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Rotatable animation devices with staggered illumination sources

  • US 9,390,643 B2
  • Filed: 06/25/2013
  • Issued: 07/12/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2012
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An illuminated animation device with staggered sources of illumination, the animation device comprising:

  • a rotatable member rotatable about an axis of rotation wherein the rotatable member has a left portion to a first side of the axis of rotation, a right portion to a second side of the axis of rotation, and a longitudinal height along the axis of rotation;

    a first plurality of sources of illumination retained to rotate with the rotatable member;

    a second plurality of sources of illumination retained to rotate with the rotatable member;

    wherein the first and second pluralities of sources of illumination are actuatable between illuminated and non-illuminated conditions;

    wherein the first plurality of sources of illumination are retained in a substantially evenly spaced array entirely disposed to a first side of the axis of rotation retained by the left portion of the rotatable member with each source of illumination of the first plurality of sources of illumination spaced at a given radius from the axis of rotation, wherein the second plurality of sources of illumination are retained in a substantially evenly spaced array entirely disposed to a second side of the axis of rotation retained by the right portion of the rotatable member with each source of illumination of the second plurality of sources of illumination spaced at a given radius from the axis of rotation, wherein interstitial spaces without sources of illumination are disposed between the sources of illumination of the array of the first plurality of sources of illumination, wherein interstitial spaces without sources of illumination are disposed between the sources of illumination of the array of the second plurality of sources of illumination, wherein each of the first plurality of sources of illumination is disposed to align along a circumference concentric with the axis of rotation with an interstitial space between the sources of illumination of the second plurality of light sources, and wherein each of the second plurality of sources of illumination is disposed to align along a circumference concentric with the axis of rotation with an interstitial space between the sources of illumination of the first plurality of light sources, and wherein all of the sources of illumination of the first plurality of sources of illumination are disposed at different longitudinal heights in relation to the axis of rotation than all of the sources of illumination of the second plurality of sources of illumination;

    whereby, when the rotatable member is rotated and the sources of illumination are actuated, the sources of illumination will produce paths of illumination and whereby the paths of illumination produced by the first plurality of sources of illumination are staggered in relation to the paths of illumination produced by the second plurality of sources of illumination and whereby illuminated images can be displayed by the illuminated animation device with a resolution deriving from the separate and distinct paths of illumination of the first and second pluralities of sources of illumination.

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