GB2387472A

GB2387472A - Electronic sandwich board

Info

Publication number: GB2387472A
Application number: GB0307908A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Howard Christopher Mcnair
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-04-05
Filing date: 2003-04-07
Publication date: 2003-10-15
Also published as: GB0307908D0

Abstract

Apparatus for advertising or the like purposes comprising a "sandwich board" arrangement in which one or each board takes the form of a flat LCD graphics display panel controlled by processor means carried by the person wearing the sandwich board. The processor is arranged to cause the display to present a succession of graphics or text images, even moving images, derived from or stored in electronic memory associated with the processor and also forming part of the apparatus carried by the person using the apparatus.

Description

Ove view The Elect, onic Sana'wich Board is an ideal and versatile

presentation. It is an advertising and information delivery solution that allows both still, moving video display, and graphic design and digital images to be shown on one or more Display apparatus units.

The solution will be made available with a number of different sized Display apparatus and can either be 'worn' by an operator (see fig. 1) or alternatively can be mounted free standing (see fig. 2).

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective illustration showing a person using an apparatus embodying the invention, Figure 2 shows an apparatus embodying the invention in use in free -

standing mode, Figure 3 shows a single panel display embodying the invention, Figure 4 illustrates a processing unit forming part of the apparatus, Figure 5 is a block circuit diagram for one apparatus embodying the invention, and Figure 6 shows a battery pack.

The Electronic Sandwich Board consists of three main subsystems, namely; the Battery Pack, the Display Apparatus and the Processor Unit.

_attery Pack T he Battery Pack utilises standard rechargeable baffle, cells capable or delivering the appropriate power and a Switch Mode Power Supply to efficiently deliver the correct voltages to both the Display Apparatus and Processor Unit.

This subsystem is contained within a weatherproof plastic enclosure (see fig. 3).

This enclosure has 'Eyelets' that allow the Pack to be carried on a belt around the operators waist. On the top surface of the subsystem are an array of LEDS which indicate the level of charge remaining in the batteries.

A standard charger is used to recharge the battery pack. Recharging time from empty to full charge in appropriate time.

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The Display Apparatus The Dispisy Apparatus (see fig. 4) comprises of LED or LCD display that is mounted on a printed circuit board. The LED OR LCD display is driven by the Display Driver Card, which is designed to be capable of driving the LED or LCD from the input of the Processor Unit. It is mounted in the rear of the Panel and capable of driving the brightness of each LED or LCD separately, allowing an infinite pallete of colours to be displayed at a high resolution. There is also an optional CD ROM drive built into the Display Panel which can be used display still and moving video graphic design and digital image held on a CD ROM without the need for a Processor Unit to be attached.

The LED and LCD, Display Driver Card and CD ROM Drive are mounted within a weatherproof Display enclosure, manufactured from soft foam material, such as cross-linked Polyethylene foam, for reasons of Operator comfort. On the vertical sides of the Display Panel are 'Grab' areas, where the operator can grip the Display Panel. On each end of the top surface of the Display Panel are hooks that allow the Panel to be hung using straps on the Operators shoulders.

And on the bottom of the Display Panel are two small rubber feet that allow the Display to be floor mounted. On one side of the enclosure are two connectors that allow both the Processor Unit and Battery Pack to be connected.

Processor Unit The Processor Unit (see fig. 5) is essentially a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), which is contained within a plastic weatherproof enclosure.

This enclosure has 'Eyelets' that allow the unit to be carried on a belt around the operators waist.

Using particular software, both still and moving video images as well as digital images, are stored and subsequently transmitted to the Display Apparatus by the PDA or personal computer for presentation. These images are either Page 2

downloaded to the PDA from a Personal Computer using either 'Blue Tooth' , A,ireiess communication protocol or remotely Page 3

Claims

1. An advertising or the like apparatus, comprising a sandwich board a display panel having straps or harness connected thereto whereby the panel can be carried by a person so as to present said panel to public view, the display panel being capable of displaying images or text and the apparatus including means whereby images or text displayed on said panel can be changed readily without being removed from such person.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said display panel is an electronically controlled visual display panel, the device further including electronic processor means for controlling said visual display panel, storage or memory means for storing images or other information for display the processor means being operable to access said memory means and to cause said display panel to display corresponding images or text Selectively retrieved from said storage means, for example still or moving images, the apparatus further comprising power supply means for supplying electrical power to said display, processor means and memory means.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said processor means is arranged to display successive images and or text stored in said memory means in a predetermined sequence.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 or claim 3 including manually operable control means whereby the person carrying the apparatus can select stored images or text for display, or enter new images or text for display, or modify a pre-selected sequence of images or text for display.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2 3 or 4 wherein said display panel is an electronically controlled pixeiated graphics display panel comprising an array of individually activated pixels.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said display panel is a flat LCD, plasma or other electronically controlled display.

7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim comprising a "sandwich board" arrangement comprising two rectangular boards connected at their upper ends by straps or links for engagement with the shoulders of the person carrying the apparatus such that one said board hangs in front of that person's body and the other board hangs behind that person's body, said straps or links defining between them a space through which the neck of such person carrying the apparatus can extend, at least one of said panels comprising a said display panel.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein each of said panels comprises a said display panel.

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9. Apparatus according to claim 7 or ciai.m 8 which Is arranged to be capable of standing on the ground or a floor surface with said boards extending upwardly, to form a free- standing advertising or the like display.

10. An advertising or the like apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

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(--of C. Office:= 'I t. To INVESTOR PEOPLE Application No: GB 0307908.4 6 Examiner: Helen Edwards Claims searched: All Date of search: 5 August 2003

Patents Act 1977: Search Report under Section 17 Documents considered to be relevant: Category Relevant Identity of document and passage or figure of particular relevance to claims X,2,3,4, WO 00/03377 Al (STIJELJA) See figure 1 and page 2 line 20 to Y s,6 page 5 line 36 7,8,9 X FR 2432193 A (CHRISTIAN) See figures and English abstract Y 7,8,9

Y 7,8,9 GB 445158 A (SMITH) See figures Y 7,8,9 GB 345447 A (JACKSON) See figures Categories: X Document indicating lack of novelty or inventive step A Document indicating technological background and/or state of the art.

Y Document indicating lack of inventive step if combined P Document published on or after the declared priority date but before with one or more other documents of same category. the filing date of this invention.

& Member of the same patent family E Patent document published on or after, but with priority date earlier than, the filing date of this application.

Field of Search:

Search of GB, EP, WO & US patent documents classified in the following areas of the UKCV: GSC Worldwide search of Patent documents classified in the following areas of the IPC': G09F The following online and other databases have been used in the preparation of this search report: | EPODOC, JAPIO, WPI l An Executive Agency of the Department of Trade and Industry