GB2140604A

GB2140604A - Display arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2140604A
Application number: GB08313298A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Adrian Baker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-05-13
Filing date: 1983-05-13
Publication date: 1984-11-28
Also published as: GB8313298D0; GB2140604B

Abstract

An electronically controlled array of light emitting elements 12 e.g. LED's or LCD's mounted in an elongate housing, said housing being adapted to be connected to other similar housings in a lighting system. The invention also provides a lighting system including such an array and other housings having lamps connected thereto. The light emitting elements may be remote controlled via cable, infra-red or ultra-sonic means. A keyboard control or programmable control means may be provided. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Display arrangement This invention relates to a display arrangement.

According to the present invention there is provided an electronically controlled array of light emitting elements mounted in an elongate housing, said housing being adapted to be connected to other similar housings in a lighting system.

The invention also provides a lighting system including a plurality of interconnected elongate housings, at least one housing including an electronically controlled array of light emitting elements mounted therein and the other housings having discharge of other lamps mounted therein.

The invention allows as part of a lighting system including a plurality of interconnected housingswith lamps therein, the provision of a controllable array of light emitting elements which can be used for conveying information of one sort or another. These elements will normally be visiblethrough an aperture in the side ofthe housing although such aperture could be covered by a transparent medium or the elements could beshapedcloselytofitinto an apertureandthus beacontinuationofthewall ofthe housing.Normally tight emitting diodes will be suitable but liquid crystal arrangements or other electronically controlled light controlling arrangements can be employed in the invention; typical arrangements of light emitting elements are arrange ments to form a number such asfourteen or twenty onecharactersadjacentoneanotherin a line.

Instructions for the light emitting elements can come from a variety of sources and take a variety of forms.

For instance there may be a programmed or programmable control means in the housing connected over a short distance with the elements.

Another possibility is to provide a key board control which can if desired be remote from the housing but connected thereto via a cable which can readily be conducted through the lighting system. Control via a cable alternatively can be from a central source of alternativetype, for instance via telephone lines.

Cable control can allow synchronized control of a numberofdisplay arrangements according to the invention. Solid state control can do the same thing if for instance a programmed "chip" is inserted in a number of arrangements at locations remote from one another at the same time. Other ways of conveying instructions are by infra red radiation and ultrasonically. Moreoverthe characters in the array need not all be controlled in the same manner. For instance, some ofthem can be permanently controlled to displaytime ortemperature, and others can be remotely or locally controlled to display some news or advertising message.Facilities for repeating messages, forflashing them and for changing their colour can readily be provided either locally in the immediate vicinity ofthe display or remotely, that is to say separated by a cable from the display.

The following description is given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings which show schematic views firstly of a display arrangement according to the invention, in Fig. 1, and secondly of a lighting system which can include such an arrangement, in Fig. 2.

As shown in Fig. 1 there is a tubular element 10 which is typically of aluminium and which has an aperture 11 through which are visible a number of blocks of light emitting diodes such as block 12, each block being capable of displaying letters or numbers as desired in response to instructions received.The ends of the tube are open to facilitate its connection either directly to anothersimilartube using a connecting piece extending in to the ends of each, orto allow connection for instance via corner connecting units to another array of housings 10 which can either include similar display elements or a lighting element for instance a standard strip light Shown schematically in Fig. 2 is an lighting system having two display elements 20according to the invention in the system which also includes another six illumination elements 21, each comprising a fluoresoenttube backed by a reflector and mounted in an aperture similartothe housing 10 of Fig. 1.

The fluorescent tubes can be connected in series withthe housings 10 carrying the necessary ballast and starter and wires forsupplying power to each tube can of course easily be passed through the adjacent housings. Likewise, if desired, wires to control the display arrangements 20 can be passed through the housings of the lighting system. Shown at 22 are elbow members insertable into the open ends of the adjacent housings. It is desirableforthese to allow relative rotation with the adjacent housings. A variety of means can be used forsupporting or suspending such a lighting system, for instance collars or suspension points engagable with a channel which is desirably provided on the exteriorofthe housings such as the housing 10.

1. An electronically controlled array of light emitting elements mounted in an elongate housing, said housing being adapted to be connected to other similar housings in a lighting system.

2. An array according to claim 1 including a programmable control means in the housing connected with the elements.

3. An arrayaccoring to claim 1 including a control remote from the housing but connectable thereto through the lighting system.

4. An array according to claim 1,2 or3 including at least one connection piece to interconnect adjacent housings.

5. A lighting system including a plurality of interconnected elongate housings, at least one housing including an electronically controlled array of light emitting elements mounted therein and other housings having discharge or other lamps mounted The drawing(s) originally filed was (were) informal and the print here reproduced taken from a later filed formal copy.

The claims were filed later than the- filing date within the period prescribed by Rule 25(1) of the Patents Rules 1982.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Display arrangement This invention relates to a display arrangement. According to the present invention there is provided an electronically controlled array of light emitting elements mounted in an elongate housing, said housing being adapted to be connected to other similar housings in a lighting system. The invention also provides a lighting system including a plurality of interconnected elongate housings, at least one housing including an electronically controlled array of light emitting elements mounted therein and the other housings having discharge of other lamps mounted therein. The invention allows as part of a lighting system including a plurality of interconnected housingswith lamps therein, the provision of a controllable array of light emitting elements which can be used for conveying information of one sort or another. These elements will normally be visiblethrough an aperture in the side ofthe housing although such aperture could be covered by a transparent medium or the elements could beshapedcloselytofitinto an apertureandthus beacontinuationofthewall ofthe housing.Normally tight emitting diodes will be suitable but liquid crystal arrangements or other electronically controlled light controlling arrangements can be employed in the invention; typical arrangements of light emitting elements are arrange ments to form a number such asfourteen or twenty onecharactersadjacentoneanotherin a line. Instructions for the light emitting elements can come from a variety of sources and take a variety of forms. For instance there may be a programmed or programmable control means in the housing connected over a short distance with the elements. Another possibility is to provide a key board control which can if desired be remote from the housing but connected thereto via a cable which can readily be conducted through the lighting system. Control via a cable alternatively can be from a central source of alternativetype, for instance via telephone lines. Cable control can allow synchronized control of a numberofdisplay arrangements according to the invention. Solid state control can do the same thing if for instance a programmed "chip" is inserted in a number of arrangements at locations remote from one another at the same time. Other ways of conveying instructions are by infra red radiation and ultrasonically. Moreoverthe characters in the array need not all be controlled in the same manner. For instance, some ofthem can be permanently controlled to displaytime ortemperature, and others can be remotely or locally controlled to display some news or advertising message.Facilities for repeating messages, forflashing them and for changing their colour can readily be provided either locally in the immediate vicinity ofthe display or remotely, that is to say separated by a cable from the display. The following description is given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings which show schematic views firstly of a display arrangement according to the invention, in Fig. 1, and secondly of a lighting system which can include such an arrangement, in Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 1 there is a tubular element 10 which is typically of aluminium and which has an aperture 11 through which are visible a number of blocks of light emitting diodes such as block 12, each block being capable of displaying letters or numbers as desired in response to instructions received.The ends of the tube are open to facilitate its connection either directly to anothersimilartube using a connecting piece extending in to the ends of each, orto allow connection for instance via corner connecting units to another array of housings 10 which can either include similar display elements or a lighting element for instance a standard strip light Shown schematically in Fig. 2 is an lighting system having two display elements 20according to the invention in the system which also includes another six illumination elements 21, each comprising a fluoresoenttube backed by a reflector and mounted in an aperture similartothe housing 10 of Fig. 1. The fluorescent tubes can be connected in series withthe housings 10 carrying the necessary ballast and starter and wires forsupplying power to each tube can of course easily be passed through the adjacent housings. Likewise, if desired, wires to control the display arrangements 20 can be passed through the housings of the lighting system. Shown at 22 are elbow members insertable into the open ends of the adjacent housings. It is desirableforthese to allow relative rotation with the adjacent housings. A variety of means can be used forsupporting or suspending such a lighting system, for instance collars or suspension points engagable with a channel which is desirably provided on the exteriorofthe housings such as the housing 10. CLAIMS

The claims were filed later than the- filing date within the period prescribed by Rule 25(1) of the Patents Rules 1982. therein..

6. A system according to claim 5 including programmable control means in the at least one housing connected with the elements.

7. A system according to claim 5 including a control remotefrom the at least one housing and connected to the elements in other ofthe housings.

8. A system according to claim 5,6 or7 including at least one connection piece interconnecting adjacent housings.

9. An electronically controlled array of light em it- ting elements constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

10. Alighting system constructed and arranged substantiallyas hereinbefore described with referenceto and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.