WO1997002555A1

WO1997002555A1 - Alternating matrix display

Info

Publication number: WO1997002555A1
Application number: PCT/EP1996/002887
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gerhard-Günter Gassmann
Original assignee: Gassmann Gerhard G
Priority date: 1995-07-03
Filing date: 1996-07-02
Publication date: 1997-01-23
Also published as: AU6517096A; DE19626588A1

Abstract

The invention pertains to an alternating matrix display with n lines and m columns of rotatable pixels with at least two differently colored display surfaces that are rotated into one of their display settings by an electric setting device controlled by a data processing device. This invention is characterized in that the pixels are arrayed in lines or columns, form n continuous line chains or m continuous column chains and with their rotational axes are aligned in a linear or columnar direction; that the continuous chains are directed by two rotatively mounted cylinders, at least one of which is driven; that the setting device has one setting element per continuous chain, and that in the run of the continuous chain in the display field the pixels are directed and held in the set display position.

Description

Matrix change display

The invention relates to a matrix alternating display with n rows and m columns of rotatable pixels with at least two display surfaces of different colors, which are rotated into one of their display positions by an electrical setting device controlled by a data processing device.

In the known matrix interchangeable displays of this type, the pixels are spatially fixed but rotatable and each pixel is assigned a small electromagnet. With their different colored tops, the disc-shaped pixels form two display areas, which e.g. can be designed in white and black. The electromagnets control the pixels so that, depending on the desired display, the white or black top is rotated into the display field. The axes of rotation of the pixels are fixed to the housing and the matrix change display is a passive (not self-illuminating) display.

REPLACEMENT BLAπ (RULE 26) Such matrix displays require considerable effort, because the same number of electromagnets are required to set the nxm pixels. With a corresponding display resolution, very small electromagnets are required, which have only a very small actuating force. It then happens again and again after some time that the pixels are no longer rotated properly by overlying dust and the like, which leads to display errors. With these known matrix change displays, a quick change of the display is possible, but no moving text display is possible. But even with active matrix displays, there is no real ticker, just a kind of spring lettering, because when you run, the display jumps one pixel width at a time.

Other matrix alternating displays with rotatable pixels are already known, in which only a relatively small number of setting magnets are required. In the case of these alternating displays, the pixels are spatially fixed and for setting purposes, the back of e.g. a setting device from left to right. Such displays have many disadvantages: the moving setting device must be supplied with electricity using a trailing cable. Even more disturbing is that the pixel area cannot be supported from behind because the setting device has to get to all pixels. The pixels are therefore clamped in thin frame strips that are between the pixels in the horizontal and vertical directions. This arrangement is so unstable that considerable transport problems arise with larger areas. Only minor vibrations can be permitted with these displays.

It is an object of the invention to provide a matrix alternating display of the type mentioned at the outset which, with considerably less effort, also enables large-area displays which have large, rotating, reliable pixels

REPLACEMENT BLAπ (RULE 26) Display security is achieved and, in addition to standing single and double-sided advertisements, also allows a ticker display in an active and passive manner.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that the pixels are lined up in rows or columns, form n row endless chains or m endless column chains and are aligned with their axes of rotation in the row or column direction, that the endless chains over two rotatably mounted rollers are guided, of which at least one can be driven, that the setting device is arranged at the inlet of the endless chains from one roller to the display panel and has one setting element per endless chain and that the pixels are guided and held in the set display position when the endless chains run.

This configuration of the matrix change display has many advantages over the conventional matrix displays. In this way, the pixels can be combined into endless rows or columns, which enables the display to run horizontally or vertically. Only one setting element (an electric motor or an electromagnet) is required for each endless chain, which always has to set only one pixel. In the matrix alternating display according to the invention, the front and back are to be used as the display field, with only one setting device being necessary in the case of double-sided display. If you assign a setting device to the front and the rear display field, then two different displays can also be implemented at the same time. In the case of a two-sided display and only one setting device, one must first enter the display for the front display field and then the display for the rear display field before the movement of the drive motor for the endless chains is stopped. The display for the rear display field then runs as a scrolling text only over the front display field and when the display for the front display field runs into the rear display

SPARE BLADE (RULE 26) continue to show the field before the drive motor is stopped. If this is perceived as a disadvantage, you can use both setting devices to enter both displays at the same time. It is then only half the time to set and change the double-sided displays. If only one side of the matrix change display is used for the display, then the setting device is preferably arranged at the entry of the endless chains from the one roller to the display field.

Finally, you can enter a continuous ticker. Then you only need a setting device again. The ticker will then appear on the back display with a delay. In this way of working, much more extensive information can be transmitted in a short time than the size of the display fields.

The new matrix change display also works with very small pixels, e.g. from 5 to 8 mm diameter, reliable. It is also extremely insensitive to vibrations, since the pixels are kept non-rotatable in the set display position. The actuating forces of the actuating elements always ensure that the pixels are rotated safely, since they can be designed to be particularly complex in accordance with their small number.

Finally, an extremely small depth of the display can also be achieved when using the front and back of the matrix change display, since the setting device and the electronics can also be accommodated between the two strands of the endless chains. The frictional forces when the endless chains and rollers run are very low, so that a relatively small drive motor can be used. Friction occurs only in the display field between the bottom line endless chain and the spacer bar supporting it, which is the distance

ERSATZBLAH (RULE 26) forms between the rear wall of the display panel and the glass pane. The endless chains above with their pixels stand practically smoothly on the endless chains with their pixels arranged below them.

The rotatable mounting of the pixels in the endless chains is achieved according to one embodiment in that the pixels are threaded freely rotatable on a thin wire or nylon thread, or in that the pixels are provided with molded-on position elements and are rotatably attached to one another directly or via separate bearing parts.

In order to determine the position of the pixels in the direction of the endless chains with the smallest possible adjustment play, it is provided that the wire or the nylon thread of an endless chain carries a spacer element immovably and non-rotatably after a predetermined number of pixels.

In the simplest way, the pixels are designed as a disk with two display areas.

According to one embodiment, the deflection over the rollers and the guidance over the display field of the endless chains is achieved in that the disks in the area of the rollers are guided in recesses of chain wheels perpendicular to the display positions and that the setting elements in the disks in accordance with the desired display position turn one or the other direction of rotation by 90 °.

The division of the pixels to a desired display is achieved in that the colors of the display areas of the immediately in front of the setting elements

REPLACEMENT BLAπ (RULE 26) Pixels are determined by means of reflection light barriers per endless chain and are fed as signals to the data processing device and that the data processing device, depending on this and the desired display positions of the pixels, links these signals with the Boolean link XOR when the assigned setting elements are reached and controls the setting elements in order to achieve the desired display positions to obtain.

The timely control of the pixels via the setting device is carried out optimally in that a line grid is attached in the area of a roller, which is scanned by at least one light barrier, and that the light barrier pulses produced when the roller is rotated are fed to the data processing device in order to obtain the optimal timing Trigger control pulses for the Setz¬ elements.

The pixels brought into the display positions and the pixels arriving from the display field and entering the rollers are safely rotated if it is provided that the pixels are inclined in the area of the entry and exit of the endless chains on the rollers, with the exception of the positions with the setting elements Guide plates are arranged which turn the pixels into a display position.

For the control of the setting device, it is provided that n or m reflection light barriers scan the n or m pixels of one of the first m matrix columns or n matrix rows of the display field for the setting elements from behind and this n-bit data word or m-bit data word is scanned from behind Feed data processing device and that the data processing device delays this data word and each subsequent data word by x pixel periods and the delayed data words with the new data word belonging to the new display with the Boolean linkage XOR and the resulting data word feeds the setting elements, where x is the number of pixels - from the location of the scan to the setting elements in the direction of travel of the endios chains - and that the new data words belonging to the new display are changed in the data processing device y pixel periods are delayed and the delayed data words are compared with the data word which is supplied by the reflection light barriers, and that if there is a mismatch, an automatic re-entry of the desired display is triggered, where y is the number of pixels - from the location of the setting elements to the location of the scanning in Direction of the endless chains - is.

The setting device can have setting elements which are designed as electromagnets which rotate the pixels with a hinged armature. The setting elements can also be designed as electric motors with a downstream reduction gear, which rotate the pixels with a setting lever on the transmission output shaft.

The set pixels are easily guided and held in the display field between a rear wall and a glass pane arranged in front of it.

The non-rotatable guidance of the pixels over the display panel can also be ensured in that in the area of the display panel behind the endless chains with their pixels a rear wall with T-shaped guides is arranged, in which the pixels are guided over the display panel in their set display position. The glass pane can then be omitted.

The operating functions of the display alternating display can be expanded by the fact that the front and rear run of the endless chains with the pixels as display fields are used, with each run being assigned a setting device with setting elements, and that both setting devices can be controlled by a common or two separate data processing devices.

A simple double-sided display is achieved with the matrix alternating display in that a setting device is assigned to the front run of the endless chains in the area of the one roller and that guide plates are assigned to the other roller at the inlet and outlet per endless chain, which pixels in opposite directions Turn directions of rotation by 90 °.

A multiple selection of display positions of the pixels is obtained by designing the pixels as cubes with at least four display areas.

If it is provided according to one embodiment that the disk-shaped pixels in the display position are set perpendicular to the display panel and in the non-display position parallel to the display panel, and that the display panel is illuminated from behind to form an active display, this can be done only with a different type of guidance the pixel and its twist.

The invention is explained in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings. Show it:

1 is a partial horizontal section in the area of an endless chain,

1 a and 1 b schematically the rotation of a pixel by a setting lever,

REPLACEMENT BLÄRT (RULE 26) 2 the endless chain shown in FIG. 1 in the area of the other roller,

2a, the guide plates at the inlet and outlet of the roller of FIG. 2,

2b is a view of the roller of FIG. 2,

3 the upper guide plate on the upper limiting plate,

4 is a view of a display set in a display field with seven line endless chains,

5 is a disc with a grid pattern,

6 an endless chain with disk-shaped pixels,

6a shows another type of sequence of pixels,

7 the guidance of the set pixels over the display field in a passive display,

8 the guidance of the set pixels over the display field in an active display,

9 schematically shows a matrix change display with cubes as pixels,

REPLACEMENT BLAπ (RULE 26) 10, 10a and 10b

Rotary tubes for twisting and guiding the cube-shaped pixels,

11 schematically shows the mode of operation of a setting device for the cube-shaped pixels,

12 shows a section of a chain feedback on the back of the matrix change display,

13 shows the phases of the rotational movement of the cube,

14 the setting device in plan view and two side views,

15 the setting device with offset leg,

16 shows a partial section of an endless chain with sleeves as spacer elements,

17 a pixel with pin-like coupling elements,

18 shows a pixel with groove-like coupling elements and

19 shows a section of a display field with vertically coupled endless chains.

1 and 2 show in one plane, for example, a line endless chain ZK according to FIG. 6, the driven roller Wa in FIG. 1 and the freely rotatable roller Wf in FIG. 2 is shown. The disk-shaped pixels 1 are directly strung together on a thin wire or a nylon thread F and can be freely rotated and have two display areas, which can be black and white, for example. The pixels 1 have a transverse bore through which the wire or the nylon thread F is guided.

The rollers Wa and Wf are composed of sprockets 2 and limiting discs 3 and 3a, each sprocket 2 being provided with depressions V which receive the disc-shaped pixels 1 in a position perpendicular to the display field and guide them when the endless chains are deflected. In Fig. 1 and 2, the upper limit plates 39 are omitted in order to show the chain wheels 2.

In Fig. 2b both limit plates 3 and 3a are shown. The setting device is arranged in the outlet area of the roller Wa and has a setting element per endless chain ZK, which can be designed as an electromagnet or electric motor and controls a setting lever 4 or the like. As shown in FIGS. 1 a and 1 b, this setting lever 4 can assume two positions parallel to the display field. If its peak is higher than the pixel 1 lying flat on the boundary disk 3, then it turns the incoming pixel 1 clockwise when the endless chain ZK moves in the direction of the arrow. If, on the other hand, the tip of the setting lever 4 is lower than the approaching pixel 1, then this rotates the pixel 1 counterclockwise. The position of the tip of the setting lever 4 therefore decides which position the pixel 1 is visible in the display field. The setting lever 4 is brought into the desired position by the axis of rotation 5, which is rotatably supported in the bearings 5a and 5b.

The two positions of the setting lever 4 are shown from the side in FIGS. 1 a and 1 b, the tip of the setting lever 4 pointing towards the incoming pixel 1. The nylon thread F and the already twisted pixels 1 are indicated in FIG. 1. In Fig. 1 b, the nylon thread and the set pixels 1 are omitted in order to better recognize the setting lever 4.

In Fig. 1 on the right, 7 denotes a black rear wall of the front display panel and 8 a glass pane covering the display panel. The front run of the endless chains ZK is guided between the rear wall 7 and the glass pane 8, the pixels 1 being held in the set display position. The pixels 1 are parallel to the display field. With 71 and 81 corresponding parts of the rear display panel are designated. In the double-sided matrix change display, the arrangement shown in Fig. 2 is constructed in exactly the same way as in Fig. 1, i.e. a setting device etc. is also required there.

A lower and an upper chamfered guide plate 9 and 10 are attached to the bearing 5a. The pixel 1 of the lower run of the endless chain ZK arriving with the front or rear display surface is rotated through 90 ° by the guide plates 9 and 10 and fed to the chain wheel 2 which is arranged between the boundary plates 3 and 3a. The sprocket 2 receives the rotated pixel 1 in a depression V and leads it back to the display field on the front side of the roller Wa.

If the alternating matrix display is only used on one side as a display field, the pixels 1 on the back can also be guided in a position perpendicular to the display field. A continuous guide plate is then required for each line. Turning through 90 ° at the beginning and end of the rear run of the endless chain ZK is then omitted. However, as shown in FIG. 1, it is easier to also guide the pixels 1 on the back of the matrix alternating display parallel to the display field between a rear wall 71 and a glass plate 81. In FIG. 1, 13 shows a reflection light barrier which scans the pixel 1 arriving immediately in front of the setting lever 4 and evaluates its upward-facing display surface according to the color, ie the display position. A corresponding signal (black or white) is forwarded to the data processing device (not shown), as will be shown.

In Fig. 2, 7 and 71 are again the front and rear rear walls and 8 and 81 the associated glass panes. The roller Wf does not need to be driven, since it is automatically rotated via the endless chains ZK. The chain wheels 2 are again provided with depressions V for the pixels 1 and arranged between the limiting discs 3 and 3a, as can be seen in FIG. 2b. At the inlet and outlet of the roller Wf guide plates 9 and 10 or 11 and 12 are arranged, which are beveled accordingly for rotating the pixels 1 by 90 °. The guide plates 9 and 10 lie above and below the endless chain ZK and rotate the pixels 1 that have left the display field into the position in which they run onto the boundary plate 3 and enter the recesses V of the chain wheel 2. The guide plates 11 and 12 run parallel to the rear display field and, as shown in FIG. 2a, extend over all lines of the matrix change display. The slopes 1 1 a and 12 a are assigned to the lowest line endless chain ZK. In the guide plates 1 1 and 12, which are folded away at the side, you can also see bevels for the overlying row endless chains ZK. If one wants to ensure that the pixels 1 leaving the front display field reproduce the display on the rear display field unchanged, then the guide plates 9 and 10 are used to rotate the pixels 1 by 90 ° in the opposite direction of rotation as with the guide plates 11 and 12 Then no second setting device is required on the back. If the upper limiting plate 3a is smaller, the lower guide plate 9 can be omitted because the limiting plate 3 then takes over its function. However, you have to bring the upper guide plate 10 closer to the sprocket 2, as shown in Fig. 3. 3, the upper limiting plate 3a is shown. The upper guide plate 10 is brought so close to the sprocket 2 that it rotates the incoming pixel 1 together with the boundary plate 3, because at this point the boundary plate 3 also has a corresponding incline and takes over the function of the guide plate 9.

4 schematically shows a matrix change display with 7 row endless chains ZK, which are deflected via the two rollers Wa and Wf and guided on a roller sprocket 2 on each roller Wa and Wf between a lower and an upper limiting plate 3 and 3a are. The housing of the matrix change display is not shown. The display field comprises only a few pixel columns. The word "EIS" is used, with the letters extending across all lines and several columns. The display field can of course be much larger and e.g. 120 to 140 pixel columns and also include more than 7 pixel rows.

Since the frictional forces during transport of the endless chains ZK are very low, even larger display fields can be realized if the coefficient of expansion of the warp threads matches the coefficient of expansion of the housing. It is advisable to use thin steel wires or nylon threads as chain threads if the housing of the matrix change indicator is made of sheet metal. To compensate for expansions, one of the rollers can also be arranged displaceably in the housing and tensioned with springs so that the endless chains always have the necessary tension.

As shown in FIG. 6a, the pixels 1 can be lined up directly freely rotatably via bearing elements 62. Bearing elements 62 separate from the pixels 1 can be used. The bearing elements in the form of plug-in receptacles and plug pins can, however, also be integrally formed on the pixels 1.

The following is to be carried out for electronic control: Since the pixels 1 arriving in front of the setting levers 4 in the direction of movement can be black or white upwards depending on the previous display, the data processing device must be informed of the color of the pixel 1 to be set next so that it can adjust the setting lever 4 up or down according to the new display. For this purpose, the upper side of the incoming pixels 1 is scanned by means of seven miniature reflection light barriers 13 and the color is supplied to the data processing device as a corresponding signal. The data processing device links the scanned data word to the Boolean link XOR and forwards the resulting data word to the setting elements of the setting device.

The use of these reflection light barriers 1 3 has the disadvantage that they are in the way if you want to remove the rollers Wa and Wf with the endless chains ZK upwards. In order to avoid pulling the reflection light barriers 1 3 to the side, it is proposed that the pixels 1 be scanned for their color only after passing the setting device at the beginning of the display field. In Fig. 1, these reflection light barriers are designated 1 3a. You feel the back of the Pixel 1 off. For this purpose, the rear wall 7 has corresponding openings. The software must then take into account that the data word thus obtained is inverse to the actual color values. In addition, the data word thus obtained has to be delayed by x setting periods. X is the number of pixels 1 from the location of the scan (13a) around both rollers Wa and Wf to the setting device. This has the disadvantage, however, that when the electronics are switched on again, a full pixel cycle must take place before the desired display can be entered. This type of scanning and control has the great advantage that, by comparing the controls between the input of the setting device and the scanning thus carried out, one has total certainty that the display is correct. The disadvantage does not arise if the electronics are always, ie non-stop, under power, such as with battery-operated destination displays of buses.

For this control comparison, the data word entered by the setting device must be delayed in the software by y setting periods, where y is the number of pixels 1 between the setting device and the scanning device.

If there is a mismatch, a new cycle with a new entry can be triggered automatically. This type of self-control is even necessary if e.g. Results from calibrated measuring devices, e.g. of large scales.

In addition, it is necessary for the data processing device to be informed when the setting lever 4 has to be changed in order to set the next pixel 1. This position feedback is most easily carried out in that a line grid is attached under the lowermost limiting disk 3, which is scanned by at least one light barrier. It is better to have the dash grid like this to train that the white and the black fields are the same size and that two light barriers are used for scanning, which are offset from one another in such a way that the square-wave voltages they emit are offset from one another by 90 °. This method, which is known per se, makes it possible to use a forward / backward identifier in the software, for example to avoid double reporting of one and the same impulse with total certainty in the event of very short backward movements as a result of vibrations.

Fig. 5 shows such a line grid under the lowest boundary disk 3. If the matrix change display is very long and thus the endless chains ZK are very long, the wire or nylon thread F, on which pixel 1 is drawn, is very stretchy, which can be a disadvantage. The thicker wire has the other disadvantage that it can only be reluctantly bent in the roll area. It is therefore proposed in a development of the invention that the pixels 1 are hollow and are connected to pins 62 which are thickened on both ends, as shown in FIG. 6a. Such a connection technique is known per se from so-called ball chains, such as those used in the sanitary area for fastening wash basin closures.

If reflections from the glass panes 8 and 81 interfere, they can be omitted, the black rear walls 7 and 71 are then curved. It is safe if the rear walls 7 and 71 are provided with T-profiles 74 to guide the pixels 1 of the endless chains ZK, as shown in FIG. 7. The pixels 1 are then guided and held between adjacent T-profiles 75.

8 shows, using the example of an active display, how the pixels 1 are guided in the display field. Pixel 1 a is parallel to the display field and pixel 1 b is perpendicular to Display field led. The pixel 1 a is guided and held by adjacent T-profiles 75, while the pixel 1 b is guided and held between the sheets 71 and 72. 70 is a milky plexiglass pane, which is illuminated from behind with strong lamps. The pixels 1 b let the light through largely, while the pixels 1 a cover the light. The sheets 71 and 72 and the T-profiles 75 can be held and glued in grooves in the plexiglass disk 70. The sheets 71 and 72 are bent up and down on the inlet side of the endless chains ZK in order to securely accommodate the incoming pixel 1 b. Likewise, the vertical transverse webs of the T-profiles 75 can be bent forward on the inlet side in order to securely insert the pixels 1a.

If you do not use disc-shaped pixels 1 (with two colors) but cubes in order to be able to display four colors, you have to apply a different principle for the setting device and for the color feedback.

Displays with cubes instead of disk-shaped pixels 1 are known. Like the two-color flip-dot displays, they work with spatially fixed but rotatable cubes. A very disturbing disadvantage of these known cube displays is that the cubes have an unusually large space, because when the cubes are rotated, this space is required due to the 1,414 larger diagonal. This is a significant design disadvantage and significantly reduces the color contrast.

The cube display according to the invention does not need these large gaps and has many additional advantages: it can be scrolled, has a very high display reliability and relatively low manufacturing costs compared to other cube displays. However, it is not without additional effort for double-sided displays suitable. The back is needed for the more complex setting device.

In order to have sufficient space when the cube is rotated by the setting device, according to the invention, every second cube chain is guided onto a second, parallel return path on the back of the display. That is, e.g. the endless chains ZK1 of the odd pixel lines are shorter than the endless chains ZK2 of the respective pixel lines. This is shown schematically in FIG. 9. The cubes themselves are not shown in this figure, but only the steel fine ropes on which the cubes are mounted. The odd endless chains ZK1 are only wrapped around the large rollers 101 and 102, the even ones additionally around the smaller rollers 103 and 104. The setting devices of the pixel lines are thus spaced two cubes apart. So there are no space problems up and down when turning the cube. A triple setting device must be used with this cube display, because there are the following setting commands corresponding to the four sides or four colors:

a) do not turn b) turn 90 ° once c) turn 90 ° twice d) turn 90 ° three times (or turn the other way around).

As with the disk-shaped pixels 1, the cubes must be scanned either directly in front of the setting device or afterwards according to their color. In the case of cubes with four colors, three reflection light barriers can be used for color detection. The first one has a green filter, the second one has a yellow filter and the third one has no filter. If the color of the cube surface is red, the signal from the light barrier behind the green filter is H (corresponds to dark), the signal from the light barrier without filter but L (corresponds to light).

If the color of the cube surface is blue, the signal from the light barrier behind the yellow filter is H (corresponds to dark), the signal from the light barrier without filter but L (corresponds to light).

If the color of the cube surface is white, the signals of all light barriers are L (corresponds to bright).

If the color of the cube surface is black, the signals of all light barriers are H (corresponds to dark).

From the three light barrier signals, the data processing device can determine the current color from the four colors.

It is assumed that the cubes are turned clockwise.

It is further assumed that the colors white, black, red and blue lie in the display direction in succession during this rotation.

The program of the data processing device must now decide how many 90 ° rotations (0 to 3) have to be made with this cube. There are 4 x 4 = 16 options: current target color for the number of rotations measured color: display:

white white 0 black black 0 red red 0 blue blue 0

white black 1 black red 1 red blue 1 blue white 1

white red 2 black blue 2 red white 2 blue black 2

white blue 3 black white 3 red black 3 blue red 3 According to the number of required rotations, the program assigns one of the numbers 0 to 3 to each cube traveling to the setting device.

If a die comes with number 0, none of the three setting devices will turn it. If a cube with the number 3 comes, it turns all three setting devices (270 °).

It should now be noted that the three setting devices are each several cubes apart in the direction of movement of the endless chains. The program must therefore send the commands to the two subsequent setting devices, e.g. Feed 3 or 6 dice periods with a delay. The data processing device receives the periodic clock from two light barriers under one of the larger rollers, which scan a line grid there at the grid spacing of the cubes.

As already said, 90 ° turns are required. The very simple setting devices described below with a very small horizontal movement stroke (approx. 1/3 cube edge dimension) can only rotate approx. 20 ° to 30 °. The rest of the turning takes place in three immovable, fixed "rotating tubes". These rotary tubes are square hollow bodies made of sheet metal or plastic that have to pass through the cubes. They are arranged in such a way that the dice can continue straight ahead without rotation from 20 ° to 30 ° without starting. The rotary tubes also have tips at the entrance opening, which turn the approaching cube by a total of 90 ° if it arrives at the start of the rotary tube with a 20 ° to 30 ° rotation.

10 shows such a rotary tube 105 in the top left (top view (view into the tube)). 10a shows a rotary tube 105 in

REPLACEMENT BLAπ (RULE 26) perspective view. When the cube rotated by 20 ° comes to the entrance opening, it is rotated further by the tips so that it fits into the tube and can be driven into it. In order to avoid a reaction of forces on the setting device, it is recommended to extend the tips in parallel, as shown by 107b.

The rotating tubes 105 are practically three-dimensional developments of the rotating plates, as were already used in FIG. 2 for rotating the pixels 1.

Fig. 1 1 shows the operation of one of the three setting devices 108. They consist of two right-angled legs and a third, angled leg with an inclination of approximately 20 ° to 25 ° relative to the vertical.

When the setting device 108 has its right position, the vertical leg lies against the cube 109 and thus guides the cube in its vertical position (that is to say unrotated) into the subsequent rotary tube 105, which also does not rotate the cube. However, if the setting device is shifted horizontally to the left by 1/3 cube edge dimension with a magnet, the cube 109 is rotated by the angle of the inclination of the third leg. It then lies against this leg and is fed to the following rotary tube 105 in this position. The cubes of the even or odd endless chains are spaced apart from one another by a cube width, so that the cube 109 to be rotated and also the rotating tubes 105 and the setting devices 108 of the endless chain shown, but also those of the endless chains above and below, have sufficient space to have. In Fig. 1 1 on the right, the rotary tube 105 behind it is drawn in dashed lines. The points that are not visible in this view now turn the cube by a further 90 ° when driving on. 13 to 15, further details of the setting device are explained. Fig. 12 shows a section of one of the two chain returns running on the back.

The approaching cubes 109 are shown with their numbers assigned by the program (of course not non-representable), then the first setting device 108 follows in the direction of travel (arrow) from right to left, the first rotating tube 105, then the second setting device with its rotating tube and finally the third setting device with its rotary tube. But even before the first setting device, all cube chains run in guide tubes. In FIG. 12, however, the guide tube 110 of the endless chain shown is not shown in order to be able to show the approaching cubes 109.

FIG. 13 shows this guide tube 110, the setting device 108 and the first rotary tube 105 with extended rotating tips 105a when viewed from above. In this figure, the guide tube 110 and the rotary tube 105 are drawn open at the top in order to be able to show the position of the cubes 109 in different phases of their movement. The setting device is open at the top anyway. At the very top of the figure, three cubes 109 moving from right to left are shown. This image is labeled Ph1 (Phase 1). The setting device is in the position as in FIG. 11 on the right, that is to say still in the “do not turn” position. In phase 2, the first cube 109 has already moved into the area of the setting device. The vertical leg of the setting device continues the cube 109 in its vertical position, as already explained with reference to FIG. 11. In phase 3, the front of the cube 109 is already in the second half of the setting device. Now the setting device (in the picture below) is moved to turn the cube 109. This is phase 3a. If the cube 109 now moves to the left (phase 4), it already protrudes into the area of the elongated tips 105a of the rotary tube 105 Phase is the subsequent second cube 109 already in the front area of the setting device. However, since it is also in the region of the guide tube 1 10, it is still held in its vertical position by this. Before the second cube 109 leaves the guide tube 110, the setting device returns to its original position, so that the vertical leg of the setting device now holds the second cube 109 in the vertical position. In phase 5, the first cube 109 is already so far in the area of the rotary tube 105 that it continues to rotate for it, but it is no longer possible to have an effect on the setting device because this cube 109 is still in the rear part of the setting device , but already outside the area of the vertical leg of the setting device. After phase 5 comes the already described phase 3 and so on.

So much for the explanation of the timing of the rotation of the cubes 109 by the setting device. If the cube 109 is not to be rotated, the setting device remains in the former position. The cube 109 is then guided from the vertical leg of the setting device into the rotary tube 105 without being rotated.

Fig. 14 now shows the setting device of Fig. 1 1 to 13 in plan view and in both side views. The vertical leg is denoted by a and the inclined leg by b. The base area here has a cut-out area in addition to the leg a. However, this was only shown in such a way that one can see in FIGS. 1 1 to 13 that leg a, like leg b, only occupies part of the setting device. In practice, the floor space is continuous. Then you can no longer see leg a from above. In Fig. 1 5 it is therefore shown somewhat offset. In Fig. 1 5 you can see how this base can be moved to the left by the plunger of a pull magnet 1 15 when the magnet is excited to rotate a cube 109. The setting device with electromagnets are attached to a base plate, not shown, which is arranged below the guide tube 110 and the rotary tube 105. These guide tubes 110 and rotary tubes 105 are also fastened to this base plate with spacers. The base plate guides the setting device in such a way that it can only make the described back and forth movement but no movement upwards or in the direction of travel of the endless chains.

So much for the changes in the color scanning and the setting device, if instead of flat pixels 1 cube 109 are used as pixels. The chain wheels 2 in the rollers 101, 102, 103 and 104 must of course also be adapted to the cubes 109. Then serve as sprockets 2 e.g. Wheels with spacers instead of teeth that slide between the cubes 109 when rotating.

You can thread the cubes 109 onto thin steel cables to form endless chains ZK1 or ZK2. However, here, as already suggested for the flat pixels 1, ball chain connection technology can be provided, wire pieces with their thickened ends in the e.g. protrude hollow cubes 109 and thus connect them. Of course, the cubes 109 must be spaced from each other in the chain direction so that the endless chains can be guided around the rollers 101, 102, 103 and 104.

If the effort cannot be accepted with the two returns that are offset in depth because, for example, this makes the display too thick, the type of color detection described and the type of setting device according to the invention can of course also be used on a single return. if the distance between the endios chain ZK1 and ZK2 is increased accordingly. One then has the disadvantage described above that the line spacing is unusually large, as is known from conventional throwing egg displays. If the setting device is constructed with folding armature magnets 6, as shown in FIG. 1, bumpers 6a are provided. Precise positioning of the electromagnets is therefore necessary, which is associated with correspondingly high labor costs for setting up the setting device. A much simpler setting device is obtained if the smallest electric motors with a reduction gear (ratio 1: 1 6, for example) are used. These small geared motors are significantly more expensive than hinged armature magnets, but do not require any adjustment work. When used, the setting tip sits directly on the gear output shaft of the miniature gear motor. Such a miniature gear motor with the reduction gear has, for example, a diameter of 8 mm and can be used without problems for matrix change displays with 8.1 mm pixels. With the reduction of 1: 1 6, the force of the setting tip is increased by a factor of 1 6. Tests have shown that this reduces the current consumption of the setting device in a ratio of 10: 1, which is a not insignificant advantage. Since the setting tip of the setting lever is only rotated by approx. ± 1 5 °, ie by a total of 30 °, there must be a stop on the back of the setting lever that limits the rotary movement to ± 1 5 °. Since the moment of inertia of such small gear motors is very small, this stop can be provided without damaging the reduction gear or the electric motor. With the limited rotary movement of the setting lever and the selected reduction ratio of 1 6: 1, the electric motor only makes 1 1/3 rotation and therefore has a very long service life.

Since the miniature geared motor can apply force in both directions of rotation, electrical reset is possible, whereas in the case of hinged armature magnets return springs are required which result in stronger electromagnets.

A further, very decisive advantage when using miniature geared motors is that they are space-saving, so that on them Side of the matrix change display, the drive motor for the roller can also be arranged. The second roller can therefore be designed as a pure cylinder roller without gears if the pixels have to be rotated by 90 ° and turned back again. The pixels run in a vertical position from the front around the roller to the back.

In order also to change matrix displays with e.g. Ensuring more than 100 pixel columns on the display surface an exact vertical alignment of pixel 1, it is no longer sufficient to produce them with very small tolerances. Additional measures must be taken to force the vertical assignment of the pixels from endless chain to endless chain.

According to one embodiment, this can take place in that at certain intervals, e.g. after 10 pixels of the endless chain ZK, a sleeve 201 is firmly connected to the thread F of the endless chain ZK. The sleeve 201 can have a larger diameter than the receptacle in the pixel 1 for the thread F, so that the threaded pixels 1 can no longer be moved, as shown in FIG. 16. Pixels 1a are rotatably mounted on the sleeves 201, which have a correspondingly larger receptacle for the sleeve 201, as shown in FIG. 16.

The vertical correspondence of the pixels 1 from line endless chain ZK to line endless chain ZK can also be achieved in another way. The pixels 1 can be coupled with each other by "tongue and groove" if they are aligned parallel to the display surface, i.e. to take an advertisement. The even numbered line endless chains ZK are provided with pixels 1 b, which carry pin-like coupling elements 301, and the odd numbered line endless chains ZK carry pixel 1 c with groove-like coupling elements 302, into which the pin-like coupling elements 302 are inserted

REPLACEMENT BLAπ (RULE 26) Coupling elements 301 of pixels 1 b can be introduced, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18. 19 shows a section of a display field and reveals the vertical orientation of the pixels brought into the display positions, the line endless chains ZK alternately carrying pixels 1b and 1c.

REPLACEMENT BLAπ (RULE 26)

Claims

Expectations

Electromechanical matrix alternating display with n rows and m columns of rotatable pixels with at least two differently colored display areas, which are rotated by an electrical setting device controlled by a data processing device into one of their display positions, characterized in that the pixels (1) are lined up in rows or columns are, n row endless chains (ZK) or m endless column chains form and are aligned with their axes of rotation in the row or column direction, that the endless chains (ZK) are guided over two rotatably mounted rollers (Wa, Wf), of which at least One can be driven that the setting device per endless chain (ZK) has a setting element (electromagnet or electric motor) and that when the endless chains (ZK) run in the display field the pixels (1) are kept in the set display position.

Alternating matrix display according to claim 1, characterized in that the pixels (1) are threaded onto a thin wire or a nylon thread (F) so that they can rotate freely.

ERSÄTZBLAπ (RULE 26) 3. Matrix change display according to claim 1, characterized in that the pixels (1) are provided with molded-on position elements and are lined up directly or via separate bearing parts (pins 62).

4. matrix change display according to claim 2, characterized in that the wire or the nylon thread (F) of an endless chain (ZK) each after a predetermined number of pixels (1) carries a spacer element (sleeve 201) immovable and non-rotatable.

5. matrix change display according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the pixels (1) are designed as a disc with two display surfaces.

6. Matrix change display according to claim 5, characterized in that the disks in the area of the rollers (Wa, Wf) in recesses (V) of sprockets (2) are guided perpendicular to the display positions and that the setting elements, the disks according to the desired display ¬ Turn the position in one or the other direction of rotation by 90 °.

7. Matrix alternating display according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the colors of the display surfaces of the pixels arriving immediately in front of the setting elements (1) are determined by means of reflection light barriers (1 3, 13a) per endless chain (ZK) and as signals from the data processing device are fed and that the data processing device, depending on this and the desired display positions of the pixels (1) when the assigned setting elements are reached, links these signals with the Boolean link XOR and controls the setting elements in order to obtain the desired display positions.

8. Matrix exchange system according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that in the area of a roller (Wa) a line grid is attached, which is scanned by at least one light barrier, and that the light barrier pulses arising when the roller (Wa) rotates Data processing device are supplied to trigger the control pulses for the setting elements at the optimal time.

9. Matrix change display according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the pixels (1) in the area of the inlet and outlet of the endless chains (ZK) on the rollers (Wa, Wf) with the exception of the positions with the setting elements oblique guide plates (9, 10, 1 1, 12) are arranged, which rotate the pixels (1) into a display position.

10. matrix change display according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that n or m reflection light barriers the n or m pixels (1) one of the first m matrix columns or n matrix rows of the display field after the setting elements from behind and scan this n-bit - Feed data word or m-bit data word to the data processing device and

REPLACEMENT BLAπ (RULE 26) that the data processing device delays this data word and each subsequent data word by x pixel periods and links the delayed data words with the new data word belonging to the new display with the Boolean link XOR and supplies the resulting data word to the setting elements, where x is the number of pixels (1) - from the location of the scan to the setting elements in the running direction of the endless chains (ZK) - is.

1 1. Alternating matrix display according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that in the data processing device the new data words belonging to the new display are delayed by y pixel periods and the delayed data words are compared with the data word which is supplied by the reflection light barriers, and that in the event of a mismatch, an automatic re-entry of the desired display is triggered, where y is the number of pixels (1) - from the location of the setting elements to the location of the scanning in the running direction of the endless chains.

12. Matrix change display according to one of claims 1 to 1 1, characterized in that the setting elements are designed as electromagnets which rotate the pixels (1) with a hinged anchor.

13. Matrix change display according to one of claims 1 to 1 1, characterized in that the setting elements as electric motors with a subordinate sub-

REPLACEMENT BLAπ (RULE 26) Settlement gears are formed which rotate the pixels (1) on the transmission output shaft with a setting lever (4).

14. Matrix change display according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that a rear wall (7, 71) with T-shaped guides (75) is arranged in the area of the display panel behind the endless chains (ZK) with their pixels (1) in which the pixels (1) are guided over the display field in their set display position.

15. Matrix change display according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that in the area of the display panel in front of the endless chains (ZK) with its pixels (1) a glass pane (8, 81) is arranged at a short distance.

16. Matrix change display according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the front and rear run of the endless chains (ZK) with the pixels (1) are used as display fields, each run being assigned a setting device with setting elements, and that Both setting devices can be controlled by a common or two separate data processing devices.

17. Matrix change display according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the front run of the endless chains (ZK) in the region of a roller (Wa) is assigned a setting device, and that the other roller (Wf) at the inlet and outlet per endless chain (ZK) are assigned guide plates (9, 10 or 11, 12) which rotate the pixels (1) in opposite directions of rotation by 90 °.

18. Matrix change display according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the pixels (1) are designed as cubes (109) with at least four display surfaces.

19. Matrix change display according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the disc-shaped pixels (1) in the display position perpendicular to the

Display panel and in the non-display position are set parallel to the display panel, and that the display panel is illuminated from behind to form an active display.

REPLACEMENT BLAπ (RULE 26)