Display system

Claim 2

An information display system comprising a message board, a plurality of display devices arranged in groups at sequential address locations on said board, input means for inserting address data segments pertaining to any desired group of display devices and display data segments pertaining to desired patterns to be displayed on a group of display devices, means for storing an inserted address data segment means for preparing for subsequent actuation the group addressed in response to said stored address segment, means responsive to a first inserted display data segment following a stored address data segment for actuating the prepared group of display devices to display the desired pattern of said first display data segment, means operable responsive to said actuating means for automatically advancing the address data in said storing means to the next sequential address, and means responsive to the insertion of each subsequent display data segment not preceded by an inserted address data segment for causing said actuating means to actuate the advanced address group of display devices to display the pattern pertaining to the display data segment and for causing said address advancing means to advance the stored address data to successive sequential addresses.

Claim 3

The display system of claim 1 wherein said display device groups are arranged in substantially an X and Y coordinate system wherein said data input means comprises means for entering the address segments in separate X and Y coordinate numerical data in binary coded decimal character form, and wherein said address storage means comprises means for storing each digit of the X and Y coordinate address data separately.

Claim 4

The display system of claim 1 wherein said data input means comprises a typewriter type keyboard.

Claim 5

The display system of claim 1 wherein means are provided for jamming the automatic advance of said address data in said address storing means responsive to the address data in said address storing means corresponding to the last group of display devices.

Claim 6

The display system of claim 1 wherein said data input means comprises a data memory device capable of having said address and display data stored therein.

Claim 7

The display system of claim 1 wherein said address data input means comprises a manually operable key for selecting a certain desired group of display devices, and means operable responsive to said key for encoding and transmitting to said address storing means the address data pertaining to said desired indicator.

Claim 8

The display system of claim 1 wherein said data input means comprises a manually operable key, means operable responsive to said key for automatically encoding and transmitting to said address storing means address data pertaining to a particular desired group of display devices, and means also resPonsive to said key for generating and transmitting to said actuating means and said causing means predetermined successive display data segments for displaying characters making up a predetermined message.

Claim 9

The information display system of claim 1 wherein said display device groups comprise a matrix of lamps arranged in rows and columns and means interconnecting corresponding rows of each of said indicator lamps, wherein said display device actuating means comprises a lamp encoder having a matrix of gate elements arranged in rows and columns corresponding to said lamp rows and columns, means connecting corresponding rows of said gate elements to corresponding rows of said lamps, each of said gate elements actuatable to enable the corresponding lamp in the selected lamp block, means responsive to the input of display data for enabling certain gate elements in said matrix dependent on the particular data to be displayed, means responsive to the storage of the address data and the input of the display data for producing strobe signals to sequentially strobe each of said columns of gate elements to thereby actuate said certain enabled elements and to simultaneously strobe each of said columns of lamps for actuating certain lamps in the selected lamp block corresponding to the certain actuated elements in said lamp encoder, and means in each of said indicators for maintaining the lamps actuated therein until said lamp block is again addressed.

Claim 10

The information display system of claim 7 wherein said display data segment generating and transmitting means comprises a plurality of gates each of which corresponds to a character in the message to be displayed, means including a clock operable responsive to the operation of said key for sequentially opening each of said gates momentarily, and a data generator operable responsive to the opening of each gate to generate data pertaining to the respective message character.

Claim 13

An information display system comprising a message board, a plurality of display lamp groups blocks at address locations on said board, a logic control system, a storage memory input means for serially entering address data and display data into said logic control system corresponding to desired lamp groups blocks and desired display characters, said memory having stored therein a plurality of serially time sequenced segments of address and display data for automatically displaying a series of display characters on said board to form an animated display sequence, and means in said logic control system operative responsive to the input of each data segment for selecting each addressed lamp groups block and actuating said addressed lamp groups block to display the desired display character.

Claim 14

An information display system comprising a message board, a plurality of display lamp groups blocks at address locations on said board, a logic control system, a storage memory input means for serially entering address data and display data into said logic control system corresponding to desired lamp groups blocks and desired display characters, said memory having stored therein a plurality of serially time sequenced segments of address and display data for automatically displaying a series of display characters on said board to form an animated display sequence, and means in said logic control system operative responsive to the input of each data segment for selecting each addressed lamp groups block and actuating said addressed lamp groups block to display the desired display character.

Claim 17

In the system of claim 12 wherein said memory comprises a magnetic tape storage.

Claim 18

An information display system comprising a message board, a plurality of groups of display devices at sequential address locations on said board, means for inserting address data and display data to display desired characters at desired locations, means for storing the address and display data connected to said data inserting means, address data decoder means at said board and connected to said address storing means for selecting an addressed display device group, a display device group encoder actuatable by said data inserting means to actuate an addressed display device group to display the desired character, means operable responsive to the storage of the address data and the insertion of the display data for transmitting the address data stored in said address storage means to said address decoder and for transmitting the desired character display data to the addressed display device group, and means for maintaining each addressed display device group actuated until subsequently readdressed, said data inserting means comprising a memory capable of storing discreet segments of address and display data and continuously transmitting said discreet segments in serial mode to said address storage means and said display device group encoder, whereby said actuated display device groups form an animated display.

Claim 19

An information display system comprising a message board, a plurality of groups of display devices at sequential address locations on said board, means for inserting address data and display data to display desired characters at desired locations, means for storing the address and display data connected to said data inserting means, address data decoder means at said board and connected to said address storing means for selecting an addressed display device group, a display device group encoder actuatable by said data inserting means to actuate an addressed display device group to display the desired character, means operable responsive to the storage of the address data and the insertion of the display data for transmitting the address data stored in said address storage means to said address decoder and for transmitting the desired character display data to the addressed display device group, and means for maintaining each addressed display device group actuated until subsequently readdressed, said data inserting means comprising a memory capable of storing discreet segments of address and display data and continuously transmitting said discreet segments in serial mode to said address storage means and said display device group encoder, whereby said actuated display device groups form an animated display.

Claim 20

For use in an information display system having a plurality of display indicators at address locations, each display indicator comprising a plurality of lamps, an electric current power supply, an electronic lamp switch in series with each of said lamps and one terminal of said power supply, an electronic reset switch connected between the other terminal of said power supply and said series connected lamps and lamp switches, means adapted to receive address signals peculiar to said indicator, means operable responsive to said address signal receiving means for opening said reset switch to open the connection between said lamps and the other side of said power supply, means adapted to receive lamp signals peculiar to selected lamps in said indicator, means operable responsive to said lamp signal receiving means for actuating each lamp switch corresponding to a selected lamp.

Claim 21

For use in an information display system having a plurality of display indicators at address locations, each display indicator comprising a plurality of lamps, an electric current power supply, an electronic lamp switch in series with each of said lamps and one terminal of said power supply, an electronic reset switch connected between the other terminal of said power supply and said series connected lamps and lamp switches, means adapted to receive address signals peculiar to said indicator, means operable responsive to said address signal receiving means for opening said reset switch to open the connection between said lamps and the other side of said power supply, means adapted to receive lamp signals peculiar to selected lamps in said indicator, means operable responsive to said lamp signal receiving means for actuating each lamp switch corresponding to a selected lamp.

Claim 22

The display indicator of claim 15 wherein said power supply is a direct current source.

Claim 23

The display indicator of claim 16 wherein said electronic lamp switches and said reset switch are SCR''s.

Claim 24

The display indicator of claim 17 wherein said reset SCR opening means comprises a monostable multivibrator having a short duty cycle with respect to the address signals and a transistor operable responsive to said multivibrator for temporarily shunting said reset SCR.

Claim 25

The display indicator of claim 17 wherein said reset SCR reactuating means comprises a monostable multivibrator having a long duty cycle with respect to said address signals and a triggering SCR operable responsive to the simultaneous operation of said multivibrator and the receipt of a lamp signal to trigger said reset SCR into conduction.

Claim 26

The display indicator of claim 19 wherein said lamp SCR actuating means comprises a gate circuit operative responsive to the receipt of said selected lamp signals and the operation of said triggering SCR for triggering each lamp SCR in the selected indicator corresponding to a selected lamp.

Claim 27

An information display system comprising a message board, a plurality of display indicators at address locations on said board, each of said indicators comprising a matrix of lamps arranged in rows and columns, address and display data input means, means for storing the address data inserted by said input means, address data decoder means connected to said address storing means for producing address signals corresponding to a desired indicator, a lamp encoder having a matrix of elements arranged in rOws and columns corresponding to said lamp rows and columns, means interconnecting the outputs of corresponding rows of said elements, means responsive to the input of display data for enabling certain elements in each row dependent on the particular data to be displayed, means for producing strobe signals to cause said address storing means to transmit the address data to said address decoder to produce said address signals and for subsequently producing column strobe signals to sequentially strobe each of said columns of elements to thereby actuate and produce row lamp signals at the outputs of said certain enabled elements; each display indicator further comprising an electric current power supply, an electronic lamp switch in series with each of said lamps and one terminal of said power supply, an electronic reset switch connected between the other terminal of said power supply and said series connected lamps and lamp switches, means in receipt of address signals corresponding to said indicator for opening said reset switch to open the connection between said lamps and the other side of said power supply, means operable responsive to the first strobe signal for reactuating said reset switch, means operable responsive to said address signal and the first column strobe signal for preparing each lamp switch in said indicator, and means responsive to the simultaneous receipt of column strobe lamp signals and row lamp signals for actuating corresponding lamp switches to energize the corresponding lamps in accordance with the display data to be displayed.

Claim 28

An information display system comprising a message board, a plurality of display indicators at address locations on said board, each of said indicators comprising a matrix of lamps arranged in rows and columns, address and display data input means, means for storing the address data inserted by said input means, address data decoder means connected to said address storing means for producing address signals corresponding to a desired indicator, a lamp encoder having a matrix of elements arranged in rOws and columns corresponding to said lamp rows and columns, means interconnecting the outputs of corresponding rows of said elements, means responsive to the input of display data for enabling certain elements in each row dependent on the particular data to be displayed, means for producing strobe signals to cause said address storing means to transmit the address data to said address decoder to produce said address signals and for subsequently producing column strobe signals to sequentially strobe each of said columns of elements to thereby actuate and produce row lamp signals at the outputs of said certain enabled elements; each display indicator further comprising an electric current power supply, an electronic lamp switch in series with each of said lamps and one terminal of said power supply, an electronic reset switch connected between the other terminal of said power supply and said series connected lamps and lamp switches, means in receipt of address signals corresponding to said indicator for opening said reset switch to open the connection between said lamps and the other side of said power supply, means operable responsive to the first strobe signal for reactuating said reset switch, means operable responsive to said address signal and the first column strobe signal for preparing each lamp switch in said indicator, and means responsive to the simultaneous receipt of column strobe lamp signals and row lamp signals for actuating corresponding lamp switches to energize the corresponding lamps in accordance with the display data to be displayed.

Claim 29

The display system of claim 21 wherein said indicators are arranged in substantially an X and Y coordinate system, wherein said data input mean comprises means for entering the indicator address in separate X and Y coordinate numerical data into binary coded decimal form, and wherein said address storage comprises means for storing each digit of the X and Y coordinate numerical data and means for encoding the address coordinate numerical data into binary coded decimal form, and wherein said address storage comprises means for storing each digit of the X and Y coordinate address data separately.

Claim 30

The display system of claim 22 wherein said address storage means comprises means responsive to said input means for recognizing a first input character indicating the immediately following data relates to an indicator address and a counter operative responsive to the input of said first character and a predetermined number of address significant digits for preparing said strobe signal producing means, and wherein said lamp encoder comprises means responsive to the receipt of legitimate display data for actuating said strobe signal producing means.

Claim 31

The display system of claim 23 wherein means are provided for automatically advancing the address data for one coordinate in said address storing means to the next highest number responsive to said strobe signal producing means.

Claim 32

The display system of claim 24 wherein means are provided for jamming the automatic advance of said address data in said address storing means responsive to the address data in said address storing means corresponding to the last indicator in said one coordinate.

Claim 33

The display system of claim 21 wherein said lamp switches and said reset switch are SCR''s.

Claim 34

The display system of claim 26 wherein said reset SCR opening means comprises a monostable multivibrator having a short duty cycle with respect to the address signals and a transistor operable responsive to said multivibrator for temporarily shunting said reset SCR.

Claim 35

The display system of claim 26 wherein said reset SCR reactuating means comprises a monostable multivibrator having a long duty cycle with respect to said address signals and a triggering SCR operable responsive to the simultaneous operation of said multivibrator and the receipt of said first column strobe signal to trigger said reset SCR into conduction.

Claim 36

An informatiOn display system comprising a message board, a plurality of display indicators at address locations on said board, each of said indicators comprising a matrix of light devices arranged in rows and columns, means interconnecting corresponding rows of each of said indicator light devices, a logic control system, operator controlled means for inserting numerical address data and display data to display desired characters at desired locations on said board, said data inserting means having a multiline output for transmitting signals to said logic control system in binary coded decimal form, said logic control system comprising a separate gate for each number and character, address storage means for each significant digit of said address data, an address counter, means responsive to the input of a special character for triggering said address counter one count and for enabling said digit storage means, means responsive to the input of each significant digit of said address data for enabling the respective digit storing means to receive and store its respective digit, a light device encoder having a matrix of elements arranged in rows and columns corresponding to said light device rows and columns, means connecting corresponding rows of said elements to corresponding rows of said indicator light devices, each of said elements actuatable to enable the corresponding light device in an addressed indicator, each of said elements actuatable to enable certain elements in said matrix of elements dependent on the particular data to be displayed on the addressed indicator, a strobe counter operable responsive to a signal from said address counter indicating the receipt and storage of the address data and a signal from said encoder indicating the encoding of a legitimate character for producing strobe signals to cause said address data storage devices to simultaneously transmit the stored data to said address decoder and thereafter to sequentially strobe each of said columns of elements to thereby actuate said certain enabled elements and to simultaneously strobe each of said columns of indicator light devices for actuating certain light devices in the selected indicator corresponding to the certain actuated elements in said light device encoder.

Claim 37

An informatiOn display system comprising a message board, a plurality of display indicators at address locations on said board, each of said indicators comprising a matrix of light devices arranged in rows and columns, means interconnecting corresponding rows of each of said indicator light devices, a logic control system, operator controlled means for inserting numerical address data and display data to display desired characters at desired locations on said board, said data inserting means having a multiline output for transmitting signals to said logic control system in binary coded decimal form, said logic control system comprising a separate gate for each number and character, address storage means for each significant digit of said address data, an address counter, means responsive to the input of a special character for triggering said address counter one count and for enabling said digit storage means, means responsive to the input of each significant digit of said address data for enabling the respective digit storing means to receive and store its respective digit, a light device encoder having a matrix of elements arranged in rows and columns corresponding to said light device rows and columns, means connecting corresponding rows of said elements to corresponding rows of said indicator light devices, each of said elements actuatable to enable the corresponding light device in an addressed indicator, each of said elements actuatable to enable certain elements in said matrix of elements dependent on the particular data to be displayed on the addressed indicator, a strobe counter operable responsive to a signal from said address counter indicating the receipt and storage of the address data and a signal from said encoder indicating the encoding of a legitimate character for producing strobe signals to cause said address data storage devices to simultaneously transmit the stored data to said address decoder and thereafter to sequentially strobe each of said columns of elements to thereby actuate said certain enabled elements and to simultaneously strobe each of said columns of indicator light devices for actuating certain light devices in the selected indicator corresponding to the certain actuated elements in said light device encoder.

Claim 38

The information display system of claim 29 wherein said light devices comprise electric lamps and wherein said indicator has a control circuit comprising a lamp switch for each lamp in said indicator, means responsive to the receipt of the address data corresponding to said indicator for preparing each of said switches in said indicator and for extinguishing any lamps in said indicator previously actuated, means responsive to the first strobe signal for enabling said indicator lamps, and means responsive to the concurrent receipt of said strobe signals and signals from said certain lamp and coder elements for actuating the lamp switches corresponding to the certain actuated elements in said lamp and coder.

Claim 39

In an information display system for displaying characters on a matrix of light devices arranged in rows and columns, a light device encoder comprising a matrix of gate elements arranged in rows and columns corresponding to said matrix of light devices, said means connecting corresponding rows of elements to corresponding rows of devices, character display data input means, each of said elements actuatable to enable the corresponding device in said matrix, means responsive to the input of display data for enabling certain elements in said matrix dependent on the particular character to be displayed, and means for sequentially strobing each of said columns of elements and each of said columns of light devices to control the transfer of encoding data in said gates to said light devices to thereby actuate corresponding light devices.

Claim 40

In an information display system for displaying characters on a matrix of light devices arranged in rows and columns, a light device encoder comprising a matrix of gate elements arranged in rows and columns corresponding to said matrix of light devices, said means connecting corresponding rows of elements to corresponding rows of devices, character display data input means, each of said elements actuatable to enable the corresponding device in said matrix, means responsive to the input of display data for enabling certain elements in said matrix dependent on the particular character to be displayed, and means for sequentially strobing each of said columns of elements and each of said columns of light devices to control the transfer of encoding data in said gates to said light devices to thereby actuate corresponding light devices.

Claim 41

In an information display system for displaying characters in a matrix arrangement of display devices arranged in rows and columns, a display device encoder comprising a matrix of elements arranged in roWs and columns corresponding to said matrix arrangement, means connecting corresponding rows of elements to corresponding rows of display devices, said elements actuatable to enable certain devices in said matrix, character display data input means, means responsive to the input of display data for enabling certain elements in said matrix dependent on the particular character to be displayed, and means for sequentially strobing each of said columns of elements to thereby actuate display devices corresponding to said enabled elements.

Claim 42

In an information display system for displaying characters in a matrix arrangement of display devices arranged in rows and columns, a display device encoder comprising a matrix of elements arranged in roWs and columns corresponding to said matrix arrangement, means connecting corresponding rows of elements to corresponding rows of display devices, said elements actuatable to enable certain devices in said matrix, character display data input means, means responsive to the input of display data for enabling certain elements in said matrix dependent on the particular character to be displayed, and means for sequentially strobing each of said columns of elements to thereby actuate display devices corresponding to said enabled elements.