Shallow display and digital clock including reflecting and masking means

Claim 2

A display comprising: a face portion having a viewed surface, a back surface opposite said viewed surface, means for providing a barrier to the transmission of light between said surfaces having at least one opening defining elongate generally rectangular light transmissive area through said face portion, and a surface formed as a flys-eye lens over said light transmissive area; walls having generally specularly reflective surfaces defining, with said back surface, a light transmissive cavity communicating with said light transmissive area, said reflective surfaces including an end surface which is approximately parabolic about an axis at a right angle to said surfaces and which axis is centered along and spaced from one side of said elongate light transmissive area with said end surface extending to the ends of said elongate area, and a generally planar rear surface extending from the side of said elongate light transmissive area opposite said axis to an intersection with said end surface and diverging with respect to said back surface from said side of the elongate light transmissive area opposite said axis at an included angle with said viewed surface of between about 30 to 60 degrees; a lamp in said cavity at said axis; and electronic means for selectively activating said lamp.

Claim 3

A display according to claim 1, wherein said reflective surfaces further include a generally planar reflective surface parallel with said axis between the back surface at the side of said elongate light transmissive area opposite said axis and said generally planar rear surface.

Claim 4

A display according to claim 1, wherein said lamp, when illuminated, produces light of a predetermined color, and said face portion includes means for restricting transmission of light of other than said predetermined color through said light transmissive area.

Claim 5

A display according to claim 1, wherein said rear surface is disposed at an included angle with said viewed surface of about 45*.

Claim 6

A display according to claim 1, wherein said lamp, when illuminated, produces light of a predetermined color, and said face portion is of a layered construction comprising a stiff transparent layer with an opaque coating of paint on one surface having an opening defining said light transmissive area; a transparent layer having a color approximately the same as said predetermined color; and a layer having said surface formed as a flys-eye lens.

Claim 7

A display comprising: a face portion having a viewed surface, a back surface opposite said viewed surface, and means for providing a barrier to the transmission of light between said surfaces having at least one opening defining an elongate generally rectangular light transmissive area through said face portion; walls having generally specularly reflective surfaces defining, with said back surface, a light transmissive cavity communicating with said light transmissive area, said reflective surfaces including an end surface which is approximately parabolic about an axis at a right angle to said surfaces and which axis is centered along and spaced from one side of said elongate light transmissive area with said end surface extending to the ends of said elongate area, a generally plAnar rear surface extending from the side of said elongate light transmissive area opposite said axis to an intersection with said end surface and diverging with respect to said back surface from said side of the elongate light transmissive area opposite said axis at an included angle with said viewed surface of between about 30* to 60*, and a generally planar reflective surface parallel with said axis between the back surface at the side of said elongate light transmissive area opposite said axis and said generally planar rear surface; a lamp in said cavity at said axis; and electronic means for selectively activating said lamp.

Claim 8

A display comprising: a face portion having a viewed surface, a back surface opposite said viewed surface, and means for providing a barrier to the transmission of light between said surfaces having at least one opening defining an elongate generally rectangular light transmissive area through said face portion; walls having generally specularly reflective surfaces defining, with said back surface, a light transmissive cavity communicating with said light transmissive area, said reflective surfaces including an end surface which is approximately parabolic about an axis at a right angle to said surfaces and which axis is centered along and spaced from one side of said elongate light transmissive area with said end surface extending to the ends of said elongate area, a generally plAnar rear surface extending from the side of said elongate light transmissive area opposite said axis to an intersection with said end surface and diverging with respect to said back surface from said side of the elongate light transmissive area opposite said axis at an included angle with said viewed surface of between about 30* to 60*, and a generally planar reflective surface parallel with said axis between the back surface at the side of said elongate light transmissive area opposite said axis and said generally planar rear surface; a lamp in said cavity at said axis; and electronic means for selectively activating said lamp.

Claim 9

A display according to claim 6, further including a surface formed as a flys-eye lens over said light transmissive area.

Claim 10

A display according to claim 6, wherein said lamp, when illuminated, produces light of a predetermined color, and said face portion includes means for restricting transmission of light of other than said predetermined color through said light transmissive area.

Claim 11

A display according to claim 6, wherein said lamp, when illuminated, produces light of a predetermined color, and said face portion is of a layered construction comprising a stiff transparent layer with an opaque coating of paint on one surface having an opening defining said light transmissive area; a transparent layer having a color approximately the same as said predetermined color over said light transmissive area; and a layer having a surface formed as a flys-eye lens over said light transmissive area.

Claim 12

A digital clock including: a display comprising a plurality of display portions having segments, including three display portions each having seven segments disposed in the shape of a straight sided figure 8, with each of said segments comprising: a face portion having a viewed surface, a back surface opposite said viewed surface, means for providing a barrier to the transmission of light between said surfaces having an opening defining an elongate generally rectangular first light transmissive area through said face portion, means for restricting transmission of light of other than a predetermined color through said first light transmissive area, and a surface formed as a flys-eye lens across said first light transmissive area; walls having generally specularly reflective surfaces defining, with said back surface, a second light transmissive area behind said face portion and communicating with said first light transmissive area, said reflective surfaces including an end surface which is approximately parabolic about an axis at a right angle to said viewed surface and which axis is centered along and spaced from one side of said first light transmissive area, with said end surface extending to the ends of said first light transmissive area, and a generally planar rear surface extending from behind the side of said first light transmissive area opposite said axis to an intersection with said end surface and diverging with respect to said viewed surface from the side of said first elongate light transmissive area opposite said axis at an included angle with said viewed surface of between about 30* to 60*; and a lamp in said second light transmissive area at said axis providing, when activated, a light of said predetermined color; and a solid state electronic circuit for selectively activating the lamps in said segments to indicate the time of day.

Claim 13

A digital clock including: a display comprising a plurality of display portions having segments, including three display portions each having seven segments disposed in the shape of a straight sided figure 8, with each of said segments comprising: a face portion having a viewed surface, a back surface opposite said viewed surface, means for providing a barrier to the transmission of light between said surfaces having an opening defining an elongate generally rectangular first light transmissive area through said face portion, means for restricting transmission of light of other than a predetermined color through said first light transmissive area, and a surface formed as a flys-eye lens across said first light transmissive area; walls having generally specularly reflective surfaces defining, with said back surface, a second light transmissive area behind said face portion and communicating with said first light transmissive area, said reflective surfaces including an end surface which is approximately parabolic about an axis at a right angle to said viewed surface and which axis is centered along and spaced from one side of said first light transmissive area, with said end surface extending to the ends of said first light transmissive area, and a generally planar rear surface extending from behind the side of said first light transmissive area opposite said axis to an intersection with said end surface and diverging with respect to said viewed surface from the side of said first elongate light transmissive area opposite said axis at an included angle with said viewed surface of between about 30* to 60*; and a lamp in said second light transmissive area at said axis providing, when activated, a light of said predetermined color; and a solid state electronic circuit for selectively activating the lamps in said segments to indicate the time of day.