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EP0002966A1 - Procédé et dispositif de visualisation - Google Patents

Procédé et dispositif de visualisation Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0002966A1
EP0002966A1 EP78300918A EP78300918A EP0002966A1 EP 0002966 A1 EP0002966 A1 EP 0002966A1 EP 78300918 A EP78300918 A EP 78300918A EP 78300918 A EP78300918 A EP 78300918A EP 0002966 A1 EP0002966 A1 EP 0002966A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
graphic
columns
display
display elements
elements
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP78300918A
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German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Arthur Harris
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP0002966A1 publication Critical patent/EP0002966A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09G—ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
    • G09G3/00—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes
    • G09G3/004—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes to give the appearance of moving signs

Definitions

  • the display surface In the standard application of the method of stroboscopic display, the display surface must be packed with display lights or display elements to a density which is determined by the resolution required both in the horizontal direction and in the vertical direction of the display surface.
  • the graphics to be represented or displayed are built up on a 7 by 5 matrix format (that is a rectangular matrix of elements made up of 7 rows and 5 columns) then the display surface must be made up from blocks of display elements of identical format. Therefore graphics may be represented or displayed by selecting those lights within the 7 by 5 matrix which compose the graphics as stationary patterns on a two dimensional surface.
  • a graphic is then displayed first in one block of matrix then in each of successive available blocks (which may or may not be overlapping) according to a timing sequence which has been predetermined. This timing sequence will create the illusion that the graphic is in smooth motion along the display surface.
  • the time duration for which a given graphic is displayed at one given block or matrix is called "a display state period".
  • a method of displaying a graphic on a display surface and moving said graphic over said surface wherein said display surface comprises columns of display elements arranged perpendicular to the intended direction of motion, the spacing between said columns being greater than or equal to the required resolution of said graphic in the direction of motion, and said columns being grouped into at least two mutually exclusive sets with the columns of each set intermingled; said method comprising the steps of resolving said graphic into discrete dot elements of the required resolution; dividing said dot elements into groups each forming a part of the total graphic such that the dot elements of each group have a predetermined spatial relationship and each group corresponds to one of said sets; and displaying the dot elements of each group by the display elements of the columns of the corresponding set, the dot elements of each group being displayed in a sequence of predetermined display state periods only by those display elements which, for each said period, have a location corresponding to said spatial relationship and the intended motion of the part of the total graphic corresponding to that group.
  • apparatus for displaying and moving a graphic comprising a display surface having columns of display elements arranged perpendicular to the intended direction of motion, the spacing between said columns being greater than or equal to the required resolution of said graphic in the direction of motion and said columns being grouped into at least two mutually exclusive sets with the columns of each set intermingled; and control means to individually and selectively activate the display elements of each set for a predetermined display state period in accordance with a predetermined sequence.
  • a graphic to be represented is arranged in suitable dot matrix form having columns and rows, and appropriate cells of the matrix being either empty or occupied to give the shape of the graphic. Normally there is a one-to-one correspondence between the cells and the display elements.
  • a graphic is advanced for each display state period by one small step, corresponding in size to the finest resolution required within the graphic. Within each display state period, all those dot elements of the graphic are displayed which are currently aligned with, or in congruence with, available display elements.
  • Each block of 7 by 5 display elements may, by this principle, be reduced to a single strip of seven display elements arranged in a column, or otherwise arranged within the cells of the matrix block, one in each row and 4/5 ths of conventional display elements are eliminated. So long as the display sequence proceeds in accordance with the principle of congruence on each display state period, and provided the timing is correct, the observed resolution of the graphic will not be altered by the reduction in the number of display elements.
  • timing which ranges from 3 to 6 mSec per display state period for a sign to be viewed from a distance of up to 100 feet (30 metres).
  • time parameter there is no absolute time parameter, rather it is a relative parameter dependent upon the size of the display element and the spacing between the columns on the display surface.
  • each of the embodiments above may be modified so that each pattern, or each part of a pattern, may be displayed only on a category of display elements designated for the display of that pattern, or part of a pattern, and not for the display or representation of other patterns or parts of a pattern.
  • a pattern or parts of a pattern are moving across a display surface, certain display elements designated as belonging to a given category corresponding to a different pattern are not activated even when in congruence with the dot elements of the moving pattern or moving parts of a pattern. It is nevertheless possible, while violating the principle of congruence in this way, to achieve a marked reduction in the number of required display elements as is also achieved when the principle of congruence is strictly obeyed.
  • identical patterns, or identical parts of patterns may be displayed, each in a different colour, with the result that the colours will combine according to long established principles of additive colour mixture, so long as the identical patterns, or identical pattern parts, displayed in different colours follow a common trajectory.
  • This effect can be achieved without having the colours to be combined switched on simultaneously or focused onto a common region, rather the colour mix is performed by appropriate timings.
  • the resolution in the vertical direction may be doubled, leading to at least a fourfold gain in total resolution of the graphic as a whole.
  • the display elements comprise an active light source such as incandescent bulbs, LED's, liquid crystals, and the like.
  • active light source such as incandescent bulbs, LED's, liquid crystals, and the like.
  • passive sources such as replacing elements can also be used.
  • both categories can occupy the same plane and may exist in any shape such as rectangular or even a circle or a square. But it is also possible that one category of display elements can be on a plane closer to the viewer than the other category. The viewer then sees a graphic with three dimensional qualities, that is a graphic having the illusion of depth. It is possible to have three, or more, categories each on a different plane to create a more complex three dimensional effect. Both categories may be in the same plane or planes such as an irregularly corrugated surface so that display elements for each category occur both in the troughs and crests of the corrugated surface resulting in an undulating pattern being seen by the viewer.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates 3 trajectories labelled A, B, and C. Each trajectory connects a horizontal co-ordinate value X, to a time value t. An object following the trajectory labelled A would be in position X1, at time tl, position X2 at time t2, and so on. A pattern in apparent motion is said to follow trajectory A if it is displayed stroboscopically at the position X, prescribed by trajectory A at the time t, at which it is displayed.
  • An analogy may be drawn between the rectangle pattern and a picture frame, and pattern + and a picture to be viewed within the frame.
  • the picture frame rectangle and the picture + may be displayed always in different places, i.e., the picture may precede the frame or vice-versa.
  • picture and frame must be shown simultaneously together in the same place.
  • Trajectory B is parallel to trajectory A, their separation being dX. If the rectangle were displayed on trajectory A and + on trajectory B, then the rectangle and + would appear at all times to be separated by a horizontal distance dX, even though they might be displayed in the same position, X3 say, at different times, tl and t3.
  • Trajectory C is not parallel to trajectory A. If the rectangle were displayed on trajectory A, and + on trajectory C, then the rectangle and + would appear to diverge progressively, their separation changing as the separation between the trajectories changes.
  • Any horizontal co-ordinate value, X3 may represent the position of a display element in the horizontal direction.
  • Several display elements, arranged in a vertical strip, for example, may occupy the same co-ordinate value. If X3 is the horizontal co-ordinate value of a display element within the vertical strip designated to describe the trajectory of a pattern, or part of a pattern, then the display element will be switched on at the start of any display state period on which the trajectory of a dot element of a pattern, or a part of a pattern, dictates that it should do so. The display element will be switched off when that display state period is completed.
  • patterns displayed by display elements in different positions on a display surface may be made to appear to occupy the same position in space, like a picture within its frame.
  • the spatial relationship of the various patterns, or parts of patterns will depend solely on their trajectories, and will be independent of the spatial placement of the designated categories of display elements on the display surface.
  • Display elements are arranged in strips. All display elements in the columns labelled A are designated to display patterns in category A, and all display elements in the columns labelled B are designated to display patterns in category B.
  • the horizontal co-ordinate values (Xl, X2, and so on) are identical for all display elements in a given strip. All category A display elements have a different horizontal co-ordinate value from the category B display elements.
  • the rectangle pattern is in category A.
  • Each dot element of the rectangle pattern can be described as following its own trajectory. Display elements on strips AI, A2, and so on will turn on for the display period, as the trajectory of each dot element of the rectangle pattern dictates.
  • each dot element of pattern + has its own trajectory. Display elements on strips Bl, B2, and so on will turn on for the display period as the trajectory of each dot element of pattern + dictates. If the trajectories of the rectangle and + are chosen appropriately, + will appear to move along inside the rectangle at all times, despite the fact that the one affects only the A display elements and the other only the B display elements.
  • the number of categories of display elements may be extended. Patterns in separate categories, displayed only on display elements in the category designated for each pattern category, can be extended in number by arranging the trajectories for the patterns in an appropriate manner, according to the principles outlined above.
  • This invention is unique in respect to the first variable in that the lights or display elements are divided into categories such that no two categories need ever depict the same data.
  • the lights or display elements are divided into categories such that no two categories need ever depict the same data.
  • consecutive matrices, or perhaps consecutive columns spaced apart present the same data when depicting a given constant graphic in motion.
  • the term "constant graphic" means that the shape and configuration of the graphic does not change with time, that is the graphic is not animated. (Whether the display element or lights are in matrix form or columns spaced apart or any such arrangement is inconsequential).
  • the display surface in this invention is inhomogeneous with respect to the grouping of display elements, other devices are homogeneous in this regard. This is particularly important in relation to the colour-mixing aspect of the present invention since a group of 3 primary colour light sources need not be located at each display element location.
  • this invention is also unique.
  • the temporal and spatial presentation of the graphic is such that those dot elements of the graphic occurring spatially before other dot elements in the desired direction of movement are presented prior to those other dot elements either in space, or time, or both.
  • the graphic is segmented and the data are presented to the display elements without regard for spatial or temporal priority. (Thus, if we want to present this graphic comprising a + in a rectangle, we can present the whole of the rectangle on the first category of display elements then the + on the second or vice-versa).
  • the trajectory principle is applied while the total graphic does not obey the sort of temporal and spatial priorities present in the prior art. Although parts of the total graphic may obey such priorities, by virtue of so doing alone they do not contribute to the overall effect.
  • Fig. 3 is a logical embodiment and may be implemented with either software and/or hardware by those skilled in the art.
  • a display surface 10 is made up of 64 columns of display elements which may be light emitting diodes (LED's). In each column there are 16 LED's. Between each column there is a blank; space sufficiently wide to incorporate an extra three columns all juxtaposed. The columns of LED's are grouped into alternate categories. The lst, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, etc. columns form one category and the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, i.e. the even numbers, form a second category.
  • LED's light emitting diodes
  • the spatial separation of the columns can vary it is desirable, but not essential, that the spacing between columns of the same category be constant. It is of little consequence where the columns of the other category occur within the space between the adjacent columns of the same category.
  • the second column instead of being separated from the first by three blank columns could have been juxtaposed to the first column.
  • the information to be displayed is entered via a keyboard 2 or some other suitable input device.
  • the message is stored in a message table 3 which is a memory such as a RAM (random access memory).
  • message table 3 which is a memory such as a RAM (random access memory).
  • each element, for example, a letter of the alphabet, of the message table is represented by a symbol stored in another part of memory called the symbol table 1 which may be a PROM or some suitable device e.g. a computer.
  • each element may take different forms depending on the purpose of the user. Take for instance the letter T. Before a format for this letter is encoded and entered into the symbol table, artwork for it is prepared.
  • the artwork takes the form of a 16x16 dot matrix in accordance with the height of each display element column (16 LED's high) but other forms are possible depending on the configuration of lights on the display surface.
  • Fig. 4 represents such a 16x16 dot matrix with those cells composing the desired letter (T) indicated.
  • the letter in this case is intact, or whole, but other forms are possible where the cells comprising the letter are divided into categories or groups such as depicted in Figs. 5 and 6 where the two groups combine to form the whole.
  • the letter "T" can, of course, be divided into two (or more) complementary sections other than those depicted in Figs. 5 and 6.
  • the two treatments of the same graphic can be labelled as the "wholistic” vs. "atomistic” approach - whichever of the alternatives is selected depends on the purpose of the user.
  • the even letters were one colour and the odd letters a second colour.
  • the two categories of lights are then made up of two different colours.
  • the "wholistic” approach is used.
  • the message were "THE QUICK BROWN FOX" with 2 consecutive blanks appearing between each word.
  • the display surface 10 is made up of 64 columns of lights each of which contain 16 LED's. Only columns C1 to C4 inclusive (numbering from the right) are illustrated. Between each pair of adjacent columns is a space corresponding to the "width" of three columns. In this way only 4 of the number of columns of lights are required compared to prior art displays having the same horizontal resolution.
  • the lights of each column are located in one of 16 rows numbered (from the top) Rl to R16 inclusive.
  • the LED's of the display surface 10 are activated in a controlled manner.
  • Columns Cl, C3 etc. display the letters “T", “E” etc. whilst columns C2, C4 etc. display the letters “H”, "Q” etc.
  • Selected LED's are activated for substantially all of a display state period. For a display state period of 5 mSec, for example, a given LED is initially off, turned on for 4.7 mSec and then turned off again, even if that particular LED is intended to be activated for 2 or more consecutive display state periods.
  • the symbol table 1 therefore is a repertoire of possible graphics to be displayed, pre-arranged in appropriate artform and encoded digitally for storage in the appropriate memory.
  • the symbol table 1 may be a single table accessible to all separate messages or there may be separate symbol tables for each message or a combination where there would be a common area (e.g. a set of letters) and other special tables (e.g. colour components of a picture).
  • wholistic letters may comprise one table and atomistic letters another table - there being a number of different atomistic approaches and each can have its own table.
  • each separate piece of artwork has an appropriate address which can be selected when needed by a pointer.
  • the message table 3 there is a condensed encoded set of pointers and these pointers select the appropriate symbol from the symbol table 1. The pointers are progressively selected in order to retract new symbols which are to appear on the display surface 10.
  • the register 5 is continually updated from the symbol table according to the pointers in the message table(s) 3 at a rate determined by the central timing generator 7.
  • the rate of update is not necessarily the same for each current state register 5 since the central timing generator 7 is controlled by the animation generator 8 which is discussed below.
  • the central timing generator 7 synchronizes the operations of multiplexing the data out to the display surface 10 and updating the current state registers 5.
  • the display multiplexer 9 discriminate the real data in the current state register 5 from the virtual data and continuously multiplexes this real data out of the current state registers 5 onto the display surface 10.
  • the manner of multiplexing can readily be understood by those skilled in the art.
  • the display multiplexer 9 selects the current state register 5 which is to supply data to the display surface 10. This latter multiplexer 9 is under the control of the display division register 6.
  • the display division register 6 contains the information relevant to the groupings of lights into categories on the display surface 10. This information is coded in the display division register 6 and preset by an operator once the categories are formed.
  • the column multiplexer 4 is continually feeding data to the light columns and "tells" the display division register 6 which column it is at and the display division register 6 then determines the category of lights relevant for the particular column. It selects via the display multiplexer 9 the data from the appropriate current state register 5.
  • the actual grouping of the lights on the display surface may be changed dynamically under the control of the display division register 6.
  • This change can be physical or mechanical but may also be a regrouping.
  • the former category can be altered to 1, 5, 9, 13, etc., or even a new category 1 3 6 8 10 can be formed to give greater versatility and enhance animation.
  • the "animation" control regulates the central timing generator 7 and the display division register 6. By adjusting the timing the appearance of motion, colour changes and differential motion effects can be generated.
  • a further refinement to the above- described embodiments can be achieved with an intensity control for each category.
  • the intensity control determines the duty cycle for the lights of each category during a display state period.
  • This duty cycle can be variable while the display state period remains constant.
  • one element of a graphic can be lighter or darker than another element.
  • a great range of colour mixture is possible by varying the ratios of intensity for one colour relative to the other.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Control Of Indicators Other Than Cathode Ray Tubes (AREA)
  • Control Of El Displays (AREA)
EP78300918A 1977-12-30 1978-12-29 Procédé et dispositif de visualisation Withdrawn EP0002966A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2914/77 1977-12-30
AUPD291477 1977-12-30

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0002966A1 true EP0002966A1 (fr) 1979-07-11

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ID=3767344

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EP78300918A Withdrawn EP0002966A1 (fr) 1977-12-30 1978-12-29 Procédé et dispositif de visualisation

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EP (1) EP0002966A1 (fr)
JP (1) JPS54148395A (fr)
AU (1) AU4250478A (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2569894A1 (fr) * 1984-09-04 1986-03-07 Radiotechnique Compelec Ensemble de visualisation a diodes electroluminescentes
EP0238557A4 (fr) * 1985-09-23 1989-04-24 Colour Cells Pty Ltd Affichage dynamique eclaire multicolore.

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AUPM738894A0 (en) * 1994-08-11 1994-09-01 Dr Sala & Associates Pty Ltd Dotagraph - improved display system

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2049335A1 (de) * 1969-10-09 1971-04-22 Philips Nv Lauflichtschaltgerat
US3999179A (en) * 1974-07-01 1976-12-21 International Business Machines Corporation Display panel for running characters with optical phase shift
FR2338541A1 (fr) * 1976-01-13 1977-08-12 Random Electronics Internal Pt Systemes de visualisation graphique

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2049335A1 (de) * 1969-10-09 1971-04-22 Philips Nv Lauflichtschaltgerat
US3999179A (en) * 1974-07-01 1976-12-21 International Business Machines Corporation Display panel for running characters with optical phase shift
FR2338541A1 (fr) * 1976-01-13 1977-08-12 Random Electronics Internal Pt Systemes de visualisation graphique

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2569894A1 (fr) * 1984-09-04 1986-03-07 Radiotechnique Compelec Ensemble de visualisation a diodes electroluminescentes
EP0238557A4 (fr) * 1985-09-23 1989-04-24 Colour Cells Pty Ltd Affichage dynamique eclaire multicolore.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS54148395A (en) 1979-11-20
AU4250478A (en) 1979-07-05

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Inventor name: HARRIS, ARTHUR