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:
Sep. 05, 2000
Filed:
Oct. 31, 1997
Jerry L Johnson, Veradale, WA (US);
Kevin M Hanson, Rathdrum, ID (US);
Kenneth R Cummings, Mead, WA (US);
Edward A Wilson, Spokane, WA (US);
American Electronic Sign Company, Spokane, WA (US);
Abstract
A pixel for use in a visual matrix display including a frame having front and rear surfaces and defining an aperture; a light source oriented in the aperture; a first retroreflective surface borne by the frame and positioned adjacent to the aperture; a flap borne by the front surface and moveable along a given path of travel between a first position wherein the pixel is nonoperational, and the flap is disposed in covering relation relative to the light source, and a second operational position, wherein the flap has a second retroreflective surface which is exposed when the flap is in the second position; an assembly borne by the frame for moving the flap along the given path of travel; and an assembly for energizing the light source when the flap is in one of the given positions along the path of travel.