Communications: electrical – Visual indication – Audio responsive lamp
Patent
1999-02-08
2000-11-21
Crosland, Donnie L.
Communications: electrical
Visual indication
Audio responsive lamp
34081547, 34081583, 34081568, 340321, 340908, 340485, 340488, 40573, 40612, 116 63P, G08B 500, G08G 1095
Patent
active
061509493
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is related generally to a visual display, and more particularly to a visual display device for representing characters related to automobile traffic.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A visual display device is shown in DE-U 86 07 138.6. In such display device, display segments with one respective character each are swivelably supported around a vertical axis within a support arrangement. In the device shown in DE-U 86 07 138.6, the plane of the support arrangement is aligned essentially perpendicular to the direction of movement of an observer as are the display segments.
In DE-A 34 40 856 a visual display arrangement is shown in which individual rows of image elements are recessed in relation to a vertical plane. Wedge shaped projections are arranged between such rows. This display arrangement with its support arrangement is also aligned essentially vertically.
In another display device according to DE 40 22 650C1 alphanumeric characters, symbols or images can be represented on a flat display board by means of self-illuminating image elements that are illuminated by means of optical fibers. Such display board is suspended in an essentially vertical manner from a mounting surface.
The DE 40 22 650 C1 display device requires a certain minimum height in order to represent figures and permit them to be recognized from a greater distance as is required for highway traffic. In this case the spacial relationship is not favorable with regard to making visual display devices readily visible. For example, structural height is limited in tunnels or in underpasses, so that quite often display devices that are suspended are torn away by trucks.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide a visual display device that overcomes some of the short comings of the prior art.
Another object of this invention is to provide a visual display device capable of providing good visibility while having a structural height that is as small as possible. How these and other objects are accomplished will become apparent from the following descriptions and from the drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention involves a visual display device comprised of a display field positioned between a first and second support frame. In this invention, the support frames are aligned essentially parallel to a given direction or movement. Furthermore, the invention includes a plurality of display segments sequentially spaced one behind the other within the display field. These display segments are attached at each end to one of the support frames. Also included are a plurality of illuminating image elements that are positioned within the display segments.
This embodiment of the invention permits the display field to be displaced depth-wise as viewed by an observer traveling parallel to the given direction of movement. As such, very little structural height or width is required while visually, the impression of a continuous display surface is imparted to an observer that is essentially perpendicular to the visual axis of the observer.
This allows the structural height of width of the invention to be considerably less than the visual height or width of the structure (e.g., 3 to 5 cm. for a display height of 60 cm. or more). Depending on whether the display segments are arranged above or lateral to the observer, the display segments can be horizontal or vertical strips appropriately interconnected to a planar display surface.
In one embodiment of the invention, the display segments are inclined opposite the direction or movement by an angle less than 45 degrees. In another embodiment, the display segments have both an upper and lower edge with the lower edges being aligned horizontally and the display segments as seen in succession by an observer moving along the given direction of movement correspond to corresponding strips of a flat display surface in a sequence from top to bottom. In such an embodiment, the width of the display segments can be established depending on the desired
REFERENCES:
patent: D417517 (1999-12-01), Seale
patent: 3593418 (1971-07-01), Evans
patent: 5339765 (1994-08-01), Ward
patent: 5542203 (1996-08-01), Luoma et al.
Baumstark Erwin
Eschbach Bernd
Crosland Donnie L.
Damback-Werke GmbH
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