Rotating display element and display unit using the same

Claim 2

A rotating display element comprising: a display surface structure having a plurality of display surface; and a permanent magnet type stepping motor mechanism; wherein the display surface structure is mounted on a rotor of the permanent magnet type stepping motor mechanism in a manner to incorporate therein the permanent magnet type stepping motor mechanism; wherein the plurality of display surfaces of the display surface structure are disposed side by side around the axis of the rotor; wherein either one of the rotor and the stator cf the permanent magnet type stepping motor mechanism is provided with a double-pole permanent magnet member having north and south magnetic poles spaced apart a 180° angular distance around the axis of the rotor; and wherein the other of the rotor and the stator of the permanent magnet type stepping motor mechanism is provided with a first magnetic member having first and second magnetic poles acting on the north and south magnetic poles of the double-pole permanent magnet member, a second magnetic member having third and fourth magnetic poles acting on the north and south magnetic poles of the double-pole permanent magnet member, a first exciting winding wound on the first magnetic member in a manner to excite the first and second magnetic poles in reverse polarities, and a second exciting winding wound on the second magnetic member in a manner to excite third and fourth magnetic poles in reverse polarities, the first and second magnetic poles of the first magnetic member being disposed at 180° intervals around the axis of the rotor and the third and fourth magnetic poles of the second magnetic member being disposed at 90° intervals around the axis of the rotor.

Claim 3

A rotating display element according to claim 1 wherein the double-pole permanent magnet member has first and second double-pole permanent magnets disposed side by side in the lengthwise direction of the axis of the rotor; the first and second magnetic poles of the first magnetic member are disposed in a manner to act on the north and south magnetic poles of the first double-pole permanent magnet; and the third and fourth magnetic poles of the second magnetic member are disposed in a manner to act on the north and south magnetic poles of the second double-pole permanent magnet.

Claim 4

A rotating display element according to claim 1 wherein the first magnetic pole of the first magnetic member is comprises first and second magnetic pole portions disposed at 90° intervals around the axis of the rotor; and the second magnetic pole of the first magnetic member comprises third and fourth magnetic pole portions disposed at 90° intervals around the axis of the rotor.

Claim 5

A rotating display element according to claim 1 wherein the double-pole permanent magnet member comprises first and second permanent magnets disposed side by side in the lengthwise direction of the axis of the rotor; the first and second magnetic poles of the first magnetic member are disposed in a manner to act on the north and south magnetic poles of the first double-pole permanent magnet; the third and fourth magnetic poles of the second magnetic member are disposed in a manner to act on the north and south magnetic poles of the second double-pole permanent magnet; the first magnetic pole of the first magnetic member comprises first and second magnetic pole portions disposed at 90° intervals around the axis of the rotor; and the second magnetic pole of the first magnetic member comprises third and fourth magnetic pole portions disposed at 90° intervals around the axis of the rotor.

Claim 6

A rotating display element according to claim 1 wherein the number of the plurality of display surface of the display structure is four.

Claim 7

A display unit comprising: a rotating display element; and a driving device for driving the rotating display unit; wherein the rotating display element comprises a display surface structure having a plurality of display surfaces, and a permanent magnet type stepping motor mechanism; wherein the display surface structure is mounted on a rotor of the permanent magnet type stepping motor mechanism in a manner to incorporate therein the permanent magnet type stepping motor mechanism; wherein the plurality of display surfaces of the display surface structure are disposed side by side around the axis of the rotor; wherein either one of the rotor and the stator of the permanent magnet type stepping motor mechanism is provided with a double-pole permanent magnet member having north and south magnetic poles spaced apart a 180° angular distance around the axis of the rotor; wherein the other of the rotor and the stator of the mermanent magnet type stepping motor mechanism is provided with a first magnetic member having first and second magnetic poles acting on the north and south magnetic poles of the double-pole permanent magnet member, a second magnetic member having third and fourth magnetic poles acting on the north and south amgnetic poles of the double-pole permanent magnet member, a first exciting winding wound on the first magnetic member in a manner to excite the first and second magnetic poles in reverse polarities, and a second exciting winding wound on the second magnetic member in a manner to excite third and fourth magnetic poles in reverse polarities, the first and second magnetic poles of the first magnetic member being disposed at 180° intervals around the axis- of the rotor and the third and fourth magnetic poles of the second magnetic member being disposed at 90° intervals around the axis of the rotor; and wherein the driving device comprises first power supply means for supplying power to the first exciting winding to magnetize the first and second magnetic poles of the first magnetic member with north and south magnetic poles, respectively, second power supply means for supplying power to the first exciting winding to magnetize the first and second magnetic poles of the first magnetic member with south and north magnetic poles, respectively, third power supply means for supplying power to the second exciting winding to magnetize the third and fourth magnetic poles of the second magnetic member with north and south magnetic poles, respectively, and fourth power supply means for supplying power to the second exciting winding to magnetize the third and fourth magnetic poles of the second magnetic member with south and north magnetic poles, respectively.

Claim 8

A display unit comprising: a rotating display element; and a driving device for driving the rotating display unit; wherein the rotating display element comprises a display surface structure having a plurality of display surfaces, and a permanent magnet type stepping motor mechanism; wherein the display surface structure is mounted on a rotor of the permanent magnet type stepping motor mechanism in a manner to incorporate therein the permanent magnet type stepping motor mechanism; wherein the plurality of display surfaces of the display surface structure are disposed side by side around the axis of the rotor; wherein either one of the rotor and the stator of the permanent magnet type stepping motor mechanism is provided with a double-pole permanent magnet member having north and south magnetic poles spaced apart a 180° angular distance around the axis of the rotor; wherein the other of the rotor and the stator of the mermanent magnet type stepping motor mechanism is provided with a first magnetic member having first and second magnetic poles acting on the north and south magnetic poles of the double-pole permanent magnet member, a second magnetic member having third and fourth magnetic poles acting on the north and south amgnetic poles of the double-pole permanent magnet member, a first exciting winding wound on the first magnetic member in a manner to excite the first and second magnetic poles in reverse polarities, and a second exciting winding wound on the second magnetic member in a manner to excite third and fourth magnetic poles in reverse polarities, the first and second magnetic poles of the first magnetic member being disposed at 180° intervals around the axis- of the rotor and the third and fourth magnetic poles of the second magnetic member being disposed at 90° intervals around the axis of the rotor; and wherein the driving device comprises first power supply means for supplying power to the first exciting winding to magnetize the first and second magnetic poles of the first magnetic member with north and south magnetic poles, respectively, second power supply means for supplying power to the first exciting winding to magnetize the first and second magnetic poles of the first magnetic member with south and north magnetic poles, respectively, third power supply means for supplying power to the second exciting winding to magnetize the third and fourth magnetic poles of the second magnetic member with north and south magnetic poles, respectively, and fourth power supply means for supplying power to the second exciting winding to magnetize the third and fourth magnetic poles of the second magnetic member with south and north magnetic poles, respectively.