Rotating ring display

Claim 2

A display comprising: a. a plurality of indicia-bearing rings of different diameters; b. means, including at least one circular track for each of said rings, for supporting said rings in a concentric, coplanar relationship, each freely rotatable independently of the other; and c. means physically separate from, but operatively coupled to, all of said rings, for rotating them at different rates in synchronism with one another.

Claim 3

A display in accordance with claim 1 and characterized further in that each of said rings carries a plurality of magnetic domains, said means for rotating said rings includes a plurality of electromagnetic means adjacent each of said rings, and means for alternately energizing said electromagnetic means.

Claim 4

A display in accordance with claim 2 and characterized further in that each said ring has adjacent thereto at least one set of three of said electromagnetic means, each of which includes a permanent magnet and an electric winding thereon.

Claim 5

A display in accordance with claim 2 and characterized further in that each said ring has adjacent thereto at least one set of two electromagnetic means, each of which includes a permanent magnet and an electric winding thereon.

Claim 6

A display in accordance with claim 1 and characterized further in that said means for supporting said rings includes a separately sealed annular chamber for enclosing each said circular track and a respective ring associated with said track.

Claim 7

A display in accordance with claim 5 and characterized further in that each of said rings carries a plurality of magnetic domains and said means for driving said rings includes a set of electrically controllable permanent magnets magnetically coupled to the magnetic domains of said rings.

Claim 8

A display comprising in combination: a. a casing; b. a plurality of concentric, sealed annular chambers in said casing, at least a portion of each of said annular chambers being visible through a transparent portion of said casing; c. a ring mounted rotatably in each of said sealed annular chambers, each ring carrying at least one indicium to be displayed through said transparent portion; and d. means for individually rotating said rings in their respective annuli in response to electric current.

Claim 9

A display comprising in combination: a. a casing; b. a plurality of concentric, sealed annular chambers in said casing, at least a portion of each of said annular chambers being visible through a transparent portion of said casing; c. a ring mounted rotatably in each of said sealed annular chambers, each ring carrying at least one indicium to be displayed through said transparent portion; and d. means for individually rotating said rings in their respective annuli in response to electric current.

Claim 10

A display device comprising a. an indicia-bearing ring carrying a plurality of spaced-apart domains; b. means including an annular bearing surface in slidable contact with said ring for rotatably supporting said ring so that its indicia are visible; and c. electrically energizable driving means adjacent to said ring but spaced therefrom for intermittently exerting a thrust upon one of said domains in a direction tending to rotate said ring upon said bearing surface.

Claim 11

A display device comprising a. an indicia-bearing ring carrying a plurality of spaced-apart domains; b. means including an annular bearing surface in slidable contact with said ring for rotatably supporting said ring so that its indicia are visible; and c. electrically energizable driving means adjacent to said ring but spaced therefrom for intermittently exerting a thrust upon one of said domains in a direction tending to rotate said ring upon said bearing surface.

Claim 12

A display device in accordance with claim 8 and characterized further in that said domains are magnetic.

Claim 13

A display device in accordance with claim 9 and characterized further in that said electrically energizable driving means includes a. a plurality of permanent magnets positioned to maintain said ring in a plurality of rest positions, and b. an electric coil coupled to each said magnet for temporarily altering their magnetic field when said coil is energized.

Claim 14

A display device in accordance with claim 8 and characterized further in that said means for rotatably supporting said ring is an annular bearing having a plurality of bearing surfaces making contact with said ring over a fraction of its total surface.

Claim 15

A display devIce in accordance with claim 11 and characterized further in that said annular bearing and said ring are both plastic, said bearing is impregnated with a lubricant, and said contact surface is sufficiently small relative to the weight of said ring to sause said lubricant to be secreted from said bearing by the pressure of said ring upon it.

Claim 16

A display in accordance with claim 7 and characterized further in that a plurality of projections extend inwardly from the walls of each of said annular chambers toward the rings mounted therein so as to restrict the movement of each of said rings to rotation.

Claim 17

In a display device having rotatably mounted indicia-bearing rings, each of which carries a plurality of spaced-apart magnetic domains, and a plurality of electromagnetic driving means magnetically coupled to said domains for rotating said ring, a method for controlling the position of said ring comprising the steps of a. applying multiphase time-spaced electric pulses to said driving means so as to rotate said ring, b. during the intervals between the occurrence of said pulses, sensing signals induced by said magnetic domains in said electromagnetic devices, c. processing said sensed signals so as to generate corrective signals, and d. applying said corrective signals to said electromagnetic means so as to introduce corrective steps into said ring.

Claim 18

In a display device having rotatably mounted indicia-bearing rings, each of which carries a plurality of spaced-apart magnetic domains, and a plurality of electromagnetic driving means magnetically coupled to said domains for rotating said ring, a method for controlling the position of said ring comprising the steps of a. applying multiphase time-spaced electric pulses to said driving means so as to rotate said ring, b. during the intervals between the occurrence of said pulses, sensing signals induced by said magnetic domains in said electromagnetic devices, c. processing said sensed signals so as to generate corrective signals, and d. applying said corrective signals to said electromagnetic means so as to introduce corrective steps into said ring.