WO2000075910A1

WO2000075910A1 - Device for displaying advertising and/or information posters

Info

Publication number: WO2000075910A1
Application number: PCT/FR2000/001516
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alain-Jean Mathis
Original assignee: Reflex Media
Priority date: 1999-06-03
Filing date: 2000-05-31
Publication date: 2000-12-14
Also published as: FR2794562B1; AU5411200A; FR2794562A1

Abstract

The display device comprises a cabinet (10) which is enclosed by display glass (2), whereby a light source (12) is located therein. The display glass (2) is made of polarized glass and an optical attenuation film (4) is created on the inner surface of the display glass (2) by glueing a black transparent film on said surface. The display device can take the form of a mirror or a support for a poster according to whether the light source is turned on or off.

Description

Display device for advertising and / or informative posters.

Technical field of the invention

The present invention relates to a display device for advertising, informative or decorative posters, comprising:

- a box containing a light source, - an exposure glass having a front face located on the user side, and a rear face on the side of the light source,

- And light source control means for transforming the exposure glass either into a mirror or into a display device, respectively when said light source is switched off and on.

Prior art

Such devices are known from documents US 4641442 and GB

2232520. Detection means make it possible to detect the presence of a person in front of the front face to control the lighting of the light source transforming the mirror into a display device.

There are other types of display devices. We can cite for example the display panels on which are simply pasted paper posters. There are also display panels comprising a housing in which is arranged a lighting device and closed by a window. A poster is placed inside the box against the glass and is backlit.

There are also scrolling display devices. Such a device comprises a multiple image display mechanism comprising a housing provided with an orifice, a drive tube and a driven tube. An image strip extends between the drive tube and the driven tube. A light source is placed inside the box behind the image strip in order to illuminate each image panel.

Such a device is for example revealed by document WO-98 / 38,622.

Other devices allow the successive display of several different posters. The display panel then consists of a set of prisms placed one next to the other. On each side of the prism is stuck a strip of a poster. By then rotating the prisms all together, you can change the poster visible on the display panel.

Many other display devices are known, such as the projection of images on a wall of a metro station, for example, liquid crystal displays or plasma display panels.

Subject of the invention

The present invention aims to provide a new type of display device for easily changing the image or text displayed, and benefiting from a low cost price and maintenance, and a consumption of reduced electrical energy. The display device for advertising and / or informative posters according to the invention, is characterized in that the window is made of polarized glass, and that an optical attenuation film is arranged on the interior face of the window by gluing of a transparent black film on this face.

In this way, when the light source is switched off, the device according to the invention has the appearance of a mirror, and when the light source operates, the light flux makes the assembly formed by the exposure glass and the film translucent transparent black. It is therefore enough to place an image, or a text, or equivalent between the light source and the exposure glass to see appear at the latter the image, the text or equivalent.

To obtain a better quality of the image appearing on the exposure glass, a diffusing support, substantially the same size as the exposure glass, is disposed between the latter and the light source. This diffusing support is for example made of a material based on polycarbonate, or woven glass.

For better quality of the display device when it fulfills the function of mirror, its exposure glass advantageously has a silver metallic polarization.

The temperature of the light source is preferably higher than

5OOO ° K.

In a preferred embodiment, the light source comprises electroluminescent tubes fitted with electronic ballasts. According to a first embodiment of the display device according to the invention, a poster is placed just behind the optical attenuation film. For example, it could be a paper poster.

In this embodiment, a variant provides that the box is partitioned into several sub-boxes in each of which is a light source, and that an electronic control device is provided to manage the switching on and off of the light sources. . It is then possible to put in the device a poster which is in fact the meeting of several posters of smaller size, each of the latter corresponding to a sub-box of the device.

The poster is for example fixed on a diffusing support and the box advantageously comprises a slot allowing the introduction and the withdrawal of the poster and its support.

The device according to the invention can also be used with digital images. In this case, a video projector and an optical system are for example arranged in the box so as to be able to project an image on the glass. In this case, the inside face of the box opposite the exposure glass is preferably a reflecting face and the optical system comprises a set of lenses and mirror (s). Such an optical system is for example used in an overhead projector.

The invention also relates to a set of devices as described above. This set advantageously includes a control station managing the light sources of all the devices of the set of display devices. This control station can be integrated with a display device in a first embodiment or else the control station and the display devices are connected by computer connection cables in a another embodiment. It can also be provided that the control station and the display devices are connected by a radio link.

Brief description of the drawings

In any case, the invention will be clearly understood with the aid of the description which follows, with reference to the appended schematic drawing showing by way of nonlimiting examples of embodiments of a display device according to the invention:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of part of a display device according to the invention,

- Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of a display device according to the invention showing the elements shown in Figure 1, - Figure 3 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the device of Figure 2,

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view through another form of embodiment of a device according to the invention, and

- Figures 5 and 6 are views showing a set of display devices according to the invention.

Description of preferred embodiments

The display device according to the invention can take either the external appearance of a mirror, or the appearance of a backlit poster. This device makes it possible to alternate the mirror function with the display function thanks to control electronics.

The basic principle of the invention, which makes it possible to "transform" a poster into a mirror, or vice versa, is explained below with reference to FIG. 1. This figure shows four elements: an exhibition glass 2, an optical attenuation film 4, a poster 6 and a diffusing support

8.

The exposure glass 2 is made of silver polarized glass, with a thickness for example of 6 mm. This display window 2 has a front face located on the side of a "user", that is to say a person looking at himself in the mirror or to whom we wish to show the poster 6.

The rear face of the exposure glass 2, opposite the front face, receives by bonding the optical attenuation film 4. It is a film known to the skilled person under the name of transparent black film . Such a film is generally used to block ultraviolet rays and attenuate the light in order to protect material sensitive to light rays.

The assembly formed by this exposure glass 2 and the optical attenuation film 4 forms a mirror if, for example, this assembly is placed against a wall, or if it is used as the cover of a housing .

However, if we illuminate this assembly from the rear, the transparent black film becomes translucent.

To produce a display device according to the invention, use is therefore made of such an exposure glass 2 on the rear face of which a bonding film 4 is pasted. In a first embodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, an image, or poster 6, is placed against the optical attenuation film 4 and is sandwiched using the diffusing support 8. The latter makes it possible to scatter the light. It is for example a support based on polycarbonate and / or woven glass.

Figure 2 shows the main elements for producing a display device according to the invention. We find there the assembly formed by the exposure glass 2, the optical attenuation film 4, the poster 6 and the diffusing support 8 of FIG. 1. This device also includes a box 10, electroluminescent tubes 12 for backlighting, a box

14 electronic servo, and a hubcap 16.

The box 10 is a parallelepiped box, a large face of which is closed by the assembly shown in FIG. 1, the exposure glass 2 being outside the box and the diffusing support 8 inside it. . The box 10 can be made of various materials, for example using sheets or plates of synthetic material. The walls of this box 10 are opaque.

The light-emitting tubes 12 include electronic ballasts to prevent them from flashing when they are switched on. The electronic servo unit 14 makes it possible to control the switching on and off of. electroluminescent tubes 12. These emit light whose temperature is higher than 5000 ° K. The hubcap 16 is used to hold the exposure glass 2 in the box 1 0.

FIG. 2 does not represent the various cables allowing the supply of electrical energy to the display device, nor the control cables.

Figure 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the device of Figure 2. To facilitate the change of the poster 6 of the display device, provision is made in the box 10 for a slot 18. The latter is used to insert and extract from the box 10 the diffusing support 8 on which the poster 6 is fixed. A handle 20 is then provided on the diffusing support 8 to facilitate gripping of the latter.

The operation of this display device is then as follows: A poster is placed between the diffusing support 8 and the optical attenuation film 4 inside the box 10. When the light-emitting tubes 12 are off, the display device has the appearance of a mirror. Once the light-emitting tubes 12 light up, the poster appears at the level of the exposure glass 2. The optical attenuation film 4 has become translucent. The display device then has the appearance of a conventional display device.

Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of a display device according to the invention. The light-emitting tubes 12 and the poster 4 are replaced by a video projector 22, and a digitized image.

Here we find the box 10, the exposure glass 2, the optical attenuation film 4 and the diffusing support 8. To project the digitized image stored in the video projector 22 at the exposure glass, we use an optical system 24 with electronic servoing. The bottom of the box 10 is covered with a reflecting surface 26. When the video projector 22 is stopped, the exposure glass 2 appears like a mirror. When the video projector 22 projects an image onto the diffusing support 8 and the exposure glass 2, the optical attenuation film 4 becomes translucent, because it is crossed by the light flux emitted by the video projector 22.

The display devices described above constitute an interesting advertising or informative medium. Indeed, a person who passes in front of a mirror tends to look in the mirror. By transforming this mirror into an advertising poster or an information panel, the advertising or information imposes itself by surprise on the person concerned, without attacking him. It is thus possible to provide an electronic system detecting the presence of a person and which, after a few seconds, gradually transforms the mirror into a simple advertising medium showing one or two images, in black and white or color, very high definition, thanks to the diffusing support 8.

Several possibilities of electronic control are possible. We have already mentioned above the progressive ignition of the light source, light-emitting tubes 12 or video projector 22, when a person stops in front of the display device, and is detected by a presence detector device. The device is then naturally in mirror function and switches to display function with progressive lighting after detection of a presence. The transition to the display function can be progressive or not, timed or not. Similarly, the extinction can be progressive or not, to be done when the detected person leaves, with time delay or not, etc ... One can also make appear and disappear the poster regularly, gradually or not, according to a predefined rhythm.

Presence detection can be achieved by many means. An infrared presence detector or a photosensitive cell can be used. One can also imagine surveillance by camera of the display device.

The transition from the mirror function to the display function, and vice versa, can also be carried out other than as described above. It can be simply on demand, by the action of an operator on a control switch. One can also imagine the use of a twilight trigger that switches the device from its mirror function to the display function, or vice versa, depending on the ambient light.

An alternative embodiment provides for the presence for a set of several posters instead of one. It then suffices to partition the box 10 into several sub-boxes, with each sub-box being associated with a light source in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. In in the case of digitized images, it is possible to project only part of the image. Partitioning therefore becomes unnecessary inside the box 10.

In this alternative embodiment, the display device is then divided into several sections or blocks. The latter are invisible when the display device is in mirror function. Each section has a poster. You can choose to backlight the posters one after the other, or all together, or some then some others, etc. Many combinations are possible here. All you have to do is program the electronic servo device.

The display device according to the invention can be presented in numerous formats. It can be small supports to pose or to fix on a wall, for posters, menus, instructions, etc .... Such a display device can be used for signs and advertising panels of all sizes and all shapes, square, triangular, circular, etc. Such a display device can be used as a table top, bar top, advertising door, display case, storefront, etc. electronic allows to manage several posters and also several different display devices. Figures 5 and 6 show such a set of display devices.

In FIG. 5, there is a display device 28 in which is integrated a control device for itself, but also for the four other display devices 30 shown. The connection between these various display devices 28 and 30 is here produced by computer connection cables 32. Each display device 28, 30 is also supplied with electrical energy by a cable 34.

In Figure 6, we find the four display devices 30 of the figure

5. We also find the power supply cable 34. Here, the management of the poster of the poster devices 30 is carried out by a control station 36, in particular a master panel, which sends its instructions by radio waves. Each display device 30 then comprises a radio receiver provided with an antenna 38.

Of course, one could also have, in FIG. 5, a radio link between the display device 28 and the display devices 30, just as a wired link can be envisaged between the control station 36 and the display devices. display 30 of FIG. 6.

With such a set of display devices, it is possible to envisage

"cover" a public place such as a train station. The display device can then alternately be in the form of mirrors, advertising media and information media.

The face of the exposure glass 2 located outside the box 1 0 can be painted. One can for example paint on this face a motor vehicle and provide above this drawing several informative blocks. If the exposure glass 2 is then covered on its outer face with a touch film, transforming it into a touch screen, it is then possible, by simply touching an area, to display information on such or such parts of the motor vehicle. .

By using the embodiment using a video projector, it is possible to considerably limit the cost of operating and maintaining a fleet of advertising and / or informative panels and to completely eliminate the problems associated with the use of posters in printed paper. It is also possible to have a much larger number of posters per display panel than with the current scrolling or pivoting devices. We can thus have not two, three or four different posters that scroll but a number

not much larger on the order of several tens. It is also possible to have different posters during the day.

Another advantage of a display device according to the invention is that it makes it possible to avoid seeing the posters scroll. Indeed, in the case of current scrolling panels, the observer attends the displacement of the posters. The use of a display device according to the invention makes it possible to completely eliminate this visual inconvenience, quite simply by scrolling the posters when the display panel is in mirror function, that is to say without retro lighting. When the poster to be displayed is back-lit. The glass becomes transparent and the poster in place becomes visible. This can be easily achieved with very simple servo electronics. This creates an effect of surprise very clearly amplified because the new poster is fully in place when it is distributed.

When a poster device according to the invention is equipped with a video projector 22 for the projection of digitized images, the latter being able to be stored on a CD ROM. The display device 28 in Figure 5, or the control station 36 in Figure 6, are then equipped with a CD ROM drive. It can also be provided that each individual display device is equipped with such a reader. We could also replace this CD ROM drive with a fixed disk (hard disk) for display management according to a program for selecting the exhibitions established for a day, a week, a month, etc.

It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above by way of nonlimiting examples; on the contrary, it embraces all variants thereof within the scope of the claims below. For example, the shape of the box could be quite different from that shown in the drawing. We could for example have a cubic box, four sides of which would be equipped with an exposure glass combined with an optical attenuation device as described above. We would then have four supports gathered in the same cubic box.

Other light sources, such as incandescent lamps, can be used in place of the video projector or electroluminescent tubes.

Claims

1. Display device for advertising and / or informative, and / or decorative posters, comprising

- a box (10) containing a light source (12, 22),

- an exposure glass (2) having a front face located on the user side, and a rear face on the side of the light source (12, 22), - and means for controlling the light source (12, 22) to transform the exposure glass (2) either into a mirror or into a display device, respectively when the said light source is switched off and on, characterized in that: - the glass (2) is produced polarized glass,

- And an optical attenuation film (4) is arranged on the rear face of the window (2) by bonding a transparent black film.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that a diffusing support (8), substantially the same size as the exposure window (2), is disposed between the latter and the light source (12,22).

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the diffusing support (8) is made of a material based on polycarbonate, and / or woven glass.

4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the exposure window (2) has a silver metallic polarization.

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the temperature of the light source (12) is greater than 5000 ° K.

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the light source comprises electroluminescent tubes (12) equipped with electronic ballasts.

7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a poster (6) is placed just behind the optical attenuation film (4).

8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the box (10) is partitioned into several sub-boxes in each of which is a light source, and in that an electronic control device (14) is provided to manage switching light sources on and off.

9. Device according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the poster is fixed on a diffusing support (8), and in that the box (1 0) has a slot (18) allowing the introduction and removing the poster (6) and its support (8).

10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a video projector (22) and an optical system (24) are arranged in the box (10) so as to be able to project an image on the glass ( 2).

1 1. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the inner face of the box (10) opposite the exposure glass (2) is a reflecting face (26), and in that the optical system (24) comprises a set of lenses and mirror (s).

12. Set of devices according to claim 1, characterized in that the control means comprise a control station (36), in particular a master panel, managing the light sources of all the devices (28, 30) of the set of display devices.

13. A set of devices according to claim 12, characterized in that the control station is integrated with a display device (28).

14. Set of devices according to claim 12, characterized in that the control station (36) and the display devices (30) are connected by computer connection cables (32).

15. Set of devices according to one of claims 12 or 13, characterized in that the control station (36) and the display devices (30) are connected by a radio link.

16. Exhibition glass that can be transformed into a mirror, or into a display device, characterized in that the glass (2) is made of polarized glass, and that an optical attenuating film (4) comprises a transparent black film bonded on said rear face.

17. Display glass according to claim 16, characterized in that the glass (2) has a metallic polarization based on silver.

18. Display glass according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that a tactile film is arranged on the glass (2) opposite the transparent black film.