← Back to Patent Explorer
US4376934A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Display system

Assignee: ITT Inc
•
Filing: 1980-07-23
•
Granted: 1983-03-15
•
Expires: 2000-07-23
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A display system comprising at least one display element, for example in the form of a pivoted pointer for indication of a changing measured value in association with a scale. The display element is implemented by an electro-optical cell filled with a liquid, the cell having two transparent plates separated by a distance frame with an associated illuminating device at the back side. Portions of one of the transparent plates is rendered opaque, the remaining areas on that plate providing transparent windows. Transparent areas are also provided between the plates. One of said transparent areas has a contour corresponding with the contour of the scale. The other of said areas extends over a larger surface.

Inventors

  • 👤 Hans Prohaska
  • 👤 Horst Rachner

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-25 00:22
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01D; G01D13/00; B; B60; B60Q; B60Q3/00; B60Q3/10; B60Q3/14; B60K; B60K35/00; B60K35/20; B60K35/21; B60K35/213; B60K35/22; G01P; G01P1/00; G01P1/07; G01P1/08; G01R; G01R13/00; G01R13/40; G01R13/401; G01R13/403; G01R13/404; G01R13/407; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/0102; B60K2360/00; B60K2360/60; B60K2360/68; B60K2360/698; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/133374

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim 156 words
In a display system, especially adapted for motor vehicles, comprising at least one display element containing means for indication of a changing measured value, said means being associated with a scale in such a way that the actual size of the measured value shown by the display element may be recognized, said display element being implemented by an electro-optical cell filled with a liquid, said cell having two transparent plates separated by a distance frame and provided with transparent electrodes, said cell having an associated illuminating device at the back side, the improvement in which portions of one of the said transparent plates are rendered opaque, the remaining areas on said one plate providing transparent windows, transparent areas being provided between the plates, one of said transparent areas having a contour corresponding with the contour of the scale and the other of said transparent areas having a larger area than the area having the scale contour.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 156 words
In a display system, especially adapted for motor vehicles, comprising at least one display element containing means for indication of a changing measured value, said means being associated with a scale in such a way that the actual size of the measured value shown by the display element may be recognized, said display element being implemented by an electro-optical cell filled with a liquid, said cell having two transparent plates separated by a distance frame and provided with transparent electrodes, said cell having an associated illuminating device at the back side, the improvement in which portions of one of the said transparent plates are rendered opaque, the remaining areas on said one plate providing transparent windows, transparent areas being provided between the plates, one of said transparent areas having a contour corresponding with the contour of the scale and the other of said transparent areas having a larger area than the area having the scale contour.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 26 words
A display system according to claim 1 in which the transparent windows in the one plate have a contour corresponding to the scale to be indicated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 25 words
A display system according to claim 1 in which the transparent areas between the plates have a contour corresponding to the scale to be indicated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 22 words
A display system according to claim 1 in which the transparent areas between the plates are created by displacement of the liquid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 18 words
A display system according to claim 4 in which the transparent areas between the plates are transparent inserts.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 17 words
A display system according to claim 5 in which the inserts are integral with a distance frame.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 20 words
A display system according to claim 1 in which the transparent areas between the plates are controlled through appropriate electrodes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 36 words
A display system according to claim 7 in which at any given time only that figure is controlled which is the next corresponding to the position of the means for indication of a changing measured value.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 28 words
A display system according to claim 7 in which at any given time only those figures are controlled which are smaller than the measured value at that time.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 34 words
A display system according to claim 7 in which the electrodes which may be activated for the representation of the individual numerals are connected with electrodes of the corresponding segments of the display element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 44 words
A display system according to claim 7 in which all electrodes which have to be activated for the representation of the figures are connected in an electrically conductive manner with an electrode of the display element which is actuated with a low measured value.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 40 words
A display system according to claim 7 in which the electrodes for the figures are arranged between the electrodes of the means for indication of a changing measured value and the connecting leads conducting to the rim of the cell.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 42 words
A display system according to claim 7 in which the electrodes for the figures are arranged on the side facing the electrodes of the means for indication of a changing measured value, said side being opposite the side with the connecting leads.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 46 words
A display system according to claim 7 in which for the representation of a means for indication of a changing measured value the electro-optical cell has partly overlapping electrodes in several planes which are separated from each other by a dielectric layer and are controlled separately.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 20 words
A display system according to claim 1 in which the scale has figures and division marks and is permanently visible.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 27 words
A display system according to claim 1 in which the liquid in the electro-optical cell is heated at selected locations by the beams of the illuminating device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 40 words
A display system according to claim 16 in which in the path of rays of the illuminating device several convex lenses are arranged separately and thereby the rays of the illuminating device are intensified at particular places between the plates.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3726250A Cited
US3912365A Cited
US3704056A Cited
US3932026A Cited
US3863249A Cited
US4079369A Cited
US4150396A Cited
US4059340A Cited
US4194199A Cited
US4247855A Cited
US4306233A Cited
US4277786A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1986-03-14 1986-09-13 1987-03-15 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1990-03-14 1990-09-13 1991-03-15 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1994-03-14 1994-09-13 1995-03-15 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag