Kinetic device and method for producing visual displays

• US 7,142,173 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2001
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas And Sterzer Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Arthur Lane Bentley
• Inventors: Bentley, Arthur Lane
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Riohard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shapiro, Leonid
• Application Number:
  US10/003,988
• Publication Number:
  US 20030080924A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,854 Days
• Field of Search: 345/31, 345/46, 345/39, 345/82, 404/52, 404/47, 405/50, 348/44, 340/815.45, 340/815.4, 340/815.53
• US Class Current: 345/31
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/33 being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes
• 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

A visual display device is constructed which uses the “persistence of vision” effect of human vision and responds to kinetic motions of the user as the device is held and swung by an operator. Displays may consist of alphanumeric and graphic data with image symmetry not required. A microcontroller adjusts the display to conform to the speed and width of the users swing, synchronizing the display to the users motions. Both the user and viewers of the device are enabled to see the displayed images correctly oriented and stable within the path of the swinging device. The user is provided with visual and or audio feedback, which helps in coordinating a steady swing, and gives an indication of the orientation of the displayed data. The device is fabricated in such a way that costs are at a minimum, allowing this technology to be used in widespread disposable or reusable applications. The technology is expanded to displays in which the viewer provides the kinetic motion and the device is held stationary.

Claims

1. An apparatus for producing visual displays comprising:

at least one lighted array comprised of at least one light emitting element and defining a style of predetermined graphics shape or alphanumeric characters;

a double-throw inertia reversal sensor for sensing reversals in the direction of inertia; and

a controller in communication with said array and programmed to count a number of adjacent inertia reversals detected by said inertia reversal sensor and to modify the display data delivered in a columnar piecewise fashion to said lighted array;

whereby a series of changing styles of graphics or alphanumeric characters appear and hang in mid air when the device is moved through space.

2. A kinetic apparatus for producing visual displays based on the persistence of vision effect of human vision, comprising:

a lighted array of light emitting elements;

a controller coupled to the elements of the lighted array;

said controller being programmed to deliver display data in a piecewise fashion to said lighted array; and

a multi-degree sensor for detecting angular motion of said lighted array;

said controller being programmed to process changes in inertia detected by said multi-degree sensor;

wherein said apparatus is mounted for pivotal movement about a central point, such that the lighted array rotates at a variable speed around the circumference of a circle, thereby producing a visual display of text or graphics which appears stable or precedes or recedes around said central pivot point.

3. A device for producing visual displays based on the persistence of vision effect of human vision, comprising:

a lighted array of light emitting elements;

a controller to deliver display data in a columnar piecewise fashion to the lighted array;

wherein the lighted array is substantially fixed in position and relies on an observer to provide the kinetic motion required to produce a persistence of vision image by scanning the observer'"'"'s eyes past the lighted array;

and wherein the lighted array is slanted, arched, angled, or pointed, such that the eyes of the observer are thereby guided to scan the array in the direction pointed to by the array, so that the observer will see a persistence of vision image which is correctly oriented when the observer'"'"'s eyes scan in the direction indicated.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the array is integrated into articles of clothing, notebooks, and other items;

whereby a visual display is produced when the viewer'"'"'s eyes scan across the lighted array.

5. An apparatus for producing visual displays based on the persistence of vision effect of human vision, comprising:

a lighted array of light emitting elements;

a controller to deliver display data in a columnar piecewise fashion to the lighted array;

an inertia reversal sensor to detect the completion of a first half-cycle swing of the lighted array from a first position to a second position and to detect the completion of a return half-cycle swing of the lighted array from the second position back to the first position;

wherein the controller uses only the measure of the time interval between the completion of the first half-cycle swing and the completion of the return half-cycle swing to determine the timing of lighting sequence of the light emitting elements of the array during a display half-cycle swing immediately following the return half-cycle swing so that the image displayed by the lighted array is synchronized with the movement of the lighted array.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the display data is stored in a shorthand format;

such that spaces are removed from the stored data but are implicitly indicated by changing the case of the stored character;

thereby enabling the storage of substantially more display data while still being able to display spaces in proper places.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the controller randomly selects programmed data for entertaining display.

8. The display device of claim 5 wherein the lighted array is comprised of members selected from the group consisting of obscured light emitting diodes and pigmented light emitting diodes.