Optical waveguides – Illuminating or display apparatus
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-21
2001-03-06
Ngo, Hung N. (Department: 2874)
Optical waveguides
Illuminating or display apparatus
C385S115000, C385S046000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06198872
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The subject invention relates to displays, such as advertising displays, that employ lighting patterns for purposes of attracting attention of potential consumers.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Point-of-purchase displays employ a variety of visual stimuli to attract the attention of potential purchasers. Illumination is recognized widely as an effective stimulus for attracting the attention of a potential customer. As a result, illumination has been used extensively in point-of-purchase displays.
Most illuminated point-of-purchase displays are large and costly. The hardware for achieving the illumination generally must be plugged into an alternating current source, and hence requires an unattractive and bulky wire to be draped from the display to an electrical outlet. Most prior art illuminated displays also generate significant heat. Thus, the illumination must be a considerable distance from the products being sold to avoid damaging the products and to avoid burning consumers.
Fiberoptics have been used in some prior art point-of-purchase displays. The typical prior art fiberoptic point-of-purchase display has include a single light source disposed at a location remote from the display. A plurality of optical fibers have had their light-receiving ends mounted in proximity to the light source. The optical fibers then extended from the light source to the prior art point-of-purchase display, and the emitting ends of the optical fibers were mounted into small holes in the point-of-purchase display. Displays that employ fiberoptics allow for a fine level of detailing and bright coloring. However, these prior art fiberoptic displays are not conducive to complex programming for altering the displays. Furthermore, the typical prior art display that employs fiberoptic components has required connection to an AC source of power for powering the display. This requirement for connection to an AC power source has limited the versatility of these displays.
Some such prior art displays have included a translucent color wheel rotatably mounted between the light source and the receiving ends of optical fibers. The wheel would cause different colors to pass between the light source and the optical fibers, thereby causing the illumination emitted from the opposed end of the optical fibers to change color. Other fiberoptic optical displays have rotated an opaque material between the light source and the receiving ends of the fiber. The opaque material would periodically interrupt the passage of light from the light source to the optical fibers. As a result, the light emitted from the ends of the optical fibers mounted in the display would blink. Some prior art displays mounted the receiving ends of the optical fibers in spaced relationship to one another. The opaque material then would move sequentially past the receiving ends. Consequently the emitting ends of the optical fibers would alternately blink. The programming options for the alternating blinking has been very limited and typically subjected to a short cycle of repetition.
Prior art displays with optical fibers have been visually attractive. However, these prior art displays have been fairly large and costly due to the separation between the light source and the display and due to the cumbersome prior art mechanisms for creating a variable illuminated display.
Light emitting diodes (LED's) are used in certain programmable displays. However, LED's do not provide the same level of detail as fiberoptics. Additionally, LED's typically are not as bright or colorful as fiberoptics.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The subject invention is directed to an advertising display or point-of-purchase display having portions that are selectively illuminable. The display includes an electronic circuit assembly capable of distributing current to each of a plurality of loads pursuant to a pre-programmed or pre-programmable sequence. For example, the electronic circuit assembly may include a pre-programmed or programmable integrated circuit chip or a microprocessor that is programmed to sequentially direct electrical current to each of a plurality of electrically conductive wires. The integrated circuit chip and other components on the circuit board may function as an array of solid state switches for alternately permitting or interrupting the flow of current from a power source to each of a plurality of electrically conductive wires. The power source may be a battery that is incorporated into the display. Alternatively, the power source may be at a remote location, and the display may merely include a wire for selectively connecting the display to the remote power source, such as a conventional alternating current outlet.
The display further includes a plurality of light emitting diodes that are connected respectively to ends of the electrically conductive wires remote from the circuit board. Thus, current from the wires will selectively activate the light emitting diodes and thereby cause pulses of light to be generated in accordance with a pattern that is dictated by the programmed or programmable components of the circuitry.
The apparatus further includes a plurality of electro-optical connectors connected to each of the light emitting diodes and at least one optical fiber extending from each electro-optical connector. Preferably, a plurality of optical fibers extend from each electro-optical connector. Thus, light generated from each of the light emitting diodes will be directed through the respective optical fibers.
Each optical fiber includes an emitting end remote from the electro-optical connector. The emitting ends of the optical fibers are disposed at a location on the display that permits the light signals to be visually observable by a potential customer. For example, the display may include a substantially rigid panel having a size and shape appropriate for the items being marketed by the display. The panel may include a front face and an opposed rear face. The front face of the panel may be provided with appropriate graphic designs and indicia. The rear face of the panel may have the above-described electro-optical components mounted thereon. The panel is provided with a plurality of apertures extending therethrough from the front face to the rear face. The apertures have diameters substantially conforming to the diameters of the respective optical fibers. The emitting ends of the optical fibers may be passed into and/or through the respective apertures from the rear face to the front face such that the emitting ends of the optical fibers are substantially flush with the front face of the panel. An adhesive material or a curable resin may be applied to the rear face of the panel at locations surrounding the apertures. Thus, the adhesive or other curable resin may securely hold the respective optical fibers in the apertures.
The apertures through the panel preferably are disposed in accordance with a pattern that corresponds with the graphics or indicia presented on the front face of the panel. Additionally, the optical fibers extend from the respective electro-optical connectors in a manner that will generate signals consistent with the graphics and indicia presented on the front face of the panel. For example, the optical fibers could be directed to locations that correspond to graphically depicted wheels of a vehicle. The optical fibers could be arranged to produce a sequential lighting pattern that suggests rotation of the wheels.
The apertures in the panel may be disposed to define a plurality of spaced apart groups of apertures. Each group may receive optical fibers extending from a plurality of different light emitting diodes. Thus, the optical fibers in each group of apertures may not all be turned on or off simultaneously. Rather, the optical fibers in each group of apertures on the display panel may be sequentially lit to suggest a twinkling effect, an effect of apparent motion or variable color pattern. Each of the groups may undergo the same pattern of variable i
Jones David
Jones John
Lipson Hyla
Casella Anthony J.
Hespos Gerald E.
Ngo Hung N.
Porco Michael J.
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