Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A light pipe information display, comprising: a non-conductive, transparent first sheet and a non-conductive substantially opaque second sheet, each having substantially planar inner and outer surfaces, said non-conductive sheets being disposed adjacent to one another with their inner surfaces opposing one another in spaced-apart relationship, said second non-conductive sheet having a plurality of discrete transparent light pipes formed therethrough, at least one of said non-conductive sheets including electrical conductors disposed on its inner surface thereof, said conductors being connected to an electroluminescent display material disposed between said first and second sheets, arranged in discrete character-forming segments, each segment of which is aligned with one of said discrete light pipes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
A light pipe information display, comprising: a non-conductive, transparent first sheet and a non-conductive substantially opaque second sheet, each having substantially planar inner and outer surfaces, said non-conductive sheets being disposed adjacent to one another with their inner surfaces opposing one another in spaced-apart relationship, said second non-conductive sheet having a plurality of discrete transparent light pipes formed therethrough, at least one of said non-conductive sheets including electrical conductors disposed on its inner surface thereof, said conductors being connected to an electroluminescent display material disposed between said first and second sheets, arranged in discrete character-forming segments, each segment of which is aligned with one of said discrete light pipes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The display according to claim 1, wherein said first and second non-conductive sheets each comprise a glass sheet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The display according to claim 1, wherein said character-forming segments and said discrete transparent light pipes, each have a similar configuration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The display according to claim 3, wherein said character-forming segments are square-shaped and said transparent light pipes have a corresponding square-shaped cross-section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The display according to claim 1, wherein each of said character-forming segments completely overlie their correspondingly aligned light pipes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
The display as recited in claim 1, additionally comprising a third substantially opaque sheet disposed on the exposed surface of said second sheet and including a plurality of light pipe holes formed therethrough, each aligned in registration with the light pipe windows of said second sheet, the holes having smaller apertures than said light pipe windows.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The display as recited in claim 6, wherein the exposed surface of said third sheet is concave.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The display as recited in claim 7, wherein said discrete character-forming segments are individually spaced-apart from each other, and arranged in a plurality of parallel spaced-apart columns, the individual character segments of one column being staggered with respect to the character segments of the adjacent column.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
68 words
The display as recited in claim 8, wherein the character segments from column to column are laterally staggered so as to form overlapping dot images produced by the light pipe holes of the third sheet, the holes being laterally offset with respect to the holes of adjacent columns by the width of each hole, so that images without segmentation can be produced onto the surface of the drum.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The display according to claim 1, wherein said conductors include a plurality of contacts disposed along the edges of said non-conductive sheets and electrically connected to said character-forming segments.