Electro optical meter system having a series lighting display and matrix scanning

Claim 2

A metering and display system for metering and displaying the value of a parameter comprising: a visual display of a scale representing a range of said parameter and a plurality of elements each of which elements is adapted to emit light when in an energized condition, said elements being arranged in visual association with said scale to form a column coextensive with at least a portion of said scale; means for providing a signal having variations at a frequency representative of the value of said parameter; counting means for counting said variations during a predetermined time interval and a plurality of driver means for intermittently and repetitively energizing each of a selected number of elements along the column formed by said elements such that the elements in said selected number of elements appear to an observer to be continuously lighted, each of said plurality of driver means being adapted to energize differing ones of said elements at differing times during one predetermined time interval so that there are fewer of said driver means than said elements, said selected number of elements being determined by the frequency of said signal whereby the lighted elements form a lighted column which may be read by an observer against the scale to determine the value of said parameter.

Claim 3

A metering and display system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said elements are light emitting diodes.

Claim 4

A metering and display system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for intermittently and repetitively energizing each of a selected number of said elements comprises means for sequentiaLly energizing said elements in said selected number of elements in the direction of increasing value of said parameter as read on said scale.

Claim 5

A metering and display system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said elements are sequentially energized beginning with the element visually associated with the lowest value of said parameter on the portion of said scale range with which said elements are coextensive.

Claim 6

A metering and display system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said elements in said selected number of elements are consecutive along the column.

Claim 7

A metering and display system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means for intermittently and repetitively energizing each of a selected number of said elements comprises means for sequentially energizing said elements in said selected number of elements in the direction of increasing value of said parameter along said scale range beginning with the element visually associated with the lowest value of said parameter on the portion of said scale range with which said elements are coextensive.

Claim 8

A metering and display system as claimed in claim 6 wherein said elements of said selected number of elements are consecutive along the column.

Claim 9

A metering and display system as claimed in claim 7 wherein said elements are light emitting diodes.

Claim 10

A metering and display system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said portion of said scale along which said elements are coextensive covers a range of values of said parameter from a first value to a second value, said second value being higher than said first value, and said elements are arranged along said portion of said scale in uniform increments of the value of said parameter.

Claim 11

A metering and display system as claimed in claim 9 wherein said elements are arranged in equally spaced increments along said column.

Claim 12

A metering and display system as claimed in claim 9 wherein said means for intermittently and repetitively energizing each of a selected number of said elements comprises means for sequentially energizing said elements beginning with the element visually associated with said first value.

Claim 13

A metering and display system as claimed in claim 11 wherein said energizing means energizes certain of said elements of said selected number of elements for a slightly longer time than other elements of said selected number of elements.

Claim 14

A metering and display system as claimed in claim 12 wherein said certain elements are arranged at uniform intervals along said column and separated by other elements.

Claim 15

A metering and display system as claimed in claim 13 wherein said energizing means energizes each of said certain elements so long as any one of the immediately succeeding other elements before the immediately succeeding one of said certain elements is energized.

Claim 16

A metering and display system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the duration of energization of each individual element decreases as said selected number of elements increases, and vice versa.

Claim 17

A metering and display system as claimed in claim 15 further including means for maintaining the intensity of each of said elements substantially invariant as the duration of energization thereof changes.

Claim 18

A metering and display system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the duration of energization for each individual element decreases as said selected number of elements increases, and vice versa.

Claim 19

A metering and display system as claimed in claim 17 further including means for maintaining the intensity of each of said elements substantially invariant as the duration of energization thereof changes.

Claim 20

A metering and display system as claimed in claim 1 including alarm means responsive to said selected number of elements exceeding a predetermined number for providing an alarm signal indicative that the value of said parameter is exceeding the value represented by said predetermined number of elements.

Claim 21

A metering and display system as claimed in claim 19 wherein said alarm means comprises means for generating said alarm signal in an audible form.

Claim 22

A metering and display system as claimed in claim 20 wherein said alarm means is arranged and constructed such that as the value of said parameter increases beyond the value represented by said predetermined number of elements, a selected characteristic of said audible alarm signal changes in accordance with the increasing value of said parameter.

Claim 23

A metering and display system for metering and displaying the value of a parameter being measured, said system comprising a visual display comprising a linear array of individual energizable elements, each of said elements emitting light when energized, and circuit means for intermittently and repetitively energizing a selected number of said elements, which selected number is determined by the value of the parameter being measured, said circuit means comprising means for developing a repetitive signal whose repetition rate represents the value of the parameter being measured, means for establishing a repetitive timing period, counting means for counting the number of times said signal occurs during each timing period, said counting means comprising a plurality of outputs which are selectively energized in accordance with the count in said counting means, means operatively coupling the outputs of said counting means with said elements of said array such that said selected number of elements are sequentially energized as the count in said counting means progresses and each of the individual elements in said selected number of elements is energized for only a fraction of the timing period with the duration of energization of each of said elements in said selected number of elements decreasing as the number of elements in said selected number of elements increases in response to increase in the value of said parameter, and vice versa, said timing period being of such duration that the individual elements appear to an observer as being continuously energized, and means further including illumination control circuit means responsive to variations in the value of said parameter for providing substantially constant intensity of illumination from said elements in said selected number of elements as the number of elements in said selected number of elements varies in response to variations in the value of said parameter.

Claim 24

A metering and display system for metering and displaying the value of a parameter being measured, said system comprising a visual display comprising a linear array of individual energizable elements, each of said elements emitting light when energized, and circuit means for intermittently and repetitively energizing a selected number of said elements, which selected number is determined by the value of the parameter being measured, said circuit means comprising means for developing a repetitive signal whose repetition rate represents the value of the parameter being measured, means for establishing a repetitive timing period, counting means for counting the number of times said signal occurs during each timing period, said counting means comprising a plurality of outputs which are selectively energized in accordance with the count in said counting means, means operatively coupling the outputs of said counting means with said elements of said array such that said selected number of elements are sequentially energized as the count in said counting means progresses and each of the individual elements in said selected number of elements is energized for only a fraction of the timing period with the duration of energization of each of said elements in said selected number of elements decreasing as the number of elements in said selected number of elements increases in response to increase in the value of said parameter, and vice versa, said timing period being of such duration that the individual elements appear to an observer as being continuously energized, and means further including illumination control circuit means responsive to variations in the value of said parameter for providing substantially constant intensity of illumination from said elements in said selected number of elements as the number of elements in said selected number of elements varies in response to variations in the value of said parameter.

Claim 25

A metering and display system as claimed in claim 22 wherein said illumination control circuit means comprises means for maintaining a generally uniform energy input to each of said elements in said selected number of elements as the number of elements in said selected number of elements varies in response to variations in the value of said parameter.

Claim 26

A metering and display system as claimed in claim 23 wherein said illumination control circuit means comprises means for supplying a voltage to each of said elements of said selected number of elements which voltage is established in accordance with the value of said parameter.

Claim 27

A metering and display system as claimed in claim 24 wherein said illumination control circuit means includes tach circuit means responsive to the repetition rate of said signal for establishing the voltage applied to each of said elements of said selected number of elements.

Claim 28

A metering and display system as claimed in claim 25 wherein said tach circuit means causes the voltage applied to said elements of said selected number of elements to increase once the number of elements in said selected number of elements exceeds a predetermined number.

Claim 29

A metering and display system as claimed in claim 26 wherein said illumination control circuit means comprises amplifying means responsive to said tach circuit means for providing said voltage to said elements in said selected number of elements in accordance with the output of said tach circuit means.

Claim 30

A metering and display system for metering and displaying the value of a parameter comprising: a viSual display of a scale representing a range of values of said parameter and a plurality of elements each of which elements is adapted to admit light when in an energized condition, said elements being arranged in visual association with said scale to form a column coextensive with at least a portion of said scale with certain of said elements representing predetermined multiples of the value of said parameter and the other elements representing intermediate values of said parameter; means for providing a signal having a characteristic representative of the value of said parameter; timing circuit means defining a repetitive timing period; a counting circuit means operatively coupled with said means for providing said signal such that the counting rate of said counting circuit means varies with the value of the parameter; said counting circuit means and said elements of said array being arranged and constructed and operatively coupled together such that a selected number of elements in said array are energized during each timing period, said selected number being determined by the value of said parameter, said selected number of elements being energized such that during each timing period a new element in said selected number of elements is temporarily energized for a fraction of the timing period each time the count in said counting circuit means changes, the duration for which each element of said selected number of elements is temporarily energized being such that each element appears to be continuously lighted whereby the lighted elements form a lighted column which may be read by an observer against the scale to determine the value of said parameter, said energizing means further energizing each of said certain elements representative of predetermined multiple values so long as any one of the immediately succeeding other elements representative of intermediate values is energized before the energization of the immediately succeeding one of said certain elements representative of predetermined multiple values.

Claim 31

A metering and display system for metering and displaying the value of a parameter comprising: a viSual display of a scale representing a range of values of said parameter and a plurality of elements each of which elements is adapted to admit light when in an energized condition, said elements being arranged in visual association with said scale to form a column coextensive with at least a portion of said scale with certain of said elements representing predetermined multiples of the value of said parameter and the other elements representing intermediate values of said parameter; means for providing a signal having a characteristic representative of the value of said parameter; timing circuit means defining a repetitive timing period; a counting circuit means operatively coupled with said means for providing said signal such that the counting rate of said counting circuit means varies with the value of the parameter; said counting circuit means and said elements of said array being arranged and constructed and operatively coupled together such that a selected number of elements in said array are energized during each timing period, said selected number being determined by the value of said parameter, said selected number of elements being energized such that during each timing period a new element in said selected number of elements is temporarily energized for a fraction of the timing period each time the count in said counting circuit means changes, the duration for which each element of said selected number of elements is temporarily energized being such that each element appears to be continuously lighted whereby the lighted elements form a lighted column which may be read by an observer against the scale to determine the value of said parameter, said energizing means further energizing each of said certain elements representative of predetermined multiple values so long as any one of the immediately succeeding other elements representative of intermediate values is energized before the energization of the immediately succeeding one of said certain elements representative of predetermined multiple values.

Claim 32

A metering and display system as claimed in claim 28 wherein said elements in said selected number of elements are energized such that not more than a majority thereof are energized at any time during each timing period.

Claim 33

A metering and display system as claimed in claim 28 wherein said energizing means energizes each of said elements in said selected number of elements by electrical current such that over at least a portion of said range of values the electrical current to each of said elements increases in magnitude as the duration of energization of each of the individual elements decreases.

Claim 34

A metering and display system as claimed in claim 28 wherein said counting circuit means comprises a more significant digit counting section associated with said certain elements and a less significant digit counting section associated with said other elements.

Claim 35

A metering and display system as claimed in claim 31 wherein said energizing means energizes said certain elements of the display which are operatively coupled with said more significant digit counting section of said counting circuit means for a longer duration than are said other elements in said selected number of elements.

Claim 36

A metering and display system as claimed in claim 28 wherein said timing circuit means comprises means for setting the duration of the timing period whereby the timing period may be set to calibrate the metering and display system.

Claim 37

Metering and display apparatus for metering and displaying the value of a parameter being measured, said apparatus comprising: a timing circuit means for establishing a repetitive timing period; a data signal means for providing a repetitive data signal whose repetition rate is representative of the value of the parameter being measured; a series lighting display composed of a plurality of individual energizable elements each of which emits light when energized; and circuit means operatively coupling said timing circuit mEans, said data signal means and said display such that during each timing period each occurrence of said data signal causes a different one of said elements along the display to be temporarily energized, the duration of energization of each element being only a fraction of each timing period but the duration of each timing period being such that the elements in the display which are energized during each timing period present to an observer the appearance of being continuously lighted whereby the elements so energized provide a display representative of the value of the parameter being measured, said circuit means being adapted to energize certain of said elements of said selected number of elements for a slightly longer time than other elements of said selected number of elements.

Claim 38

Metering and display apparatus for metering and displaying the value of a parameter being measured, said apparatus comprising: a timing circuit means for establishing a repetitive timing period; a data signal means for providing a repetitive data signal whose repetition rate is representative of the value of the parameter being measured; a series lighting display composed of a plurality of individual energizable elements each of which emits light when energized; and circuit means operatively coupling said timing circuit mEans, said data signal means and said display such that during each timing period each occurrence of said data signal causes a different one of said elements along the display to be temporarily energized, the duration of energization of each element being only a fraction of each timing period but the duration of each timing period being such that the elements in the display which are energized during each timing period present to an observer the appearance of being continuously lighted whereby the elements so energized provide a display representative of the value of the parameter being measured, said circuit means being adapted to energize certain of said elements of said selected number of elements for a slightly longer time than other elements of said selected number of elements.

Claim 39

Metering and display apparatus as claimed in claim 34 wherein said series lighting display is composed of a plurality of light emitting diodes.

Claim 40

Metering and display apparatus as claimed in claim 34 wherein the elements energized along the display during each timing period are consecutive along the display.

Claim 41

Metering and display apparatus as claimed in claim 36 wherein the consecutive elements which are energized along the display are consecutively energized with each occurrence of said data signal.

Claim 42

A metering and display apparatus as claimed in claim 34 wherein said certain elements are arranged at uniform intervals along said column and separated by other elements.

Claim 43

A metering and display apparatus as claimed in claim 38 wherein each of said certain elements remains energized so long as any one of the immediately succeeding other elements before the immediately succeeding one of said certain elements is energized.

Claim 44

A metering and display apparatus as claimed in claim 39 wherein the duration of energization of each individual element decreases as said selected number of elements increases, and vice versa.

Claim 45

A metering and display apparatus as claimed in claim 40 further including means for maintaining the intensity of each of said elements substantially invariant as the duration of energization thereof changes.

Claim 46

A speedometer system for indicating the speed of a vehicle comprising: a visual display of a speed scale representing a range of vehicle speeds and a plurality of elements each of which elements is adapted to emit light when in an energized condition, said elements being arranged in visual association with said speed scale to form a column coextensive with at least a portion of said speed scale; means for providing a speed signal having a characteristic representative of vehicle speed; means for intermittently and repetitively energizing each of a selected number of elements along the column formed by said elements such that the elements in said selected number of elements appear to an observer to be continuously lighted and such that the duration of energization of each individual element decreases as said selected number of elements increases, and vice versa, said selected number of elements being determined by said characteristic of said speed signal whereby the lighted elements form a lighted column which may be read by an observer against the speed scale to determine vehicle speed, and means for maintaining the apparent visual intensity of each of said elements substantially invariant as the duration of energization changes by altering the degree of energization of said elements with changes in the duration of energization.

Claim 47

A speedometer system for indicating the speed of a vehicle comprising: a visual display of a speed scale representing a range of vehicle speeds and a plurality of elements each of which elements is adapted to emit light when in an energized condition, said elements being arranged in visual association with said speed scale to form a column coextensive with at least a portion of said speed scale; means for providing a speed signal having a characteristic representative of vehicle speed; means for intermittently and repetitively energizing each of a selected number of elements along the column formed by said elements such that the elements in said selected number of elements appear to an observer to be continuously lighted and such that the duration of energization of each individual element decreases as said selected number of elements increases, and vice versa, said selected number of elements being determined by said characteristic of said speed signal whereby the lighted elements form a lighted column which may be read by an observer against the speed scale to determine vehicle speed, and means for maintaining the apparent visual intensity of each of said elements substantially invariant as the duration of energization changes by altering the degree of energization of said elements with changes in the duration of energization.