment alphanumeric display, such as a seven-segment display, is described. The display comprises a body including at least seven discreet segments. A lens to covers each of the segments. A bottom section comprising at least two light sources per segment is attached to the body. Electric circuitry is connected with the light sources in each segment for selective actuation of the segments. The segments in the body comprise partitioning of sufficient depth to prevent light bleeding from one segment to another.

Claims

1. A multi-segment alphanumeric display comprising:

a body comprising a planar surface with at least seven discreet segments with cavities,

a lens to cover each of the segments,

a bottom section comprising at least two light sources per segment, and

electric circuitry connected with the light sources in each segment for selective actuation of the segments;

wherein the segment cavities in the body comprise partitioning of sufficient depth to prevent light bleeding from one segment to another;

wherein each segment cavity comprises a lip near the top of the cavity wherein each lens for each segment fits on the segment in the lip and a planar surface of each lens is flush with the planar surface of the body; and

wherein the lenses are a darker reddish in color, the body is of a different lighter color to allow lenses of unlit segments to be visible from a distance of 100 feet, and the light sources are high intensity light emitting diodes.

2. The display of claim 1 wherein the light source is a light emitting diode and wherein each segment comprises at least 3 diodes.

3. An improved numeric seven-segment display device for showing any single digit from 0 to 9, comprising

a body comprising a planar surface with a top, a right-upper, a right-lower, a left-upper, a left lower, a middle and bottom discrete segments forming a figure-8 with essentially vertical sides and horizontal top, middle and bottom segments wherein each segment includes a cavity,

a lens to cover each of the segment cavities,

a bottom section comprising at least two light sources per segment, and electric circuitry connected with said light sources in each segment for selective actuation of the segments;

wherein the segment cavities in the body further comprise partitioning of sufficient depth to prevent light bleeding from one segment to another;

wherein each segment in the body further comprises a lip near the top of the cavity to hold the lens, wherein each lens for each segment fits on the segment on the lip such that a planar outer surface of each lens is flush with the planar surface of the body; and

wherein the lenses are a darker reddish in color, the body is of a different lighter color to allow lenses of unlit segments to be visible from a distance of 100 feet, and the light sources are high intensity light emitting diodes.

4. The display of claim 3 wherein the light sources are light emitting diodes.

5. The display of claim 4 wherein the bottom section comprises four light emitting diodes per segment.

6. The display of claim 3 wherein the body is sufficiently deep in separating the light sources from the lenses to eliminate hot spots in any segment while actuated.

7. The display of claim 3 wherein the electric circuitry is a 12 volts circuitry.

8. The display of claim 3 having a visibility range greater than 100 feet and a visibility angle greater than 90 degrees.

9. The display of claim 3 having a visibility range greater than 200 feet and a visibility angle of approximately 120 degrees.

10. The display of claim 3 wherein the lenses have an irregular under surface improving light diffusion from the light sources.

11. The display of claim 3 wherein the lenses have an under surface having raised nodes.

12. The display of claim 3 wherein the partitioning in the body extends from the top of the body substantially to the bottom section.

13. The display of claim 3 wherein the body is whitish in color and the lenses are reddish in color.

14. The display of claim 3 having dimensions of about 2 inches in depth, 3 inches in width and 6 inches in height.

15. An improved numeric seven-segment display device for showing any single digit from 0 to 9, comprising

a light colored body having smooth surfaces and comprising a top, a right-upper, a right-lower, a left-upper, a left lower, a middle and bottom discrete segments forming a figure-8 with essentially vertical sides and horizontal top, middle and bottom segments, wherein each segment has a cavity and further comprises a lip near the top of the cavity,

a dark colored lens of a color different from said body to allow lenses of unlit segments to be visible from a distance of 100 feet, said lens having a substantially flat outer surface to cover each of the segments fitting on the lip of each segment, wherein each lens is at least flush with the surface of the body.

a bottom section comprising at least three light emitting diodes per segment, and

12-volt electric circuitry connected with said diodes in each segment for selective actuation of the segments;

wherein the segment cavities in the body further comprise partitioning of sufficient depth to prevent light bleeding from one segment to another.

16. A display sign comprising at least one numeric seven-segment device of claim 15.