Signboard for displaying optical images

Claim 2

A display system, comprising: an input matrix including a plurality of input terminals for optical conductors arranged in closely packed rows and columns; a display matrix comprising a plurality of output terminals for optical conductors arranged in spaced-apart rows and columns which correspond to the rows and columns of said input matrix; and a plurality of elongate optical conductors, each of said conductors connecting an input terminal within said input matrix to its correlative output terminal within said display matrix.

Claim 3

The display system of claim 1, wherein: said input matrix further includes a set of parallel heat-conductive plates and a set of spacers for separating said plates which form a framework for mounting said input terminals between said plates; and said display matrix further includes an array of output blocks, each of said blocks adapted to mount a separate group of said output terminals.

Claim 4

The display system of claim 1, further including: means for diffusing light extending across the display face of said display matrix; and a set of louvers extending across the display face of said display matrix for reducing glare and improving contrast.

Claim 5

The display system of claim 2, further including: a set of rod lenses mounted on the front face of said input matrix and extending parallel to said rows of input terminals for focusing light upon said input terminals.

Claim 6

A transmission unit for use in a display system, comprising: an input bundle including a group of adjacent collinear input terminals for optical conductors and a length of heat-conducting metal foil tape wrapped around said group of terminals for holding the terminals in position; an output block including a pair of foam strips cemented together to form an interface and a group of spaced-apart collinear output terminals mounted along said interface; and a group of optical conductors which connect said input terminals to their correlative output terminals so that each input terminal is coupled to an output terminal having a linear position within said group of output terminals similar to the linear position of the input terminal to which it is connected within said group of input terminals.

Claim 7

A transmission unit for use in a display system, comprising: an input bundle including a group of adjacent collinear input terminals for optical conductors and a length of heat-conducting metal foil tape wrapped around said group of terminals for holding the terminals in position; an output block including a pair of foam strips cemented together to form an interface and a group of spaced-apart collinear output terminals mounted along said interface; and a group of optical conductors which connect said input terminals to their correlative output terminals so that each input terminal is coupled to an output terminal having a linear position within said group of output terminals similar to the linear position of the input terminal to which it is connected within said group of input terminals.

Claim 8

The unit of claim 5, wherein: said optical conductors comprise optical fibers and said input and output terminals comprise the ends of said optical fibers which are cut at right angles to the long axis of said fibers and polished to facilitate the transmission of light to and from said fibers.

Claim 9

A display system, comprising: a plurality of light transmission units, each of such units including: a) an input bundle having a group of adjacent collinear optical conductor input terminals, b) an output block having a corresponding group of spaced-apart collinear optical conductor output terminals, c) a group of optical conductors connecting each input terminal to its correlative output terminal;

Claim 10

A display system, comprising: a plurality of light transmission units, each of such units including: a) an input bundle having a group of adjacent collinear optical conductor input terminals, b) an output block having a corresponding group of spaced-apart collinear optical conductor output terminals, c) a group of optical conductors connecting each input terminal to its correlative output terminal;

Claim 11

a first framework having a set of parallel plates separated by spacers for mounting said input bundles between said plates in parallel rows which also form parallel columns of input bundles; and an array including the output blocks of said transmission units stacked in adjacent parallel rows and columns corresponding on a one-to-one basis with the rows and columns of said first framework but in which the output terminals of said transmission units are spaced apart along said rows and columns by said output blocks.

Claim 12

a first framework having a set of parallel plates separated by spacers for mounting said input bundles between said plates in parallel rows which also form parallel columns of input bundles; and an array including the output blocks of said transmission units stacked in adjacent parallel rows and columns corresponding on a one-to-one basis with the rows and columns of said first framework but in which the output terminals of said transmission units are spaced apart along said rows and columns by said output blocks.

Claim 13

The system of claim 7, wherein: said input bundles include a length of metal foil tape wrapped around said input terminals for holding them in position, and said output blocks include two foam members cemented together to form an interface for mounting said output terminals.

Claim 14

The system for claim 7, further including: a set of rod lenses mounted on said first framework and extending parallel to said rows of input bundles for focusing light upon the input terminals within said bundles; and a set of light dispersing strips mounted across said array for diffusing light emanating from said output terminals.

Claim 15

The system of claim 7, further including: a set of louvers mounted on and extending across said second framework for reducing glare and improving contrast.

Claim 16

A process for manufacturing a light transmission unit for use in a display system which unit includes an input bundle of closely packed collinear optical fiber input terminals, an output block of spaced-apart collinear optical fiber output terminals and a group of optical fibers connecting said input terminals to said output terminals, said process including the steps of: drawing a group of optical fibers to the length desired across one or more spacing fixtures and a first strip of substrate material; cementing said group of optical fibers in position along an interface between said first strip and a second strip of substrate material; severing said strips longitudinally to form two output blocks each having a group of optical fiber output terminals positioned along one of its block faces and to thereby produce a production component including two such output blocks connected by a group of optical fibers; removably mounting the output blocks on each end of said production component in positioning jigs so that said optical fibers extend between said output blocks in a closely packed collinear order; securing said optical fibers together in said closely packed order to form a bundle of adjacent collinear fibers; and severing said bundle of optical fibers perpendicular to the long axis of said fibers to form two input bundles having optical fiber input terminals arranged in a closely packed collinear order and thereby produce two of said light transmission units.

Claim 17

A process for manufacturing a light transmission unit for use in a display system which unit includes an input bundle of closely packed collinear optical fiber input terminals, an output block of spaced-apart collinear optical fiber output terminals and a group of optical fibers connecting said input terminals to said output terminals, said process including the steps of: drawing a group of optical fibers to the length desired across one or more spacing fixtures and a first strip of substrate material; cementing said group of optical fibers in position along an interface between said first strip and a second strip of substrate material; severing said strips longitudinally to form two output blocks each having a group of optical fiber output terminals positioned along one of its block faces and to thereby produce a production component including two such output blocks connected by a group of optical fibers; removably mounting the output blocks on each end of said production component in positioning jigs so that said optical fibers extend between said output blocks in a closely packed collinear order; securing said optical fibers together in said closely packed order to form a bundle of adjacent collinear fibers; and severing said bundle of optical fibers perpendicular to the long axis of said fibers to form two input bundles having optical fiber input terminals arranged in a closely packed collinear order and thereby produce two of said light transmission units.