US3582937A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Display sign and controls
Assignee: American Sign and Indicator Corp
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Filing: 1969-04-21
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Granted: 1971-06-01
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Expires: 1989-04-21
Abstract
Abstract A display sign comprising a plurality of modules each having a movable tape with desired indicia imprinted thereon. Motoroperated control means is provided within each module to selectively return the tape to a reference condition or ''''home.'''' Operating controls are provided to selectively move the tape from this reference condition to a final condition wherein the desired indicia is displayed on the module. The controls include a code input having a signal representative of the number of steps required for such movement, a pulser circuit for driving the tape controls, counting means for monitoring the pulses and a comparator for comparing the input code to the number of pulses directed to a particular module.
Inventors
- 👤 Bill E Dozer
- 👤 Charles A Ratcliffe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 11:47
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B5/00; G08B5/22; G09; G09F; G09F9/00; G09F9/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
313 words
In a display sign apparatus comprising: a sign module physically defining a visual display area; a tape having indicia thereon within a plurality of tape areas repeated along its length, one of said tape areas being a preselected reference area; and means movably mounting said tape to said module for selective positioning of the tape areas within the bounds of said display area; the improvement comprising: tape drive means including a motor and power train operatively engaging the tape for moving the tape across the display area in incremental steps corresponding to the spacing of the tape area; homing means operably connected to said tape drive means for selectively positioning the reference area of the tape within the bounds of the tape module display area; code means having a plurality of input elements preset according to the indicia desired within the sign module display area, said code means including an output element for transmission of a signal representative of the number of incremental steps the tape must be moved to shift the tape between a reference condition wherein the tape reference area is within the bounds of tHe sign module display area and a final condition wherein the tape area containing the desired indicia is positioned within the bounds of the sign module display area; selectively actuated pulser means including output means for carrying a repetitive master pulse signal produced thereby; counting means operatively connected to the output means of said pulser means for monitoring the number of pulses produced thereby in the repetitive master pulse signal; and comparator means operatively connected to the code means output element, to said counting means and to said tape drive means for terminating operation of said tape drive means when the number of master pulses monitored by said counting means equals the number of incremental steps represented by the signal at said code means output element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
313 words
In a display sign apparatus comprising: a sign module physically defining a visual display area; a tape having indicia thereon within a plurality of tape areas repeated along its length, one of said tape areas being a preselected reference area; and means movably mounting said tape to said module for selective positioning of the tape areas within the bounds of said display area; the improvement comprising: tape drive means including a motor and power train operatively engaging the tape for moving the tape across the display area in incremental steps corresponding to the spacing of the tape area; homing means operably connected to said tape drive means for selectively positioning the reference area of the tape within the bounds of the tape module display area; code means having a plurality of input elements preset according to the indicia desired within the sign module display area, said code means including an output element for transmission of a signal representative of the number of incremental steps the tape must be moved to shift the tape between a reference condition wherein the tape reference area is within the bounds of tHe sign module display area and a final condition wherein the tape area containing the desired indicia is positioned within the bounds of the sign module display area; selectively actuated pulser means including output means for carrying a repetitive master pulse signal produced thereby; counting means operatively connected to the output means of said pulser means for monitoring the number of pulses produced thereby in the repetitive master pulse signal; and comparator means operatively connected to the code means output element, to said counting means and to said tape drive means for terminating operation of said tape drive means when the number of master pulses monitored by said counting means equals the number of incremental steps represented by the signal at said code means output element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
188 words
The apparatus as set out in claim 1 wherein said tape drive means comprises forward and reverse motor circuits for respectively moving the tape across the sign module display area in opposite directions; said code means being preset to provide a signal at the output thereof which is indicative of the direction the tape is to be moved between its original and final condition; said comparator means having a first output means for transmission of the master pulse signal and second output means connected to the pulse-controlled circuit means for transmission of a signal corresponding to the required direction of tape movement as indicated thereto by the signal of said code means output element; first switching means operatively connected to the first output means of said comparator means for transmission of the master pulse when actuated; and second switching means operatively connected in series between said first switching means and the forward and reverse motor circuits of said tape drive means, said second switching means being operatively connected to the second output means of said comparator means so as to selectively be actuated by the signal transmitted thereby.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus as set out in claim 2 further comprising: means on the sign module operatively connected to the tape to provide an electrical indication of the direction the tape has been moved with respect to the tape reference condition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
104 words
The apparatus as set out in claim 2 wherein said homing means comprises a selectively activated bus adapted to operate said forward and reverse circuits when connected thereto; and alternately actuated switching means operatively connected to the tape and electrically interposed between said bus and said forward and reverse motor circuits respectively, said switching means being adapted to alternately complete the respective forward and reverse motor circuits of said tape drive means relative to the bus of said homing means dependent upon the direction in which the tape wqs previously moved across the sign module display area with respect to the tape reference condition.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus as set out in claim 4 wherein said alternately actuated switching means deactivates the forward and reverse motor circuits of said tape drive means upon positioning of the tape reference area within the bounds of the display area.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
102 words
The apparatus as set out in claim 1 wherein said tape drive means comprises first and second drive circuits for respectively moving the tape across the sign module display area in opposite directions; said homing means comprising a selectively activated bus adapted to operate said first and second drive circuits when connected thereto; and switch means operatively connected to the tape for completing an electrical circuit between one of said first and second drive circuits and said bus dependent upon the direction in which the tape was previously moved across said sign module display area in relation to the tape reference condition.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus as set out in claim 6 wherein said switch means deactivates the first and second drive circuits of said tape drive means upon positioning of the tape refereNce area within the bounds of the display area.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
123 words
The apparatus as set out in claim 6 wherein said switch means comprises: a first switch operatively connected to the tape in such fashion as to be actuated upon movement of the tape in a first direction from the tape or reference condition, said first switch being electrically interposed between the bus of said homing means and the first drive circuit of said tape drive means; and a second switch operatively connected to the tape in such fashion as to be actuated upon movement of the tape in a direction opposite to said first direction from the tape reference condition, said second switch being electrically interposed between the bus of said homing means and the second drive circuit of said tape drive means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
120 words
The apparatus as set out in claim 1 wherein said tape drive means comprises first drive circuit means for moving the tape across the sign module display area in a preselected direction of movement with respect to the tape reference condition; and second drive circuit means for moving the tape across the sign module display area in a direction opposite to said preselected direction; said homing means comprising selectively activated bus means for actuating said first drive circuit means; and means operatively responsive to tape movement from the tape reference condition in said preselected direction said last-named means being electrically interposed between the bus means of said homing means and the second drive circuit means of said tape drive means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
182 words
The apparatus as set out in claim 1 wherein said tape drive means comprises: a first gate-controlled conductive element interposed in the control circuitry of said motor adapted by application of conducting current to its gate connection to cause the motor to move the tape across the sign module display area in a first direction of movement from the tape reference condition; selectively actuated conductive means interposed between the gate of said first gate controlled conductor element and the output of said comparator means; first means on said module operatively responsive to tape movement in said first direction electrically connected in parallel with said selectively actuated conductive means to continue motor operation after reception of a master pulse at the gate of said first gate controlled conductive element; and second means on said module indicative of the centering of each tape area with respect to the sign module display area, said second means being electrically in series with said first means and the gate of said first gate controlled conductive element for terminating motor operation upon such centering of each tape area.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
147 words
The apparatus as set out in claim 10 wherein said tape drive means further comprises: a second gate-controlled conductive element interposed in the control circuitry of said motor adapted, when actuated by application of conducting current to its gate connection, to move the tape across the sign module display area in a second direction of movement opposite to said first direction; said selectively actuated conductive means being also interposed between the gate of said second gate-controlled conductive element and the output of said comparator means; third means operatively responsive to tape movement in said second direction electrically connected in parallel with said selectively actuated conductive means to continue motor operation after reception of a master pulse at the gate of said second gate controlled conductive element; said second means being also electrically in series with said third means and the gate of said second gate-controlled conductive element.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
111 words
The apparatus as set out in claim 11 further comprising: first and second output elements in said comparator means for transmission of electrical signals indicative of the direction of movement required of the tape between the tape reference area and the tape final condition as preset bY the input elements of said code means; first switching means controlled by the first output element of said comparator means and electrically interposed between said selectively actuated conductive means and said first gate-controlled conductive element; and second switching means controlled by the second output element of said comparator means and electrically interposed between said selectively actuated conductive means and said second gate-controlled conductive element.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
72 words
An apparatus as set out in claim 1 comprising a plurality of said sign modules; said homing means comprising means to simultaneously position the reference area of each tape within the bounds of the tape module display area with which it is associated; said tape drive means for each tape being activated simultaneously to move each tape between the reference condition and the final condition thereof as preset by said code means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-31 | 1974-11-30 | 1975-06-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-31 | 1978-11-30 | 1979-06-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-31 | 1982-11-30 | 1983-06-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |