GB2403334A

GB2403334A - Electromechanical display mechanism

Info

Publication number: GB2403334A
Application number: GB0314882A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Abdol Hosain Akbarpour; John William Rutt; Miles Anthony Varey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-06-26
Filing date: 2003-06-26
Publication date: 2004-12-29
Anticipated expiration: 2023-06-26
Also published as: WO2005001797A1; GB2403334B; GB0314882D0

Abstract

A mechanism by which a desired image is created on the face of a display, the mechanism comprising a mechanical multiplex of "drive belts" (4) and "engagement bars" (5), and a series of pairs of gear wheels ("pulleys") (2 and 3) each pair of which is encircled by a set of small concentric partially chromatic translucent plastic "pixel belts" (1). One of the pulleys (2) in each pair is necessarily white and, when many such white pulleys are juxtaposed, their curved outer edges form the face of the display. Each white pulley and its associated set of partially coloured pixel belts (1) makes up a "pixel" and the image is made up of a large number of pixels. The drive belts and engagement bars are activated in combination using "xy" matrix controlled by firmware. An engagement bar, when "lifted", will deflect the drive belts and thereby bring them into direct contact with an entire row of pixel belts, and each pixel belt in the row may then be moved individually by the activation of each individual drive belt to bring each individual pixel belt to the position required of it by the image to be displayed.

Description

1 2403334

ELECTROMECHANICAL DISPLAY MECHANISM

This invention relates to a programmable electromechanical system for the visual display of graphic material to advertise or impart other information.

As with some other systems, this system enables the content of the display to be changed remotely, and immediately, by electronic means and, in common with some; other systems (for example the one described in Patent No. GB235 1381), offers a high level of visual quality by the use of an array of translucent pieces of plastic of different colours which, when superimposed one on top of the other and against a solid white background, can emulate a very wide range of colour shades and which thereby can depict a printed image of photo quality, and do so in a manner which does not suffer from the light reflection problems often encountered (particularly outdoors) with CRT or Plasma screen-based systems, which are also more expensive. However, this invention makes possible numerous additional benefits compared with other inventions which use translucent plastic for the creation of remotely programmable images including: Wider viewing angle Lower power requirement Thinner profile Closer viewing range through the possibility of smaller pixels This invention is for a mechanism by which a desired image is created on the face of a display. The mechanism is made up of a mechanical multiplex of "drive belts" and "engagement bars", and a series of pairs of gear wheels ("pulleys") each pair of which is encircled by a set of small partially coloured translucent plastic "pixel belts".

One of the pulleys in each pair is necessarily white and, when many such white pulleys are juxtaposed, their curved outer edges form the face of the display. Each white pulley and its associated set of partially coloured pixel belts makes up a "pixel" and the image is made up of a large number of pixels.

The pixel belts are profiled asymmetrically with the areas of maximum width being coloured and the thinner sections being clear. A proportion of the thinner sections is embossed with an undulating finish which, when brought into contact with a drive belt, can mesh with the drive belt which can be similarly embossed.

The drive belts and engagement bars are activated in combination using an "xy" matrix controlled by firmware. An engagement bar, when "lifted", will deflect the drive belts and thereby bring them into direct contact with an entire row of pixel belts, and each pixel belt in the row may then be moved individually by the activation of each individual drive belt to bring each individual pixel belt to the position required of it by the image to be displayed.

In a preferred embodiment, the pixel belts are embossed along only a selected length of the narrowed (clear) section in order to allow each pixel belt to adopt a natural "park position", or "default starting position". This is achieved by engaging all the pixel belts by deflecting all the engagement bars and then activating all the drive belts.

The pixel belts can then all be moved to the point where the meshes cease to engage bu with each other but where, with a small increase in pressure, they can re-engage in the opposite direction.

Preferred embodiments involve the engagement bars and the drive belts being actuated by Electrically Actuated Polymers (EAPs) or State Memory Alloys (SMAs).

Once the pixel belts have been positioned, they remain in place without the need for any power supply.

In a preferred embodiment the pixel belt sets comprise three pixel belts mounted concentrically, each partially coloured yellow, magenta and cyan respectively, with the yellow pixel belt innermost and the cyan pixel belt outermost. When their coloured parts are revealed in varying proportions, different shades of colour become apparent in the pixel area addressed by each set, and different hues also are presented by leaving appropriate proportions of the white pulley unobscured by colour. The apparent shades are achieved by light travelling through the pixel belts and being reflected back through them off the white background. Where all three colours overlap, the result is a mauve/black hue, thereby obviating the need for a pixel belt partially coloured black.

Because the colours used are translucent, and because they are set on a white background (the pulleys), the programming of the display can be effected by the interpretation of visual information from a standard driver as used for an inkjet printer.

A preferred embodiment involves the innermost partially coloured pixel belt being solid white (rather than clear) in the area not carrying the translucent colour.

The pixels may be of an area of approximately 2.5 square millimetres or less.

The pulleys may be arranged in such a manner as to ensure 100% coverage capability of the display area.

The mechanism itself is effectively concealed behind the "wall" of white pulleys which make up the face of the display.

The overall display may be made up of modular tiles which house a quantity of all the mechanisms described above. By attaching a series of these tiles to an overall structure a full display is made up, its size being determined by the number of tiles put in place. In addition, such a design enables replacement of individual segments of the display without affecting the rest of the display, even when in operation.

The tiles may be enclosed at the front with a non-reflective transparent sheet to minimise interference from light sources and to prevent the ingress of water, dust and dirt.

The required programming may be delivered either by landline or by digital radio signal, and is interpreted by the firmware at the display location itself. Control instructions to the display can increase lightness, contrast and colour balance of the image displayed. Lou

The invention is now described by reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGURE 1 illustrates a set of 3 pixel belts (1) encircling a white pulley (2) and a second pulley (3) which is used in the actuation process. The width of each belt is non-uniform, equating to the width of the white pulley for part of its length but reducing by two thirds at the point where it encircles the second pulley.

FIGURE 2 illustrates a method of actuation whereby all pixel belts (1) can be rotated individually by bringing them into contact with the drive belts (4) which themselves can be moved individually. Contact between the pixel belts (1) and the drive belts (4) is effected by the movement towards the second pulley (3) of an engagement bar (5).

FIGURE 3 illustrates in two dimensions a side view of an array of 3 pixels comprising pixel belts (1), white pulleys (2) and second pulleys (3) together with their driving mechanisms comprising the drive belts (4) and engagement bars (5).

FIGURE 4 illustrates in two dimensions a side view of one pixel and how the embossed drive belt (4) and the partially embossed pixel belt ( 1) can mesh together so as to enable transfer of movement from the former to the latter.

Claims

1. A mechanism by which a desired image is created on the face of a display, the mechanism comprising a mechanical multiplex of"drive belts" and "engagement bars", and a series of pairs of gear wheels ("pulleys") each pair of which is encircled by a set of small partially chromatic translucent plastic "pixel belts".

2. A system according to Claim I in which one of each of the pairs of pulleys is coloured white

3. A system according to Claim 2 in which each pixel belt in a set is partially coloured differentially one from the other.

4. A system according to Claim 3 in which the pixel belts are mounted concentrically around the pairs of pulleys.

5. A system according to Claim 4 in which the pixel belts in a set are partially coloured cyan, magenta and yellow.

6. A system according to Claim 5 in which, when viewed from the front of the display, the cyan pixel belt superposes the magenta pixel belt which in turn superposes the yellow pixel belt.

7. A system according to Claim 6 in which the pixel belts are asymmetrical in profile, with areas of maximum width being coloured and the narrower sections being clear.

8. A system according to Claim 7 in which the narrower sections of the pixel belts are embossed with an undulating finish which, when brought into contact with a similarly embossed drive belt, can mesh with it to create traction.

9. A system according to Claim 8 in which the pixel belts are embossed along only a selected length of the narrower sections in order to allow each pixel belt to be moved into a natural "default start" position.

l O. A system according to Claim 9 in which the concentrically mounted pixel belt which is innermost and therefore closest to the pulleys is solid white (rather than clear) in the area not carrying the translucent colour.

11. A system according to any one of the preceding claims in which the curved edges of a plurality of pulleys with sets of pixel belts encircling them comprise the

white reflective background of a display.

12. A system according to any one of the preceding claims in which each pixel belt is actuable by means of a drive belt and an engagement bar.

13. A system according to Claim 12 in which the drive belts and engagement bars are actuated by means of an "xy" matrix so arranged in association with firmware and 5u Electrically Actuated Polymers (EAPs) or State Memory Alloys (SMAs) as to enable movement of the pixel belts individually.

14. A system according to any one of the preceding claims in which the interpretation of the image for transmission to the display is effected by an inkjet printer driver.

15. A system according to any one of the preceding claims in which an array of the mechanisms can be joined together to form a "tile" a plurality of which may be joined together to make up a display.

16. A system according to any one of the previous claims in which the mechanism may receive the required programming from a remote location by means of landline or digital radio signal.

17. A mechanism by which a desired image is created on the face of a display by the means substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows

1. A mechanism by which a desired image is created on the face of a display, the S mechanism comprising a mechanical multiplex of "drive belts" and "engagement bars", and a series of pairs of gear wheels ("pulleys") each pair of which is encircled by a set of small partially chromatic translucent plastic "pixel belts", the arrangement being such that the movement of an engagement bar causes a drive belt to come into contact with certain of the pixel belts thereby to impart movement to the pixel belts.

2. A system according to Claim I in which one of each of the pairs of pulleys is coloured white 3. A system according to Claim 2 in which each pixel belt in a set is partially coloured differentially one from the other.

10. A system according to Claim 9 in which the concentrically mounted pixel belt which is innermost and therefore closest to the pulleys is solid white (rather than clear) in the area not carrying the translucent colour.

I 1. A system according to any one of the preceding claims in which the curved edges of a plurality of pulleys with sets of pixel belts encircling them comprise the

white reflective background of a display.

12. A system according to any one of the preceding claims in which each pixe] belt is actuable by means of a drive belt and an engagement bar.

13. A system according to Claim 12 in which the drive belts and engagement bars are actuated by means of an "xy" matrix so arranged in association with firmware and Electrically Actuated Polymers (EAPs) or State Memory Alloys (SMAs) as to enable movement of the pixel belts individually.

] 4. A system according to any one of the preceding claims in which the interpretation of the image for transmission to the display is effected by an inkjet printer driver.