Patent · US Expired

Direct imaging of information using light pipe displays

US4378956A · kind A · utility

27Cited by
15References
10Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJun 5, 1980
Grant dateApr 5, 1983
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 5, 2000

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03G15/04072
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A light pipe information display, having a non-conductive, transparent planar first glass sheet and a non-conductive planar opaque second glass sheet, both sheets being disposed adjacent to one another with their inner surfaces opposing one another in spaced-apart relationship. The second non-conductive sheet has a plurality of discrete transparent light pipes formed therethrough, wherein at least one of said non-conductive sheets includes electrical conductors disposed on its inner surface. The conductors are connected to an electrically responsive display material, such as a liquid crystal or electroluminescent material disposed between the first and second sheets, arranged in discrete character-forming segments. Each segment is aligned with one of said discrete light pipes. There is a third opaque sheet disposed on the exposed surface of the second sheet and includes a plurality of smaller light pipe holes, each hole being aligned with each light pipe window of the second sheet. The third sheet has a concave outer surface to conform to the drum of a standard dry copy photocopy machine. Programmed electrical circuits provide scrolling of the images produced on the display in step…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.