US3639747A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dial display device
Assignee: Thomas International Corp
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Filing: 1969-06-11
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Granted: 1972-02-01
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Expires: 1989-06-11
Abstract
Abstract A dial display for providing an indication corresponding to an input signal such as corresponding to the tuning of a radio device. The dial display utilizes a series of light transmitting elements for piping light from a light transfer member to a front display position. The light transmitting elements are grouped to have a front portion thereof effectively define a visually observable dial indicator. The light transfer member is selectively positionable by means of a suitable indicating mechanism such as a meter movement. The transfer member receives light from a light source to produce a localized high level of light emission from the dial display corresponding to the position of the indicating mechanism. The light source is further utilized to provide a background low level illumination emission from the dial display which may be of a color differing from that of the localized high level emission. The transfer member may comprise a piped light member, an apertured member, a filter member, etc., to provide the localized indication in the dial display. The transfer member may also take the form of an opaque element and in effect cast a shadow on the light transmitting elements as an indication of its position. The light transmitting elements may be formed in groups for facilitated assembly.
Inventors
- 👤 Hans Schmidt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 20:25
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03J; H03J1/00; H03J1/02; H03J1/04; H03J1/042
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
168 words
A dial display device comprising: a plurality of fixed light transmitting elements each having a light emitting front portion and a light receiving portion spaced from said front portion; means supporting said elements to dispose said front portions in a preselected juxtaposed series; a light source; a light transmitting transfer member having a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion spaced from said light emitting portion; means for supporting said transfer member to receive light from said light source and move said light emitting portion thereof selectively in registry with different ones of said light receiving portions of said elements, whereby light is emitted from different ones of said light transmitting element front portions as a function of the movement of said transfer member; and means for providing a relatively low level light emission from a substantial number of said light emitting portions of said light transmitting elements concurrently with a relatively high level light emission from the light transmitting element receiving light from said transfer member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
168 words
A dial display device comprising: a plurality of fixed light transmitting elements each having a light emitting front portion and a light receiving portion spaced from said front portion; means supporting said elements to dispose said front portions in a preselected juxtaposed series; a light source; a light transmitting transfer member having a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion spaced from said light emitting portion; means for supporting said transfer member to receive light from said light source and move said light emitting portion thereof selectively in registry with different ones of said light receiving portions of said elements, whereby light is emitted from different ones of said light transmitting element front portions as a function of the movement of said transfer member; and means for providing a relatively low level light emission from a substantial number of said light emitting portions of said light transmitting elements concurrently with a relatively high level light emission from the light transmitting element receiving light from said transfer member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The dial display device of claim 1 wherein said low level light emission comprises light of a color differing from that of said high level light emission.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The dial display device of claim 1 wherein said means for providing said low level light emission comprises color filter means for transmitting colored light from said light source to said light receiving portions of said light transmitting elements.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The dial display device of claim 1 wherein said means for supporting said transfer member comprises a selectively rotatable device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The dial display device of claim 1 wherein said light emitting portions of said light transmitting elements comprise light diffusing surfaces thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The dial display device of claim 1 wherein said transfer member comprises a filter element having a small transverse size movable adjacent said light receiving portions of said light transmitting elements for causing only the light transmitting elements in registry with said filter element to show a color corresponding thereto.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
The dial display device of claim 1 wherein said transfer member comprises a light control element having a small transverse size movably adjacent said light receiving portions of said light transmitting elements for causing the light transmitting elements in registry with said transfer member to produce a different visual effect from the other light transmitting elements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The dial display device of claim 1 wherein said transfer member comprises an opaque member provided with an aperture causing only the light transmitting elements in registry with said aperture to have light emitted from the light emitting portions thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The dial display device of claim 8 wherein said aperture has a transverse size no greater than two of said light receiving portions of said light transmitting elements.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
71 words
The dial display device of claim 1 further including a second light source, a second light transmitting transfer member, and means for supporting said second transfer member to receive light from said second light source and move the light emitting portion of said second transfer member selectively in registry with different ones of said light receiving portions of said elements and means for selectively energizing said first and second light sources.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
86 words
A dial display device comprising: a plurality of fixed light transmitting elements each having a light emitting front portion and a light receiving portion spaced from said front portion; means supporting said elements to dispose said front portions in a preselected juxtaposed series; a single light source; and means for providing from said single light source a general low level light emission from substantially all of said light emittIng front portions and a localized high level light emission from selected one of said light emitting portions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
86 words
A dial display device comprising: a plurality of fixed light transmitting elements each having a light emitting front portion and a light receiving portion spaced from said front portion; means supporting said elements to dispose said front portions in a preselected juxtaposed series; a single light source; and means for providing from said single light source a general low level light emission from substantially all of said light emittIng front portions and a localized high level light emission from selected one of said light emitting portions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The dial display device of claim 11 wherein said providing means includes means for causing said low level light emission to be different in color from the high level light emission.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
The dial display device of claim 11 wherein said providing means includes means for conducting light directly from said light source to said light transmitting elements and means for filtering the light from the light source and transmitting the filtered light to said light transmitting elements.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
219 words
A display device for presenting a visual output indicative of the value of a given variable comprising: a plurality of fixed light transmitting elements, each having a light emitting surface and a light receiving surface spaced from said emitting surface; means supporting said elements to dispose said light emitting and receiving surfaces in separate preselected juxtaposed series; means for establishing a first general state of illumination on said juxtaposed series of light receiving surfaces; means for establishing a second different state of illumination of limited width on said juxtaposed series of light receiving surfaces; and means for positioning said second state of illumination on said juxtaposed series of light receiving surfaces in accordance with the value of said variable, said means for establishing a first state of illumination comprising a source of illumination consisting of a plurality of wavelengths for illuminating said light receiving surfaces of said elements and said means for establishing said second state of illumination comprising a plurality of filter means selectably movable adjacent to and in registry with the light receiving surfaces of said elements in accordance with said variable, said filter means being opaque to at least one of said plurality of wavelengths whereby said element in registry with said filter is illuminated with a different color light than the other of said elements.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
219 words
A display device for presenting a visual output indicative of the value of a given variable comprising: a plurality of fixed light transmitting elements, each having a light emitting surface and a light receiving surface spaced from said emitting surface; means supporting said elements to dispose said light emitting and receiving surfaces in separate preselected juxtaposed series; means for establishing a first general state of illumination on said juxtaposed series of light receiving surfaces; means for establishing a second different state of illumination of limited width on said juxtaposed series of light receiving surfaces; and means for positioning said second state of illumination on said juxtaposed series of light receiving surfaces in accordance with the value of said variable, said means for establishing a first state of illumination comprising a source of illumination consisting of a plurality of wavelengths for illuminating said light receiving surfaces of said elements and said means for establishing said second state of illumination comprising a plurality of filter means selectably movable adjacent to and in registry with the light receiving surfaces of said elements in accordance with said variable, said filter means being opaque to at least one of said plurality of wavelengths whereby said element in registry with said filter is illuminated with a different color light than the other of said elements.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said means for establishing a second state of illumination comprises means opaque to the illumination of said first state.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The dial display device of claim 1 wherein said low level illumination means comprises means for providing said low level light emission from substantially all of said light emitting portions.
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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) | 1975-01-31 | 1975-08-02 | 1976-02-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-31 | 1979-08-02 | 1980-02-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-31 | 1983-08-02 | 1984-02-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |