GB2272556A - Display with a fibrous surface - Google Patents
Display with a fibrous surface Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2272556A GB2272556A GB9223909A GB9223909A GB2272556A GB 2272556 A GB2272556 A GB 2272556A GB 9223909 A GB9223909 A GB 9223909A GB 9223909 A GB9223909 A GB 9223909A GB 2272556 A GB2272556 A GB 2272556A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- display
- fibres
- elements
- plate
- display according
- 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- Withdrawn
Links
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
-
- 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
- G09F2009/3055—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 for traffic signs
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
- Liquid Crystal (AREA)
- Devices For Indicating Variable Information By Combining Individual Elements (AREA)
Abstract
A display of the type comprising a plurality of elements (5) selectively switchable between displaying states, includes a plate (7) with a surface surrounding each of the elements (5) carrying dark coloured fibres (9) so as to enhance the contrast of the display. The fibrous surface of the display may be obtained by "flocked" electro-statically sprayed short nylon fibres (as used for wall coverings). The rear surface of plate (7) may also be covered in fibres. The elements (5) may be liquid crystal switchable shutters for adjusting the level of light transmission. The display may include a transparent front sheet (10), light source (1), optical fibres (3) and control circuit (6). <IMAGE>
Description
DISPLAY
This invention relates to a display, in particular to a display comprising a plurality of selectively switchable elements whereby the information displayed can be varied.
Such displays are known for use as road signs where each element comprises a switchable light source constituting a pixel. In other alternative versions, the elements may be reflective.
It is an object of invention to provide such a display which can be read under high levels of ambient lighting.
This invention provides a display comprising a plurality of selectively switchable elements, and an outwardly facing surface surrounding each of the elements carrying dark coloured fibres so as to enhance the contrast of the display.
It is believed that the fibres trap light striking their surface and in this way the contrast of the display is enhanced to a surprisingly high degree.
In a preferred embodiment the surface is "flocked", or electro-statically sprayed with short nylon fibres in a process similar to that used to manufacture certain types of wall coverings.
In order that the invention may be well understood an embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing which is an exploded isometric view of display according to invention.
A display comprises a light source 1 which illuminates the rear most face 2 of each of a bundle of optical fibres 3. Each of those ends 4 of the fibres 3 remote from the lamp 1 is located behind a respective liquid crystal cell or element 5. The cells 5 are each selectively switchable by control circuitry 6 between relatively more and relatively less transparent states so as to selectively mask light being emitted from the optical fibres. An array of such elements can be used as pixels of an alphanumeric character, although for clarity, only three such elements 5 are shown in Figure 1.
A plate 7 includes an array of holes 8 each overlying a respective one of the cells 5 such that each cell is framed by a portion of the plate. According to the invention, the plate is covered in dark, preferably black, nylon fibres 9. These are preferably provided by a process known as "flocking" in which an initially uncoated plate is coated with a suitable adhesive and electro-statically sprayed with the fibres 9 so that they tend to extend at right angles to the surface being sprayed. A transparent sheet 10 is disposed in front of the plate 7. The applicant has also found that when the cells 5, plate 9 and sheet 10 are sandwiched together the fibres 9 disposed on each side of the plate provided some resilience preventing damage to the elements by the plate during assembly.
The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown.
For example, the fibres may be provided on a cloth-like or other backing adhered or otherwise attached to the plate.
The liquid crystal elements 5 may be replaced, for example, by electro-mechanically accuated shutters. Each of the elements may comprise a separate light bulb, or may comprise a complete alpha-numeric character or word.
Claims (7)
1. A display comprising a plurality of selectively
switchable elements, and an outwardly facing surface
surrounding each of the elements carrying dark coloured
fibres so as to enhance the contrast of the display.
2. A display according to claim 1, in which the surface is
flocked.
3. A display according to any preceding claim including a
plate having an array of apertures, each disposed in
front of a respective element, the outwardly facing
surface of the plate surrounding each of the apertures
being covered with the dark coloured fibres.
4. A display according to claim 3 in which the rearmost
surface of the plate is also covered in fibres.
5. A display according to any preceding claim in which each
of the elements comprises a selectively switchable
shutter disposed in front of a light source.
6. A display according to claim 5 in which the elements
comprise liquid crystal material and are selectively
switchable between relatively more and relatively less
transparent states.
7. A display substantially as described with reference to
the accompanying drawing.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9223909A GB2272556A (en) | 1992-11-14 | 1992-11-14 | Display with a fibrous surface |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9223909A GB2272556A (en) | 1992-11-14 | 1992-11-14 | Display with a fibrous surface |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9223909D0 GB9223909D0 (en) | 1993-01-06 |
| GB2272556A true GB2272556A (en) | 1994-05-18 |
Family
ID=10725095
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9223909A Withdrawn GB2272556A (en) | 1992-11-14 | 1992-11-14 | Display with a fibrous surface |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2272556A (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP1396781A2 (en) * | 2002-09-05 | 2004-03-10 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Display system, display control apparatus, display apparatus, display method and user interface device |
| CN108230934A (en) * | 2018-03-12 | 2018-06-29 | 深圳市洲明科技股份有限公司 | A kind of LED display and preparation method thereof |
Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2184282A (en) * | 1985-12-14 | 1987-06-17 | Stephen French | Fibre optic carpet display system |
| WO1989011805A1 (en) * | 1988-06-11 | 1989-12-14 | Stephen French | A decorative covering |
-
1992
- 1992-11-14 GB GB9223909A patent/GB2272556A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2184282A (en) * | 1985-12-14 | 1987-06-17 | Stephen French | Fibre optic carpet display system |
| WO1989011805A1 (en) * | 1988-06-11 | 1989-12-14 | Stephen French | A decorative covering |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP1396781A2 (en) * | 2002-09-05 | 2004-03-10 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Display system, display control apparatus, display apparatus, display method and user interface device |
| EP1396781A3 (en) * | 2002-09-05 | 2006-06-21 | Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | Display system, display control apparatus, display apparatus, display method and user interface device |
| CN108230934A (en) * | 2018-03-12 | 2018-06-29 | 深圳市洲明科技股份有限公司 | A kind of LED display and preparation method thereof |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB9223909D0 (en) | 1993-01-06 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |