Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
245 words
A visual message character display device comprising, in combination: (a) a light guide support member having (i) a light receiving surface with a plurality of openings and (ii) a visual message character display surface separate and spaced apart from the light receiving surface and having a plurality of bar-shaped openings arranged to provide arrays of a plurality of bar segments of predetermined visual message characters; and (b) a plurality of groups of light guiding optic fibers disposed within the space between the light receiving and visual message character display surfaces of the light guide support member, each light guiding optic fiber having a light admitting end and light emitting end, said device being further characterized in that the light admitting ends of the fibers of each group of light guiding optic fibers are bundled together in one opening in and terminate at the light receiving surface thereby defining and occupying essentially the entire surface area of said opening, the light emitting ends of the fibers of each group of light guiding optic fibers are bundled together in one opening in and terminate at the visual message character display surface thereby defining and occupying essentially the entire surface area of a visual message character bar segment, and the space between the light receiving surface and the visual message character display surface containing the groups of light guiding optic fibers is filled with a potting compound whereby the message character display device has a solid block configuration.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
245 words
A visual message character display device comprising, in combination: (a) a light guide support member having (i) a light receiving surface with a plurality of openings and (ii) a visual message character display surface separate and spaced apart from the light receiving surface and having a plurality of bar-shaped openings arranged to provide arrays of a plurality of bar segments of predetermined visual message characters; and (b) a plurality of groups of light guiding optic fibers disposed within the space between the light receiving and visual message character display surfaces of the light guide support member, each light guiding optic fiber having a light admitting end and light emitting end, said device being further characterized in that the light admitting ends of the fibers of each group of light guiding optic fibers are bundled together in one opening in and terminate at the light receiving surface thereby defining and occupying essentially the entire surface area of said opening, the light emitting ends of the fibers of each group of light guiding optic fibers are bundled together in one opening in and terminate at the visual message character display surface thereby defining and occupying essentially the entire surface area of a visual message character bar segment, and the space between the light receiving surface and the visual message character display surface containing the groups of light guiding optic fibers is filled with a potting compound whereby the message character display device has a solid block configuration.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
113 words
A message character display device according to claim 1 wherein: the light receiving and visual message character display surfaces are planar and essentially parallel to one another; the openings in the light receiving surface are essentially circular and uniformly spaced apart from one another on said surface; the light guiding optic fibers within each group thereof are of equal and constant cross-sectional area; and the area defined on the light receiving surface by the light admitting ends of the fibers of each group of light guiding optic fibers being essentially equal to the area defined on the visual message character display surface by the light emitting ends of the fibers of said group.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A message character display device according to claim 2 wherein the light admitting ends and light emitting ends of the fibers of each group of light guiding optic fibers are bundled together in substantially hexagonal-shaped closest-packing configuration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
128 words
A visual message character display device according to claim 1 wherein said device comprises additionally a plurality of primary light sources disposed in illuminating relationship with the light admitting ends of the groups of light guiding optic fibers, each light source having two unequal length terminal straight pins, and the primary light sources being mounted onto two separately spaced plane printed circuit boards wherein the shorter terminal straight pin of each light source is inserted into and makes electrical contact with a lead socket mounted on one printed circuit board and the longer terminal pin is inserted into and makes electrical contact with a lead socket mounted on the second printed circuit board, the longer terminal pin passing through the first circuit board without making electrical contact therewith.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A message character display device according to claim 4 wherein the primary light sources are sub-miniature incandescent lamps.