US3883968A - Digital display apparatus - Google Patents

Digital display apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
US3883968A
US3883968A US442618A US44261874A US3883968A US 3883968 A US3883968 A US 3883968A US 442618 A US442618 A US 442618A US 44261874 A US44261874 A US 44261874A US 3883968 A US3883968 A US 3883968A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
display
drums
drum
shaft
digit
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US442618A
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English (en)
Inventor
Tomokazu Suzuki
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Tamura Electric Works Ltd
Original Assignee
Tamura Electric Works Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Tamura Electric Works Ltd filed Critical Tamura Electric Works Ltd
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3883968A publication Critical patent/US3883968A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B19/00—Indicating the time by visual means
    • G04B19/20—Indicating by numbered bands, drums, discs, or sheets
    • G04B19/21—Drums
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04B—MECHANICALLY-DRIVEN CLOCKS OR WATCHES; MECHANICAL PARTS OF CLOCKS OR WATCHES IN GENERAL; TIME PIECES USING THE POSITION OF THE SUN, MOON OR STARS
    • G04B19/00—Indicating the time by visual means
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
    • G09F11/00—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the complete information is permanently attached to a movable support which brings it to the display position
    • G09F11/02—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the complete information is permanently attached to a movable support which brings it to the display position the display elements being secured to rotating members, e.g. drums, spindles

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT in a digital display apparatus of the type wherein a plurality of display drums are loosely mounted on a shaft and the rotation of a display drum of a lower order of magnitude is transmitted to another display drum of an upper order of magnitude through shift pinions interposed between adjacent display drums, the display letters on each display drum are inclined in the same direction and by the same angle with respect to the axis of the shaft such that the lower portion of one display letter and the upper portion of an adjacent display letter overlap with each other in the axial direction of the shaft. Further, a front plate formed with a plurality of read windows is provided in front of the display drums. Each window is proportioned to expose only one display letter of each display drum.
  • Such display apparatus provided with display drums as a digit wheel type counter. a digital clock. etc. are now used extensively because they have many advantages of inexpensive price and simple construction.
  • whem compared with a display tube type display apparatus such display apparatus is disadvantageous in that the size of the displayed characters is small and the size of the apparatus is much larger than the display character or display section because the dc sired display is provided by one of the display characters of a predetermined number which are provided on the periphery of the display drum.
  • a digi tal display apparatus of the type wherein a plurality of display drums. each provided with a plurality ofdisplay letters on the peripheral surface thereof. are loosely mounted on a shaft. and the rotation of a display drum of a lower order of magnitude is transmitted to another display drum of an upper order of magnitude through shift pinions interposed between adjacent display drums, characterized in that the display letters of each display drum are inclined in the same direction and by the same angle with respect to the axis of the shaft such that the lower portion of one display letter and the upper portion of an adjacent display letter overlap with each other in the axial direction of the shaft, that a front plate is provided in front of the display drums, that the front plate is provided with read windows, and that each window is proportioned to expose only one display letter of each display drum.
  • the shaft is made hollow to accommodate a source of light and is provided with a plurality of radial perforations at portions corresponding to the display drums.
  • the peripheral surface of the display drum is made opaque except the display letters so that only a selected letter is illuminated from insidev BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • FIG. I is a perspective view of certain essential element of the digital display apparatus embodying the invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a developmental view of the display drum utilized in the display apparatus shown in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a portion of a front plate.
  • a preferred embodiment of the novel digital display apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 is of the internally illuminated type and includes a hollow supporting shaft supported bya supporting frame. not shown. and Contains an elongated light source such as a fluorescent lamp 2.
  • a plurality of display drums A. 10B and MIC of a number equal to a number of orders of magnitude to be displayed are rotatably mounted on the supporting shaft 1 to be driven by shift pinions 4A and 48 mounted on a pinion shaft 3 driven by an electric motor, not shown, such that display drums of the upper orders of magnitude are driven by the display drums ofthe lower orders of magnitude.
  • the hollow shaft I is provided with a plurality of radial perforations at positions at which the display drums are mounted for transmitting the light emanated by the light source 2 into the interior of respective display drums.
  • a front plate to be described later in detail is positioned in front of the display drums to face the perforations 5 for reading the characters displayed by respective drums.
  • each display drum 10 is made of a transparent or translucent material such as a synthetic resin and its surface II is coloured black as by printing except display characters [2 digits in this example. Accordingly, a character at a position corresponding to the perforation 5 will be illuminated from inside by the light transmitting through the perforation 5.
  • Each display digit formed on the periphery ofthc display drum 10 is inclined toward right upper so that the lower portion of an upper digit and the upper portion of adjacent lower digit overlap each other in the longitudinal direction of the shaft 1.
  • a digit 5 assumes the read position or is contained in the width of the front plate 20 as shown in FIG. 2, the lower portion of digit 4 and the upper portion of digit 6 of the same display drum are also at the read position.
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the front plate 20.
  • the opposite ends of the front plate 20 are mounted on a frame. not shown. and the front plate 20 is provided with read windows 21A. 21B and 21C at positions corresponding to the read positions of respective display drums.
  • the read windows are also inclined toward right upper in the same manner as the display digits.
  • the rear surface 22 ofplate 20 is curved in concentric with the peripheral surfaces of the display drums.
  • the digits of the respective display drums at portions corresponding to the read windows of the front plate 20 or at the read positions are illuminated. More particularly. in the condition shown in FIG. 2, although the entire portions of digit 5. the lower portion of digit 4 and the upper portion of digit 6 assume the read position, due to the action of the read window. for example a read window 21A. only digit 5 is selectively displayed. As this digit is illuminated by the light source 2 through the radial perforation S of shaft 1 this digit can be readily read even at night as if it lumines.
  • a digital display apparatus of the type having a plurality of display drums each of said display drums being provided with a plurality of display digits impressed one below the other around the peripheral surface thereof. said drums being loosely mounted on a shaft. means whereby the rotation of a display drum of a lower order of magnitude is transmitted to another display drum of an upper order of magnitude through shift pinions interposed between adjacent display drums, the improvement wherein the display digits on each display drum are substantially equal sized, discrete and inclined in the same direction and by the same angle from a plane perpendicular to the central axis of said shaft such that a substantial portion of the lower portion of one display digit and a substantial portion of the upper portion of a sub-adjacent display digit are adjacent to each other along the axial direction of said shaft and wherein a front plate is provided in front of said display drums, said front plate being provided with a plurality of apertures or read windows equal in number to said plurality of display drums.
  • each of said windows being so shaped as to expose only one display digit of its associated display drum, whereby the drum diameter can be reduced without a corresponding reduction in display digit size 2.
  • said shaft is hollow to contain a source of light.
  • said shaft is provided with a plurality of radial openings for transmitting the light emanated by said light source at portions corresponding to said display drums. and wherein the peripheral surface of each display drum is opaque except said display digits.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Displays For Variable Information Using Movable Means (AREA)
  • Devices For Indicating Variable Information By Combining Individual Elements (AREA)
US442618A 1973-03-29 1974-02-14 Digital display apparatus Expired - Lifetime US3883968A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP1973038013U JPS5256793Y2 (fr) 1973-03-29 1973-03-29

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3883968A true US3883968A (en) 1975-05-20

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ID=12513681

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US442618A Expired - Lifetime US3883968A (en) 1973-03-29 1974-02-14 Digital display apparatus

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US (1) US3883968A (fr)
JP (1) JPS5256793Y2 (fr)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4037398A (en) * 1974-04-30 1977-07-26 Robertshaw Controls Company Digital timer and time indicator drums therefor
EP0194913A1 (fr) * 1985-03-15 1986-09-17 Ateliers De Mecanique De Precision F.M.(S.A.R.L.) Dispositif électrique à affichage de grande lisibilité
USD427637S (en) 1999-07-14 2000-07-04 Knowledge Kids Enterprises, Inc. Mathematical learning game
USD524378S1 (en) * 2004-11-09 2006-07-04 Salcido Cayetano F Changeable indicator

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2645047A (en) * 1948-05-13 1953-07-14 Tel A Tale Motion Sign Corp Flashing illuminated sign
US2909857A (en) * 1957-07-12 1959-10-27 Gen Precision Lab Inc Lighting system for counters and the like
US3164918A (en) * 1961-03-30 1965-01-12 American Optical Corp Display apparatus
US3444552A (en) * 1965-10-18 1969-05-13 United Aircraft Corp Fused character digital readout device having half of each character common with another character

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2645047A (en) * 1948-05-13 1953-07-14 Tel A Tale Motion Sign Corp Flashing illuminated sign
US2909857A (en) * 1957-07-12 1959-10-27 Gen Precision Lab Inc Lighting system for counters and the like
US3164918A (en) * 1961-03-30 1965-01-12 American Optical Corp Display apparatus
US3444552A (en) * 1965-10-18 1969-05-13 United Aircraft Corp Fused character digital readout device having half of each character common with another character

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4037398A (en) * 1974-04-30 1977-07-26 Robertshaw Controls Company Digital timer and time indicator drums therefor
EP0194913A1 (fr) * 1985-03-15 1986-09-17 Ateliers De Mecanique De Precision F.M.(S.A.R.L.) Dispositif électrique à affichage de grande lisibilité
FR2578995A1 (fr) * 1985-03-15 1986-09-19 Fm Ateliers Mecanique Precisio Dispositif electrique a affichage de grande lisibilite
USD427637S (en) 1999-07-14 2000-07-04 Knowledge Kids Enterprises, Inc. Mathematical learning game
USD524378S1 (en) * 2004-11-09 2006-07-04 Salcido Cayetano F Changeable indicator

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS49138781U (fr) 1974-11-29
JPS5256793Y2 (fr) 1977-12-22

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