US3611359A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Compact component device for the visible display of letters, digits, symbols and figures
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1968-12-03
•
Granted: 1971-10-05
•
Expires: 1988-12-03
Abstract
Abstract A compact component device for the visible display of letters, digits, symbols and figures characterized in comprising in combination a plurality of transparent plates mounted close to one another, a plurality of transparent rods passing through the pack of said plates through their thickness, one or more luminous sources located along one or more lateral faces of said pack, and means for selectively sending back the light from said sources along said rods, axialwise, so that the end front surfaces of said rods will form a unit of luminous zones on the front surface of said pack, reproducing the desired visible indication.
Inventors
- 👤 Maria Panerai
- 👤 Giuseppe Panerai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 05:04
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/0001; G02B6/0005; G02B6/0006; G02B6/0008; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/28; G02B6/2804; G02B6/2817; G02B6/42; G02B6/4201; G02B6/4204; G02B6/4214; G02B6/4249; G02B6/4298; G09; G09F; G09F9/00; G09F9/30; G09F9/305; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S200/00; Y10S200/47
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 48
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A device for the visible display of letters, digits, symbols and figures, comprising in combination a plurality of transparent plates mounted adjacent one another to form a pack, a plurality of transparent rods passing through said pack in their thickness direction, one or more luminous sources locates along at least one lateral face of said pack to illuminate the corresponding plate and means for selectively reflecting the light from said sources axially along said rods, so that the end front surfaces of said rods will form a unit of luminous zones on the front surface of said pack, reproducing the desired visible indication.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
103 words
A device for the visible display of letters, digits, symbols and figures, comprising in combination a plurality of transparent plates mounted adjacent one another to form a pack, a plurality of transparent rods passing through said pack in their thickness direction, one or more luminous sources locates along at least one lateral face of said pack to illuminate the corresponding plate and means for selectively reflecting the light from said sources axially along said rods, so that the end front surfaces of said rods will form a unit of luminous zones on the front surface of said pack, reproducing the desired visible indication.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
66 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said selective reflecting means for the light comprises prismatic notches provided along the rods in prefixed positions whereby a light beam, perpendicular to the axis of the rods, guided by said plates, will be reflected at least by one of said prismatic notches along the axes of the rods themselves, in order to supply the selected visible display.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said means for selectively reflecting the light comprise two prismatic opposite and symmetrical notches, which receive the light from two opposite directions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for the selective reflecting the light comprise a notch having a conical shape.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said luminous source is movable along the lateral faces of said pack to selectively send a light beam to the plate corresponding to the selected indication.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said plates is provided along at least one lateral side thereof with at least one luminous source to be energized selectively in order to have on the front end surface of the rods a luminous indication.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said luminous sources are arranged within recesses provided along the edges of said plates.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light source is a lamp selected from a group consisting of incandescence, luminescence and electroluminescence lamp types.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light source is a layer of electroluminescent material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said layer of electroluminescent material is applied along the edge of each plate, in a position adjacent to a prismatic surface in the thickness of the plate itself.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said light sources are interposed between said plates adjacent said prismatic notches, said plates being spaced apart by means of opaque sleeves, surrounding the corresponding zones of the rods.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said selective reflecting means for the light comprise prismatic notches having a slight depth in the side surface of said rods, perpendicularly with respect to the optical axis, and extending at least partially about the contour of the cross section of said rods.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said notches are provided on two half-circumferences axialwise staggered with respect to one another.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rods are subdivided into sections located in alignment with one another, and each having one end bent perpendicularly with respect to the optical axis, so that the head surface of said end will be facing towards the associated light source.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
A device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the end of each segment is U bent through a short portion, and ends with a face forming a prism destined to reflect the light of the associated source.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
54 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rods comprise an array of flexible light pipes, each having one end inserted through a front plate and the other end faced circuits, a cell containing one or more light sources, selectively energized in order to form, on said front plate, the desired luminous indication.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
A device as claimed in claim 16, wherein said cells with their associated light sources is carried by a slidable frame, provided with sliding contacts for the connection with the control circuits, and easily removable for checking and replacing the light source.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
A device as claimed in claim 16, wherein in each cell are contained at least two light sources, having various colors, in order to obtain on the front plate a colored luminous display according to various colors.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light source consists of an electroluminescent plate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
50 words
A device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the prismatic notches provided on the transparent material rods are surrounded by a ring of electroluminescent material to be energized selectively by the operative circuits, for selectively illuMinating said notches and for reflecting the light to the front end of the rods.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
A device as claimed in claim 20, wherein a layer of electroluminescent material is contained between a transparent conductive coating applied to the lateral surface of the rod, and a conductive sleeve surrounding the zone of each prismatic notch.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
80 words
A device as set forth in claim 1 comprising a multiplicity of female connection elements located on a control board reproducing the luminous point panel, and a set of male connectors, consisting of a socket provided with a set of contact jacks located according to a prefixed design, suitable to energize the corresponding circuits of the panel due to insertion into said female connectors in order to obtain on said panel a set of luminous points forming the desired indication.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device as claimed in claim 22, characterized in that said control board is provided with a number of female connector members equaling the number of the luminous points of the display panel.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
57 words
A device as claimed in claim 23, characterized in that the display board is subdivided into zones or ''''cells'''' each of which includes a plurality of luminous points, orderly located in lines and columns, and the control board is subdivided into a corresponding number of zones, into each of which a male connector element can be inserted.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
53 words
A device as claimed in claim 24, characterized in that said control board is provided with Cartesian references suitable to allow the immediate and easy individuation of the various corresponding cells on the luminous panel, and is provided with a set of cases provided with references and destined to contain said male connectors.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
64 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in comprising an array of pins of transparent material having their head end passing through the display front plate, and the lateral and rear surfaces rendered conductive by a transparent layer, said rear end resting on a layer electroluminescent material, which will be selectively energized in order to obtain the formation of the desired luminous zones.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
50 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the means for the selective energization of said electroluminescent layer include an opaque conductive layer, located below said electroluminescent layer, and a set of single conductors connected to the conductive lateral surface of the associated pin, through a metal ring.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device as claimed in claim 27, characterized in that said metal ring consists of a conductive sleeve with a reflecting surface, which entirely or partially surrounds the lateral surface of the pin.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
37 words
A device as claimed in claim 28, characterized in that said electroluminescent layer is pressed against the rear end of the pins by an elastic layer, interposed between said opaque conductive layer and an outer rigid plate.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device as claimed in claim 29, characterized in that said outer plate is elastically urged by one or more snap springs, in order to render said electroluminescent layer and its associated opaque conductor, easily rechangeable.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
58 words
A device as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the electroluminescent layer with its associated continuous opaque conductive support is embodied in form of a flexible tape, which is elastically pressured against the rear end of said pins, and can be moved periodically under a control, from feeding bobbin to a collecting bobbin for the exhausted tape.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device as claimed in claim 31, characterized in that said pins are made of opaque conductive material, and are surrounded by sleeves of transparent material.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
119 words
A device as claimed in claim 31, characterized in that said front plate is provided with a set of holes communicating with a diffuser transparent layer resting on a transparent conductor, below which are arranged a layer of electroluminescent material and a set of single conductors which can be selectively energized and are located in alignment with said holes. 34. A device as claimed in claim 33, characterized in comprising in combination a set of parallel transparent rods, contained within a casing and the front end of which is located in the front plane or display face of said casing, while each of their rear ends is associated to a prism receiving the light from an electroluminescent horizontal plate.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
41 words
A device as claimed in claim 34, characterized in that said electroluminescent plates are fed by a common conductor and by a selectively energized conductor associated to each single plate and ending to a quick connection element with the operative circuits.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device as claimed in claim 35, characterized in that said rods have a differentiated length and their rear ends receive directly the light from a set of electroluminescent vertical plates, partially superposed to one another.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
52 words
A device as claimed in claim 36, characterized in that the casing has a front plate with an array of holes, behind which is located an electroluminescent panel including a bottom conductive layer, a layer of electroluminescent layer and a set of selectively energizable transparent zones, located in register with said holes.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device as claimed in claim 37, characterized in that said transparent conductive zones are carried by a transparent insulating plate, interposed between the apertured front plate and the layer of electroluminescent material.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device as claimed in claim 38, characterized in that the selective operation conductors are connected to said single transparent conductive zones, while the common conductor leads to said bottom conductive layer.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device as claimed in claim 39, characterized in that said conductors lead to a quick connection element connected to the operative circuits.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
81 words
A device as claimed in claim 40, characterized in comprising a set of electroluminescent panels close mounted to one another, selectively energizable and located inside of a casing, and an array of transparent rods, located perpendicularly to said panels, each of said rods having its front end appearing on a display plane, and its rear end resting on one of said panels, so that on said plane a set of luminous points will be observed, corresponding to the various energized panels.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device as claimed in claim 41, characterized in that each rod or transparent pin passes through a hole provided in the set of preceding panels.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device as claimed in claim 42, characterized in that the front ends of the pins appear through a set of holes provided through a front plate forming the display plate.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
50 words
A device as claimed in claim 43, characterized in that the unit of the panels and pins is contained within a casing provided frontally with said display plate and provided at its other end with a terminal unit connecting the feeding conductors of the various panels to the operative circuits.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device as claimed in claim 44, characterized in that the unit of the panels is subdivided into horizontal stripes and vertical columns, each of which carries the set of associated pins.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
74 words
A device as claimed in claim 45, characterized in comprising in combination a multiplicity of metal zones independent from one another, each provided with a conductor, a continuous protective dielectric ceramic layer covering the unit of said zones, a layer of electroluminescent material superposed to said protective layer, a continuous transparent conductive layer to which an electric common conductor is fastened and a front dielectric protective layer, forming the display face of the panel.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device as claimed in claim 46, characterized in that said ceramic protective dielectric layer is bodily embodied with the independent metal zones.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device as claimed in claim 47, characterized in that said electroluminescent material consists of a homogeneous paste of finely subdivided phosphor and power of ceramic material.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2619068A
Cited
US3353026A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-10-04 | 1975-04-05 | 1975-10-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-10-04 | 1979-04-05 | 1979-10-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-10-04 | 1983-04-05 | 1983-10-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |