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 Title: |
US5748157:
Display apparatus utilizing persistence of vision
[ Derwent Title ]
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| Country: |
US United States of America
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| Inventor: |
Eason, Richard O.; Bangor, ME 04401
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| Assignee: |
None
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| Published / Filed: |
1998-05-05
/ 1994-12-27
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| Application Number: |
US1994000364312
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| IPC Code: |
Advanced:
G09F 9/33;
G09G 3/00;
Core:
more...
IPC-7:
G09G 3/20;
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| ECLA Code: |
G09F9/33; G09G3/00B;
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| U.S. Class: |
Current:
345/031;
345/039;
Original:
345/031;
345/039;
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| Field of Search: |
345/031,39,46,56,84
359/036,212,221
340/815.45
362/102
036/137
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| Priority Number: |
| 1994-12-27 |
US1994000364312 |
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| Abstract: |
A display device is constructed with a support for cyclic or repetitive motion. An array of lights is mounted on the support for sweeping across a region of space during motion of the support. A microcontroller or other microprocessor is coupled to the lights for turning on and off the respective lights of the array. A periodically actuated switch such as an inertial switch is coupled to the microcontroller for measuring the time period or cycle time of a cycle of the cyclic or repetitive motion of the support and for indicating initiation of a cycle. The microcontroller is programmed for synchronizing the turning on and off of respective lights of the array according to the time period or cycle time of a cycle of the cyclic or repetitive motion of the support for forming at least one image across the region of space swept by the array of lights using persistence of vision of a viewer. According to one example the support is a hand held wand for hand held swinging motion back and forth. The array of lights is a column of LED's mounted along the wand for sweeping across a two dimensional area of space. The swinging motion of the wand back and forth can form e.g. alphanumeric characters, words, and sentences for conveying messages. Animated images may also be displayed. Other display devices in other environments with periodic, cyclic, or repetitive motion are also described.
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| Attorney, Agent or Firm: |
Ritchie, William B. ;
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| Primary / Asst. Examiners: |
Bayerl, Raymond J.; Vail, Seth D.
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| Family: |
None
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First Claim:
Show all 25 claims |
I claim:
1. A display device comprising:
- a support constructed for cyclic motion;
- an array of lights mounted on the support for sweeping across a region of space during the cyclic motion of the support;
- a controller coupled to the lights for turning on and off the respective lights of the array;
- a periodically actuated switch coupled to the controller for measuring the time interval or cycle time period of a cycle of the cyclic motion of the support and for indicating initiation of a cycle;
- a clock circuit generating clock pulses;
- a counter circuit coupled to the clock circuit for counting clock pulses and generating a time unit signal L every n clock pulses, said controller being programmed to count time unit signals L in a counter CountL;
- said controller being programmed to determine the cycle time period of a cycle of motion of the support divide the cycle time period into a fixed number of m time intervals each having a duration TargetL where TargetL is a specified count of the counter CountL equal to the cycle time period divided by m, said controller being programmed to count the time intervals m in a counter CountH, CountH being incremented each time CountL reached Target L;
- said controller being programmed to introduce a delay by a delay routine synchronized with the cycle time period before turning on and off the lights of the array during a cycle of the cyclic motion of the support said delay being values of TargetH set for each particular image, said controller turning on and off lights of the array when CountH equals TargetH;
- said controller being programmed for synchronizing the turning on and off of respective lights of the array according to the time interval or cycle time period of a cycle of the cyclic motion of the support for forming an image across the region of space swept by the array of lights using persistence of vision of a viewer.
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| Background / Summary: |
Show background / summary
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| Drawing Descriptions: |
Show drawing descriptions
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| Description: |
Show description
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| Forward References: |
Show 28 U.S. patent(s) that reference this one
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