US4565022A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for animating illuminated signs and displays
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1982-09-27
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Granted: 1986-01-21
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Expires: 2002-09-27
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for animating illuminated signs and displays comprises sequentially illuminating with at least one source of radiant energy (51) of a particular wavelength range at least two planar scenes (53), (54) or three-dimensional objects (101), (102) visibly responsive to radiant energy of the particular wavelength range used. Means (55) are provided for shielding a non-selected planar scene or object from illumination during the time a selected planar scene or object is illuminated. In the preferred embodiment, invisible ultraviolet illumination is used to cause a plurality of scene-views to fluoresce visibly in a timed sequence which produces a visual sensation of apparent motion from one scene-view to another of an object depicted by the scene-views. Subjective brightness of scene-views may be enhanced by modulating the illumination of a scene at a perceptibly low frequency.
Inventors
- 👤 William L. Chapin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 16:23
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09F; G09F13/00; G09F13/42
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
An article of manufacture comprising (a) a first visibly transparent sheet, (b) a first scene-view visibly fluorescent to ultraviolet radiation in the approximate wavelength range of 3000 Å to 4000 Å affixed to one side of said first sheet, (c) at least one alternate visibly transparent sheet, and (d) an alternate scene-view visibly fluorescent to ultraviolet radiation in the approximate wavelength range of 3000 Å to 4000 Å affixed to one side of each said alternate sheet, said alternate scene view being oriented in proper relation to said first scene view, whereby when said first and alternate visibly transparent sheets are positioned on opposite sides of a visibly transparent, ultraviolet absorbing means and sequentially illuminated with ultraviolet radiation, a visual sensation of apparent motion between said first and alternate scene-views is produced.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
An article of manufacture comprising (a) a first visibly transparent sheet, (b) a first scene-view visibly fluorescent to ultraviolet radiation in the approximate wavelength range of 3000 Å to 4000 Å affixed to one side of said first sheet, (c) at least one alternate visibly transparent sheet, and (d) an alternate scene-view visibly fluorescent to ultraviolet radiation in the approximate wavelength range of 3000 Å to 4000 Å affixed to one side of each said alternate sheet, said alternate scene view being oriented in proper relation to said first scene view, whereby when said first and alternate visibly transparent sheets are positioned on opposite sides of a visibly transparent, ultraviolet absorbing means and sequentially illuminated with ultraviolet radiation, a visual sensation of apparent motion between said first and alternate scene-views is produced.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The article of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first or alternate sheets is perforated, thereby facilitating viewing fluorescent objects through said sheet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
An article of manufacture comprising a visibly transparent panel substantially opaque to ultraviolet radiation in the approximate wavelength range of 3000 Å to 4000 Å having an object visibly fluorescent to ultraviolet radiation affixed to one side of said panel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
An article of manufacture comprising a visibly transparent panel substantially opaque to ultraviolet radiation in the approximate wavelength range of 3000 Å to 4000 Å having an object visibly fluorescent to ultraviolet radiation affixed to one side of said panel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The article of claim 3 wherein a second object visibly fluorescent to ultraviolet radiation in the approximate wavelength range of 3000 Å to 4000 Å is affixed to the opposite side of said sheet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The article of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first or alternate planar images contains a plurality of visibly transparent regions free of fluorescent material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The article of claim 3 wherein at least one of said visibly fluorescent objects contains a plurality of visibly transparent regions free of fluorescent material.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
135 words
A method for producing a visual sensation of apparent motion in signs and displays comprising: (a) depicting on a first surface with a material visibly fluorescent to ultraviolet radiation a first scene-view of a subject to be displayed; (b) depicting on a second surface with a material visibly fluorescent to ultraviolet radiation a second scene-view of a subject to be displayed; (c) interposing visibly transparent ultraviolet radiation absorption means between said first and second surfaces; (d) orienting said first and second surfaces relative to each other thereby positioning said first and second scene-views in proper relation to each other; (e) illuminating said first surface with ultraviolet radiation to cause said first scene-view to fluoresce while simultaneously blocking by means of said ultraviolet radiation absorbing means illumination of said second surface and said second scene-views; and
Claim 10
Independent Claim
135 words
A method for producing a visual sensation of apparent motion in signs and displays comprising: (a) depicting on a first surface with a material visibly fluorescent to ultraviolet radiation a first scene-view of a subject to be displayed; (b) depicting on a second surface with a material visibly fluorescent to ultraviolet radiation a second scene-view of a subject to be displayed; (c) interposing visibly transparent ultraviolet radiation absorption means between said first and second surfaces; (d) orienting said first and second surfaces relative to each other thereby positioning said first and second scene-views in proper relation to each other; (e) illuminating said first surface with ultraviolet radiation to cause said first scene-view to fluoresce while simultaneously blocking by means of said ultraviolet radiation absorbing means illumination of said second surface and said second scene-views; and
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
(f) sequentially illuminating said second surface with ultraviolet radiation to cause said second scene-view to fluoresce while simultaneously blocking by means of said ultraviolet radiation absorbing means illumination of said second surface and said second scene-view; (g) thereby producing a visual sensation of apparent motion between said first scene-view subject and said second scene-view subject.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
(f) sequentially illuminating said second surface with ultraviolet radiation to cause said second scene-view to fluoresce while simultaneously blocking by means of said ultraviolet radiation absorbing means illumination of said second surface and said second scene-view; (g) thereby producing a visual sensation of apparent motion between said first scene-view subject and said second scene-view subject.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 7 further comprising diminishing the visual responsivity of said first and second scene-views to ambient illumination, thereby enhancing said visual sensation of apparent motion in the presence of said ambient illumination.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 7 wherein each said scene-views is sequentially illuminated by a selected one of a plurality of ultraviolet radiation sources.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 7 further comprising increasing the apparent brightness of said illuminated scene views by periodically interrupting at least a portion of the total illumination of said scene-view at a rate within the approximate frequency range of one cycle every ten seconds to forty cycles per second.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the waveform representing the on and off portions of illumination of said scene-views, as a function of time, is essentially a square wave having a duty cycle of approximately fifty percent.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
149 words
An apparatus for producing the visual sensation of apparent motion in signs and displays comprising: (a) a first surface having a first scene-view displayed thereon visibly fluorescent to ultraviolet radiation; (b) a second surface having a second scene-view displayed thereon visibly fluorescent to ultraviolet radiation; (c) an ultraviolet radiation absorption means interposed between said first and second surfaces; (d) said first and second surfaces being oriented relative to each other thereby positioning said first and second scene-views in proper relation to each other; and (e) means for sequentially illuminating with ultraviolet radiation said first and second surfaces and said first and second scene-views; (f) whereby sequential operation of said means for sequentially illuminating said first and second scene-views with ultraviolet radiation causes said first and second scene-views to sequentially fluoresce thereby to produce a visual sensation of apparent motion between said first scene-view subject and said second scene-view subject.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
149 words
An apparatus for producing the visual sensation of apparent motion in signs and displays comprising: (a) a first surface having a first scene-view displayed thereon visibly fluorescent to ultraviolet radiation; (b) a second surface having a second scene-view displayed thereon visibly fluorescent to ultraviolet radiation; (c) an ultraviolet radiation absorption means interposed between said first and second surfaces; (d) said first and second surfaces being oriented relative to each other thereby positioning said first and second scene-views in proper relation to each other; and (e) means for sequentially illuminating with ultraviolet radiation said first and second surfaces and said first and second scene-views; (f) whereby sequential operation of said means for sequentially illuminating said first and second scene-views with ultraviolet radiation causes said first and second scene-views to sequentially fluoresce thereby to produce a visual sensation of apparent motion between said first scene-view subject and said second scene-view subject.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising means for diminishing the visual responsivity of said first and second scene views to ambient illumination, thereby enhancing said visual sensation of apparent motion in the presence of said ambient illumination.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said visibly fluorescent objects are further defined as being three-dimensional representations of objects, and said representations are constructed at least partially of visibly fluorescent materials.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising means for periodically interrupting, at a rate within the approximate frequency range of one cycle every ten seconds to forty cycles per second, said means for sequentially illuminating with ultraviolet radiation said first and second surfaces, thereby increasing the apparent brightness of said illuminated scene views.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
102 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said means for sequentially illuminating with ultraviolet radiation said first and second fluorescent scene-views comprises: (a) an essentially tubular-shaped ultraviolet radiation source, (b) an opaque rotatable cylindrical tube mounted coaxially over said lamp and having at least one ultraviolet-transparent longitudinal slot spanning substantially the length of said lamp, and (c) means for rotating said tube, whereby radiation from said lamp is permitted to sequentially illuminate a plurality of objects or groups of objects positioned at different polar angles measured form the longitudinal axis of the tube on radius vectors perpendicular to the axis of the tube.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said means for sequentially illuminating with ultraviolet radiation said first and second fluorescent scene-view comprises: (a) a plurality of ultraviolet radiation sources, the illumination field of each of which said radiation source is effective in illuminating a selected fluorescent scene-view, and (b) means capable of individually gating on and off in a timed sequence ultraviolet radiation from each ultraviolet radiation source.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said ultraviolet radiation sources are further defined as containing electrical discharge lamps capable of producing ultraviolet radiation.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said means for individually gating on and off each said ultraviolet radiation source comprises means for selectably interrrupting the discharge current in said electrical discharge lamps.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 19 further defined as having means for maintaining at least one electrode of each said discharge lamp heated during the time that said electrical discharge in said lamp is interrupted.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said means for individually gating on and off ultraviolet radiation from each said ultraviolet source comprises: (a) a shutter positioned between each said ultraviolet radiation source and associated visibly fluoresecent scene-view, (b) means for individually actuating each shutter, and (c) control means for selectably operating each shutter actuating means, whereby each said fluorescent scene-view may be selectably illuminated by ultraviolet radiation.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said visibly fluorescent scene-views are further defined as being visibly-fluorescent planar images.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 22 wherein at least one visibly fluorescent planar image is applied to a sheet of visibly transparent material.
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) | 1989-01-20 | 1989-07-22 | 1990-01-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-01-20 | 1993-07-22 | 1994-01-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-01-20 | 1997-07-22 | 1998-01-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |