Displaying measuring instrument

Claim 1

Displaying measuring instrument in which a measured value of a quantity is displayed by a selective change of illumination state of predetermined visual display elements arranged in a display panel, comprising a plurality of discrete display elements, each element having more than one illumination state and each element adapted to change its illumination state to illuminate from within said element upon energization, at least some of which display elements of the display panel being arranged in a straight line, each of which said display elements arranged in a straight line representing a uniform, discrete measured quantity from the next nearest display element in the straight line, and means successively changing the illumination state of said display elements to correspond to a new measured value when said measured value is changed to said new measured value, wherein each of said visual display elements comprises a shape selected from one of a first shape and a second shape, wherein said first shape is distinguishably different from said second shape, and wherein the display elements arranged in a straight line, periodic ones of said display elements comprise said second shape, and all other of said display elements comprise said first shape, said visual display elements comprised of said second shape being further comprised of an alphanumeric indication arranged in a closed border around said alphanumeric indication, the alphanumeric indication and the closed border changing its illumination state upon energization, said measuring instrument further comprising at least one tab supported in close proximity to said straight line of visual display elements on said display panel, and moveable linearly along said straight line so as to be in close proximity to said visual display elements, each tab comprising a light-sensitive element adapted to provide a signal when the visual display element nearest to said tab is energized and is illuminated from within.