Coplanar analog display devices of the variable length bar type

Claim 2

An analogue display device for producing an analogue display in response to a digital signal, the device comprising a substantially coplanar array of electroluminescent devices arranged in a line, the array containing M adjacent groups of N adjacent light-emitting electroluminescent devices, where N>2, and the devices each having a first energising input and a second energising input; N coplanar first conductors, the rth first input of the electroluminescent devices of each odd-numbered group and the (N+1-r)th first input of the electroluminescent devices of each even-numbered group (where r 1 to N) being connected to a respective one of said first conductors, none of said first conductors crossing another; and M coplanar second conductors, each respectively connected to all the second inputs of the electroluminescent devices of a respective one of the M groups.

Claim 3

An analogue display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second conductors are coplanar with the first conductors, none of said second conductors crossing any of said first conductors.

Claim 4

An analogue display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electroluminescent devices are light emitting diodes.

Claim 5

An analogue display device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electroluminescent devices are arranged in a straight line.

Claim 6

A liquid crystal display device for producing an analogue display in response to a digital signal, the device comprising: first and second plates of electrically insulating material, the plates being arranged substantially parallel to one another to define a gap therebetween; a liquid crystal contained in the gap; a first array of electrodes arranged in a line on that surface of the first plate facing the liquid crystal, the first array containing M adjacent groups of N adjacent electrodes, where N>2; N first conductors arranged on said surface of the first plate, the rth electrode of each odd-numbered group and the (N+1-r)th electrode of each even-numbered group (where r 1 to N) being connected to a respective one of said first conductors, none of said first conductors crossing another; a second array of electrodes arranged in a corresponding line on that surface of the second plate facing the liquid crystal, opposite the first array, the second array containing M electrodes each of which is disposed opposite a respective one of the M groups of the first array; and M second conductors arranged on said surface of the second plate and each connected to a respective one of the electrodes of the second array; at least the plate on the side from which the device is viewed, and the electrodes and conductors on this plate, being substantially transparent.

Claim 7

A liquid crystal display device for producing an analogue display in response to a digital signal, the device comprising: first and second plates of electrically insulating material, the plates being arranged substantially parallel to one another to define a gap therebetween; a liquid crystal contained in the gap; a first array of electrodes arranged in a line on that surface of the first plate facing the liquid crystal, the first array containing M adjacent groups of N adjacent electrodes, where N>2; N first conductors arranged on said surface of the first plate, the rth electrode of each odd-numbered group and the (N+1-r)th electrode of each even-numbered group (where r 1 to N) being connected to a respective one of said first conductors, none of said first conductors crossing another; a second array of electrodes arranged in a corresponding line on that surface of the second plate facing the liquid crystal, opposite the first array, the second array containing M electrodes each of which is disposed opposite a respective one of the M groups of the first array; and M second conductors arranged on said surface of the second plate and each connected to a respective one of the electrodes of the second array; at least the plate on the side from which the device is viewed, and the electrodes and conductors on this plate, being substantially transparent.

Claim 8

A liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first array of electrodes is arranged in a straight line.

Claim 9

A liquid crystal display device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the straight line is arranged to be horizontally or vertically disposed in use.

Claim 10

A liquid crystal device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the electrodes and conductors are formed by the deposition of tin oxide.

Claim 11

A digital instrument for producing a digital signal representative of a number in a number system of radix N, said instrument including an analogue display device for producing an analogue display of said number in response to said digital signal, and said device comprising a substantially coplanar array of electroluminescent devices arranged in a line, the array containing M adjacent groups of N adjacent light-emitting electroluminescent devices, where N>2, and the devices each having a first energising input and a second energising input; N coplanar first conducTors, the rth first input of the electroluminescent devices of each odd-numbered group and the (N+1- r)th first input of the electroluminescent devices of each even-numbered group (where r 1 to N) being connected to a respective one of said first conductors, none of said first conductors crossing another; and M coplanar second conductors, each respectively connected to all the second inputs of the electroluminescent devices of a respective one of the M groups; wherein each one of said first conductors is arranged to correspond to a respective value of the least significant digit of said number in said number system of radix N, while each one of said second conductors is arranged to correspond to a respective value of the remainder of the number.

Claim 12

A digital instrument for producing a digital signal representative of a number in a number system of radix N, said instrument including an analogue display device for producing an analogue display of said number in response to said digital signal, and said device comprising a substantially coplanar array of electroluminescent devices arranged in a line, the array containing M adjacent groups of N adjacent light-emitting electroluminescent devices, where N>2, and the devices each having a first energising input and a second energising input; N coplanar first conducTors, the rth first input of the electroluminescent devices of each odd-numbered group and the (N+1- r)th first input of the electroluminescent devices of each even-numbered group (where r 1 to N) being connected to a respective one of said first conductors, none of said first conductors crossing another; and M coplanar second conductors, each respectively connected to all the second inputs of the electroluminescent devices of a respective one of the M groups; wherein each one of said first conductors is arranged to correspond to a respective value of the least significant digit of said number in said number system of radix N, while each one of said second conductors is arranged to correspond to a respective value of the remainder of the number.

Claim 13

A digital instrument as claimed in claim 9, and further including first and second storage means for respectively storing first and second parts of said digital signal, the first part of said digital signal being representative of the value of the least significant digit of said number in said number system of radix N and the second part of said digital signal being representative of the value of the remainder of said number; means for producing a sequence of first energising signals, each corresponding to a respective one of said second conductors, for sequential application to the second conductors; decoding means for decoding the first part of said digital signal and for producing a second energising signal in response thereto for application to that one of the first conductors which corresponds to the value of the digit represented by the first digital signal; complementing means responsive to alternate ones of said first energising signals for alternately complementing the value of the digit decoded by the decoding means; and means for simultaneously applying the first and second energising signals to the second and first conductors respectively in response to that one of the first energising signals which corresponds to the second conductor corresponding to the value of said remainder represented by the second part of said digital signal.

Claim 14

A digital instrument as claimed in claim 10, wherein the means for applying the first and second energising signals includes means for energising each of the first conductors which corresponds to a digit value lower than the value of the digit represented by the first part of said digital signal simultaneously with the energisation of said one of the first conductors, means for sequentially energising each of the second conductors corresponding to a remainder value lower than the value of the remainder represented by the second part of said digital signal, and means for energising all of the first conductors simultaneously with the energisation of the second conductors corresponding to lower remainder values.

Claim 15

A digital instrument for producing a digital signal representative of a number in a number system of radix N, said instrument including a liquid crystal display device for producing an analogue display of said number in response to said digital signal, and said device comprising: first and second plates of electrically insulating material, the plates being arranged substantially parallel to one another to define a gap therebetween; a liquid crystal contained in the gap; a first array of electrodes arranged in a line on that surface of the first plate facing the liquid crystal, the first array containing M adjacent groups of N adjacent electrodes, where N>2; N first conductors arranged on said surface of the first plate, the rth electrode of each odd-numbered group and the (N+1- r)th electrode of each even-numbered group (where r 1 to N) being connected to a respective one of said first conductors, none of said first conductors crossing another; a second array of electrodes arranged in a corresponding line on that surface of the second plate facing The liquid crystal, opposite the first array, the second array containing M electrodes each of which is disposed opposite a respective one of the M groups of the first array; and M second conductors arranged on said surface of the second plate and each connected to a respective one of the electrodes of the second array; at least the plate on the side from which the device is viewed, and the electrodes and conductors on this plate, being substantially transparent; wherein each one of said first conductors is arranged to correspond to a respective value of the least significant digit of said number in said number system of radix N, while each one of said second conductors is arranged to correspond to a respective value of the remainder of the number.

Claim 16

A digital instrument for producing a digital signal representative of a number in a number system of radix N, said instrument including a liquid crystal display device for producing an analogue display of said number in response to said digital signal, and said device comprising: first and second plates of electrically insulating material, the plates being arranged substantially parallel to one another to define a gap therebetween; a liquid crystal contained in the gap; a first array of electrodes arranged in a line on that surface of the first plate facing the liquid crystal, the first array containing M adjacent groups of N adjacent electrodes, where N>2; N first conductors arranged on said surface of the first plate, the rth electrode of each odd-numbered group and the (N+1- r)th electrode of each even-numbered group (where r 1 to N) being connected to a respective one of said first conductors, none of said first conductors crossing another; a second array of electrodes arranged in a corresponding line on that surface of the second plate facing The liquid crystal, opposite the first array, the second array containing M electrodes each of which is disposed opposite a respective one of the M groups of the first array; and M second conductors arranged on said surface of the second plate and each connected to a respective one of the electrodes of the second array; at least the plate on the side from which the device is viewed, and the electrodes and conductors on this plate, being substantially transparent; wherein each one of said first conductors is arranged to correspond to a respective value of the least significant digit of said number in said number system of radix N, while each one of said second conductors is arranged to correspond to a respective value of the remainder of the number.

Claim 17

A digital instrument as claimed in claim 12, and further including first and second storage means for respectively storing first and second parts of said digital signal, the first part of said digital signal being representative of the value of the least significant digit of said number in said number system of radix N and the second part of said digital signal being representative of the value of the remainder of said number; means for producing a sequence of first energising signals, each corresponding to a respective one of said second conductors, for sequential application to the second conductors; decoding means for decoding the first part of said digital signal and for producing a second energising signal in response thereto for application to that one of the first conductors which corresponds to the value of the digit represented by the first digital signal; complementing means responsive to alternate ones of said first energising signals for alternately complementing the value of the digit decoded by the decoding means; and means for simultaneously applying the first and second energising signals to the second and first conductors respectively in response to that one of the first energising signals which corresponds to the second conductor corresponding to the value of said remainder represented by the second part of said digital signal.

Claim 18

A digital instrument as claimed in claim 13, wherein the means for applying the first and second energising signals includes means for energising each of the first conductors which corresponds to a digit value lower than the value of the digit represented by the first part of said digital signal simultaneously with the energisation of said one of the first conductors, means for sequentially energising each of the second conductors corresponding to a remainder value lower than the value of the remainder represented by the second part of said digital signal, and means for energising all of the first conductors simultaneously with the energisation of the second conductors corresponding to lower remainder values.