Electronic display apparatus

Claim 2

A display assembly, comprising: a substrate; a plurality of optically variable indicators on said substrate arranged in an array, said indicators being grouped in first and second sets in said array; means for driving a first sub-set of said first set of indicators to form a visually discernable pointer having a first shape and representing a first measured parameter; means for driving a second sub-set of said second set of indicators to form a visually discernable pointer having a second shape and representing a second measured parameter; said first and second shapes being such that they are separately discernable when superimposed; at least one but not all of said indicators of said first and second sets being common to both sets.

Claim 3

A display assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of indicators comprise coplanar electro-optical elements.

Claim 4

A display assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said first and second driving means generate electrical output signals; and wherein said indicators are electrically responsive to said signals and have at least two optically variable states.

Claim 5

A display assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said first set of indicators comprises a plurality of identical adjacent first sub-sets of indicators; and wherein said second set of indicators comprises a like plurality of identical, adjacent second sub-sets of indicators; each of said sub-sets of said first and second sets of indicators, respectively, being disposed in partial coincidence on said substrate.

Claim 6

A display assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein each sub-set of indicators corresponds to a predetermined value of a measured parameter; and wherein said first and second driving means comprise means responsive to said first and second measured parameters, respectively, for generating first and second digital outputs; and sequencing means coupled between said generating means and said first and second sets of indicators, and reponsive to said first and second digital outputs for driving the sub-set of each of said first and second sets of indicators, respectively, corresponding to the value of said first and second measured parameters.

Claim 7

A display assembly, comprising a substrate; a plurality of identical coplanar groups of optically variable indicators on said substrate arranged adjacent each other in an array for cooperation with a scale; each of said groups of indicators being divided into a plurality of sub-groups of multiple indicators, at least one but not all of said indicators of each sub-group within each group being common to all sub-groups of that group; the indicators of each group being geometrically shaped such that each sub-group of indicators forms a differently shaped pointer whereby said pointers may be separately discerned when plural sub-groups within a group are simultaneously driven; and means for driving said sub-groups in response to measured parameters whereby plural measured parameters may be independently displayed.

Claim 8

A display assembly, comprising a substrate; a plurality of identical coplanar groups of optically variable indicators on said substrate arranged adjacent each other in an array for cooperation with a scale; each of said groups of indicators being divided into a plurality of sub-groups of multiple indicators, at least one but not all of said indicators of each sub-group within each group being common to all sub-groups of that group; the indicators of each group being geometrically shaped such that each sub-group of indicators forms a differently shaped pointer whereby said pointers may be separately discerned when plural sub-groups within a group are simultaneously driven; and means for driving said sub-groups in response to measured parameters whereby plural measured parameters may be independently displayed.

Claim 9

A display assembly for a timepiece, comprising: a clock circuit for generating an output each minute and an output each hour; a substrate;

Claim 10

A display assembly for a timepiece, comprising: a clock circuit for generating an output each minute and an output each hour; a substrate;

Claim 11

a first set of indicators arranged in a radial pattern on said substrate; a second set of indicators arranged in a radial pattern on said substrate; at least one but not all of said indicators being common to both sets; first driver means coupled between said clock circuit and said first set of indicators for driving a sub-set of said first set of indicators to simulate the appearance of a mechanical minute hand in response to minute outputs from said clock circuit; second driver menas coupled between said clock circuit and said second set of indicators for driving a sub-set of said second set of indicators to simulate the appearance of a mechanical hour hand in response to hour outputs from said clock circuit; and said sub-sets of said first and second set of indicators being shaped such that said simulated hour and minute hands may be separately discerned when superimposed.

Claim 12

a first set of indicators arranged in a radial pattern on said substrate; a second set of indicators arranged in a radial pattern on said substrate; at least one but not all of said indicators being common to both sets; first driver means coupled between said clock circuit and said first set of indicators for driving a sub-set of said first set of indicators to simulate the appearance of a mechanical minute hand in response to minute outputs from said clock circuit; second driver menas coupled between said clock circuit and said second set of indicators for driving a sub-set of said second set of indicators to simulate the appearance of a mechanical hour hand in response to hour outputs from said clock circuit; and said sub-sets of said first and second set of indicators being shaped such that said simulated hour and minute hands may be separately discerned when superimposed.

Claim 13

A display assembly for a timepiece as recited in claim 7 wherein said clock circuit generates an output each second; and further including a third set of indicators arranged in a radial pattern on said substrate, at least one but not all of said third set of indicators being common to said first and second sets; and third driver means coupled between said clock circuit and said third set of indicators for driving a sub-set of said third set of indicators to simulate the appearance of a mechanical second hand in response to second outputs from said clock circuit.

Claim 14

A display assembly for a timepiece as recited in claim 7 wherein said indicators are coplanar.

Claim 15

A display assembly for a timepiece as recited in claim 7 further including circuit means coupled between said clock circuit and said driver means for driving at least one indicator in predetermined fixed relationship with said driven group of said second set of indicators to indicate the hour in a preselected different time zone.

Claim 16

A display assembly for a timepiece as recited in claim 7 further including network means coupled to said indicators for driving at least one of said indicators to indicate a preselected fixed time.

Claim 17

A display assembly for a timepiece as recited in claim 7 wherein said clock circuit generates an output each day and an output each month; and further including means for displaying an indication of the month, date and day of the week.

Claim 18

A day of the week display, comprising: a rectilinear array of seven electro-optical indicators having no indicia; five of said indicators being equally spaced apart from each other to form a group representing from left to right the days Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, respectively; the remaining two indicators being disposed one on each side of said group, each at a distance from its next adjacent indicator greater than the distance between the indicators of said group such that said group may be separately discerned apart from said remaining two indicators, said remaining two indicators representing the days Sunday and Saturday, respectively; and a clock circuit generating an electrical output each day and cooperating with said seven indicators for driving each of said indicators in timed sequence to effect an indication of the day of the week whereby the day of the week may be displayed without the use of indicia.

Claim 19

A day of the week display, comprising: a rectilinear array of seven electro-optical indicators having no indicia; five of said indicators being equally spaced apart from each other to form a group representing from left to right the days Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, respectively; the remaining two indicators being disposed one on each side of said group, each at a distance from its next adjacent indicator greater than the distance between the indicators of said group such that said group may be separately discerned apart from said remaining two indicators, said remaining two indicators representing the days Sunday and Saturday, respectively; and a clock circuit generating an electrical output each day and cooperating with said seven indicators for driving each of said indicators in timed sequence to effect an indication of the day of the week whereby the day of the week may be displayed without the use of indicia.

Claim 20

A display assembly as recited in claim 6, wherein said plurality of identical coplanar groups comprise at least sixty pie-shaped groups arranged in a radial array, each group containing ten electro-optical indicator elements.

Claim 21

A display assembly as recited in claim 14, wherein said ten elements of each group comprise: a first elongated rectangular element disposed along a radial line bisecting said group; a second elongated rectangular element shorter in length than said first rectangular element and disposed in an outer radial position adjacent said first rectangular element along said radial line; a first pair of polygonal elements disposed one on each side of said first rectangular element; a second pair of polygonal elements disposed one on each side of respective ones of said first pair of polygonal elements; each element of said first and second pairs of elements having first and second radial edges, an inner edge generally normal to said radial edges, and an outer edge angled toward said radial line going in a radially outward direction; a third pair of polygonal elements disposed one on each side of said second rectangular element; each element of said third pair of elements having first and second radial edges, and inner and outer edges angled toward said radial line going in a radially outward direction; the inner edge of each element being adjacent and parallel to the outer edge of a respective one of said first pair of polygonal elements; and a pair of triangular electrodes disposed one on each side of said second rectangular element adjacent the radially outermost end thereof and cooperating with said second rectangular element to form an arrow-head therefor; said first rectangular element and said first and second pairs of polygonal elements comprising a first sub-group; said first and second rectangular elements and said first and third pairs of polygonal elements comprising a second sub-group; and said first and second rectangular elements and said pair of triangular elements comprising a third sub-group.

Claim 22

A display assembly, comprising a substrate; at least sixty identical coplanar groups of electro-optical indicator elements arranged adjacent each other in a radial array for cooperation with a scale; each of said groups containing: a first elongated rectangular element disposed along a radial line bisecting said group; a second elongated rectangular element shorter in length than said first rectangular element and disposed in an outer radial position adjacent said first rectangular element along said radial line; a first pair of polygonal elements disposed one on each side of said first rectangular element; a second pair of polygonal elements disposed one on each side of said first rectangular element; a third pair of polygonal elements disposed one on each side of said second rectangular element; and a pair of triangular electrodes disposed one on each side of said second rectangular element adjacent the radially outermost end thereof and cooperating with said second rectangular element to form an arrow-head therefor; means for driving said first rectangular element said first and second pairs of polygonal elements, and an adjacent element of the first pair of elements of each adjacent group to form a visually discernable pointer having a first shape and representing a first measured parameter; means for driving said first and second rectangular elements and said first, second and third paris of polygonal elements to form a visually discernable pointer having a second shape and representing a second measured parameter; and means for driving said first and second rectangular elements and said pair of triangular elements to form a visually discernable pointer having a third shape and representing a third measured parameter; said first, second and third shapes being such that they are separately discernable when superimposed.

Claim 23

A display assembly, comprising a substrate; at least sixty identical coplanar groups of electro-optical indicator elements arranged adjacent each other in a radial array for cooperation with a scale; each of said groups containing: a first elongated rectangular element disposed along a radial line bisecting said group; a second elongated rectangular element shorter in length than said first rectangular element and disposed in an outer radial position adjacent said first rectangular element along said radial line; a first pair of polygonal elements disposed one on each side of said first rectangular element; a second pair of polygonal elements disposed one on each side of said first rectangular element; a third pair of polygonal elements disposed one on each side of said second rectangular element; and a pair of triangular electrodes disposed one on each side of said second rectangular element adjacent the radially outermost end thereof and cooperating with said second rectangular element to form an arrow-head therefor; means for driving said first rectangular element said first and second pairs of polygonal elements, and an adjacent element of the first pair of elements of each adjacent group to form a visually discernable pointer having a first shape and representing a first measured parameter; means for driving said first and second rectangular elements and said first, second and third paris of polygonal elements to form a visually discernable pointer having a second shape and representing a second measured parameter; and means for driving said first and second rectangular elements and said pair of triangular elements to form a visually discernable pointer having a third shape and representing a third measured parameter; said first, second and third shapes being such that they are separately discernable when superimposed.