EP0065682B1 - Omnidirectional display device - Google Patents

Abstract

1. A display device (1) for the all-round representation of visible objects (B) such as numerals, characters, symbols, pictures or the like, with a plurality of visible elements (A) designed as observation optics (A0 -A47 ) which are arranged next to one another on a curved surface (F) and which are provided with a respective visible object (B0 -B47 ), characterised in that each observation optic (A0 -A47 ) is substantially provided with an identical or similar visible object (B0 -B47 ) ; in that each observation optic (A0 -A47 ) only makes a partial region of the visible object (B0 -B47 ) visible independently of the viewing direction (X, X1 , X2 ) and the partial regions made visible by a group of adjacent observation optics (A1 -A25 , A13 -A37 ) are combined to form a total representation of the visible object (B0 -B47 ) ; and in that each observation optic (A0 -A47 ) makes visible a partial region of the visible object (B0 -B47 ) dependent on the respective viewing direction (X, X1 , X2 ) so that, depending on the viewing direction (X, X1 , X2 ) the partial regions made visible by a different respective group of adjacent observation optics (A1 -A25 , A13 -A37 ) are combined for the total representation of the visible object (B0 -B47 ).

Description

The invention relates to a display device for all-round representation of visible objects, such as numbers, fonts, characters, pictures or the like, with a plurality of visual elements designed as viewing optics, which are arranged next to one another on a curved surface and to which a visual object is assigned.

A known display device for all-round display is, for example, a clock that rotates continuously around a vertical axis, as is the case in public places, on the roofs of stations or the like. is occasionally used to display the time on all sides. However, such a rotating clock has the disadvantage that the time display is not visible from all sides at the same time, so that the viewer who wants to know the time has to wait a certain amount of time until the clock face has turned in its viewing direction . This time can be shortened by turning the clock faster, but this shortens the time available to the viewer to perceive the time display, so that the viewer becomes irritated and insecure because of the relatively short perception time, whether he has read the time display correctly, which in turn means that he waits until the dial has rotated in his direction of view a second time to ensure that he has actually read the time display correctly. As a result, the advantage of shortening the waiting time, which is required for the dial to rotate in the viewing direction of the viewer, is then nullified by the then arising need to make sure that the time display reading is correct.

If, instead of a time display or another continuously changing display, only a generally known sign, such as an advertising sign or a public information sign, is to be made visible on all sides in this way, then a short recognition time is sufficient, but it is Cases expensive to turn this display continuously, especially with regard to the current energy consumption that results from this. In addition, such a solution means a considerable maintenance and system-related effort, so that it is therefore already forbidden for a large number of applications. If you put this sign several times on the outside of a polygonal or round drum, in order to avoid the effort of having to turn the sign, then this results in a relatively large amount of space for this, because the viewer, when looking up from any direction this drum sees, can also stand so that it looks at the space between two adjacent characters. If the viewer is to be able to recognize the respective sign correctly from these supervisory directions, then the drum must be large enough that in such a position he can recognize the two signs adjacent to the space he is looking at, otherwise he will not be able to see any of them would recognize these two characters correctly, i.e. the display would not be recognizable from such a direction.

In addition to the above-mentioned two types of display, namely the display of a constellation that is constantly changing on a predetermined field of view, such as a time display, and the display of an unchangeable sign, such as an advertising or public information sign, in all-round representation, it is also desirable To make whole lettering or moving pictures, for example for advertising purposes, visible in all directions in all-round representation:

If, in the case of a lettering, a cylindrical drum is applied to which the lettering is applied all around and which rotates about its cylinder axis, then this lettering can be read from all radial directions of the drum when a suitable rotational speed is selected, but on the one hand there is one relatively large drum required because the viewer would otherwise perceive only one letter at a time undistorted due to the curvature of the drum, which would significantly impair readability; on the other hand, legibility is nevertheless impaired even when the drum dimensions are large in relation to the letter size, because the viewer is necessarily always presented with a certain distorted writing area due to the curvature of the drum, which adjoins both sides of the legible middle writing area and is annoying.

If one uses the above-mentioned principle of the rotating drum for the all-round display of moving images, by using a drum with a polygonal cross-section, on the flat sides of which the images to be displayed are applied in different phases of movement, then in addition to those in connection with the Difficulty in displaying lettering, the further difficulty that a relatively very high rotational speed of this drum is required so that one image is replaced by another for the respective viewer within about a twentieth of a second; this high rotational speed leads to circumferential speeds in the case of the large drum dimensions required for a larger viewing distance, on the basis of which the implementation of such a display device would be practically not sensible. If one, however, use a fixed drum, would then have to be movable, for example by means of a respective ^g Projektionsvorrichtun would projected onto a moving image from the inside, each provided on the circumference of image itself. In this case, too, come the above for the all-round display of lettering mentioned disadvantages, whereby the forced simultaneous perception of distorted neighboring images would be particularly irritating due to the movement of the images.

It should be clarified at this point that of the above unsatisfactory possible solutions as the prior art, only the clock mentioned at the beginning, which rotates around a vertical axis, is known from everyday life and in which the viewing element is only one flat cover plate for the clock face and the hands that form the visible object. On the other hand, the other options discussed above for an all-round display are not part of the state of the art due to the material on which the present documents were based; surrender.

• Bei einer Displayvorrichtung nach der US-A-3 686 781 werden Bilder und Zeichen durch Zylinderstablinsen auf eine zylindrische opake Aussenhaut der Displayvorrichtung projiziert. Das Bild ist statisch und wechselt nur, wenn mechanische Verschiebungen am Display vorgenommen werden. Für den Beobachter wirkt das Bild wie auf eine zylindrische Trommel ortsfest aufprojiziert. Dreidimensionale Bilder und Filmszenen können nicht dargestellt werden, und das Bild folgt dem Beobachter nicht, wenn dieser um die Displayvorrichtung herumgeht und die zylindrische Trommel nicht mitgedreht wird. Dasselbe gilt für eine in der GB-A-429 042 beschriebene Displayvorrichtung, die eine trommelförmige Betrachtungsfläche hat, bei der jedoch eine opake Aussenhaut der Trommel fehlt, so dass das dargestellte Bild selbst in Aufsichtsrichtung nur aus bestimmten Sichtbarkeitszonen heraus erkennbar ist. Sowohl bei der Displayvorrichtung nach der US-A-3 686 781 als auch bei derjenigen nach der GB-A-429 042 befindet sich unter jeder Zylinderlinse nur ein kleiner Bildteil des jeweils dargestellten Bildes, und das Bild dreht sich mit der Displayvorrichtung mit.

Further display devices according to the prior art, in which a successive all-round display is achieved by means of rotatable parts, are known from US-A-3,686,781 and GB-A-429,042:

• In a display device according to US-A-3 686 781, images and characters are projected through cylindrical rod lenses onto a cylindrical opaque outer skin of the display device. The picture is static and only changes if mechanical displacements are made on the display. To the observer, the image looks like being projected onto a cylindrical drum. Three-dimensional images and film scenes cannot be displayed, and the image does not follow the observer if he walks around the display device and the cylindrical drum is not rotated. The same applies to a display device described in GB-A-429 042, which has a drum-shaped viewing surface, but in which an opaque outer skin of the drum is missing, so that the image shown can only be seen from certain visibility zones, even in the direction of supervision. Both in the display device according to US-A-3 686 781 and in that according to GB-A-429 042 there is only a small part of the image of the image shown under each cylindrical lens, and the image rotates with the display device.

Finally, from US-A-4 195 910 a display device of the type mentioned is known, in which either a plurality of viewing element groups, which are provided around a cuboid surface, or a single group of viewing elements, which are arranged around a cylindrical or spherical surface , cause an all-round display, even if there is no rotation. However, here too, as with the display devices according to US-A-3 686 781 and GB-A-429 042, each viewing element designed as viewing optics is assigned only a small image part of the entire image to be displayed as a viewing object, which in turn is for each viewing element is a different part of the picture than it is assigned to the other visual elements. So that the viewer can see the entire image from different viewing directions, it is also necessary here for this image to rotate, for which purpose a corresponding rotating device is also provided in the display device according to US Pat. No. 4,195,910.

The object of the invention, in contrast, is to provide a display device of the type mentioned at the outset, with which any desired display objects, such as numbers, fonts, characters, images or the like, can be made completely identically visible from all view sides, at least in one plane, without the display device and / or the viewing object having to be rotated, and which, moreover, is free from further of the disadvantages mentioned above, that is to say in particular requires a relatively small amount of space, based on a predetermined recognizability distance of the viewing object.

The display device provided by the invention, which makes this possible, is characterized in that each viewing optic is essentially assigned an identical or similar viewing object; that each viewing optics makes only a sub-area of the viewing object visible, regardless of the direction of supervision, and the sub-areas made visible by a group of adjacent viewing optics are combined to form an overall representation of the viewing object; and that each viewing optic makes a partial area of the viewing object dependent on the direction of supervision visible, so that depending on the direction of supervision, the partial areas made visible by a respective other group of adjacent viewing optics make up the overall representation of the viewing object, the individual groups preferably being adjacent to one another Viewing optics, each of which gives an overall representation of the viewing object, comprise all or essentially all those viewing optics of the display device that are visible from the direction of supervision.

A particularly preferred embodiment of the display device according to the invention is characterized in that the curved surface is an isometric surface, i.e. a one-dimensionally rounded surface or a surface which can be unwound into a plane, preferably a cylindrical surface of a cylinder having a rounded cross section, in particular the surface of a cylinder with a circular or elliptical cross section.

In the simplest case, the viewing optics can be gaps; further preferred viewing optics are cylindrical, Fresnel or gradient lenses.

If gaps are provided as viewing optics, then these are preferably designed and aligned such that their longitudinal direction is perpendicular to the curvature gradient of the curved surface. In case of Cylindrical, Fresnel or gradient lenses as viewing optics are designed and arranged so that they have focal lines that run perpendicular to the direction of curvature of the curved surface.

If the curved surface is the lateral surface of a cylinder which is circular or elliptical in cross section, the gaps with their longitudinal directions or the focal lines of the cylinder, Fresnel or gradient lenses preferably extend parallel to the cylinder axis.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is further characterized in that the viewing objects are provided on the outer surface or inner surface of a base body that supports or forms the viewing optics, in particular a cylindrical base body. For this purpose, in the case of a base body whose outer lateral surface forms the outer surfaces of the viewing optics, the wall thickness of this internally hollow base body is dimensioned such that its inner surface coincides with the focal points or focal lines of the viewing optics.

Another embodiment of the display device according to the invention is characterized in that the view object is rotatably provided in the center of a base body supporting or forming the viewing optics, in particular a cylindrical base body, so that an image of the view object is in each case at very short intervals on each of the individual ones Imaging optics can be designed consecutively, that is, each imaging optic is assigned the same visual object in chronological succession, the time interval being so short that an observer no longer perceives this chronological sequence.

Finally, it is also possible to design the display device such that the curved surface is a three-dimensionally rounded surface, in particular a spherical or ellipsoid surface, on which the viewing optics are arranged next to one another as individual lenses or diaphragm openings. With such a design, visible objects, such as numbers, fonts, characters, pictures or the like. can be made visible from practically all spatial supervisory directions, which is particularly advantageous, for example, in large stairwells of subway stations or from stations with platforms provided on several floors or in airport buildings with several traffic levels.

The basic body carrying or forming the viewing optics can be rotated for all-round display of lettering or moving images.

The display device according to the invention enables any displayed objects, such as numbers, fonts, characters, pictures or the like. can be seen from all sides completely the same or - in the case of moving pictures - essentially the same. The viewer can walk around the display device or, if it is a smaller display device that is directly accessible to the viewer, in particular can be held in his hand, rotate the display device, the display always sees completely or - in the case of moving images - essentially the same. Even if many viewers stand around the display device, they will all see the viewing object in the same way.

The display device according to the invention enables, for example, the construction of clocks and signs, such as traffic signs, which can be read from an angle of 360 °; standing fonts or pictures can be attached to rotating display devices, which are preferably drum-shaped. As already indicated, motion sequences can also be represented, and these take place when the display device rotates, in particular a drum-shaped display device, as in the cinema.

The feature, according to which each observation lens is "essentially" assigned an identical or similar view object, means that although each observation lens can be assigned exactly one view object, it is also possible for a relatively large number of observation lenses to have a relatively large, but also not assign exactly the same number of view objects; in the former case, the solid angle taken up by a single visual object is exactly the same as the solid angle captured by the individual viewing optics, while in the latter case these solid angles are somewhat different, so that when the display device is rotated, the display moves in the direction of rotation or opposite to the direction of rotation leaves.

• Figur 1 eine perspektivische Ansicht einer besonders bevorzugten Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemässen Displayvorrichtung in der Form einer Zylinderlinsentrommel;
• Figur 2 eine Aufsicht auf eine Ausführungsform der in Figur 1 gezeigten Art, die demgegenüber jedoch mehr Zylinderlinsen aufweist;
• Figur 3 eine Teildarstellung der in Figur 2 gezeigten Aufsicht in vergrössertem Massstab zur Erläuterung der optischen Verhältnisse der Displayvorrichtung nach den Figuren 1 und 2;
• Figur 4 eine Darstellung eines eine Mehrzahl von Sichtobjekten enthaltenden Bildstreifens, wobei die Sichtobjekte den Buchstaben D darstellen, der jedoch entsprechend den Erfordernissen einer Zylinderlinsentrommel der in den Figuren 1 bis 3 gezeigten Art in horizontaler Richtung gestaucht ist, obwohl der im Gesichtsfeld des Betrachters als normales D erscheint;
• Figur 5 eine Darstellung einer Anordnung zum Erzeugen von Bildstreifen, die eine Aneinanderreihung von Sichtobjekten aufweisen und in Zylindertrommeln der in den Figuren 1 bis 3 gezeigten Art zur Wiedergabe von stehenden oder bewegten Darstellungen verwendet werden können;
• Figur 6 eine Originaldarstellung eines tanzenden Männchens, das seinen Kopf in der Hand hält, die beispielsweise in der Anordnung nach Figur 5 zum Erzeugen von Bildstreifen verwendet werden kann;
• Figur 7 einen aus der Darstellung der Figur 6 hergestellten Bildstreifen; und
• Figur 8 einen Bildstreifen, der in eine Zylinderlinsentrommel der in den Figuren 1 bis 3 gezeigten Art als Sichtobjektfolge eingelegt werden kann und zur Darstellung von Männchen führt, die eine Leiter erklimmen.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8 of the drawing using some particularly preferred exemplary embodiments; show it:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a particularly preferred embodiment of a display device according to the invention in the form of a cylindrical lens drum;
• FIG. 2 shows a plan view of an embodiment of the type shown in FIG. 1, but in contrast has more cylindrical lenses;
• 3 shows a partial representation of the plan view shown in FIG. 2 on an enlarged scale to explain the optical conditions of the display device according to FIGS. 1 and 2;
• Figure 4 is an illustration of an image strip containing a plurality of visual objects, the visual objects representing the letter D, which, however, is compressed in the horizontal direction according to the requirements of a cylindrical lens drum of the type shown in Figures 1 to 3, although that in the viewer's field of view as normal D appears;
• FIG. 5 shows an arrangement for producing image strips which have a line-up of viewing objects and in cylinder drums of the ones shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 Can be used to display standing or moving images;
• FIG. 6 shows an original illustration of a dancing male holding his head in his hand, which can be used, for example, in the arrangement according to FIG. 5 for producing image strips;
• FIG. 7 shows an image strip produced from the illustration in FIG. 6; and
• 8 shows an image strip which can be inserted into a cylindrical lens drum of the type shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 as a sequence of visual objects and which leads to the representation of males climbing a ladder.

• Die insgesamt mit 1 bezeichnete Displayvorrichtung besteht aus einer grossen Anzahl von Betrachtungsoptiken, von denen jede in Figur 1 mit A bezeichnet ist, während die Betrachtungsoptiken in Figur 2 mit A_o bis A₄₇ bezeichnet sind. Diese Betrachtungsoptiken A bzw. A_o bis A₄₇ sind nebeneinander auf einer gekrümmten isometrischen Fläche F angeordnet, und zwar so, dass ihre Längsrichtung senkrecht zum Krümmungsgradienten der Fläche F verläuft.

A particularly preferred embodiment of a display device is first explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3:

• The designated overall by 1 Display device consists of a large number of viewing optics, each of which is designated in Figure 1 as A, while the viewing optics are designated in Figure 2 with A _o to A _47th These viewing optics A and A ₀ to A ₄₇ are arranged side by side on a curved isometric surface F, in such a way that their longitudinal direction is perpendicular to the curvature gradient of the surface F.

Each viewing optics A or: A _o to A ₄₇ is assigned an identical or similar viewing object, which is denoted by B in FIG. 1, while these viewing objects are successively provided with the reference symbols B _o to B ₄₇ in FIG. 2. These viewing objects are arranged in the supervisory direction behind the viewing optics A or A _o to A ₄ , and can, for example, numbers, fonts, characters, pictures or the like. be.

In the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 3, the viewing optics A and A ₀ to A are ₄₇ cylindrical lenses, and the curved surface F is the outer surface of a cylinder with a circular cross section. The viewing optics A or A _o to A ₄₇ , that is to say the cylindrical lenses in the present case, extend parallel to the longitudinal axis 0 of the cylinder over the entire longitudinal extent thereof.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the display device 1, the viewing optics A or A _o to A ₄₇ , in the case of the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 3, the cylindrical lenses, are components of an overall one-piece base body 2, which is made of transparent material, for example plastic, exists, the inner cavity of which is limited by the area F.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, which is characterized by particular structural simplicity, the focal point or focal line C (see FIG. 3) of each viewing lens A or A ₀ to A ₄₇ , that is to say each cylindrical lens in the present case, lies precisely on the curved surface F, that is, on the inner boundary surface of the transparent base body 2. As a result, the visible objects B and B ₀ to B _{47 are arranged} on the curved surface F in this case.

A cylindrical lens in the sense of the present invention is generally to be understood as an elongated lens which has any optically meaningful cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis or extension, and which has no curvature in the direction of its longitudinal axis or extension.

The exemplary embodiment explained in more detail below using equations has cylindrical lenses in the narrower sense, i.e. Cylinder lenses, the cross section of which runs perpendicular to their longitudinal axis or extension has an arcuate boundary line L (see FIG. 3). The composition of an overall representation of the visual object B from partial areas generated by the display device 1 from a predetermined supervision direction X is now explained with specific reference to FIG. 3:

worin die einzelnen Formelzeichen folgendes bedeuten:

• R = Krümmungsradius des Querschnittskreisbogens einer jeweiligen Zylinderlinse, d.h. der kreisbogenförmigen Begrenzungslinie L
• n, = Brechungszahl des transparenten Materials, aus dem der Grundkörper 2 und die mit ihm einstückigen Zylinderlinsen hergestellt sind
• r₁ = Innenradius des Grundkörpers 2, d.h. Abstand zwischen der Zylinderachse 0 und der Fläche F
• r₂ = Abstand zwischen dem Krümmungsmittelpunkt D einer jeweiligen Zylinderlinse und der Achse 0 des Grundkörpers 2

If one starts from cylindrical lenses in the narrower sense as viewing optics A _o , A ₁ ... An, which are in one piece with a hollow cylindrical base body 2, the inner circular cylindrical surface F of which is also the location of the focal points or lines C of the cylindrical lenses, then results the maximum wall thickness d of the base body 2, ie the distance from the apex S of a cylindrical lens to the inner surface F in a first approximation from the equation

where the individual formula symbols mean the following:

• R = radius of curvature of the cross-sectional circular arc of a respective cylindrical lens, ie the circular arc-shaped boundary line L.
• n, = refractive index of the transparent material from which the base body 2 and the cylindrical lenses made with it are made
• r ₁ = inner radius of the base body 2, ie distance between the cylinder axis 0 and the surface F.
• r ₂ = distance between the center of curvature D of a respective cylindrical lens and the axis 0 of the base body 2

A viewing object B ₀ , B ₁ ... B _n in the form of an image is provided on the surface F under each observation lens A _o , A ₁ ... A _{n designed} as a cylindrical lens. If a viewer now looks from a distance in the direction of supervision X onto the base body 2, which can also be referred to as a display drum, then he sees only the image parts Y _i , Y ₂ from a viewing object B _o , B, ... B _n . .. Y _n , which lie in the focal lines of the cylindrical lenses.

The principle of the display device is now based on the fact that the focal lines of the cylindrical lenses, or generally the viewing optics, in the direction of supervision X on the inner circumference of the display device or in the plane of the viewing objects, in the present case on the surface F, each by different distances △ ₀ , △ ₁ ... on from the center C _o , C, ... C _n are disengaged under the nth cylindrical lens. If, as stated, there is the same viewing object B ₀ , B ₁ ... B _n under each cylindrical lens, the viewer can see from a distance from the direction of view X through the viewing optics A _o , which in the present case is the one in the middle of the A cylindrical lens lying in the field of vision, a different part of the viewing object than through the closest neighboring viewing optics A ₁ , through the latter he sees another part of the image than through the next following viewing optics, etc. is thus assembled in strips from the corresponding lines of the viewing object, which are each at a distance Δ _n from the center of the viewing object, in FIG. 3 from A _o = 0 to the right and to the left. The conditions on the left side are not shown in FIG. 3, since they correspond to the conditions on the right side in mirror image with respect to the radius r ₂ passing through the viewing optics A ₀ . The overall representation, as seen from the center, is composed as follows: an average image strip Δ _o = 0, an image strip at a distance of △ ₁ , an image strip at a distance of △ ₂ , ... and finally an image strip at a distance of △ _n right, based on the view in FIG. 3, and starting from the middle image strip to the left from an image strip at a distance △ _ ₁ , △ _ ₂ ... △ _ _n , the absolute values of △ ₁ and △ _ ₁ , of △ ₂ and △ _ ₂ ... and of von _n and △ _ _{n are the} same, but their directions of displacement are opposite to the central image strip of a respective visual object.

worin die einzelnen Formelzeichen folgende Bedeutung haben:

• n = Zahl der n-ten Zylinderlinse, vom Zentrum aus gezählt
• △ϕ = Raumwinkel, um den die Mitten der Abbildungsoptiken A_o, A₁ ... A_n voneinander getrennt sind (siehe Figur 3)

For cylindrical lenses in the narrower sense as viewing optics A _o , A ₁ ... A _n , the following equation (2) applies to the size △ _n :

where the individual symbols have the following meaning:

• n = number of the nth cylindrical lens, counted from the center
• △ ϕ = solid angle by which the centers of the imaging optics A _o , A ₁ ... A _n are separated from one another (see FIG. 3)

In relation to the representation in FIG. 2, this strip-like composition of the overall representation when viewed from the supervisory direction X1 given there, for example, means that this overall representation is generated by the viewing optics A ₁ to A ₂₅ which are dashed within the two parallel to the arrow X ₁ Lines lie, that is, they are within the field of vision of an observer looking from this direction; Here, the viewing optics A ₁₃ correspond to the viewing optics A _o of FIG. 3. For the direction of supervision X ₂ of FIG. 2, the following applies correspondingly that the overall view through the viewing optics A, ₃ to A _{37 '} lies between the dashed lines parallel to the arrow X _z , is put together in strips; here the viewing optics A ₂₅ correspond to the viewing optics A _o in FIG. 3.

The horizontal resolution of a display device, the axis 0 of which is perpendicular, is limited by the width and the number of effective cylindrical lenses and by the quality of the respective viewing object under each cylindrical lens. Here, the number of effective cylindrical lenses is 2N + 1 if one designates N as the number of cylindrical lenses, each of which contributes to the formation of the overall representation on the right or left side of the central cylindrical lens A _o . Since an image or view object strip contributed by a cylindrical lens to the overall display must not overlap the image or view object strip contributed by the adjacent cylindrical lens, the relationship must apply:

Furthermore, the viewing angle at which the viewing object is seen through the respective cylindrical lens and which is labeled β _n in FIG. 3 must not be greater than the critical angle of total reflection, ie the following must apply:

If the equals sign is used as the best case in this respect and the variable Δϕ in the relation (3) is substituted for the relationship (4), then one obtains:

If the equation sign is used in the relationship (5), then this means that only the information of a visible object appears in the field of view of the viewer of the display device, that is to say all the cylindrical lenses located in the field of view of the viewer together form a single overall representation of the visible object.

• worin die Grösse b, durch folgende Gleichung gegeben ist:
  

An improvement in the image sharpness at the edge of the display device seen by the viewer is obtained if the inner radius of the base body 2 or the cylindrical lens drum is not r but r _i , according to the following equation:

• where the size b is given by the following equation:
  

in which Δα _{n is} the angle at which the image or view object strip for the Nth cylinder lens contributed by the cylindrical lens AN is offset from the center C of the cylindrical lens as seen from axis 0 (in FIG. 3, Δα _{n is} for the cylindrical lens shown on).

The image information or the viewing object is thus compressed in the horizontal direction (based on a vertical orientation of the cylinder axis 0) and arranged under each cylindrical lens of the display device, the horizontal resolution being limited by 2N + 1 strips. Numbers, fonts and characters are particularly easy to display as view objects because they only require a limited resolution. As an example, FIG. 4 shows a number of 29 viewing objects in the form of an image strip which can be arranged behind 29 cylindrical lenses, whereupon the cylindrical lenses of this display device appearing in the field of view of a viewer each show the letter D. The information contained in each of these 29 visual objects consists, as can be seen in FIG. 4, of five vertical strips.

Since each cylindrical lens can be regarded as the 0th cylindrical lens or as cylindrical lens A _o in the sense of FIG. 3, the field of view of the display device from M viewing directions around the display device is identical if M means the number of cylindrical lenses on the circumference of the display device. Since the information strips of an image or visual object continue to have a certain width, the viewer also sees the same image from the intermediate supervisory directions.

Not only cylindrical lenses, but also other lenses such as Fresnel or gradient lenses can be used as viewing optics. Gaps are also suitable as viewing optics, which becomes clear from FIG. 3 if corresponding gaps are used instead of the lenses, each of which only shows a strip of the viewing object from the direction of view X, this strip if the gaps are arranged there , where the vertices S of the lenses are located in FIG. 3, respectively offset by A _i , Az ... An from the longitudinal center C ₁ , C _z ... C _" .

As already mentioned above, a display device can be produced from a one-piece base body, for example by milling the display device out of plexiglass tube and then polishing it. Rolling, casting and spraying processes can also be used to manufacture the display device.

The view objects, as far as they are computationally realizable view objects, can be constructed using the formulas given above or derived for other viewing optics, drawn with the computing machine and reproduced.

Image strips, i.e. Strips that contain a plurality of visible objects side by side, such as corresponding to FIG. 4, are produced photographically:

As shown in FIG. 5, the image to be displayed with the display device is projected from a greater distance 10 onto a display device 12 which is rotatably mounted about its axis 11 and has no visible objects. This display device 12 can be, for example, a cylindrical lens drum, as is the main body 2 of FIG. 1. A photographic film 12 is inserted into the display device 12, specifically this photographic film is provided at the point at which the visual objects are later to be arranged; in the case of a base body 2 of FIG. 1 provided with cylindrical lenses, this photographic film 13 is inserted in such a way that its photographic layer lies against the surface F. The inserted film 13 is exposed to the projected image while the display device 12 is rotated several times about its axis 11. The developed film strip 13 then shows the finished viewing objects, that is to say the individual images compressed in the sense of FIG. 6 shows an example of a aufprojizierten on the display device 12 of Figure 5 by the optical system 9 of the image in the form of a dancing male holding his head in the hand shown, while the figure 7 the DAR _'of obtained film strip for the case reproduces that the display device 12 is a cylindrical lens drum of the type shown in FIG. One can see in FIG. 7 the image of FIG. 6, which is very significantly compressed in the horizontal direction, in repeated repetition, so that the image strip reproduced in FIG. 7 can be used, for example, as an image strip containing 51 viewing objects for a cylindrical lens drum with 51 cylindrical lenses The cylindrical lens drum presents the viewer with the image shown in FIG. 6.

Instead of an image strip having a large number of visual objects, active lighting elements, such as light-emitting diodes, can also be provided, so that the display can be controlled electronically. A 7-segment display, in which the seven segments can each be display elements of a number, which is provided under each cylindrical lens or other imaging optics, makes it possible, for example, to display a number with the display device.

The viewing object can also be provided, for example, in the center of the display device or outside the display device, and an image of the viewing object can be supplied to each imaging optics, for example one cylindrical lens of a cylindrical lens drum, by projection or light guide. For larger display devices, the compressed viewing object can be projected onto the individual viewing optics, for example cylindrical lenses, from the inside of the display device in such short time intervals using a rotating periscope that the viewer sees the display flicker-free. This is to be preferred, for example, in the case of a time display from a single clock face, for example the image of the clock face which then forms the viewing object is projected or flashed every Vso second onto any viewing optics, and it is also possible for the inner surface to lumine to coat the display device onto which the image is flashed with a fluorescent substance.

As the above explanations show, a visual object does not necessarily have to be understood as an objective object, but can also be a projected, in particular flashed image, which, moreover, does not have to be assigned simultaneously in each viewing optics, but, as just stated, essentially every viewing optic is supplied in a very rapid sequence.

To produce image strips for the display of moving images by means of the display device, the horizontally compressed images that are provided on the inner circumference of the display device, for example on the drum circumference of the base body 2, have to represent the different movement phases. It should be noted that the visual field contains information from 2N + different image strips, i.e. that conventional cinema images that are not simply compressed can be provided horizontally and can be provided behind the viewing optics, for example behind the cylindrical lenses. In this case, too, the basic method, explained above with reference to FIG. 5, can be used to produce an image strip comprising the individual visual objects, but with the special feature that the projection of the moving representation, which will later be reproduced with the display device, and the rotation the display device are executed synchronously. If the intended moving representation is recorded in normal images on a film loop, then this film loop is projected with the imaging optics 9 of a cinema projector for moving images onto the display device 12, with one pass of the film loop having to correspond exactly to one revolution of the display device if it is on the film loop representation to be reproduced by means of one revolution of the display device. Of course, it is also possible for the synchronization to take place in such a way that the display device executes several complete rotations during one pass of the cinema loop or, conversely, that the film loop executes several complete passages during one complete rotation of the display device. FIG. 8 illustrates an example of an image sequence which, when reproduced, shows males climbing a ladder.

If, after photographic development, the sequence of images thus produced is placed in a corresponding display device, for example a cylindrical lens drum of the type shown in FIG. 1, and is allowed to roll over a table, the sequence of movements according to the film loop can be seen. This way you have a pocket cinema that is a delightful toy. If the number of viewing objects does not match the number of viewing optics of the display device, the display image is displaced transversely to the axis of the display device, for example to the drum axis 0 of FIG. 2, when the display device is rotated or around it. Also flickering effects, i. H. Light-dark effects can be obtained in this way.

The use of cylindrical Fresnel lenses is particularly recommended for large display devices, with the viewing objects, that is to say the image strip containing the viewing objects, for example, lying in the focal surface of these cylindrical Fresnel lenses.

As already mentioned at the beginning, the principle of the display device can also be implemented in three dimensions with a lens-coated spherical surface. The display can then be seen from the full solid angle 4π. For example, the information may lie in concentric circles under the lenses.

Preferred areas of application of the display device according to the invention are in particular the display of numbers and characters that are to be seen from all sides, for example in clocks, traffic signs, advertising signs, in board games that are on the table, warning signs in factory halls, displays on sports fields, etc. The above-mentioned application as a pocket cinema is not only suitable for toy purposes but also for advertising purposes. In the display devices according to the invention, the modern display electronics can easily be used with a corresponding simple modification.

Claims (10)

1. A display device (1) for the all-round representation of visible objects (B) such as numerals, characters, symbols, pictures or the like, with a plurality of visible elements (A) designed as observation optics (A₀-A₄₇) which are arranged next to one another on a curved surface (F) and which are provided with a respective visible object (Bo-Bd, characterised in that each observation optic (A₀-A₄₇) is substantially provided with an identical or similar visible object (B₀-B₄₇); in that each observation optic (Ao-Ad only makes a partial region of the visible object (B₀-B₄₇) visible independently of the viewing direction (X, X₁, X_z) and the partial regions made visible by a group of adjacent observation optics (A₁-A₂₅, A₁₃-A₃₇ are combined to form a total representation of the visible object (B₀-B₄₇); and in that each observation optic (A₀-A₄₇) makes visible a partial region of the visible object (B₀-B₄₇) dependent on the respective viewing direction (X, X_i, X₂) so that, depending on the viewing direction (X, X₁, X2) the partial regions made visible by a different respective group of adjacent observation optics (A₁-A₂₅, A₁₃-A₃₇) are combined for the total representation of the visible object (B_O-B₄₇).

2. A display device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the curved surface (F) is an isometric surface, preferably a cylindrical surface of a cylinder having a rounded cross-section, in particular the surface of a cylinder of circular or elliptical cross-section.

3. A display device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the observation optics (A, A₀-A₄₇) are apertures.

4. A display device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the observation optics (A, A_o-A₄₇) are cylindrical, Fresnel or gradient lenses.

5. A display device according to Claim 3 and Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the apertures (A, A₀-A₄₇) run with their longitudinal direction perpendicularly to the direction of curvature of the curved surface (F).

6. A display device according to Claim 4 and Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the cylindrical, Fresnel or gradient lenses (A, A_o-A₄₁) have focal lines or stripes which run perpendicularly to the direction of curvature of the curved surface (F).

7. A display device according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the visible objects (B, B_o-B₄₇) are provided on the external or internal surface (F) of a base member (2), in particular a cylindrical base member bearing or forming the observation optics (A, A₀-A₄₇).

8. A display device according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the visible object is provided rotatably in the centre of a base member (2), in particular of a cylindrical base member bearing or forming the observation optics (A, A₀-A₄₇)

9. A display device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the curved surface (F) is a three-dimensionally rounded surface, in particular a spherical or rotational ellipsoidal surface on which the observation optics (A, A₀-A₄₇) are arranged next to one another as individual lenses or aperture openings.

10. A display device according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the base member (2) bearing or forming the observation optics (A, A_o-A₄₇) is rotatable.

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