Reader Vision, Inc.

Fmb Communications, Inc.

F Martin Black

G Frank Dye

W Brooks Drew

Steven H Brenia

An improved solenoid and reset pin for a modular display apparatus for displaying indicia at a front thereof having a frame for rotationally mounting a plurality of pixels. Each pixel includes first and second display faces joined along respective adjacent edges. A triggering mechanism has a plurality of solenoids adapted for selective actuation to rotate selected ones of the pixels for changing the pattern of the desired display indicia and a plurality reset pins to return the pixels to an original position. The reset pins and the plungers for the solenoids include a spring and a rod extending axially outward from said spring to provide radial flexibility.

Solenoid for scanned flip-disk sign improvements

An improved internally illuminated display apparatus for displaying indicia at a front of the apparatus. The invention is comprised of a light source for providing internal illumination to the display. A plurality of axles are connected to the light source to transfer the light emitted from the source to a plurality of light emitting locations located along the length of the axle. Display elements are rotationally connected to the axles at the light emitting locations and include display faces that may be rotated to produce an image on the front face of the apparatus.

Internally illuminated matrix sign

A modular display apparatus for displaying indicia at a front thereof has an inner frame with horizontal support beams, the inner frame supporting a plurality of grid modules, at least one grid module being located above another. A plurality of pixels rotationally mounted to the grid modules each include first and second display faces joined along respective adjacent edges. The pixels have a center of gravity located on each pixel so as to interact with an external force applied to the pixel and provide a complete rotation, with a minimum of bounce, to display a desired display face. A triggering mechanism has a plurality of solenoids adapted for selective actuation to rotate selected ones of the pixels for changing the pattern of the desired display indicia controlled by an electronic signal transmitted from an electronics system. The electronics system causes the solenoids to fire in two steps, including a first step of applying full voltage to each solenoid for a fixed period of time and a second step of applying a significantly lower 'hold' voltage to the solenoid for the remaining time the solenoid is activated. A single cable drive system drives the triggering mechanism in bidirectional motion.

Scanned flip-disk sign improvements

A changeable sign display has a supporting frame for an array of pixel elements including planar supports for the pixel elements perpendicular to the axes of rotation. Leaf springs extend from the supports toward the axis of rotation. Wires pass through aligned holes in the supports and leaf springs to serve as axles for the pixel elements. Upper and lower mountings for the planar supports are adjustable to correct bowing of the planar supports to assure sufficient coplanarity of the pixel elements to permit their selective rotation. The pixel elements have first and second ramp elements which are different from one another and facets which are different. The pixel element facets are supported from a hub which has flat outer faces which contact the leaf springs to restrain the pixel element from rotation and a slot extending along its length to permit the hub to be positioned over an axle support. A carriage supports a movable activator bank located rearward of the pixel elements. Ganged reset arms reset all pixels to a common display and a solenoid bank has activatable solenoid rods to selectively contact ramp elements to set selected pixel elements to a selected display as the solenoid bank passes rearward of the pixel elements, and a drive apparatus moves the carriage to and fro behind the array.

Growing community of inventors

Greensboro, NC, United States of America

F Martin Black