GB1335130A - Display apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1335130 Matrix displays SCIENCE ASSOCIATES Inc 19 April 1971 [13 April 1970] 26532/71 Heading G5C A display panel has a plurality of light passages extending through it and internal cavities intersecting the passages, a closure member in each cavity which moves between positions in and out of the passage and a releasable latch holding each member in one of the positions. A display assembly 50 mounted in a housing comprises a plurality of horizontal panels (62), Fig. 1 (not shown), each comprising sections 90 connected together by shafts 63 to form an endless chain. Rollers at each end of the shafts 63 engage sprockets 56 of a drive-shaft 53 and are guided by vertical channels of the housing and by guide surfaces 75 extending between the channels. An array of fluorescent lamps in front of a reflector is mounted within the belt; the edges of adjacent sections overlap to prevent light passing between them. Each panel section comprises inner and outer members 91, 95 containing light passages formed of conical apertures 116, 117 and recesses 118 containing opaque discs 125 of non-magnetic material, e.g. brass or plastics material. The apertures are covered by translucent diffusing plates (97), 97a. Each disc is held in the obscuring up position by a latch pin 127 in a groove which slopes down towards the recess 118. The recesses 118 extend diagonally in the vertical plane so that each disc rests on the side of the recess as well as on the pin to reduce friction between the disc and pin. As panels travel downwards through the non-viewed path, the pins fall from the discs allowing the discs to fall into their obscuring positions. The pins move to support discs as the panels turn at D into the viewing position. A pattern is produced by activating electromagnets (130), Fig. 5 (not shown), which withdraw selected pins allowing the associated discs to fall into their non-obscuring positions. The operation of the electromagnets is synchronized with the position of a row of pins using a photocathode to sense light from reflective strips 134 on the panel sections. Data is received in series-digital form and stored. When sufficient data is received to fill a row the belt is moved sufficiently to carry one row of panels past the electromagnets. In a modification the bottom parts of the recesses may intersect the light passages.