Electrooptical display system including optical encoding means

Claim 2

A display system comprising a display device including an array of elements including means for generating radiation and electrode means for sequentially energizing each element to produce said radiation, a message-carrying member overlayIng said array of elements and positioned to receive said radiation therefrom, said member including translucent and opaque portions disposed to form a message carried thereby, a plate overlaying said message-carrying member so that it can receive radiation generated by said elements and transmitted through said member, auxiliary radiation-producing means associated with said plate and in position to receive radiation which passes through said message-carrying member, said auxiliary radiation-producing means generating radiation when it receives radiation from said elements, some of the radiation generated thereby traveling along said plate to the edges thereof, and sensing means positioned adjacent to an edge of said plate for receiving radiation appearing at said edge of said plate.

Claim 3

The system defined in claim 1 wherein said auxiliary radiation-producing means includes particles of phosphor material which are adapted to generate radiation in response to radiation received from said display device.

Claim 4

The system defined in claim 1 wherein said auxiliary radiation-producing means comprises a layer of phosphor material disposed between said message-carrying member and said plate, said phosphor material being adapted to generate radiation within said plate in response to radiation received from said display device.

Claim 5

The system defined in claim 1 wherein said elements are arrayed in rows and columns, and said system includes means for energizing each of said elements in turn to generate a raster pattern of radiation.

Claim 6

The system defined in claim 1 wherein said elements of said display device comprise gas-filled light-producing cells.

Claim 7

The system define in claim 4 wherein said plate is made up of a plurality of separate strips, each aligned with and overlaying a row of said elements so that each said strip is positioned to receive radiation from a row of elements, and electrooptical means at an edge of each of said strips for receiving radiation therefrom.

Claim 8

A display system comprising a display device including a plurality of individual gas-filled light-producing cells arrayed in rows and columns in a common layer, electrode means coupled to each cell for firing each cell, said electrodes and said cells including means for firing said cells in a continuous series beginning with the first cell in the first row and extending from row to row to the last cell in the last row, a message-carrying member seated on said panel overlaying said array of light-producing cells, said member including translucent and opaque portions defining a message carried thereby, a plate seated on said message-carrying member and overlaying said array of light-producing cells and thus positioned to receive light generated by said cells and transmitted through said member, said plate including means within its body for receiving light from said cells and generating light in response thereto and transmitting at least some of said generated light laterally to the edges of said plate, and sensing means positioned adjacent to an edge of said plate for receiving radiation appearing at said edge of said plate.

Claim 9

A display system comprising a display device including a plurality of individual gas-filled light-producing cells arrayed in rows and columns in a common layer, electrode means coupled to each cell for firing each cell, said electrodes and said cells including means for firing said cells in a continuous series beginning with the first cell in the first row and extending from row to row to the last cell in the last row, a message-carrying member seated on said panel overlaying said array of light-producing cells, said member including translucent and opaque portions defining a message carried thereby, a plate seated on said message-carrying member and overlaying said array of light-producing cells and thus positioned to receive light generated by said cells and transmitted through said member, said plate including means within its body for receiving light from said cells and generating light in response thereto and transmitting at least some of said generated light laterally to the edges of said plate, and sensing means positioned adjacent to an edge of said plate for receiving radiation appearing at said edge of said plate.

Claim 10

The system defined in claim 7 wherein said sensing means includes electrooptical means positioned in operative relation with an edge portion of said plate for receiving light which exits therefrom for generating an electrical signal therefrom.

Claim 11

The system defined in claim 7 wherein said plate is made up of a plurality of separate strips, each aligned with and overlaying a row of said cells so that each said strip is positioned to receive radiation from a row of cells, and electrooptical means at an edge of each of said strips for receiving radiation therefrom.