US4811008A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Color pigment graphics information display
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1987-06-01
•
Granted: 1989-03-07
•
Expires: 2007-06-01
Abstract
Abstract Graphics information display panels made up of basic picture elements running to hundreds, or more, are useful for being viewed for advertising, transportation information, traffic control, news, weather, financial data and other information normally generated by computers. The system has capability in alphanumeric and also for color graphics designs in four colors through use of a basic display element with a transparent cylinder having four different color pigment enclosing compartments (or cavities) rotatable about a center rod mounting thereof. A six cavity transparent cylinder provides for design displays in six colors. Color pigments, either liquid or powder, are used to fill pixel cylinder cavities as fade resistant color medias where exposure to sunlight or ultraviolet radiation otherwise tends to cause deterioration of color pigment. A selective percentage mix of glass beads with pigment powder or liquid aids in mix stirring the pigment with movement of the pixel and a degree of backlight transparency to the pigment mix. The four-color drum uses a two coil and circular pixel magnet drive for controlled positioning with the electromagnetic coils at right angles, and with the six-color drum three electromagnetic coils positioned sixty degrees apart. Color field of view expanding devices overlie space between pixels. A spherical six color cavity pixel structure is also presented that is positioned by three electromagnetic coils working with two permanent bar magnets at right angles to each other in each spherical pixel.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert L. Woolfolk
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 01:48
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G3/00; G09G3/20; G09G3/34; G09G3/3486; G09F; G09F13/00; G09F13/04; G09F13/0418; G09F13/0472; G09F9/00; G09F9/30; G09F9/37; G09F9/375
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
A color graphics information display with a plurality of mutually adjacent display pixel elements comprising: a plurality of display pixels with each pixel having a plurality of cavities for containing color media of respective selective colors; color media material mixtures in different colors inserted in said plurality of cavities in said pixels; mounting means for said display pixels with said display pixels rotatable in said mounting means; permanent magnet means mounted in each of said display pixels; a plurality of electromagnetic coils mounted in said information display in close proximity to each of said display pixels with said coils being inangled relationship one to the other; and a connection means for connecting a current driving control means to each of said coils; and wherein color pigments are used in said color media material mixtures in different colors to fill pixel cavities as fade resistant color media of the respective colors where exposure to sunlight or ultraviolet radiation otherwise tends to cause deterioration of color pigment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
165 words
A color graphics information display with a plurality of mutually adjacent display pixel elements comprising: a plurality of display pixels with each pixel having a plurality of cavities for containing color media of respective selective colors; color media material mixtures in different colors inserted in said plurality of cavities in said pixels; mounting means for said display pixels with said display pixels rotatable in said mounting means; permanent magnet means mounted in each of said display pixels; a plurality of electromagnetic coils mounted in said information display in close proximity to each of said display pixels with said coils being inangled relationship one to the other; and a connection means for connecting a current driving control means to each of said coils; and wherein color pigments are used in said color media material mixtures in different colors to fill pixel cavities as fade resistant color media of the respective colors where exposure to sunlight or ultraviolet radiation otherwise tends to cause deterioration of color pigment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The color graphics information display of claim 1, wherein each of said coils is backed by ferrous metal plating providing shielding between adjacent display pixels; and permanent magnet means with the display pixels fixing set positions of said display pixels.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The color graphics display of claim 2, wherein each of said coils are round flat thin type coils projecting relatively large areas of flux into the area of respective display pixels when current is passed through said coils.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The color graphics display of claim 3, wherein said color media material mixtures include glass particles.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The color graphics display of claim 4, wherein said glass particles include glass beads.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The color graphics infromation display of claim 3, wherein said color media material mixtures include fiberglass fill.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The color graphics information display of claim 3, wherein said color media material mixtures include silica.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The color graphics information display of claim 3, wherein said color media material mixtures include color pigment mixes in powder form.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The color graphics information display of claim 5, wherein said color media material mixtures are in liquid form.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The color graphics information display of claim 3, wherein said display pixels are multi-cavity pixels formed with a transparent cylinder having a plurality of different color pigment enclosing compartment cavities; and with the cylindrical multi-cavity pixels rotatably mounted on a center rod mounting therefor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
90 words
The color graphics information display of claim 10, wherein said permanent magnet means with the display pixels fixing set positions of said display pixels includes a permanent magnet adjacent a first end of each of said cylindrical multi-cavity pixels; and a thin sheet of ferritic material with multiple edge portions duplicating the number of cavities in the multi-cavity pixel moveable into adjacent proximity to a pole of the permanent magnet adjacent a first end of a pixel for positive indexing of the pixel cylinder at each of it's multi-cavity settings.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
The color graphics information display of claim 4, wherein said cylindrical multi-cavity pixels are four cavity pixels; and said thin sheet of ferritic material is in the form of a square sheet of ferritic material with truncated corners non-rotatably mounted on the end of each four cavity pixel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
The color graphics information display of claim 11, wherein said cylindrical multi-cavity pixels are six cavity pixels; and said thin sheet of ferritic material is in the form of a sheet of ferritic material with six edge portions non-rotatably mounted on the end of each six cavity pixel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The color graphics display of claim 11, wherein colored overlay strips are provided for covering of cavity color field of view with the colored overlay strips in colors not significantly subject to fading in sunlight.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
The color graphics display of claim 11, wherein an overlay for covering a cavity color field of view is provided with the overlay being a multi-pocketed rectangular sheet with the multi-pockets containing color pigments.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The color graphics display of claim 11, wherein said multi-cavity pixel color field of view settings have color field of view enlarging means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The color graphics display of claim 16, wherein said color field of view enlarging means is elongate mirror strip means mounted to enlarge pixel row fields of view.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
The color graphics display of claim 16, wherein said color field of view enlarging means is a transparent panel including Frensel grooving to expand the color field of view of pixel rows in a display.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
91 words
The color graphics display of claim 3, wherein said display pixels are spherical six color segment six cavity pixels each having two transparent spheres one mounted by mounting means for relative movement within the other sphere; said permanent magnet means is two permanent bar magnets at right angles to each other within the pixel with the North Pole of one adjacent the South Pole of the other permanent magnet; and three electromagnetic coils with each display pixel with each coil at right angles to at least one of the other coils.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3140553A
Cited
US3186115A
Cited
US3199098A
Cited
US3304549A
Cited
US3365824A
Cited
US3447150A
Cited
US3624941A
Cited
US3764200A
Cited
US3772686A
Cited
US3936816A
Cited
US4187632A
Cited
US3963326A
Cited
US4015255A
Cited
US3996680A
Cited
US4092637A
Cited
US4129861A
Cited
US4201984A
Cited
US4150362A
Cited
US4117478A
Cited
US4069480A
Cited
US4268821A
Cited
US4115941A
Cited
US4264906A
Cited
US4248501A
Cited
US4263736A
Cited
US4318098A
Cited
US4223464A
Cited
US4328492A
Cited
US4344070A
Cited
US4380879A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-03-06 | 1992-09-05 | 1993-03-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-03-06 | 1996-09-05 | 1997-03-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-03-06 | 2000-09-05 | 2001-03-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |