US3825923A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Visual display apparatus with character matrix
Assignee: Romay AG
•
Filing: 1972-09-08
•
Granted: 1974-07-23
•
Expires: 1992-09-08
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for the visual indication or display of characters, especially decimal numerical characters, which characters are associated with successive adjustments or settings of an adjustment component and a base body and of which characters there is visually indicated during each adjustment or setting the character associated therewith. The base body comprises a visual surface composed of a character matrix consisting of lines for the characters to be displayed or indicated. There are also provided cover elements adjustable by the adjustment component for the lines of the character matrix in order to cover during successive adjustments the excessive lines of the character matrix which are not needed for the visual display of the relevant character.
Inventors
- 👤 G Pirchl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 06:15
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09F; G09F9/00; G09F9/30; G09F9/37; G09F13/00; G09F13/34; H; H01; H01H; H01H9/00; H01H9/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
217 words
An apparatus for the visual displays of characters, especially decimal numerical characters, comprising a base body having a front visual surface, said front surface being equipped with a line-character matrix for the portrayal of the characters, said line-character matrix being in a configuration substantially corresponding to the numeral eight and composed of three parallel transverse extending lines and two pairs of longitudinally extending lines, and an adjustment component successively adjustable through different settings operatively associated with the line-character matrix of the base body for selectively rendering visible predetermined lines of the line-character matrix in each setting of the adjustment component corresponding to an associated character, said adjustment component and said base body being selectively adjustable into different successive positions due to relative to-and-fro movement of said adjustment component and base body, said adjustment component being provided with a window which in each adjusted position covers the front visual surface of the base body, said window hAving a cover line pattern formed of transverse lines for covering the transverse lines of the character matrix as well as means for rendering nonvisible selective lines of the longitudinally extending lines of the character matrix such that in each position there is only clearly visibly discernible the lines of the character matrix which portray the character associated with such given setting.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
217 words
An apparatus for the visual displays of characters, especially decimal numerical characters, comprising a base body having a front visual surface, said front surface being equipped with a line-character matrix for the portrayal of the characters, said line-character matrix being in a configuration substantially corresponding to the numeral eight and composed of three parallel transverse extending lines and two pairs of longitudinally extending lines, and an adjustment component successively adjustable through different settings operatively associated with the line-character matrix of the base body for selectively rendering visible predetermined lines of the line-character matrix in each setting of the adjustment component corresponding to an associated character, said adjustment component and said base body being selectively adjustable into different successive positions due to relative to-and-fro movement of said adjustment component and base body, said adjustment component being provided with a window which in each adjusted position covers the front visual surface of the base body, said window hAving a cover line pattern formed of transverse lines for covering the transverse lines of the character matrix as well as means for rendering nonvisible selective lines of the longitudinally extending lines of the character matrix such that in each position there is only clearly visibly discernible the lines of the character matrix which portray the character associated with such given setting.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said visual front surface of the base body comprises a seven line-character matrix.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said adjustment component and said base body during successive settings are displaceable transverse to the transversely extending lines of the character matrix, said adjustment component having a cover surface sliding over the visual front surface of the base body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein the character matrix at the visual front surface of the base body is arranged with its longitudinally extending lines disposed at an inclination with respect to the displacement direction of the adjustment component, the non-visible rendering means for the longitudinally extending lines of the character matrix which are to be covered comprising longitudinally extending cover lines arranged at the cover surface in successive settings.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
75 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein the cover surface for said adjustment component is non-transparent and possesses the cover line pattern including said transversely extending cover lines, said visual surface of said base body sliding over the cover surface of the adjustment component, and having a background of the same color as the cover lines of the cover surface forming the lines of the character matrix through slot-shaped openings in said cover surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the base body possesses as the visual surface a front surface with non-transparent background, said window of said adjustment component sliding upon said front surface, the side of the window confronting the front surface carrying in the form of said cover surface a pattern of said cover lines formed of non-transparent cover lines.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the base body comprises a hollow body and the lines of the character matrix comprise slot-shaped openings at the wall of the hollow body which carries said front surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the window of the adjustment component is constructed as a cylindrical lens.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
82 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1, especially for coding decimal numerical characters according to a binary code, the binary numbers being portrayed by open and closed switches, locking elements for positively determining the successive settings of the base body and the adjustment component, two closable contact elements provided for each binary position of the code, said contact elements during adjustment to one setting of the coded message are opened and closed in accordance with the numerical character associated with the setting.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein each pair of closable contact elements comprises a stationary contact and a contact spring.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the stationary contacts are arranged electrically insulated from one another at the base body and the contact springs are defined by tongue-shaped projections of a resilient element arranged at the base body, actuation means provided at the adjustment component in the individual settings for actuating the tongue-shaped projections.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 9, further including a code contact strip arranged at the base body, a resilient component with contact springs forming projections for scanning the code contact strip arranged at the adjustment component.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein a socket is secured to the base body, said contact strip having individual code tracks, said Socket having contact pins electrically connected with the individual code tracks of the code contact strip.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 9, further including a code contact strip provided at the adjustment component, electrically insulated contact springs provided at the base body for scanning the code contact strip in the successive settings.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said contact elements include contact springs, a socket secured to the base body, said socket having contact pins electrically connected with the contact springs.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-07-22 | 1978-01-21 | 1978-07-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-22 | 1982-01-21 | 1982-07-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-22 | 1986-01-21 | 1986-07-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |