EP0563467A1 - Improved wide angle viewing illuminated information display assembly and process for manufacturing same - Google Patents
Improved wide angle viewing illuminated information display assembly and process for manufacturing same Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0563467A1 EP0563467A1 EP92302821A EP92302821A EP0563467A1 EP 0563467 A1 EP0563467 A1 EP 0563467A1 EP 92302821 A EP92302821 A EP 92302821A EP 92302821 A EP92302821 A EP 92302821A EP 0563467 A1 EP0563467 A1 EP 0563467A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- microbeads
- display assembly
- information display
- optical fiber
- viewing side
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
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Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
- G09F9/00—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements
- G09F9/30—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements
- G09F9/305—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements being the ends of optical fibres
Abstract
There is disclosed a light transmitting display assembly (10) provided with a source of electromagnetic radiation (18) in the visible spectrum and comprised of a display board (12) containing information and formed with channel (24) into which ends of optical fibers of an optical fiber bundle (16) are selectively positioned and after positioning the surface of the display board is coated with microbeads (42) wherein the source of electromagnetic radiation is directed into the other ends of the optical fibers of the optical fiber bundle (16) to provide a light transmitting display assembly (10) capable of wide angle viewing.
Description
- This invention relates to a light emitting information display assembly, and more particularly to an improved illumination display assembly of wide angle viewing.
- In United States Letters Patent No. 4,569,571 there is disclosed a light transmitting assembly comprised of a screen assembly having a plurality of generally conically-shaped repeater orifices wherein an optical fiber of an optical fiber bundle is disposed within each repeater orifice and wherein the repeater orifices are enclosed with an optical fiber array disc and wherein the optical fiber bundle of the assembly is positioned between the screen assembly and a frame member onto which is displayed electromagnetic radiation, preferably in the visible range.
- In the aforementioned co-pending United States Application Serial No. 07/055,649 there is disclosed a light transmitting display assembly comprised of a display board containing information and having bulbous or tapered ends of optical fibers of an optical fiber bundle selectively positioned as known to one shelled in the art therein and wherein each bulbous end is overlayed or enclosed with a lens system for wide angle display together with a source of electromagnetic radiation in the visible spectrum which is directed onto the other ends of the optical fibers of the optical fiber bundle.
- While effective to display the information, the process for manufacturing the display assembly requires an inordinate degree of tedium to ensure complete, overlay of a lens system for each optical fiber thereby increasing cost as well as the concomitant potential for incomplete overlay.
- The objects of the present invention are achieved by a light transmitting display assembly comprised of a display board containing information and formed with channels or orifices into which ends of optical fibers of an optical fiber bundle are selectively positioned and after positioning the surface of the display board is coated with a transparent or translucent resin in which is dispersed glass beads of a particle size of from about 50 microns to 1.0 mm and a source of electromagnetic radiation in the visible spectrum is directed into the other ends of the optical fibers of the optical fiber bundle to provide a light transmitting display assembly capable of wide angle viewing.
- These and other objects of the present invention will be readily appreciated by reference to the following detailed description when taken with the accompanying drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout, and wherein:
- FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of an information display assembly of the present invention;
- FIGURE 2 is a schematic cross-sectional side view thereof taken along the lines II-II of FIGURE 1;
- FIGURE 3 is a rear view, somewhat schematic, of a display board of the information display assembly of FIGURE 1;
- FIGURE 4 is an enlarged partial view of letters of a word of the information display assembly; and
- FIGURE 5 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of the display board.
- Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGURES 1 to 3, there is illustrated a light transmitting display assembly, generally indicated as 10, comprised of information containing display board of
substrate 12, an optical fiber bundle, generally indicated as 14, comprised of a plurality ofoptical fibers 16 and an assembly including a source of electromagnetic radiation in the visible spectrum, generally indicated as 18, positioned in ahousing 20 including aback wall 22. - The
display board 12 may be formed of any plastic material and by any molding technique (extrusion, injection, etc.) from the plastic resin, e.g. polystyrene or the like, together with a plurality of channels or orifices 24, referring specifically to FIGURE 5. The channels may be of a diameter from 50 microns to 0.5 inches in predetermined array (rows and columns of even or uneven spacing) of a spacing of from 0.1 micron to 3.5 inches depending on visual effect and diameter of optical fibers to be used. The channels 24 may be generally V-shaped, as disclosed in the aforementioned United States Letters Patent No. 4,569,571, or formed of a channel portion 26 on a viewing side (V) of thedisplay board 12 in coaxial or coherent alignment with achannel portion 28 of a smaller diameter on the non-viewing side. - The illustrated embodiment of the present invention is specific to an emergency "exit" sign with the word "EXIT" spelled in capital letters. Each letter is formed with straight line portions by silk screening, hand painting, the use of preformed letters, wood signs, etc., the non-informational portion; however, it will be understood that curved, random or other line form matrices may be used depending on intended use. In the embodiment herein described, the information portion is formed with a plurality of channels or orifices 24 in vertical and horizontal alignment with a spacing of from .5 to 10 mm between channels, referring particularly to FIGURE 4, and constituting the information of the display board as more fully hereinafter described.
- The optical fibers to be used in accordance with the present invention may be of a slightly smaller diameter of the smaller channel portion or
orifice 28 to facilitate assembly of thedisplay board 12. Generally, plastic or glass optical fibers are used of a diameter of from 100 microns to .5 inches with cladding of from 1 to 2 mm. In manufacture, eachoptical fiber 16 is cut to a predetermined length and an end thereof is heated to a temperature above its melting point for a time sufficient to form a bulbous or bell-shaped end 30, as illustrated in FIGURE 5, or be pressed against a plate at a preset temperature as known to be skilled in the art. - Each thus fromed
optical fiber 16 is coursed through each of thechannel portions 26 and 28 formed in thedisplay board 12 to a point where thebulbous end 30 of eachoptical fiber 16 is wedged within a lower portion of the channel portion 26 or up against the surface in a manner to prevent further coursing of theoptical fiber 16. Theoptical fiber 16 is fixedly positioned within thedisplay board 12, such as by an epoxy resin system, generally disposed at the rear of thebulbous end 30 of eachoptical fiber 16 prior to final positioning in thedisplay board 12. - After all the
optical fibers 16 are positioned in thedisplay board 12, theoptical fibers 16 are preferably gathered up and formed into a convenientoptical fiber bundle 14. The free ends of theoptical fibers 16 are gathered and formed into a closely packed array and held in place by suitable means, for example bound into an epoxy resin. Once bound into such closely packed array, the thus bound end may be cut and polished to form aframe member 32, such as disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 4,569,571, referring to FIGURE 3, and positioned proximate a source 34 of electromagnetic radiation in the visible spectrum including, for example, a high-intensity laser light emitting diode or halogen bulb of theassembly 10. The source 34 may be connected to a power source, such as a battery 36 or as described in United States Letters Patent No. 4,201,005 to Hunt, incorporated herein by reference. - After positioning and fixing of the
bulbous end 30 of theoptical fibers 16, a transparent resin, in liquid form, in which is dispersed glass beads of a diameter of from 90 micronsto 1 mm is coated on the viewing side (V) of thedisplay board 12 to a thickness of from 50 microns to 1/8". Generally, dispersion of thelayer 40 includingmicrobeads 42 is from 2 to 50%, preferably about 10-20% percent by volume of the resin. Generally, any resin which will solidify after a reasonable period of time by drying under ambient conditions or accelerated time periods at elevated temperatures, may be used in the coating dispersion; e.g. epoxy, etc. Additionally, while glass beads manufactured by Flex-o-lite, Inc. have been effectively used, beads formed of synthetic materials may also be used provided that such beads maintain structural integrity in the resin dispersion. - The coating resin for most applications is transparent, however, may be somewhat transluscent or partially opaque and yet provide effective optical results. Additionally, by varying particle size distribution of the microbeads will vary visual effect in the fact that the particles will distribute themselves in the resin during curing, i.e. larger or heavier microbeads closer to the surface of the display board. Alternately, a plurality of coatings may be sequentially formed wherein each coating is of differing size distribution of microbeads, generally of successively smaller size distribution with each subsequent coating. While a single source of electromagnetic radiation in the visible spectrum is disclosed, it will be understood that more than one source may be employed depending on, inter alia, size, desired distance of visibility and recognition, etc., as will be understood by one skilled in the art. Additionally, the display board must be coated with a resin and thence with microbeads of desired size.
- While the invention has been described in connection with an exemplary embodiment thereof, it will be understood that many modifications will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art and that this application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations thereof. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that this invention be only limited by the claims and the equivalents thereof.
Claims (12)
- An illuminated information display assembly (10), which comprises:
a display board (12) having a viewing side and including information formed thereon;
a plurality of channels (24) formed in said display board (12);
a source of illumination (18);
a plurality of optical fibers (16), each optical fiber having one end disposed in a channel of said plurality of channels and the other end disposed proximate to said source of illumination; and
a layer of microbeads (42) disposed on said viewing side. - The illuminated information display assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said microbeads are disposed in a transparent medium coated on said viewing side of said display board.
- The illustrated information display assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said microbeads are of a particle size of from 50 microns to 1 mm.
- The illuminated information display assembly as defined in claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said microbeads are formed of glass.
- A method of forming an illuminated information display assembly, which comprises:
positioning an optical fiber of an optical fiber bundle into each of a plurality of channels in a display screen substrate having a viewing side; and
coating said viewing side with microbeads. - The method as defined in claim 5 wherein said microbeads are of a particle size of from 90 microns to 1mm.
- The method as defined in claim 5 wherein said microbeads are glass.
- The method as defined in claim 5 wherein said microbeads are coated in a transparent coating surface of said viewing side.
- The method as defined in claim 5 wherein said transparent coating includes UV stabilizers.
- The method as defined in claim 5 wherein said coating is effected in a plurality of successive coating steps with microbeads of differing particle size.
- The method as defined in claim 5 wherein successive coatings of microbeads are of successively decreasing particle size.
- The method as defined in claim 1 when coating is effected by distributing microbeads on a resin layer disposed on said viewing side of said display screen.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP92302821A EP0563467A1 (en) | 1992-03-31 | 1992-03-31 | Improved wide angle viewing illuminated information display assembly and process for manufacturing same |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP92302821A EP0563467A1 (en) | 1992-03-31 | 1992-03-31 | Improved wide angle viewing illuminated information display assembly and process for manufacturing same |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0563467A1 true EP0563467A1 (en) | 1993-10-06 |
Family
ID=8211307
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP92302821A Withdrawn EP0563467A1 (en) | 1992-03-31 | 1992-03-31 | Improved wide angle viewing illuminated information display assembly and process for manufacturing same |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
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EP (1) | EP0563467A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO1996018180A1 (en) * | 1994-12-09 | 1996-06-13 | Shell Oil Company | Fiber-optics illuminated fuel dispenser |
WO2012074914A2 (en) * | 2010-12-01 | 2012-06-07 | Dinjian Mark A | Fiber optic port signature applicator |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0330590A1 (en) * | 1988-02-26 | 1989-08-30 | Jackie Jean Baron | Method of manufacturing a fibre-optical plate or light detector, and plate or detector so obtained |
US4917448A (en) * | 1988-10-27 | 1990-04-17 | Oppenheimer M David | Lighted display device |
EP0397917A2 (en) * | 1989-05-19 | 1990-11-22 | Dambach-Werke GmbH | Display for alphanumeric images |
US5040320A (en) * | 1983-10-04 | 1991-08-20 | Tru-Lyte Systems, Incorporated | Illuminated information display assembly |
-
1992
- 1992-03-31 EP EP92302821A patent/EP0563467A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5040320A (en) * | 1983-10-04 | 1991-08-20 | Tru-Lyte Systems, Incorporated | Illuminated information display assembly |
EP0330590A1 (en) * | 1988-02-26 | 1989-08-30 | Jackie Jean Baron | Method of manufacturing a fibre-optical plate or light detector, and plate or detector so obtained |
US4917448A (en) * | 1988-10-27 | 1990-04-17 | Oppenheimer M David | Lighted display device |
EP0397917A2 (en) * | 1989-05-19 | 1990-11-22 | Dambach-Werke GmbH | Display for alphanumeric images |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO1996018180A1 (en) * | 1994-12-09 | 1996-06-13 | Shell Oil Company | Fiber-optics illuminated fuel dispenser |
US5761837A (en) * | 1994-12-09 | 1998-06-09 | Shell Oil Company | Fiber-optics illuminated fuel dispenser |
AU706435B2 (en) * | 1994-12-09 | 1999-06-17 | Shell Oil Company | Fiber-optics illuminated fuel dispenser |
WO2012074914A2 (en) * | 2010-12-01 | 2012-06-07 | Dinjian Mark A | Fiber optic port signature applicator |
WO2012074914A3 (en) * | 2010-12-01 | 2012-08-02 | Dinjian Mark A | Fiber optic port signature applicator |
US8823925B2 (en) | 2010-12-01 | 2014-09-02 | Mark A. Dinjian | Fiber optic port signature applicator |
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18D | Application deemed to be withdrawn |
Effective date: 19950909 |