US4225862A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tuning fork oscillator driven light emitting diode display unit
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1979-03-05
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Granted: 1980-09-30
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Expires: 1999-03-05
Abstract
Abstract A display unit is disclosed which utilizes at least one line of oscillated light sources such as LED's selectively turned on and off to create an alphanumeric display. The display unit comprises a supporting member from which a display unit base is resiliently suspended. A pair of display arms is fixed to said base and extend therefrom and a plurality of light sources are mounted on these display arms in at least one line. One or more counterbalancing arms are also fixed to and extend from the base parallel to the display arms. Means are provided for oscillating the display arms and the light sources and for oscillating the counterbalancing arm in the opposite direction so as to counterbalance the display arms, and pulsing means are provided for each of the plurality of light sources, preferably light emitting diodes, to permit at least one "on" light for each of a plurality of positions through which the oscillator moves the line of light emitting diodes.
Inventors
- 👤 Oliver D. Johnson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 21:38
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G3/00; G09G3/005; G09F; G09F9/00; G09F9/30; G09F9/37
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
A tuning fork oscillator driven display apparatus comprising a supporting member, a display unit base, means for resiliently suspending said base from said supporting member, at least one display arm fixed to and extending from said base, a plurality of light sources mounted on said display arm in at least one line, at least one counterbalancing arm fixed to and extending from said base parallel to said display arm, means for oscillating said display arm and said mounted light sources and for oscillating said counterbalancing arm in the opposite direction fixed to and extending from said base, and pulsing means for each of said plurality of light sources to permit at least one on light for each of a plurality of positions through which said oscillator moves said line of light sources.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
A tuning fork oscillator driven display apparatus comprising a supporting member, a display unit base, means for resiliently suspending said base from said supporting member, at least one display arm fixed to and extending from said base, a plurality of light sources mounted on said display arm in at least one line, at least one counterbalancing arm fixed to and extending from said base parallel to said display arm, means for oscillating said display arm and said mounted light sources and for oscillating said counterbalancing arm in the opposite direction fixed to and extending from said base, and pulsing means for each of said plurality of light sources to permit at least one on light for each of a plurality of positions through which said oscillator moves said line of light sources.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The display apparatus of claim 1 having at least one pair of parallel display arms.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The display apparatus of claim 2 wherein said line of light sources forms a surface of oscillation parallel to the axis of oscillation of said display arms.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The display apparatus of claim 3 wherein said light sources are positioned in a plurality of parallel lines.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The display apparatus of claim 3 wherein pulsing means turn on said oscillating light sources to create a display of alphanumeric characters in a line perpendicular to the direction of oscillation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The display apparatus of claim 4 wherein said pulsing means turn on said oscillating light sources to create a display of alphanumeric characters in a line parallel to the direction of oscillation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
The display apparatus of claim 2 wherein said counterbalancing arm extends from said base at a different level than the level at which said display arms extend from said base.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The display apparatus of claim 2 wherein said display arms and said counterbalancing arms extend from said base to a single level.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The display apparatus of claim 2 wherein said display apparatus base is resiliently suspended from said supporting member substantially at the center of gravity of said display unit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The display apparatus of claim 2 wherein said oscillating means comprise a permanent magnet mounted on a display arm operatively associated with an electromagnet having a coil core substantially parallel to the axis of oscillation of said display arm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
149 words
A tuning fork oscillator driven display apparatus comprising a base, at least one display arm fixed to and extending from said base, a plurality of light sources mounted on said display arm in at least one line, at least one counterbalancing arm fixed to and extending from said base parallel to said display arm, means for oscillating said display arm and said mounted light sources and for oscillating said counterbalancing arm in the opposite direction, said at least one counterbalancing arm having a resultant inertial force during said oscillation equal and opposite to the combined resultant inertial force of said display arm and said mounted light sources, said resultant inertial forces being equidistant from said base, pulsing means for each of said plurality of light sources to permit at least one on light for each of plurality of positions through which said oscillator moves said line of light sources.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
149 words
A tuning fork oscillator driven display apparatus comprising a base, at least one display arm fixed to and extending from said base, a plurality of light sources mounted on said display arm in at least one line, at least one counterbalancing arm fixed to and extending from said base parallel to said display arm, means for oscillating said display arm and said mounted light sources and for oscillating said counterbalancing arm in the opposite direction, said at least one counterbalancing arm having a resultant inertial force during said oscillation equal and opposite to the combined resultant inertial force of said display arm and said mounted light sources, said resultant inertial forces being equidistant from said base, pulsing means for each of said plurality of light sources to permit at least one on light for each of plurality of positions through which said oscillator moves said line of light sources.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The display apparatus of claim 11 having at least one pair of parallel display arms.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The display apparatus of claim 12 wherein said line of light sources forms a surface of oscillation parallel to the axis of oscillation of said display arms.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The display apparatus of claim 13 wherein said light sources are positioned in a plurality of parallel lines.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The display apparatus of claim 13 wherein pulsing means turn on said oscillating light sources to create a display of alphanumeric characters in a line perpendicular to the direction of oscillation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The display apparatus of claim 14 wherein said pulsing means turn on said oscillating light sources to create a display of alphanumeric characters in a line parallel to the direction of oscillation.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The display apparatus of claim 12 wherein said counterbalancing arm extends from said base at a different level than the level at which said display arms extend from said base.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The display apparatus of claim 12 wherein said display arms and said counterbalancing arms extend from said base to a single level.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The display apparatus of claim 18 wherein said light sources are positioned in a plurality of parallel lines.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
The display apparatus of claim 19 wherein pulsing means turn on said oscillating light sources to create a display of alphanumeric characters in a line perpendicular to the direction of oscillation.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The tuning fork oscillator driven display apparatus of claim 12 further including a supporting member, and means for resiliently suspending said base from said supporting member.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
The display apparatus of claim 21 wherein said line of light sources forms a surface of oscillation parallel to the axis of oscillation of said display arms.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The display apparatus of claim 22 wherein said light sources are positioned in a plurality of parallel lines.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
The display apparatus of claim 2 wherein said light sources are light emitting diodes.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The display apparatus of claim 12 wherein said light sources are light emitting diodes.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
The display apparatus of claim 21 wherein said light sources are light emitting diodes.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
64 words
The display apparatus of claim 2 further including another plurality of light sources mounted on said counterbalancing arm in at least one line, and pulsing means for each of said other plurality of light sources to permit at least one on light for each of a plurality of positions through which said oscillator moves said lines of other light sources on said counterbalancing arm.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
64 words
The display apparatus of claim 12 further including another plurality of light sources mounted on said counterbalancing arm in at least one line, and pulsing means for each of said other plurality of light sources to permit at least one on light for each of a plurality of positions through which said oscillator moves said lines of other light sources on said counterbalancing arm.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
98 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said line of light sources is oscillated in a direction substantially perpendicular to said line, and said pulsing means comprise: means for determining each of said plurality of positions through which said line of light sources is moved, and means responsive to the determination of one of said positions for turning on at least one light in a first group in said line of light sources and then for turning on at least one light in at least one subsequent group in said line prior to the determination of the next position.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
137 words
A tuning fork oscillator driven display apparatus comprising a supporting member, a display unit base, means for resiliently suspending said base from said supporting member, at least one display arm fixed to and extending from said base, a plurality of picture element sources mounted on said display arm in at least one line, at least one counterbalancing arm fixed to and extending from said base parallel to said display arm, means for oscillating said display arm and said mounted light sources and for oscillating said counterbalancing arm in the opposite direction fixed to and extending from said base, and pulsing means for each of said plurality of picture element sources to permit at least one turned-on picture element source for each of a plurality of positions through which said oscillator moves said line of picture element sources.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
137 words
A tuning fork oscillator driven display apparatus comprising a supporting member, a display unit base, means for resiliently suspending said base from said supporting member, at least one display arm fixed to and extending from said base, a plurality of picture element sources mounted on said display arm in at least one line, at least one counterbalancing arm fixed to and extending from said base parallel to said display arm, means for oscillating said display arm and said mounted light sources and for oscillating said counterbalancing arm in the opposite direction fixed to and extending from said base, and pulsing means for each of said plurality of picture element sources to permit at least one turned-on picture element source for each of a plurality of positions through which said oscillator moves said line of picture element sources.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-09-30 | 1984-03-31 | 1984-09-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-09-30 | 1988-03-31 | 1988-09-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-09-30 | 1992-03-31 | 1992-09-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |