US3858341A - Segment type, electric light figure indicator - Google Patents

Segment type, electric light figure indicator Download PDF

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Publication number
US3858341A
US3858341A US312983A US31298372A US3858341A US 3858341 A US3858341 A US 3858341A US 312983 A US312983 A US 312983A US 31298372 A US31298372 A US 31298372A US 3858341 A US3858341 A US 3858341A
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Prior art keywords
indicator
light
triangle
electric
compartments
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Expired - Lifetime
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US312983A
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English (en)
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Yasuo Wakabayashi
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Individual
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Individual
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B5/00—Visible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied
    • G08B5/22—Visible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
    • G08B5/36—Visible signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems, remote indication of seats occupied using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission using visible light sources

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT A compact device for displaying an illuminated numerical digit or other figure having a plurality of light sources, each light source housed in a separate compartment of the device and adapted to illuminate one elongated section of the figure with uniform brightness.
  • Each compartment has a triangular cross-section in a plane parallel to the length of the device with the light source mounted near the apex of the triangle and the elongated figure section located near the base of the triangle. All surfaces within each compartment are mirror-like, coated with a substance which forms a light-reflecting surface. An inclined light-reflecting surface is provided in each compartment adjacent to the figure section and triangle base.
  • This invention relates to a segment type, illuminated figure display device and more particularly to such devices which utilize miniature electric bulbs as the light source.
  • the figure represented may be a numerical digit, 1 through 10. The nature of the digit is determined by which segments are illuminated and may be changed to represent other digits in succession by turning the appropriate lights off and on.
  • the conventional segment type, electric light figure indicator has seven elongated segments arranged in mosaic fashion to represent a figure.
  • Non-uniform brightness is likely to occur throughout the length of an individual elongated section because of the proximity of the light source to the display surface.
  • the light source (electric bulb) is usually located inside the indicator at a distance from the display surface sufficient to produce the required uniformity of illumination, thus resulting in a device having a large thickness or depth and bulk. Excessive thickness and bulk are undesirable in such devices because many modern applications require compactness in display devices of this type.
  • the present invention provides a segment type, electric light figure indicator having seven illuminated segments in which the casing of the indicator is divided into seven flat compartments each having a triangular lateral cross-section in a plane along the length of the device and having a thickness or depth only slightly base portion of the triangle is inclined (at an angle) I with respect to the display surface to form a reflecting surface for the light, so that the electric light emanating from the bulb is reflected by the inclined wall so as to hit the elongated figure section at a right angle.
  • the in terior walls of the triangular shaped compartment are coated with aluminum (e.g. by vapor deposition) or chromium plating to provide mirror surfaces surrounding the light source. This construction provides uniform brightness throughout the length of each elongated figure segment. As a result, the thickness or depth of the device may be minimized.
  • FIG. 1(a) is a front elevation of a conventional mosaic type, seven segment electric light figure indicator
  • FIG. 1(b) is a cross-sectional view of the indicator of FIG. 1(a), taken along line A-A thereof;
  • FIG. 2(a) is a front elevation of a segment type, electric light figure indicator of the present invention
  • FIG. 2(b) is a cross-sectional view of the indicator of FIG. 2(a), taken along line BB thereof;
  • FIG. 3 is a front elevation, partially in cross-section, of the device of FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b);
  • FIG. 4(a) is a front elevation of another embodiment of the device of the invention.
  • FIG. 4(b) is a cross-sectional view of the indicator of FIG. 4(a), taken along line CC thereof.
  • FIGS. 1(a) and (b) illustrate a conventional prior art segment type illuminated figure indicator for comparison and better understanding of the features of the indicator of the present invention.
  • the conventional mosaic display device has seven illuminated segments. An elongated figure segment is shown at 1.
  • a light source i.e., a miniature electric bulb 2
  • a light source is spaced a relatively large distance from the elongated figure section surface in order to achieve a well distributed brightness thereon. If the light source were closer to the figure section 1, the brightness throughout the length of that segment would be increased as a whole to some degree, but the brightness at the both extremities of the figure section would become considerably lower relative to the center portion thereof.
  • the depth of the casing 3 is determined by the required uniformity of brightness, thus requiring a display device having a relatively large depth of thickness, as compared to the size of the illuminated figure.
  • FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate a mosaic display device of the present invention.
  • the casing 4 is: formed with seven compartments each having a triangular cross-section and a depth approximating the height or width of the light source-
  • Each compartment contains an electric bulb 7 and has one elongated display surface 5 which forms one segment of the illuminated figure.
  • a slanted reflecting wall 6 forms one compartment wall and meets the display surface of the device at an inclined angle of about 30 to about preferably at 45.
  • the compartment is defined by the surfaces of partition walls 8 and 9, by bottom surface 10, and by the interior surface of an aluminum plate 11.
  • the aluminum plate 11 has a number of mosaic openings or slots and covers the top opening of the casing 4.
  • the surfaces 6, 8, 9, l0 and 11 of each compartment are coated with aluminum or chromium plating to form reflecting mirror surfaces.
  • a semitransparent white or frosted glass sheet 12 On top of the aluminum plate 1]. is provided a semitransparent white or frosted glass sheet 12. Two lead or jimmet wires 13 leading from each miniature bulb 7 are soldered directly onto the printed circuit base board 14, thus eliminating the need for a socket or receptacle for each bulb and thus minimizing the thickness or depth required for the display device. A connecting terminal is provided as an extension of the base board 14 for the same purpose.
  • the miniature electric bulb 7 In operation, when the miniature electric bulb 7 is lit, the light therefrom is reflected off of the various mirror surfaces 6, 8, 9, 10 and 11 and eventually issues through the elongated, confined mosaic opening 5 to illuminate the semitransparent frosted glass sheet 12 from behind with a uniform intensity of illumination.
  • the distance between the light source 7 and the glass sheet 12 is relatively small, yet produces a uniform intensity of illumination throughout the length of the elongated, confined mosaic surface as viewed from the front of the device.
  • the electric bulb 7 is located near the apex of the compartment triangle and at a right angle to the figure display surface.
  • FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b) show another embodiment of the present invention, wherein the electric bulbs are mounted parallel to the display surface.
  • the thickness or depth of the device is smaller than that of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b). The more shallow depth is made possible by the disposition of the bulbs.
  • the depth of the compartment, in this case, is only slightly greater than the width of the bulbs used.
  • the electric bulbs in this embodiment are of a size having a diameter of 2.4 mm or 3.15 mm, with the rated amperage and voltage being 0.15 A and 5 V, respectively, and having a service life in the neighborhood of 20,000 hours. Shown at 16 is a light source consisting of a miniature electric bulb.
  • the device is further provided with a printed circuit base board 17, a reflecting surface 18 inclined at an angle of 45 to the display surface, and an aluminum plate 19 having an elongated, confined mosaic opening 20 therein.
  • a printed circuit base board 17 a reflecting surface 18 inclined at an angle of 45 to the display surface
  • an aluminum plate 19 having an elongated, confined mosaic opening 20 therein.
  • a segment type device for the display of illuminated figures having a casing of a-shallow depth, yet providing a relatively wide figure display surface with uniform brightness throughout the elongated mosaic openings.
  • a further aspect of the present invention is that it provides a colored, illuminated figure.
  • a segment type, electric light alpha-numeric figure indicator comprising:
  • a casing having seven flat compartments, each of said compartments having a cross-section in a lateral plane in the shape of a triangle, said triangle having an apex angle and a base side opposite said angle;
  • a cover plate covering the top opening of said casing and having elongated, confined mosaic openings therein, which permit light emanating from the electric bulbs to shine therethrough, each opening located parallel to and in front of the base side of said triangle and arranged so as to collectively form an alpha-numeric figure;
  • compartments each having a reflecting wall inclined to said cover plate at an angle of about 30 to 60, said inclined walls being located immediately behind said elongated, confined mosaic openings; all interior surfaces of said compartments having reflecting mirror surfaces; and
  • a segment type, electric light figure indicator as set forth in claim I further comprising a printed circuit base board forming the base of said casing and lead wires on said bulbs soldered to said printed circuit board.
  • each compartment is defined by a plurality of reflecting mirror surfaced walls comprising said cover plate, said inclined wall, two walls forming said apex angle and perpendicular to said cover plate and one wall parallel to said cover plate.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Illuminated Signs And Luminous Advertising (AREA)
  • Devices For Indicating Variable Information By Combining Individual Elements (AREA)
US312983A 1971-12-08 1972-12-07 Segment type, electric light figure indicator Expired - Lifetime US3858341A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP1971114890U JPS4870574U (da) 1971-12-08 1971-12-08

Publications (1)

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US3858341A true US3858341A (en) 1975-01-07

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ID=14649201

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US312983A Expired - Lifetime US3858341A (en) 1971-12-08 1972-12-07 Segment type, electric light figure indicator

Country Status (5)

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US (1) US3858341A (da)
JP (1) JPS4870574U (da)
CA (1) CA977144A (da)
FR (1) FR2167002A5 (da)
GB (1) GB1363169A (da)

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3918052A (en) * 1974-07-26 1975-11-04 Kenneth J Bricher Shallow display and digital clock including reflecting and masking means
US4058919A (en) * 1976-10-29 1977-11-22 Yasuo Wakabayashi Segment type, electric light alpha-numeric figure indicator
US4126812A (en) * 1976-12-20 1978-11-21 Texas Instruments Incorporated Spherical light emitting diode element and character display with integral reflector
US4146883A (en) * 1977-09-12 1979-03-27 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Display
US4214391A (en) * 1977-02-18 1980-07-29 Ackeret Design & Engineering Optical numerical segment display
EP0199583A1 (en) * 1985-04-24 1986-10-29 General Instrument Lamps Limited Display assembly
US20060207133A1 (en) * 2004-03-16 2006-09-21 Tamaki Tsutsumi Display unit
US20150113841A1 (en) * 2013-10-29 2015-04-30 Whirlpool Corporation Alphanumeric display assembly
US9220394B2 (en) 2013-08-15 2015-12-29 Whirlpool Corporation LED console assembly with light reflector
US9933131B2 (en) 2013-10-29 2018-04-03 Whirlpool Corporation Integrated console display assembly
US9982866B2 (en) 2013-10-29 2018-05-29 Whirlpool Corporation Console assembly with integrated light reflector cups

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3137082A (en) * 1962-07-13 1964-06-16 Jr Graydon A Phlieger Character indicating display device
US3187320A (en) * 1962-06-13 1965-06-01 Burroughs Corp Segment display device
US3210876A (en) * 1964-01-10 1965-10-12 Dialight Corp Luminous devices
US3261013A (en) * 1964-02-24 1966-07-12 Bowmar Instrument Corp Miniature character display device
US3675242A (en) * 1970-02-25 1972-07-04 Amp Inc Alpha-numeric display
US3739512A (en) * 1971-11-19 1973-06-19 Oak Electro Netics Corp Reflective readout device

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3187320A (en) * 1962-06-13 1965-06-01 Burroughs Corp Segment display device
US3137082A (en) * 1962-07-13 1964-06-16 Jr Graydon A Phlieger Character indicating display device
US3210876A (en) * 1964-01-10 1965-10-12 Dialight Corp Luminous devices
US3261013A (en) * 1964-02-24 1966-07-12 Bowmar Instrument Corp Miniature character display device
US3675242A (en) * 1970-02-25 1972-07-04 Amp Inc Alpha-numeric display
US3739512A (en) * 1971-11-19 1973-06-19 Oak Electro Netics Corp Reflective readout device

Cited By (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3918052A (en) * 1974-07-26 1975-11-04 Kenneth J Bricher Shallow display and digital clock including reflecting and masking means
US4058919A (en) * 1976-10-29 1977-11-22 Yasuo Wakabayashi Segment type, electric light alpha-numeric figure indicator
US4126812A (en) * 1976-12-20 1978-11-21 Texas Instruments Incorporated Spherical light emitting diode element and character display with integral reflector
US4214391A (en) * 1977-02-18 1980-07-29 Ackeret Design & Engineering Optical numerical segment display
US4146883A (en) * 1977-09-12 1979-03-27 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Display
US4724629A (en) * 1985-04-24 1988-02-16 VCH International Limited Illuminated display board
EP0199583A1 (en) * 1985-04-24 1986-10-29 General Instrument Lamps Limited Display assembly
US20060207133A1 (en) * 2004-03-16 2006-09-21 Tamaki Tsutsumi Display unit
US7337565B2 (en) * 2004-03-16 2008-03-04 A'syck Co., Ltd. Display unit
US9220394B2 (en) 2013-08-15 2015-12-29 Whirlpool Corporation LED console assembly with light reflector
US9940857B2 (en) 2013-08-15 2018-04-10 Whirlpool Corporation LED console assembly with light reflector
US20150113841A1 (en) * 2013-10-29 2015-04-30 Whirlpool Corporation Alphanumeric display assembly
US9933131B2 (en) 2013-10-29 2018-04-03 Whirlpool Corporation Integrated console display assembly
US9982866B2 (en) 2013-10-29 2018-05-29 Whirlpool Corporation Console assembly with integrated light reflector cups

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS4870574U (da) 1973-09-05
FR2167002A5 (da) 1973-08-17
GB1363169A (en) 1974-08-14
DE2259641B2 (de) 1974-10-10
DE2259641A1 (de) 1973-06-20
CA977144A (en) 1975-11-04

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