Alphanumeric display device

Claim 2

An alphanumeric display device comprising support means, a plurality of circular discs supported by said support means such that arcuate viewing edge surface portions of said discs present light display surfaces, said discs being translucent when considered edgewise thereof, and light means supported by said support means rearwardly of the arcuate light display surface portions of said discs and energizable to illuminate light receiving surface portions of said discs, thereby effecting edge surface illumination of uniform brightness over the entire area of the viewing edge surface portions of said discs, the area of the light receiving portion of said discs being small relative to the area of the viewing edge surface portions of said discs, said discs and associated light means being positioned such that selective energizing of said light means produces a visual display character when said discs are viewed from a position opposite said light means.

Claim 3

An alphanumeric display device as defined in claim 1 wherein said discs are made of plastic and have unpolished peripheral edge surfaces.

Claim 4

An alphanumeric display device as defined in claim 1 including a filter cover plate supported adjacent the forward edge surfaces of said discs.

Claim 5

An alphanumeric display device as defined in claim 1 including circuit means for energizing selected of said light means upon receipt of a predetermined input command signal.

Claim 6

An alphanumeric display device as defined in claim 4 wherein said circuit means effects selective energizing of said light means upon receipt of a binary coded signal.

Claim 7

An alphanumeric display device as defined in claim 1 wherein said support means comprises a support block having slots selectively formed in a common surface thereof, and wherein said discs are received edgewise into said slots and supported therein, said light means being supported by said support block rearwardly of each of said discs and in light communication therewith.

Claim 8

An alphanumeric display device as defined in claim 6 wherein said discs have parallel opaque side surfaces with each of said discs having a width sufficient to be frictionally received and retained within its associated slot in said support block.

Claim 9

An alphanumeric display device as defined in claim 6 wherein said slots comprise first and second sets of slots, said first set of slots intersecting said second set of slots in generally transverse relation thereto, and wherein said discs are supported within said slots such that each discs is disposed between two slots disposed generally transverse to the plane of the disc.

Claim 10

An alphanumeric display device as defined in claim 6 including casing means disposed about said support block, said casing means being open on one side thereof opposite said common surface of said support block, and a filter cover secured to said casing means to cover said opening thereof and overlie said common surface of said support block, said filter cover establishing a display surface upon which a character is displayed upon selective energizing of said light means.

Claim 11

An alphanumeric display device comprising support block means having at least two substantially parallel laterally spaced slots formed in a first outer surface of said block means and disposed in a first direction, said block means having at least three vertically spaced, substantially parallel slots formed in said first outer surface and intersecting said two laterally spaced slots in a direction generally transverse thereto, a plurality of circular disc members supported edgewise within said slots such that each disc is positioned between two slots disposed transverse to the plane of the disc, each disc being translucent when considered edgewise thereof and having an arcuate viewing edge surface portion which presents a light display surface, and opaquE side surfaces, light means supported within said housing means rearwardly of each of said discs, and circuit means for selectively energizing said light means to illuminate light receiving portions of said discs thereby effecting edge surface illumination of uniform brightness over the entire viewing edge surface portions of said discs, the area of the light receiving portions of said discs being small relative to the area of the viewing edge surface portions of said discs, said discs being positioned to present a visual numerical digit display ranging from zero to nine upon selective energizing of said light means when viewed from the arcuate viewing edge portions of said discs in a direction normal to said first surface of said block means.

Claim 12

An alphanumeric display device comprising support block means having at least two substantially parallel laterally spaced slots formed in a first outer surface of said block means and disposed in a first direction, said block means having at least three vertically spaced, substantially parallel slots formed in said first outer surface and intersecting said two laterally spaced slots in a direction generally transverse thereto, a plurality of circular disc members supported edgewise within said slots such that each disc is positioned between two slots disposed transverse to the plane of the disc, each disc being translucent when considered edgewise thereof and having an arcuate viewing edge surface portion which presents a light display surface, and opaquE side surfaces, light means supported within said housing means rearwardly of each of said discs, and circuit means for selectively energizing said light means to illuminate light receiving portions of said discs thereby effecting edge surface illumination of uniform brightness over the entire viewing edge surface portions of said discs, the area of the light receiving portions of said discs being small relative to the area of the viewing edge surface portions of said discs, said discs being positioned to present a visual numerical digit display ranging from zero to nine upon selective energizing of said light means when viewed from the arcuate viewing edge portions of said discs in a direction normal to said first surface of said block means.

Claim 13

An alphanumeric device as defined in claim 10 including a casing adapted to receive said support block means therein, and a filter cover supported by said casing in overlying relation to the arcuate viewing edge surfaces of said discs such that energizing of selected of said light means effects the character display on said filter cover as viewed from the side thereof opposite said discs.

Claim 14

An alphanumeric device as defined in claim 10 wherein said discs have parallel side surfaces, each of said discs being frictionally received and retained within its associated slot, said slots having depths equal to substantially one-half the diameter of the corresponding disc received therein.