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:
Jul. 01, 1997
Filed:
May. 04, 1995
Applicant:
Inventors:
Mark William Lauzon, Southgate, MI (US);
Charles Gerard Hellebuyck, Dearborn, MI (US);
Assignee:
Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G09G / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
345 34 ; 345 50 ;
Abstract
In one embodiment of the present invention, a first diode is connected between two elements of a seven-segment display character. A second diode is also connected between two elements of the seven-segment display character. With the diodes so connected, the seven-segment display character can display the characters '1' through '9', and can do so with only six of the seven segments coupled to display driver circuitry. Electronic resources are thus saved in the control of the seven-segment display character.