CA1212188A - Display element and display panel using the same - Google Patents
Display element and display panel using the sameInfo
- Publication number
- CA1212188A CA1212188A CA000417181A CA417181A CA1212188A CA 1212188 A CA1212188 A CA 1212188A CA 000417181 A CA000417181 A CA 000417181A CA 417181 A CA417181 A CA 417181A CA 1212188 A CA1212188 A CA 1212188A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- display
- block member
- axis
- edges
- erasing
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
- G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
- G09F9/00—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements
- G09F9/30—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements
- G09F9/37—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements being movable elements
- G09F9/375—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements being movable elements the position of the elements being controlled by the application of a magnetic field
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A display element is formed by a four-sided right prismatic block member which is rotatable about the axis of its own, has embedded therein first and second magnetic pieces to extend along edges lying on the same diagonal line and has two display surfaces formed by two adjacent ones of four outer peripheral surfaces of the block member.
A display panel comprises a display surface structure, a display switching unit and a drive unit. The display sur-faces structure has such display elements sequentially dis-posed on each line of arrangement at predetermined intervals.
The display switching unit has an erasing magnetic head and a writing magnetic head common to the display elements dis-posed on each line of arrangement. The drive unit has means for moving the display elements and the erasing and writing magnetic heads relative to each other, and means for energiz-ing the writing magnetic head in synchronism with the relative movement of them.
A display element is formed by a four-sided right prismatic block member which is rotatable about the axis of its own, has embedded therein first and second magnetic pieces to extend along edges lying on the same diagonal line and has two display surfaces formed by two adjacent ones of four outer peripheral surfaces of the block member.
A display panel comprises a display surface structure, a display switching unit and a drive unit. The display sur-faces structure has such display elements sequentially dis-posed on each line of arrangement at predetermined intervals.
The display switching unit has an erasing magnetic head and a writing magnetic head common to the display elements dis-posed on each line of arrangement. The drive unit has means for moving the display elements and the erasing and writing magnetic heads relative to each other, and means for energiz-ing the writing magnetic head in synchronism with the relative movement of them.
Description
~Z121~8 Field of the Invention _ .
The present invention relates to a display element which has two display surfaces, for example, of different colors, and magnetic pieces and is rotatable about the axis of its own, and a display panel which has a display surface struck lure having a number of such display elements arranged to provide a display of a letter, graph, pattern or the like in a predetermined plane.
Description of the Prior Art .
Heretofore, there has been proposed a display panel of the type producing a display of a desired letter, graph, pattern or the like in two colors by a display surface structure having arranged thereon a number of magnetically rotatable display elements, each having two display surfaces of different colors.
The display element for use in such a display panel is formed by a plate-like member the front and the back side of which form display surfaces of different colors and has a magnetic piece disposed at one of two edges defined by the ; two display surfaces. For selectively turning such a disk play element, the display panel has a display switching unit provided with a magnetic head formed my an electromagnet which acts on the magnetic piece of the display element while moving relative thereto.
~Z1~8 1 With the conventional display panel using such display element, however/ a display is erased as one magnetic head is moved in one direction (upwardly, or instance,) relative to the display element and then a display is written as the magnetic head is moved in the opposite direction (downwardly, for example). Therefore, the display erasing and writing operation is time-consuming.
Moreover, in the case where the display panel is arranged so that the display element is supported in a manner to be lo rotatable about a shaft extending in a horizontal direction, and that a magnetic head erases a display and writes a new display while moving up and down relative to the display eye-mint, even if the display element is plate-shaped, a shaft receiving hole is bored through the display element to extend along toe display surfaces. A small-diametered shaft is loosely inserted into the shalt receiving hole and the display element is suspended from the shaft by the weight of its own. Accordingly, the display element is stably supported so that one of its two display surfaces may lie in a pxede-termined plane.
hen it is desired that the display panel is arrangedSQ that display element is supported rotatable about a shaft extending in a vertical direction and the magnetic head erases a display and writes a new display while moving horn-zontally relative to the display element, it is difficult to l support the display element so that one of its two display surfaces may lie in the predetermined plane.
Besides, when the display element is the plate-shaped member the front and the back side of which form display surfaces, the display element is turned over an angular range of 180 degrees. Therefore, the shaft receiving hole of the display element and the shaft loosely inserted whereinto become worn after long use, resulting in malfunction of the display panel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
1 o It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel display element and a display panel which are simple in construction but effectively overcome the above said defects of the prior art.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying draw-ins.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figs. l, and 3 are respectively a front view, a sea-tonal view taken on the line II-II in Fig. l and a bottom view, illustrating the construction of an example of the display element of the present invention;
Figs 4 and 5 are a front view and a cross sectional view, schematically illustrating the arrangement of an example ~Z~2~
l of the display panel of the present invention;
Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are respectively a front view, a sea-tonal view Tyson on the line VII-VII in Fig. 6 and a sectional view taken on the line VIII-VIII in Fig. 6, illicit-rating a portion of a display surface structure for use in the display panel of the present invention;
Figs 9, 10 and 11 are respectively a cross-sectional view, a sectional view taken on the line I in Fig. 9 and a sectional view taken on the line XI-XI in Fig. 9, illicit-rating a portion of the display panel of the present invent lion;
Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing a magnetic head fox use in the present invention; and Fig. 13 is explanatory of a display erase and a display write operation of the display panel of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Fits. l through 3 illustrate an example of the display element of the present invention which element is identified generally by D.
An example of the display element D of the present in-mention has such a construction as follows:
The display element D is wormed by a four-sided right prismatic block member 1 which has fur independent outer peripheral surfaces to define four edges if to to parallel to and around the axis c of the block member 1.
lo 8 1 The block member 1 has embedded therein magnetic pieces ml and my which extend in the direction of the axis c along substantially the entire length of the bloc member 1 at the edges if and to on the same diagonal line.
The outer peripheral surface of the block member 1 defined between the edge if where the magnetic piece ml is disposed and the adjoining edge to forms a first display surface do. The outer peripheral surface between the edge if and the edge to diagonally opposite to the edge to forms lo a second display surface do. The display surfaces do and do are given different colorings; for example, the display surface do is white and the display surface do red.
The block member 1 has a centrally disposed shaft Rosen hole 2 which is bored there through along the axis c.
Furthermore, the bottom lo of the block member 1 has cut therein a cross-shaped groove 3 triangular in cross sea-lion an extending across the shaft receiving hole 2. The groove 3 consists of perpendicularly intersecting groove pa and 3b, which extend in parallel to the display surfaces d and do, respectively.
The above is a description of the construction of an example ox the display element of the present invention.
Next, a description will be given of the display panel of the present invention which employs such display elements.
-`` 121~
Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate an example of the display panel employing such display elements as shown in Figs. 1 to 3.
The display panel comprises a display surface structure 1 rotatable about a shaft 5 planted on a horizontal base plate 4, a display switching unit 7 mounted on the base plate 4, and a drive unit for turning the display surface struck lure 6 and activating the display switching unit 7.
The display surface structure 6 has a disc-shaped sup-port plate 9 rotatable mounted on the top of the shaft 5.
Moreover, the display surface structure 6 has N shafts Al to AN which extend vertically from the marginal edge of the support plate 9 along vertical lines of arrangement at to an spaced a predetermined distance LA apart in the air-cumferential direction of the support plate 9.
Besides, the display surface structure 6 has M support rods By to BY which extend in a circular form along the circumferential direction of the support plate 9 (in the horizontal direction) at predetermined intervals LB in the direction of extension of the shafts Al to ON (in the Verdi-eel direction).
The shafts Al to AN are respectively coupled with the support rods By to BY.
As shown in Figs. 6 to I, the shafts Al to AN are each loosely inserted into the shaft receiving holes 2 of the display elements D, each formed by the block member 1 depicted . - 7 -~Z~2~
1 in Figs. 1 to 3; the display elements D are rotatable mounted on the shafts Al to AN and rest on the support rods By to BY, respectively.
Accordingly, the display surface structure 6 has a -total of N x M display elements D.
Furthermore, letting lines of arrangement extending in a direction perpendicular to the direction of extension of the shafts Al to , that is, in the direction parallel to the horizontal rods By to BY (in the horizontal direction) and lo spaced the predetermined distance LB apart in the direction of extension of the shafts Al to AN (in the vertical direct lion) be represented by by to by, respectively, the display surface structure 6 has N display elements Dlj to DNj disk posed on the line of arrangement by (j = 1, 2, ... I at the predetermined intervals LA:
In Figs. 6 to 8, the support rods By to BY are shown to extend on straight lines. As is evident from Figs. 6 to 8, the display element Dip is mounted on the shaft At through a sleeve 10 in a manner to be rotatable thereabout and slight-lye slid able thereon in its axial direction. The display element Dip is supported with its bottom pa resting on the support rod By.
On the top surface of the support rod By is formed a flange it extending in the direction of extension of the support rod By for engagement with either one of the grooves
The present invention relates to a display element which has two display surfaces, for example, of different colors, and magnetic pieces and is rotatable about the axis of its own, and a display panel which has a display surface struck lure having a number of such display elements arranged to provide a display of a letter, graph, pattern or the like in a predetermined plane.
Description of the Prior Art .
Heretofore, there has been proposed a display panel of the type producing a display of a desired letter, graph, pattern or the like in two colors by a display surface structure having arranged thereon a number of magnetically rotatable display elements, each having two display surfaces of different colors.
The display element for use in such a display panel is formed by a plate-like member the front and the back side of which form display surfaces of different colors and has a magnetic piece disposed at one of two edges defined by the ; two display surfaces. For selectively turning such a disk play element, the display panel has a display switching unit provided with a magnetic head formed my an electromagnet which acts on the magnetic piece of the display element while moving relative thereto.
~Z1~8 1 With the conventional display panel using such display element, however/ a display is erased as one magnetic head is moved in one direction (upwardly, or instance,) relative to the display element and then a display is written as the magnetic head is moved in the opposite direction (downwardly, for example). Therefore, the display erasing and writing operation is time-consuming.
Moreover, in the case where the display panel is arranged so that the display element is supported in a manner to be lo rotatable about a shaft extending in a horizontal direction, and that a magnetic head erases a display and writes a new display while moving up and down relative to the display eye-mint, even if the display element is plate-shaped, a shaft receiving hole is bored through the display element to extend along toe display surfaces. A small-diametered shaft is loosely inserted into the shalt receiving hole and the display element is suspended from the shaft by the weight of its own. Accordingly, the display element is stably supported so that one of its two display surfaces may lie in a pxede-termined plane.
hen it is desired that the display panel is arrangedSQ that display element is supported rotatable about a shaft extending in a vertical direction and the magnetic head erases a display and writes a new display while moving horn-zontally relative to the display element, it is difficult to l support the display element so that one of its two display surfaces may lie in the predetermined plane.
Besides, when the display element is the plate-shaped member the front and the back side of which form display surfaces, the display element is turned over an angular range of 180 degrees. Therefore, the shaft receiving hole of the display element and the shaft loosely inserted whereinto become worn after long use, resulting in malfunction of the display panel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
1 o It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel display element and a display panel which are simple in construction but effectively overcome the above said defects of the prior art.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying draw-ins.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figs. l, and 3 are respectively a front view, a sea-tonal view taken on the line II-II in Fig. l and a bottom view, illustrating the construction of an example of the display element of the present invention;
Figs 4 and 5 are a front view and a cross sectional view, schematically illustrating the arrangement of an example ~Z~2~
l of the display panel of the present invention;
Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are respectively a front view, a sea-tonal view Tyson on the line VII-VII in Fig. 6 and a sectional view taken on the line VIII-VIII in Fig. 6, illicit-rating a portion of a display surface structure for use in the display panel of the present invention;
Figs 9, 10 and 11 are respectively a cross-sectional view, a sectional view taken on the line I in Fig. 9 and a sectional view taken on the line XI-XI in Fig. 9, illicit-rating a portion of the display panel of the present invent lion;
Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing a magnetic head fox use in the present invention; and Fig. 13 is explanatory of a display erase and a display write operation of the display panel of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Fits. l through 3 illustrate an example of the display element of the present invention which element is identified generally by D.
An example of the display element D of the present in-mention has such a construction as follows:
The display element D is wormed by a four-sided right prismatic block member 1 which has fur independent outer peripheral surfaces to define four edges if to to parallel to and around the axis c of the block member 1.
lo 8 1 The block member 1 has embedded therein magnetic pieces ml and my which extend in the direction of the axis c along substantially the entire length of the bloc member 1 at the edges if and to on the same diagonal line.
The outer peripheral surface of the block member 1 defined between the edge if where the magnetic piece ml is disposed and the adjoining edge to forms a first display surface do. The outer peripheral surface between the edge if and the edge to diagonally opposite to the edge to forms lo a second display surface do. The display surfaces do and do are given different colorings; for example, the display surface do is white and the display surface do red.
The block member 1 has a centrally disposed shaft Rosen hole 2 which is bored there through along the axis c.
Furthermore, the bottom lo of the block member 1 has cut therein a cross-shaped groove 3 triangular in cross sea-lion an extending across the shaft receiving hole 2. The groove 3 consists of perpendicularly intersecting groove pa and 3b, which extend in parallel to the display surfaces d and do, respectively.
The above is a description of the construction of an example ox the display element of the present invention.
Next, a description will be given of the display panel of the present invention which employs such display elements.
-`` 121~
Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate an example of the display panel employing such display elements as shown in Figs. 1 to 3.
The display panel comprises a display surface structure 1 rotatable about a shaft 5 planted on a horizontal base plate 4, a display switching unit 7 mounted on the base plate 4, and a drive unit for turning the display surface struck lure 6 and activating the display switching unit 7.
The display surface structure 6 has a disc-shaped sup-port plate 9 rotatable mounted on the top of the shaft 5.
Moreover, the display surface structure 6 has N shafts Al to AN which extend vertically from the marginal edge of the support plate 9 along vertical lines of arrangement at to an spaced a predetermined distance LA apart in the air-cumferential direction of the support plate 9.
Besides, the display surface structure 6 has M support rods By to BY which extend in a circular form along the circumferential direction of the support plate 9 (in the horizontal direction) at predetermined intervals LB in the direction of extension of the shafts Al to ON (in the Verdi-eel direction).
The shafts Al to AN are respectively coupled with the support rods By to BY.
As shown in Figs. 6 to I, the shafts Al to AN are each loosely inserted into the shaft receiving holes 2 of the display elements D, each formed by the block member 1 depicted . - 7 -~Z~2~
1 in Figs. 1 to 3; the display elements D are rotatable mounted on the shafts Al to AN and rest on the support rods By to BY, respectively.
Accordingly, the display surface structure 6 has a -total of N x M display elements D.
Furthermore, letting lines of arrangement extending in a direction perpendicular to the direction of extension of the shafts Al to , that is, in the direction parallel to the horizontal rods By to BY (in the horizontal direction) and lo spaced the predetermined distance LB apart in the direction of extension of the shafts Al to AN (in the vertical direct lion) be represented by by to by, respectively, the display surface structure 6 has N display elements Dlj to DNj disk posed on the line of arrangement by (j = 1, 2, ... I at the predetermined intervals LA:
In Figs. 6 to 8, the support rods By to BY are shown to extend on straight lines. As is evident from Figs. 6 to 8, the display element Dip is mounted on the shaft At through a sleeve 10 in a manner to be rotatable thereabout and slight-lye slid able thereon in its axial direction. The display element Dip is supported with its bottom pa resting on the support rod By.
On the top surface of the support rod By is formed a flange it extending in the direction of extension of the support rod By for engagement with either one of the grooves
2~8~
1 pa and 3b out in the bottom lo of the block member 1.
Accordingly, the display element Dip is supported by the support rod By so that either one of the display surfaces do and do may lie in a predetermined plane P.
The spacing of the support rods By; 1) and By is defined by the sleeve 10 so that the distance between the top surface-lb of the block member 1 forming the display element Dip mounted on the shaft At through the sleeve 10 while resting on the support rod By and the bottom of the support rod Btj 1) above the display element Dip may be a little larger than the height h of the flange 11 from the top surface of the support rod By.
Consequently, when it is rotated, the display element Dip is able to slightly slide up crossing over the flange 11.
The display switching unit 7 has, on the sides of either one and the other of the front and the back of the plane of arrangement ox the display elements Dlj to DNj, an erasing magnetic head En and a writing magnetic head Go CGmrnOn to the display elements Dlj to DNj disposed on the line of arrangement by as shown in Fig. 9 to 11.
The erasing magnetic heads El to EM and thwarting magnetic heads Go to GM are mounted on side surfaces of sup-port posts 12 and 13 planted on the horizontal base plate 4 so that they may face towards the plane of arrangement of the display elements.
g _ ~Z~88 1 The support posts 12 and 13 are planted on the horizon-tat base plate 4 in such a manner that they stand on opposite sides of the plane of arrangement of the display elements and are deviated from each other in the direction of movement of the display surface structure 6.
On the support post 12 are mounted the erasing magnetic heads El to EM sequentially at the positions respectively corresponding to the lines of arrangement by to by.
Similarly, the writing magnetic heads Go to GM are mounted on the support post 13 at the positions respectively corresponding to the lines of arrangements by to by The erasing magnetic head En and the writing magnetic head Go are each provided with a columnar magnetic core 15 having wound thereon a coil 14 and a pair of magnetic plates 16 and 17 attached to the opposite ends of the magnetic core 15 to extend perpendicularly to its lengthwise direction as shown in Fig. 12.
The distance between the magnetic plates 16 and 17 is substantially equal to the lengths of the magnetic pieces m and my of the display element Dip.
The magnetic heads En and Go are respectively mounted on the support posts 12 and 13, with the magnetic core 15 held in the vertical direction and the magnetic plates 16 and 17 extending towards the display element array of the display surface structure 6. Consequently, the top end portions of I
l the magnetic plates 16 and 17 of the magnetic heads En and Go approach the display elements Dlj to DNj one after another as the display surface structure 6 rotates.
Also in Fix. 9, the support rod By is shown to extend linearly.
The drive unit 8 has mechanical drive means including, for instance, a motor 18, for shifting the display elements Dl1 to DIM of the display surface structure 6 relative to the erasing magnetic heads El to EM and the writing magnetic lo heads Go to GM. Since this mechanical drive means is not directly related to the subject matter of the present invent Tony, no detailed description will be given of its arrange-mint.
Furthermore, the drive means 8 has electrical drive means for energizing the erasing magnetic heads El to EM
at all times and activating the writing magnetic heads Go to GM in synchronism with the movement of the display eye-mints Dull to DIM. Since this electrical drive means is not directly related to the subject matter of the present invent lion, either, no detailed description will be given of its arrangement.
The above is a description of the display element of the present invention and the arrangement of an embodiment of the display panel using such display elements.
Referring next to Fig. 13, the operation of the present , -l invention will be described.
Fig 13 shows the state in which the display element D
is turned by the erasing magnetic head En and the writing magnetic head Go during its movement.
The erasing magnetic head En is always energized but the writing magnetic head Go is selectively energized in swanker-noisome with the movement of the display element Dip in accordance with a preset program. In Fig. 13, energized magnetic heads En and Go are indicated by hatching.
lo First, in the case where the display element Dip has its display surface do lying in the predetermined plane P before erasing a display, even if the magnetic piece my of the disk play element Dip is subjected to the action of the erasing magnetic head En when the display element Dip passes by the head En, the display element Dip is not turned. In practice, the display element Dip is slightly turned counterclockwise but it is immediately turned clockwise to return to its initial state. Accordingly, the display surface do is held in the predetermined plane P.
Next, in the case where the display element Dip has its display surface do lying in the predetermined plane P before erasing a display, the magnetic piece my is subjected to the action of the erasing magnetic head En and, consequently, the display-element Dip is turned I degrees in the clockwise direction, wringing the display surface do to the predetermined L2~38 1 plane, As described above, the display element Dip, after have in moved across the erasing magnetic head En, has its display surface do lying in the predetermined plane P. Thus the display erasing operation is completed.
In the case where the display element Dip having its disk play thus erased moves across the writing magnetic head Go, if the magnetic head Go is not being energized, the display element Dip is held with its display surface do lying in the lo predetermined plane P. In the event that the writing magnetic head Jo is being energized, the magnetic piece ml of the disk play elenlent Dip is subjected to the action of the magnetic head Go and the display element Dip is turned 90 degrees counterclockwise, brining its display surface do to the pro-determined plane P.
With such an arrangement as described above, the display surfaces do of the display elements Dull to DUN can be brought to the predetermined plane P by the erasing magnetic heads El to EM.
Further, a selected one of the display surfaces do and 1 do of a desired one or ones of the display elements Dull to ¦ DIM can be made to lie in the predetermined plane P after ¦ such display erasing operation.
~ccordinglyr if the display surfaces do and do are colored, for example, white and red, respectively, it is ~2~2~38 1 possible to provide a desired display of a letter, symbol, graph, pattern or the like in red on a white ground.
In addition, since the display element Dip is formed by the four-sided right prismatic block member 1, it can easily be held with either one of the display surfaces do and do lying in the predetermined plane P even when the disk play panel is designed so that the display surface structure 6 moves in the horizontal direction.
Moreover, the four-sided right prismatic block member 1 lo forming the display element Dip has the outer peripheral surfaces formed to define the your edges if to to in parallel to and around the axis c of the block member 1 and the mug-netic pieces ml and my disposed to extend along the edges t and to, and toe outer peripheral surfaces defined by the edges if and to and the edges to and to constitute the first and second display surfaces do and do, respectively. The display element Dip is supported so that these display sun-faces are rotatable about the axis c of the block member 1.
Besides, the display switching unit 7 has the erasing mug-netic head En and the writing magnetic head Go common to the display elements Dlj to DNj arranged on the line of arrange-mint by, the magnetic heads En and Jo being disposed on the ¦ sides of either one and the other of the front and the back of the plane of arrangement of the display elements Dlj to DUN With this arrangement, a display can be erased and 1 written by the movement of the display elements Dull to DIM
in one direction, providing an excellent function of the display panel.
Furthermore, since the angle of rotation of the display element Dip when erasing and writing a display is 90 degrees, wear of the display element Dip and the shafts Al to AN is little.
While in the foregoing embodiment the erasing head En is described to have the same electromagnet structure as does lo the writing magnetic head Go, it is also possible to employ a permanent magnet structure for the erasing magnetic head En. In such a case, power consumption can be reduced.
Although in the foregoing embodiment the magnetic heads En and Go are fixed and the display elements nil to DIM of the display surface structure 6 are movable, it is also possible to fix the display surface structure and move the magnetic heads.
It will be apparent that many modifications and vane-lions may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.
1 pa and 3b out in the bottom lo of the block member 1.
Accordingly, the display element Dip is supported by the support rod By so that either one of the display surfaces do and do may lie in a predetermined plane P.
The spacing of the support rods By; 1) and By is defined by the sleeve 10 so that the distance between the top surface-lb of the block member 1 forming the display element Dip mounted on the shaft At through the sleeve 10 while resting on the support rod By and the bottom of the support rod Btj 1) above the display element Dip may be a little larger than the height h of the flange 11 from the top surface of the support rod By.
Consequently, when it is rotated, the display element Dip is able to slightly slide up crossing over the flange 11.
The display switching unit 7 has, on the sides of either one and the other of the front and the back of the plane of arrangement ox the display elements Dlj to DNj, an erasing magnetic head En and a writing magnetic head Go CGmrnOn to the display elements Dlj to DNj disposed on the line of arrangement by as shown in Fig. 9 to 11.
The erasing magnetic heads El to EM and thwarting magnetic heads Go to GM are mounted on side surfaces of sup-port posts 12 and 13 planted on the horizontal base plate 4 so that they may face towards the plane of arrangement of the display elements.
g _ ~Z~88 1 The support posts 12 and 13 are planted on the horizon-tat base plate 4 in such a manner that they stand on opposite sides of the plane of arrangement of the display elements and are deviated from each other in the direction of movement of the display surface structure 6.
On the support post 12 are mounted the erasing magnetic heads El to EM sequentially at the positions respectively corresponding to the lines of arrangement by to by.
Similarly, the writing magnetic heads Go to GM are mounted on the support post 13 at the positions respectively corresponding to the lines of arrangements by to by The erasing magnetic head En and the writing magnetic head Go are each provided with a columnar magnetic core 15 having wound thereon a coil 14 and a pair of magnetic plates 16 and 17 attached to the opposite ends of the magnetic core 15 to extend perpendicularly to its lengthwise direction as shown in Fig. 12.
The distance between the magnetic plates 16 and 17 is substantially equal to the lengths of the magnetic pieces m and my of the display element Dip.
The magnetic heads En and Go are respectively mounted on the support posts 12 and 13, with the magnetic core 15 held in the vertical direction and the magnetic plates 16 and 17 extending towards the display element array of the display surface structure 6. Consequently, the top end portions of I
l the magnetic plates 16 and 17 of the magnetic heads En and Go approach the display elements Dlj to DNj one after another as the display surface structure 6 rotates.
Also in Fix. 9, the support rod By is shown to extend linearly.
The drive unit 8 has mechanical drive means including, for instance, a motor 18, for shifting the display elements Dl1 to DIM of the display surface structure 6 relative to the erasing magnetic heads El to EM and the writing magnetic lo heads Go to GM. Since this mechanical drive means is not directly related to the subject matter of the present invent Tony, no detailed description will be given of its arrange-mint.
Furthermore, the drive means 8 has electrical drive means for energizing the erasing magnetic heads El to EM
at all times and activating the writing magnetic heads Go to GM in synchronism with the movement of the display eye-mints Dull to DIM. Since this electrical drive means is not directly related to the subject matter of the present invent lion, either, no detailed description will be given of its arrangement.
The above is a description of the display element of the present invention and the arrangement of an embodiment of the display panel using such display elements.
Referring next to Fig. 13, the operation of the present , -l invention will be described.
Fig 13 shows the state in which the display element D
is turned by the erasing magnetic head En and the writing magnetic head Go during its movement.
The erasing magnetic head En is always energized but the writing magnetic head Go is selectively energized in swanker-noisome with the movement of the display element Dip in accordance with a preset program. In Fig. 13, energized magnetic heads En and Go are indicated by hatching.
lo First, in the case where the display element Dip has its display surface do lying in the predetermined plane P before erasing a display, even if the magnetic piece my of the disk play element Dip is subjected to the action of the erasing magnetic head En when the display element Dip passes by the head En, the display element Dip is not turned. In practice, the display element Dip is slightly turned counterclockwise but it is immediately turned clockwise to return to its initial state. Accordingly, the display surface do is held in the predetermined plane P.
Next, in the case where the display element Dip has its display surface do lying in the predetermined plane P before erasing a display, the magnetic piece my is subjected to the action of the erasing magnetic head En and, consequently, the display-element Dip is turned I degrees in the clockwise direction, wringing the display surface do to the predetermined L2~38 1 plane, As described above, the display element Dip, after have in moved across the erasing magnetic head En, has its display surface do lying in the predetermined plane P. Thus the display erasing operation is completed.
In the case where the display element Dip having its disk play thus erased moves across the writing magnetic head Go, if the magnetic head Go is not being energized, the display element Dip is held with its display surface do lying in the lo predetermined plane P. In the event that the writing magnetic head Jo is being energized, the magnetic piece ml of the disk play elenlent Dip is subjected to the action of the magnetic head Go and the display element Dip is turned 90 degrees counterclockwise, brining its display surface do to the pro-determined plane P.
With such an arrangement as described above, the display surfaces do of the display elements Dull to DUN can be brought to the predetermined plane P by the erasing magnetic heads El to EM.
Further, a selected one of the display surfaces do and 1 do of a desired one or ones of the display elements Dull to ¦ DIM can be made to lie in the predetermined plane P after ¦ such display erasing operation.
~ccordinglyr if the display surfaces do and do are colored, for example, white and red, respectively, it is ~2~2~38 1 possible to provide a desired display of a letter, symbol, graph, pattern or the like in red on a white ground.
In addition, since the display element Dip is formed by the four-sided right prismatic block member 1, it can easily be held with either one of the display surfaces do and do lying in the predetermined plane P even when the disk play panel is designed so that the display surface structure 6 moves in the horizontal direction.
Moreover, the four-sided right prismatic block member 1 lo forming the display element Dip has the outer peripheral surfaces formed to define the your edges if to to in parallel to and around the axis c of the block member 1 and the mug-netic pieces ml and my disposed to extend along the edges t and to, and toe outer peripheral surfaces defined by the edges if and to and the edges to and to constitute the first and second display surfaces do and do, respectively. The display element Dip is supported so that these display sun-faces are rotatable about the axis c of the block member 1.
Besides, the display switching unit 7 has the erasing mug-netic head En and the writing magnetic head Go common to the display elements Dlj to DNj arranged on the line of arrange-mint by, the magnetic heads En and Jo being disposed on the ¦ sides of either one and the other of the front and the back of the plane of arrangement of the display elements Dlj to DUN With this arrangement, a display can be erased and 1 written by the movement of the display elements Dull to DIM
in one direction, providing an excellent function of the display panel.
Furthermore, since the angle of rotation of the display element Dip when erasing and writing a display is 90 degrees, wear of the display element Dip and the shafts Al to AN is little.
While in the foregoing embodiment the erasing head En is described to have the same electromagnet structure as does lo the writing magnetic head Go, it is also possible to employ a permanent magnet structure for the erasing magnetic head En. In such a case, power consumption can be reduced.
Although in the foregoing embodiment the magnetic heads En and Go are fixed and the display elements nil to DIM of the display surface structure 6 are movable, it is also possible to fix the display surface structure and move the magnetic heads.
It will be apparent that many modifications and vane-lions may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.
Claims (2)
EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A display element which is formed by a four-sided right prismatic block member having an axis and a top and a bottom and having four outer peripheral surfaces formed to define first, second, third and fourth edges in parallel to and around said axis of the block member, said block member being rotatable about said axis, said block member having a shaft receiving hole therethrough along said axis; said block member further consisting of first and second magnetic pieces disposed to extend along said first and third edges, respectively, first and second display surfaces defined by the outer peripheral surfaces between said first and second edges and said first and fourth edges, respectively, and first and second grooves formed in the bottom of said block member, each of said grooves intersecting said axis, said first and second grooves parallel to said first and second display surfaces, respectively.
2. A display panel comprising:
a movable display surface structure;
a display switching unit; and a drive unit;
wherein, letting M lines of arrangement spaced a pre- determined distance apart in a first direction and arranged to extend in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction to be represented by b1, b2,.......bM respectively, the display surface structure has N display elements D1j to DNj sequentially disposed on the line of arrangement bj (j = 1, 2,.....M) at predetermined intervals in the second direction, said first and second directions defining a plane of arrangement having a front side and a back side;
wherein the display element dij (i = 1, 2,..
..... N) is formed by a four-sided right prismatic block member having an axis and a top and a bottom and having four outer peripheral surfaces formed to define first, second, third and fourth edges in parallel to and around said axis of the block member, said block member being rotatable about said axis, said block member having a shaft receiving hold therethrough along said axis; said block member further consisting of first and second magnetic pieces disposed to extend along said first and third edges, respectively, first and second display surfaces defined by the outer peripheral surfaces between said first and second edges and said first and fourth edges, respectively, the first and second grooves formed in the bottom of said block member, each of said grooves intersecting said axis, said first and second grooves parallel to said first and second display surfaces, respectively;
wherein said display surface structure includes N
shafts Ai extending in said first direction and spaced apart in said second direction, each of said display ele-ments Dij slidingly receiving a corresponding shaft Ai in said shaft receiving hole to be rotatable thereabout and slidable in the axial direction relative to said shaft Ai;
wherein said display surface structure further in-cludes M support rodes Bj extending in said second direc-tion and spaced apart in said first direction, each said rod having a flange which is receivably engageable with said first or second groove in the bottom of said block member;
wherein the display switching unit has, mounted on opposite sides of said plane of arrangement of the display elements Dij, an erasing magnetic head Ej and a writing head Gj common to the display elements Dlj to DNj disposed on the line of arrangement bj, said erasing magnetic head Ej and said writing magnetic head Gj being spaced apart from one another in the second direction;
wherein the drive unit is provided with means for moving said display elements Dij and the erasing magnetic heads Ej and the writing magnetic head Gj relative to each other in the second direction, and means for energizing the writing magnetic heads Gj in synchronism with the rela-tive movement between said writing magnetic heads Gj and said display elements Dij;
said erasing head Ej, when said second display surface lies in a predetermined plane, turning said display element Dij 90° in synchronism with the relative movement of the display element Dij and the erasing head Ej to locate said first display surface in said predetermined plane; and said writing head Gj, when energized, turning the display element Dij 90° to switch the state in which said first display surface lies in said predetermined plane to the state in which the second display surface lies in said predetermined plane.
a movable display surface structure;
a display switching unit; and a drive unit;
wherein, letting M lines of arrangement spaced a pre- determined distance apart in a first direction and arranged to extend in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction to be represented by b1, b2,.......bM respectively, the display surface structure has N display elements D1j to DNj sequentially disposed on the line of arrangement bj (j = 1, 2,.....M) at predetermined intervals in the second direction, said first and second directions defining a plane of arrangement having a front side and a back side;
wherein the display element dij (i = 1, 2,..
..... N) is formed by a four-sided right prismatic block member having an axis and a top and a bottom and having four outer peripheral surfaces formed to define first, second, third and fourth edges in parallel to and around said axis of the block member, said block member being rotatable about said axis, said block member having a shaft receiving hold therethrough along said axis; said block member further consisting of first and second magnetic pieces disposed to extend along said first and third edges, respectively, first and second display surfaces defined by the outer peripheral surfaces between said first and second edges and said first and fourth edges, respectively, the first and second grooves formed in the bottom of said block member, each of said grooves intersecting said axis, said first and second grooves parallel to said first and second display surfaces, respectively;
wherein said display surface structure includes N
shafts Ai extending in said first direction and spaced apart in said second direction, each of said display ele-ments Dij slidingly receiving a corresponding shaft Ai in said shaft receiving hole to be rotatable thereabout and slidable in the axial direction relative to said shaft Ai;
wherein said display surface structure further in-cludes M support rodes Bj extending in said second direc-tion and spaced apart in said first direction, each said rod having a flange which is receivably engageable with said first or second groove in the bottom of said block member;
wherein the display switching unit has, mounted on opposite sides of said plane of arrangement of the display elements Dij, an erasing magnetic head Ej and a writing head Gj common to the display elements Dlj to DNj disposed on the line of arrangement bj, said erasing magnetic head Ej and said writing magnetic head Gj being spaced apart from one another in the second direction;
wherein the drive unit is provided with means for moving said display elements Dij and the erasing magnetic heads Ej and the writing magnetic head Gj relative to each other in the second direction, and means for energizing the writing magnetic heads Gj in synchronism with the rela-tive movement between said writing magnetic heads Gj and said display elements Dij;
said erasing head Ej, when said second display surface lies in a predetermined plane, turning said display element Dij 90° in synchronism with the relative movement of the display element Dij and the erasing head Ej to locate said first display surface in said predetermined plane; and said writing head Gj, when energized, turning the display element Dij 90° to switch the state in which said first display surface lies in said predetermined plane to the state in which the second display surface lies in said predetermined plane.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP196646/81 | 1981-12-07 | ||
| JP56196646A JPS5898776A (en) | 1981-12-07 | 1981-12-07 | Display element and display unit using same |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1212188A true CA1212188A (en) | 1986-09-30 |
Family
ID=16361230
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000417181A Expired CA1212188A (en) | 1981-12-07 | 1982-12-07 | Display element and display panel using the same |
Country Status (6)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US4566003A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0083844B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPS5898776A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU558418B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1212188A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3272212D1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (9)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPH0430634Y2 (en) * | 1985-06-10 | 1992-07-23 | ||
| SE453618B (en) * | 1985-08-15 | 1988-02-15 | Asea Ab | DEVICE FOR REPLACING INDICATORS |
| SE8600652L (en) * | 1986-02-14 | 1987-08-15 | Euroband Ab | DISPLAY DEVICE |
| FR2596559A1 (en) * | 1986-03-25 | 1987-10-02 | Dol Honore | ELECTRONIC VISUALIZATION AND FULL DISPLAY DEVICE |
| GB8608363D0 (en) * | 1986-04-05 | 1986-05-08 | Harvey Jenkins Developments Lt | Information display apparatus |
| US4912442A (en) * | 1987-12-17 | 1990-03-27 | Black Fred M | Scanned electromechanical alphanumeric display |
| JPH0738102B2 (en) * | 1988-10-12 | 1995-04-26 | 日方 若竹 | Rotating display element and display device using the same |
| DE19507200A1 (en) * | 1995-03-02 | 1996-09-12 | Herbert Klenk | Large display for text and graphics having matrix of movable elements |
| US6326945B1 (en) | 1999-12-13 | 2001-12-04 | Williams, Iii Carl K. | Magnetic writing board |
Family Cites Families (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3335512A (en) * | 1965-08-30 | 1967-08-15 | Robert P Newman | Illuminated sign |
| US3482344A (en) * | 1966-12-12 | 1969-12-09 | Trans Lux Corp | Display apparatus |
| IT1020448B (en) * | 1974-09-04 | 1977-12-20 | Solari E C Udine Spa | POSITION CONTROL DEVICE FOR STEP BY STEP ROTATING PARTS |
| JPS5391698A (en) * | 1977-01-24 | 1978-08-11 | Nihon Advanced Prod Kk | Display apparatus and display element therefor |
| JPS5849870B2 (en) * | 1978-05-23 | 1983-11-07 | 日方 若竹 | display device |
| JPS5714888A (en) * | 1980-07-01 | 1982-01-26 | Wakatake Giken Yuugen | Display panel |
| JPS57167075A (en) * | 1981-04-07 | 1982-10-14 | Masayuki Wakatake | Display unit |
-
1981
- 1981-12-07 JP JP56196646A patent/JPS5898776A/en active Pending
-
1982
- 1982-12-06 DE DE8282306483T patent/DE3272212D1/en not_active Expired
- 1982-12-06 US US06/447,096 patent/US4566003A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1982-12-06 EP EP82306483A patent/EP0083844B1/en not_active Expired
- 1982-12-07 AU AU91168/82A patent/AU558418B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1982-12-07 CA CA000417181A patent/CA1212188A/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| US4566003A (en) | 1986-01-21 |
| EP0083844A1 (en) | 1983-07-20 |
| AU9116882A (en) | 1983-06-16 |
| JPS5898776A (en) | 1983-06-11 |
| AU558418B2 (en) | 1987-01-29 |
| DE3272212D1 (en) | 1986-08-28 |
| EP0083844B1 (en) | 1986-07-23 |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| CA1212188A (en) | Display element and display panel using the same | |
| EP1349626B1 (en) | Assembly of modules with magnetic anchorage for the construction of stable grid structures | |
| US5453012A (en) | Braille display | |
| KR20070104336A (en) | A three-dimensional puzzle or puzzle or display platform | |
| NO881304L (en) | PLAY WITH MAGNETIC SHOW MANUVERTED GAMES. | |
| US10300367B1 (en) | Magnetic game set for randomizable play | |
| US3166325A (en) | Game apparatus having playing board with marble receiving holes and dice receiving openings | |
| BR8008814A (en) | MAGNETIC HEAD COMPOSED WITH MULTIPLE TRACKS SUPPORT STRUCTURE | |
| ES466299A1 (en) | Display panel and display elements therefor | |
| US5318302A (en) | Magnetic puzzle | |
| US4706398A (en) | Multicolor indicator with arcuate pole pieces | |
| US3624647A (en) | Translatable display sign | |
| JPS585479B2 (en) | Magnetic bubble memory test method | |
| US4472892A (en) | Perpetual cubic calendar | |
| GB1443668A (en) | Magnetic recording head | |
| CA2281081C (en) | Display device and array | |
| DE68923090T2 (en) | MAGNETIC RECORDING HEAD WITH I-STAINED CORE STRUCTURE. | |
| ATA60491A (en) | DEVICE FOR RECORDING AND PLAYING BACK SIGNALS WITH AT LEAST ONE ROTATING MAGNETIC HEAD | |
| US4573689A (en) | Game | |
| US5818414A (en) | Single display device with passive components, in particular for displaying characters which consist of a plurality of matrix-arranged picture elements | |
| JPS6339722Y2 (en) | ||
| NZ536138A (en) | A three-dimensional puzzle having magnetic interactions between a core and plural pieces | |
| EP1171860B1 (en) | Electromagnetic display device | |
| JPH01285285A (en) | Piece forming puzzle board | |
| KR930701856A (en) | Magnetically driven motor |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |