WO1987006047A1 - Electronic integral display and visualization device - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for electronically displaying in colour and in black and white images, texts, drawings, photographs with a faithful reproduction of shades as well as electric signals. The device is comprised of an assembly of elements (4) of which the shades (7) vary by the antagonist actions of two electromagnets (1) with respect with an axis (3) on one or a plurality of permanent magnets (2) which may be replaced by soft materials. The display according to the invention may be of the lit or lighting type with a visual field of 120° which varies very little while the observer is moving. The device according to the invention is particularly intended to the advertising and informational display, all purpose signalling, visualization in electronic and data processing industries.

Description

 Electronic display and integral display device.

The present invention relates to a device for producing electronically and electromagnetically posters of images, texts, drawings and photographs in color and or in black and white, in variable densities, of any size and or in fixed density and or in variable and or fixed transmission.

Electronic posters are traditionally produced by the assembly of cathode ray tubes, liquid crystals, which have the disadvantage of being hardly visible in the sun. The assemblies of light-emitting diodes of plasma modules or simple colored cubes have the disadvantage of operating in all or nothing therefore in fixed density only and of having a correct field of vision reduced for the first two.

The device according to the invention overcomes these drawbacks.

Indeed, the posters according to the invention are of the type either illuminated or illuminating.

In the lit poster style, the appearance is similar to that of a paper poster. It can be treated to operate in black light also.

In the illuminating poster style, the brightness of the image is close to the brightness of the light source placed behind the poster. This light source can consist of electric lamps, for example fluorescent, or ambient light, or the sky, or the sun, or any other balanced light source so that the image to be perceived becomes sufficiently bright. Illuminated type posters consist of tube elements (4) from 0.05 cm to 200 cm in diameter and from 0.05 cm to 200 cm in length. These tubes can have planar facets of all shapes according to their use and colors (7) as much as we want according to the use also, example: monoch rome with gradient or bich rome without gradient, or fluorescent or luminescent in light black or reflectorized, U np oi nt of the mag e ep could be made up of one or more elements s (4) of the same color (7) or different colors bright or aate or fluorescent or luminescent or photo-luainescent or reflective or phosphorescent. In the same point, the elements (4) can be assembled on different axes (3) so as many axes as elements in figure 4 or on the same axis so in coaxial elements figura 5. The mobile element can be crossed pmr a short or long, pointed or round axis (3) or pivot on one or more balls (9) Figure 5.

In the illuminating poster style, the elements are constituted by transparent or translucent windows (5) figure 3, colored or not, shiny or dull, in glass or in synthetic materials, or in glass and in synthetic matter, or in composite material. These windows (5) can be round, square, rectangular, hexagonal, ellipsoidal, flat, tubular or sea-tubular for example, or other shapes of writable dimensions in circles from 0.05 to 200 ca in diameter. The assembly of the elements by points and the arrangements of the points can be carried out in various ways, for example as in figure 4 or figure 5. Similarly, a point can count one or more elements: for example figure 4, figure 5, three elements in the case of trichromy, where one chooses a set of three colors (for example Cyan Magenta and Yellow or another set) which allows the human eye to carry out physiologically and physically the synthesis of all other colors at correct viewing distance. Regarding the example cited, if the three elements constitute a square of 0.6 ca per side, the minimum correct distance is 12 meters. For 1.2 ca per side, 24 meters minimum is required; all these values relate to the illuminated system. In the lighting system the correct viewing distances for the same squares are less than these. The elements can be separated by rulers (8) or thrust washers (12) in Figure 5.

Illuminated and illuminating systems use the same engine types to operate. The device according to the invention comprises two of them: the motor known as with a permanent magnet in FIG. 1 or the motor known as with a soft material in FIG. 7. These two propellers are produced according to the same principle: permanent magnets (2) or soft materials (13 ), mobilized by an axis (3), are the seat of opposing forces with respect to this axis (3) under the magnetic fields of two electromagnets (1).

The so-called permanent magnet motor in FIG. 1 comprises a permanent magnet (2) in FIG. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 or more permanent magnets (11) in FIG. 3, pivoting, actuated by the magnetic fields created by two electro-aiaanta ( 1), controlled electronically and or electrically so as to create with the magnets, βor two attractive forces, either two repulsive forces, or an attractive force and a repulsive force. Figure 1 shows some configuration examples according to the invention, limited to a permanent magnet for understanding the system. The action of one of the electromagnets (1) on the permanent magnet with respect to the axis (3) of rotation is opposite to that of the other.

The two electromagnets (1) of each element are supplied so that, for example, the sum in absolute value of the voltages at their terminals is constant and equal to 4 volts or other reference values. It is also possible to set a reference threshold voltage for example 2 volts, voltage below which neither of the two electro-aiaants (1) of the motor according to the invention will drop, unless the voltages are zero at the same time, this which neutralizes any inertia. The movement is created and controlled by variations in the supply voltages of the electromagnets (1). The sum of the voltages can be constant and or regulated.

When the magnet is integral with the tube or constitutes the tube itself, it pivots around the axis of the element, making it rotate. In the case of the transparent or translucent elements in FIG. 3, the magnets are shutters (11) on the t raj ectory of the light rays (6) between the windows (5) and the light source, whether they are integral or not of these elements. What transparent (5) or translucent materials of the festivals (5).

The so-called soft material motor differs from the previous one in that the permanent magnet is replaced by a soft material: for example soft iron, muraetal, permalloy, soft ferrites, sheets of mild steel with silicon molecules or grain oriented or not, in which the magnetic isotropy esc the greatest possible. In the permanent magnet, the magnetic anisotropy is as marked as possible, whatever its origin; the coercive field and the remanent magnetization are high so that it remains stable; the magnet material is endowed with hysteresis. Unlike the permanent magnet, soft materials, ferro-magnetic bodies for example, dolvent be able to channel and concentrate high magnetic fluxes with a weak excitation for example 10 000 Gauss for 0.1 to the Oersted, present a great saturation magnetization, high maximum magnetic permeability, a low coercive field and zero remanent magnetization in a zero magnetic field, as well as a coefficient of variation of initial permeability as reduced as possible.

Figure 7 shows some possible configurations from soft materials (13) without limiting them.

It is sometimes necessary to add to the device according to the invention a rod with two reflecting faces (10).

6 between the elements, mainly for the configuration of points with separate axes. This double mirror (10) preserves the quality of the shades obtained in a visual field of 120 from left to right and from right to left, from bottom to top and from top to bottom, guaranteeing a maximum loss of visual field of 15 per example. Whatever the shape of this double mirror (10), we can calculate its position in Figure 6 according to its shape and dimensions for maximum efficiency. The shape can be triangular, tubular, planar, trapezoidal, ellipsoidal or other. The example which follows in FIG. 6 is not limiting, but presents an embodiment of this rod (10) with two reflecting faces.

FIG. 6 represents a plane section perpendicular to two neighboring tubular elements (4) with separate axes (3) and a mirror (10) with two cylindrical faces, the radii of curvature of which are equal to the radius of curvature of the cylindrical όleaents (4) represented by the circles C1 and C2 The air separator is located between the two elements (4). The two circles of center C1 and C2 and of radius r represent the two neighboring elements (4). From the right of the centers C1 and C2 we draw the isosceles triangle ωC1 C2 with ωC1 C2 - ωC2 C1 = 30 °. The orthogonal to the point CO at the perpendicular to the segaeπt C1 C2 is the line of the centers of the circles, on the section plane, FIG. 6, of the cylinders delimiting the air.

We draw the tangents T1 and T2 respectively to the circles C1 and C2, in I1 and I2 so that II C2 C1 = 30 ° = 12 C1 C2 in absolute value. The tangents T1 and T2 respectively intersect the lines CO C1 and COC2 at A and B; from B and A we draw the circles of radius r which cut the line of the centers of the mirrors in 01 and 02 which are these centers. We then draw the circles of radius r and center C1 and C2 and we obtain the curvatures of the airer on the plane of Figure 6 The lines II I2 and AS unty the useful part of each face, therefore the airer.

The trajectories of rays 06 and & on the plane in figure 6, illustrate the functioning of the reflecting system, referring to the observer located in the direction of these rays, the image of the hidden part of element C1.

In order to lower the production cost, it is possible to assemble on an movable bar all the electromagnets of the same horizontal line (or vertical depending on the arrangement of the elements) so as to order the entire poster line by line. We separate and lodge a part of each motor of a line in this movable bar to put it in coaaun with all the other lines, so as to coaaander the movement of the permanent magnet of each element. Data is then transferred magnetically from the bar, in silence, without contact.

One or more mobile data transfer bars can be installed. The information can also be transmitted by optoelectronics from the bar, the engines res so many on the poster. The management of each of the elements can be taken care of by an electronic central unit without using a movable bar. The instructions can come from a computer, an optical track, a magnetic tape, a video camera, mono or tritubes, a bipolar static shift register scanner (Plasma-Coupled Device or PCD), Charge-Coupled Device (CCD), videodisc or any other system for transmitting light information in the form of voltages, digital or analog. The device according to the invention makes it possible inter alia to produce computer generated images because it can include a very large number of elements (4), for example six million. An image element can be defined for the information managing three elements (4) grouped in square.

The industrial applications of the device according to the invention are multiple, thanks to the flexibility of the implementation: Media: new advertising, communication and information medium.

Signage: all-purpose indicator panels. Display: from the miniature display to the giant display. Visualization: the device according to the invention can be used to visualize electrical phenomena; on the other hand it is easy to write graduations on the cylindrical tubes or to code the light transmissions of the device according to the invention which thus becomes a memory measuring device, without spiral or return spring; because the last value entered is permanently memorized until the next measurement or reset.

Decors: theater, museum, cinema, television, exhibition.

Teaching: electronic ab abeau.

Logistics: management boards, planning boards, control boards, indicators.

Computer-generated images: an image element that can include, for example, three elements grouped in a square. The permanent magnet can be metallic, aluminum-iron-copper-titanium-platinum-nickel-cobalt, rare earth-cobalt, ferrites, magnetic rubber or magnetic synthetic materials or magnetic resins.

The soft materials can be ferromagnetic bodies, without aptitude for the remanent magnetization, sheets in soft steels with grain silicon or with oriented molecules or not, soft ferrites, mumétal, permalloy or elements sintered from powders magnetic materials not suitable for remanent magnetization and synthetic materials or rubber or composite materials.

Opaque elements can be painted with any light-resistant paints and paints or varnishes or inks, or phosphorescent, or reflective or fluorescent, or luminescent, or photoluminescent, or with colored adhesives and the transparent or translucent elements can be mass-dyed or covered with transparent or translucent colored varnishes.

The types of motor according to the invention can be used as measurement and display instruments with reset to zero without spring or return spiral, with the possibility of memorizing the last signal value between.

Claims

CLAIMS l) Device for making posters in color and or in black and white, comprising one or more permanent magnets or soft materials, rotating around an axis traversing or not the magnets or soft materials, driving a colored metal tube , in glass or in synthetic materials from 0.05 cm to 200 cm or a shutter in the light compared to a window in transparent or translucent material colored or not whose dimensions are writable in circles from 0.05 cm to 200 cm in diameter, characterized in that the angle of rotation relative to the axis αe the rotating element is variable from Oº to 120º and that it can thus take an infinity of values between these two extreme values including the latter two , gradually and continuously. 2) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the progressive and continuous variable rotation movement of the rotating element is generated by the variable, progressive and continuous antagonistic effects of two electromagnets, relative to the axis of rotation . 3) Device according to claims 1 and 2 characterized in that the sum in absolute value of the supply voltages of the two electromagnets (1) is constant and or regulated while these voltages vary with the possibility of not going down to- below a predetermined threshold to neutralize any inertia, except when the voltages are zero at the same time. 4) Device according to claims 1,2 and 3 wherein each display element comprises two colors chosen for the production of black and white images for example or in two other colors with all the shades and all the gradations included between these two colors, characterized by the fact that an image element is made up of only one display element. 5) Device according to claims 1,2 and 3 wherein each display element comprises two colors chosen for the production of color images with all shades and all gradations of all colors, characterized in that an image element is made up of two or three display elements, for example: black-cyan, black-magenta, black-yellow. 6) Device according to claim 4 wherein the movable elements pivot about a long or short axis, pointed or round or on one or more balls, characterized in that the elements are supported by rulers or rings crimped on the 'axis. 7) Device according to claims 4 and 5 characterized in that a rod with double reflecting faces is placed between two parallel elements to reduce the loss of quality of the nuances when the direction of observation deviates from normal to l poster, left or right, top or bottom, having a flat or triangular or round or ellipsoidal or other shape or the shape of the rod (10) of Figure 6. 8) Oispositif according to claims 1,2 and 3 wherein the permanent magnet may be metallic, alurainium-iron-copper-titanium-platinum-nickel-cobalt alloy, rare earth-cobalt, ferrites, magnetic rubber or in magnetic synthetic materials or magnetic resins and that the soft materials can be ferro-magnetic bodies, without aptitude for remanent magnetization, tô in soft steels with grain silicon or with oriented molecules or not, soft ferrites, mumetal, permalloy or sintered elements from magnetic powders not suitable for remanent magnetization and synthetic materials or rubber or composite materials, characterized in that all these materials are suitable for the analog operation of all of the propelling elements . 9) Device according to claims 1, 2 and 3 wherein a part of the motor is housed in a movable bar to be common to several elements, characterized in that this part of the motor consists of two electromagnets operating in an analog manner because their voltages power supply is continuously variable and the sum of the voltages of each electromagnet is constant even though they may be unequal. 10) Device according to claims 1,2 and 3 dan a movable bar peraet an opto-electronic data transmission to control each motor element assembly, characterized in that this transmission is analog and adapted to the analog operation of each motor element . 11) Device according to claims 4 and 5 wherein analog-digital-analog conversion systems are used using electronic circuits, computers, electronic cameras, video discs, scanners, video recorders, transmitters luminous information, etc., to produce a black and white and or color image with an infinity of nuances, of contrasts, on a poster with rotating elements, characterized in that this poster consists of analog rotating elements having an infinity of stable states. 12) Device according to claims 1,2,3 wherein this type of motor can be used as a measurement and display instrument, characterized in that i is analog, without spring, or return spiral, without the need for reset between each measurement and that there is an analog memory of the last signal entered.