US3781863A - Digital display device - Google Patents

Digital display device Download PDF

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Publication number
US3781863A
US3781863A US00209986A US3781863DA US3781863A US 3781863 A US3781863 A US 3781863A US 00209986 A US00209986 A US 00209986A US 3781863D A US3781863D A US 3781863DA US 3781863 A US3781863 A US 3781863A
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United States
Prior art keywords
groups
segments
plate
group
sub
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Expired - Lifetime
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US00209986A
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English (en)
Inventor
K Fujita
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Suwa Seikosha KK
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Suwa Seikosha KK
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04G—ELECTRONIC TIME-PIECES
    • G04G9/00—Visual time or date indication means
    • G04G9/08—Visual time or date indication means by building-up characters using a combination of indicating elements, e.g. by using multiplexing techniques
    • G04G9/12—Visual time or date indication means by building-up characters using a combination of indicating elements, e.g. by using multiplexing techniques using light valves, e.g. liquid crystals
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
    • G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
    • G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour 
    • G02F1/13—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour  based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells
    • G02F1/133—Constructional arrangements; Operation of liquid crystal cells; Circuit arrangements
    • G02F1/1333—Constructional arrangements; Manufacturing methods
    • G02F1/1343—Electrodes
    • G02F1/134309—Electrodes characterised by their geometrical arrangement
    • G02F1/134327—Segmented, e.g. alpha numeric display
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04G—ELECTRONIC TIME-PIECES
    • G04G9/00—Visual time or date indication means
    • G04G9/08—Visual time or date indication means by building-up characters using a combination of indicating elements, e.g. by using multiplexing techniques
    • G04G9/12—Visual time or date indication means by building-up characters using a combination of indicating elements, e.g. by using multiplexing techniques using light valves, e.g. liquid crystals
    • G04G9/122—Visual time or date indication means by building-up characters using a combination of indicating elements, e.g. by using multiplexing techniques using light valves, e.g. liquid crystals using multiplexing techniques
    • 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
    • G09F9/302—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 characterised by the form or geometrical disposition of the individual elements

Definitions

  • the impressed voltage neces- 313/l/169 58/50 R 23 sary for causing the nematic liquid crystals to disperse light is applied in pulses to different segments in each [56] References Cited group in succession, the pulses being supplied at a sufficiently high frequency so that each pulsed segment 3 505 804 f t F PATENTS 58/23 R appears to be continuously actuated.
  • FIG. 7a - SHEET 3 QF 3 FIG. 7b
  • a digital display device holds nematic crystals in a sealed chamber between two opposing plates, at least one of which is transparent.
  • embodiments which have two conductive segments on one plate and four conductive segments on the opposing plate, each set of six conductive segments on two opposing plates sufficing to display any digit between zero and nine when properly actuated.
  • the segments on the two plates are connected to a source of voltage so constructed that pulses can be supplied sequentially to selected conductive segments.
  • the sequence of pulses is rapid enough so that retention of the image by the human eye gives the impression of continuous actuation. This type of pulsed actuation is necessary for the formation of certain of the digits.
  • the hour, the minute and the second can be displayed with only twelve leads from one plate and four leads from the other, making a total of 16.
  • an object of the present invention is to provide an improved digital display device wherein the number of conductive leads necessary is minimized.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide an improved digital display device wherein the space occufile by conductuve leads is minimized.
  • a further object of the invention is to provide an improved digital display device suitable for use with a wrist watch, which is capable of displaying the hour, the minute and the second with a minimum of conductive leads.
  • Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved digital display device wherein a plurality of conductive segments forming characters are connected in parallel.
  • the invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture possessing the features, properties, and the relation of elements which will be exemplified in the article hereinafter described, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.
  • FIG. I is a plan view of the prior art arrangement for displaying any digit between zero and nine;
  • FIG. 2 is a side view of the device of FIG. 1 where the device is indicated as being connected to a source of alternating current;
  • FIG. 3 is a plan view of each of the two plates constructed in accordance with the present invention for showing any digit between zero and nine;
  • FIG. 4(a) shows the equivalents of the driving circuits for operating the conventionally segmented device and the device of the present invention
  • FIG. 4(b) shows the pulse sequence necessary for displaying the digit 3 by means of the device of the present invention
  • FIG. 5(a) is a pair of panels for showing six digits simultaneously; and FIG. 5(b) is a side view thereof;
  • FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic representation of the circuit to be used in combination with a display panel in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b) are further embodiments of segment arrangements for showing digits.
  • a sealed chamber is formed of plates A and B with suitable gaskets where plate A has seven segments thereon with accompanying leads as indicated by the letters a through g.
  • Plate B has on it a single conductive area and lead where the conductive area is so shaped that when plate A and B are opposed to each other, conductive are p opposes all parts of the segments on plate A.
  • the conventional arrangement requires seven electrical connections to plate A and one electrical connection to plate B.
  • FIG. 2 A side view of the prior art arrangement of FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. 2 where it is indicated that panels A and B are connected to a source of alternating current. For a six digit display, one panel would require forty-two leadout terminals while the other panel would require only one, since all of the areas having the shape shown at p could be in parallel.
  • panel A has four segments thereon and panel B has two segments thereon making a total of six segments to which an equivalent number of lead-out terminals must be connected.
  • terminal alpha leads to the segments a and f of FIG. 1
  • terminal beta leads to c and e
  • terminal delta leads to d
  • terminal gamma leads to b and g delta leads to d.
  • the electrodes on panel B are labelled p and q and, in combination, have the shape of FIG. 8.
  • the correspondence between the segments of the FIG. 3 display and the segments of the FIG. I display is shown in FIG. 4(a). To form any required digit from zero to nine, the terminals on panel A and on panel B of FIG. 3 are selectively switched.
  • the switching sequence is shown in FIG. 4(b) for formation of the digit 3.
  • t alpha, beta, and gamma on panel A are connected to one terminal of a voltage source and lead p on panel B is connected to the other terminal of the voltage source.
  • segments a, c and d, as shown in FIG. I are actuated.
  • gamma and delta on panel A and q on panel B are connected to the voltage source.
  • segments corresponding to g and d of FIG. 1 are actuated.
  • the pulses are provided at a frequency such that retention of the image gives the impression of continuous actuation.
  • any digit from zero to nine can be formed by the arrangements of segments shown in FIGS. 3, a, 7a and 7b.
  • Panels A and B suitable for showing six digits within a restricted space and with many fewer lead-out connections than are needed in the conventional arrangement, are shown in FlG. 5.
  • panel A all of the segments corresponding to a single letter (Greek) are in parallel. Part of the alpha segment corresponding to segment f of FIG. l is omitted from the top left hand group of segments because only the numbers I and 2 need be displayed.
  • Each of the segments in each of the digital display groups on panel B is individually connected to the voltage source. Consequently, the total number of lead-out connections required for a six-digit display with the arrangement of the present invention is only sixteen as against forty-three for the conventional design.
  • An assembled six-figure display unit in accordance with the present invention is shown in side view in FIG.
  • C is a gasket spacer and D is a liquid crystal material.
  • the method of actuating a sixfigure display panel such as is shown in FIG. 5 is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 6.
  • Clock pulses i entering Time Coder I are changed into signals B, C, and D which are transferred to Decoder 2.
  • Decoder 2 converts signals B, C and D into signals for driving the electrodes from alpha to delta.
  • Scanner circuit 3 scans signals B, C and D and the synchronous signal S supplied from Time Coder l.
  • the combinations of signals from Decoder 2 and Scanner Circuit 4 produces the desired digital display of the time as shown on display panel 3.
  • the driving method of FIG. 6 can be readily modified to operate display panels having fewer or more than six digits and can also operate displays where each digit consists of a number of segments differing from those shown in the embodiments thus far.
  • FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b) show schematically other arrangements of segments for showing the digits from zero to nine.
  • the dashed line indicates an electrical connection between two vertical bars comprising a single segment. Such a connection is shown in more detail in the left hand panel of FIG. 3.
  • An improved structure for selectively displaying the digits from zero to nine by means of nematic liquid crystals between opposed plates at least one of which is transparent, comprisng a non-conductive first plate having thereon at least one group of seven conductive segments essentially in the conventional FIG-8 arrangement, wherein selected segments of said group are electrically'connected together to form sub-groups whereby all of the segments in a sub-group may be actuated together; a non-conductive second plate opposed to said first plate and having thereon at least one conductive segmented group in FIG-8 arrangement, each group on said second plate being in registry with a group on said first plate and being subdivided into sub-groups of segments, all of the segments in a subgroup being electrically connected; means for applying an activating voltage in pulsed sequence to each of the sub-groups in one group on said first plate at a repetition rate sufficiently great that digits, when displayed, appear to be continuously displayed, and for applying an activating voltage pulse to selected sub-groups of the group on said second plate, the group on said

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Crystallography & Structural Chemistry (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Nonlinear Science (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mathematical Physics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Geometry (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Liquid Crystal (AREA)
  • Control Of Indicators Other Than Cathode Ray Tubes (AREA)
  • Devices For Indicating Variable Information By Combining Individual Elements (AREA)
  • Liquid Crystal Display Device Control (AREA)
  • Cathode-Ray Tubes And Fluorescent Screens For Display (AREA)
  • Electrotherapy Devices (AREA)
  • Electric Clocks (AREA)
US00209986A 1970-12-23 1971-12-20 Digital display device Expired - Lifetime US3781863A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP45116254A JPS5114360B1 (en)) 1970-12-23 1970-12-23

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US3781863A true US3781863A (en) 1973-12-25

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US00209986A Expired - Lifetime US3781863A (en) 1970-12-23 1971-12-20 Digital display device

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JP (1) JPS5114360B1 (en))
CH (3) CH628767B5 (en))
DE (1) DE2163634B2 (en))
GB (1) GB1370489A (en))
HK (1) HK42376A (en))

Cited By (25)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3831166A (en) * 1973-03-16 1974-08-20 Rockwell International Corp Display character pattern
US3877015A (en) * 1972-01-21 1975-04-08 Hitachi Ltd Multidigit liquid crystal display device
US3894389A (en) * 1972-12-18 1975-07-15 Suwa Seikosha Kk Electronic watch
US3903519A (en) * 1973-01-03 1975-09-02 Battelle Memorial Institute Electro-optical device for displaying a family of symbols
US3943881A (en) * 1973-06-02 1976-03-16 Sony Corporation Numeric character indicator
DE2604238A1 (de) * 1975-02-04 1976-08-05 Casio Computer Co Ltd Fluessigkristallanzeigeeinrichtung
US4006969A (en) * 1974-12-09 1977-02-08 Kabushiki Kaisha Suwa Seikosha Electro-chromic display device
JPS5248380U (en)) * 1975-10-01 1977-04-06
US4034368A (en) * 1975-01-27 1977-07-05 Nippon Kogaku K.K. Numerical display element
US4044280A (en) * 1975-10-30 1977-08-23 Ncr Corporation Multiplexed segmented character display
US4064689A (en) * 1973-07-20 1977-12-27 Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. Electronic timepiece with electro-optical display
US4078374A (en) * 1975-01-16 1978-03-14 Kabushiki Kaisha Daini Seikosha Electronic timepiece
US4105297A (en) * 1976-02-26 1978-08-08 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Field effect type liquid crystal display device
US4110744A (en) * 1975-02-10 1978-08-29 Ebauches S.A. Passive electro-optic display cell
US4142182A (en) * 1976-02-25 1979-02-27 Bbc Brown, Boveri & Company, Limited Procedure for addressing of visual display devices
US4167005A (en) * 1977-06-01 1979-09-04 Societe Aaton Device for displaying figures by a combination of character segments
US4176917A (en) * 1976-06-14 1979-12-04 Omron Tateisi Electronics Co. Liquid crystal display device
US4206459A (en) * 1976-09-14 1980-06-03 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Numeral display device
US4281901A (en) * 1977-05-11 1981-08-04 Kabushiki Kaisha Suwa Seikosha Electrode structure in display device
US4291304A (en) * 1977-09-29 1981-09-22 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Electro-optical display device
US4300137A (en) * 1976-04-06 1981-11-10 Citizen Watch Company Limited Matrix driving method for electro-optical display device
DE3150854A1 (de) * 1980-12-22 1982-12-23 Casio Computer Co., Ltd., Tokyo Fluessigkristall-anzeigeeinrichtung
US4457588A (en) * 1978-04-25 1984-07-03 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Removal of static electricity on a liquid crystal display during rubbing process
US4533213A (en) * 1974-05-31 1985-08-06 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Liquid crystal display
US9978298B2 (en) 2014-12-18 2018-05-22 E Ink Holdings Inc. Display panel and driving method thereof

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2730069A1 (de) * 1977-07-02 1979-01-11 Braun Ag Zeitmesser mit einer anzeigeeinrichtung
DE2849381C3 (de) * 1978-11-14 1981-04-30 Siemens AG, 1000 Berlin und 8000 München Passive elektrooptische Anzeigevorrichtung zur Sieben-Segment-Darstellung mit Fehlanzeige-Erkennung
US4386350A (en) * 1979-06-26 1983-05-31 Nippon Electric Co., Ltd. Display apparatus
JP2722824B2 (ja) * 1991-01-30 1998-03-09 日本電気株式会社 曜日・時刻の表示方式
DE19504385C2 (de) * 1995-02-12 1997-07-17 Horst Dipl Ing Rosbach Schneidemaschine mit digitaler Schnittstärkenanzeige

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3505804A (en) * 1968-04-23 1970-04-14 Rca Corp Solid state clock
US3566391A (en) * 1968-09-06 1971-02-23 Hartman Systems Co Inc Multilayer electroluminescent display apparatus having multiple,selectively energizable electrode elements forming composite electrodes of predetermined configuration
US3580421A (en) * 1969-11-20 1971-05-25 Veeder Industries Inc Fluid dispensing apparatus indicator system
US3646544A (en) * 1969-05-06 1972-02-29 Sanyo Electric Co Apparatus for indicating numerical information

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3509420A (en) * 1968-05-02 1970-04-28 Burroughs Corp Driver circuits for display devices with spurious glow eliminating circuit

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3505804A (en) * 1968-04-23 1970-04-14 Rca Corp Solid state clock
US3566391A (en) * 1968-09-06 1971-02-23 Hartman Systems Co Inc Multilayer electroluminescent display apparatus having multiple,selectively energizable electrode elements forming composite electrodes of predetermined configuration
US3646544A (en) * 1969-05-06 1972-02-29 Sanyo Electric Co Apparatus for indicating numerical information
US3580421A (en) * 1969-11-20 1971-05-25 Veeder Industries Inc Fluid dispensing apparatus indicator system

Cited By (26)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3877015A (en) * 1972-01-21 1975-04-08 Hitachi Ltd Multidigit liquid crystal display device
US3894389A (en) * 1972-12-18 1975-07-15 Suwa Seikosha Kk Electronic watch
US3903519A (en) * 1973-01-03 1975-09-02 Battelle Memorial Institute Electro-optical device for displaying a family of symbols
US3831166A (en) * 1973-03-16 1974-08-20 Rockwell International Corp Display character pattern
US3943881A (en) * 1973-06-02 1976-03-16 Sony Corporation Numeric character indicator
US4064689A (en) * 1973-07-20 1977-12-27 Citizen Watch Co., Ltd. Electronic timepiece with electro-optical display
US4533213A (en) * 1974-05-31 1985-08-06 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Liquid crystal display
US4006969A (en) * 1974-12-09 1977-02-08 Kabushiki Kaisha Suwa Seikosha Electro-chromic display device
US4078374A (en) * 1975-01-16 1978-03-14 Kabushiki Kaisha Daini Seikosha Electronic timepiece
US4034368A (en) * 1975-01-27 1977-07-05 Nippon Kogaku K.K. Numerical display element
DE2604238A1 (de) * 1975-02-04 1976-08-05 Casio Computer Co Ltd Fluessigkristallanzeigeeinrichtung
US4113361A (en) * 1975-02-04 1978-09-12 Casio Computer Co., Ltd. Liquid crystal display device
US4110744A (en) * 1975-02-10 1978-08-29 Ebauches S.A. Passive electro-optic display cell
JPS5248380U (en)) * 1975-10-01 1977-04-06
US4044280A (en) * 1975-10-30 1977-08-23 Ncr Corporation Multiplexed segmented character display
US4142182A (en) * 1976-02-25 1979-02-27 Bbc Brown, Boveri & Company, Limited Procedure for addressing of visual display devices
US4105297A (en) * 1976-02-26 1978-08-08 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Field effect type liquid crystal display device
US4300137A (en) * 1976-04-06 1981-11-10 Citizen Watch Company Limited Matrix driving method for electro-optical display device
US4176917A (en) * 1976-06-14 1979-12-04 Omron Tateisi Electronics Co. Liquid crystal display device
US4206459A (en) * 1976-09-14 1980-06-03 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Numeral display device
US4281901A (en) * 1977-05-11 1981-08-04 Kabushiki Kaisha Suwa Seikosha Electrode structure in display device
US4167005A (en) * 1977-06-01 1979-09-04 Societe Aaton Device for displaying figures by a combination of character segments
US4291304A (en) * 1977-09-29 1981-09-22 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Electro-optical display device
US4457588A (en) * 1978-04-25 1984-07-03 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Removal of static electricity on a liquid crystal display during rubbing process
DE3150854A1 (de) * 1980-12-22 1982-12-23 Casio Computer Co., Ltd., Tokyo Fluessigkristall-anzeigeeinrichtung
US9978298B2 (en) 2014-12-18 2018-05-22 E Ink Holdings Inc. Display panel and driving method thereof

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CH1866271A4 (en)) 1975-10-15
CH578771A5 (en)) 1976-08-13
GB1370489A (en) 1974-10-16
HK42376A (en) 1976-07-16
JPS5114360B1 (en)) 1976-05-08
DE2163634A1 (de) 1972-07-13
DE2163634B2 (de) 1981-06-19
CH628767B5 (fr) 1982-03-31

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