The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 09, 1995
Filed:
Mar. 10, 1993
F Martin Black, Greensboro, NC (US);
Steven H Brenia, Kernersville, NC (US);
G Frank Dye, Greensboro, NC (US);
FMB Communications, Inc., Greensboro, NC (US);
Abstract
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.