Abstract: A drive control and interface apparatus housed within an advertising display for driving a stepper motor coupled to a display device to sequentially display a plurality of images. The drive control and interface apparatus includes a microprocessor having program memory connected to the motor through a motor driver. A drive control program operates the microprocessor to drive the stepper motor to change the image displayed after a corresponding predetermined period of time. The program includes drive routines for fast and slow image changes that drive the stepper motor to minimize resonance. A control interface connects to the microprocessor. The program is responsive to the control interface to permit manual sequencing of the display and user selection of the corresponding display times for each image.

Abstract: A display device includes a highly pliable web having an array of longitudinally and transversely pins mounted on a face of the web, the pins having shanks projecting upwardly perpendicular to the area of the web at which the respective pin shanks are located. A shaping member has a contoured pressed against the underface of the web to recoverably deform the web and vary the pin shank orientations. Different webs and pin anchoring constructions are described.

Abstract: Trading cards are made interactive with the user by concealing under a coating the secondary indicia portion of an image comprising both primary and secondary indicia, and selectively altering the coating to reveal the secondary indicia in the presence of the primary indicia to complete the image. A thermochromic coating material responsive to temperature change from ambient temperature, as by rubbing the coating with the fingers, enables the local exposure of the secondary indicia.

Abstract: An efficient economical process is provided to produce an intricate impressive display with outstanding marketing and advertising appeal. In the process, a grid and multiple images are formed, such as on a central processing unit, the images are masked and striped, and portions thereof are superimposed. The grid can be printed on a front web. The superimposed masked images can be printed on an underlying back web. The display produced by the special process can be used to form an attractive sign, billboard, educational game, toy, box, wrapper and other packaging.

Abstract: The display apparatus has an endless drive member wound on drive sprockets and driven sprockets so that the drive member travels along a circulating travel path. An array of display plates is attached to a specified region of the endless drive member in such a manner that each of the display plates can be swiveled. First, when the display plates are located at the front part of the path, an advertising sign on their front surfaces is shown. As the display plates move, driven by the drive member, and pass the left end of the circulating path, they are guided by a first guide member in such a way that they maintain the same attitude. When they enter the rear part of the circulating path, an unobstructed view of an advertising sign on a stationary display board installed inside the endless drive member is obtained.

Abstract: A color changing transparent plate device comprises transparent plates facing each other with a gap between the plates, the gap being charged with a plurality of fluids having colors and relative densities different from each other and freely moving vertically and a fluid inlet/outlet device through which fluid flows into or out from the gap installed in order to hold an interface of the fluids with freely moving vertically wherein the colorless transparent is contained as the color, wherein the fluid above the interface is a gas and the fluid below the interface is a liquid, wherein the fluids above and below the interface are liquids, wherein the liquids are a transparent liquid and an opaque liquid, wherein the liquids are a colorless transparent liquid and a colored transparent liquid, wherein a spacer is installed in the gap and the spacer and the facing transparent plates are attached, and wherein a fluid inlet/outlet device is formed by a fluid inlet/outlet cylinder and a piston.

Abstract: A numeral display device having at least one visible face. Each segment of the device has a transparent outer pane and a spaced, parallel inner pane forming a pocket, a first portion of the pocket being aligned with and visible through an opening in the face. A flexible film is received in each pocket. A mechanism is provided to insert and withdraw each film from the first portion of each pocket so that each segment will either contrast with or match the face.

Abstract: A decorative display panel is formed by spaced transparent panes defining a space containing preferably water. A porous tube at the bottom of the space is supplied preferably with air under pressure to generate a curtain of bubbles moving upward in the water. The assembly is illuminated by edge lighting. The unit can be either free-standing, or incorporated in a partition system.

Abstract: A numeral display device having at least one visible face. Each segment of the device has a transparent outer pane and a spaced, parallel inner pane forming a pocket, a first portion of the pocket being aligned with and visible through an opening in the face. A flexible film is received in each pocket. A mechanism is provided to insert and withdraw each film from the first portion of each pocket so that each segment will either contrast with or match the face.

Abstract: An automatic vending machine, or a slot machine, has a display plate provided at the rear wall of a sample room which is covered by a transparent window panel fitted in a front door of the machine. A plurality of vertically elongate display strips arranged side by side at desired intervals adjacent to the display plate to be rotatable about their own axes. The front or rear faces of these display strips can cooperate with each other to produce associated composite figures, which fully covers the display plate when the display strips rotate together at the same time whereby either the front or rear faces of the display strips take their positions substantially parallel to the display plate. Consequently, the composite display figures formed by the front and rear faces of the display strips can be seen from the front of the machine.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying the graphic and alphanumeric data of the type utilizing pixel matrix panels with an outside light source. The method comprises reflecting the outside light on a preselected colored surface, rotatably housed within each matrix pixel.Every pixel comprises a cylindrical container (1) having a transparent non-flat cap (3) at one of bases, the other base being missing. The container (1) houses a radiation deflector (5) and a hollow cylinder (7) having two or more reflecting areas (10), differently colored, located on its lateral surface (9).An external light radiation enters the container through the cap (3), is deflected by the deflector (5) and is reflected by one of the reflecting areas to be again deflected and directed to the outside.The hollow cylinder (7) is operated by an electromagnetic control so as to alternatively present to the deflected radiation a preselected colored area.

Abstract: An emergency-identifying apparatus for motor vehicles for displaying highly visible messages to approaching motorists. The apparatus includes a housing having an opening positioned in at least one side thereof, a rotatable member supported within the housing and having a plurlaity of message plates thereon, each of the message plates bearing a different message indicia thereon, means coupled to the rotatable member and positioned externally of the housing to position a selected message plate in alignment with the opening, a light source for illuminating the selected message plate from behind to render the desired message indicia thereon readily visible, and means for supporting the housing at a desired location to permit the message indicia on the selected message plate to be readily visible to oncoming motorists or the like. The apparatus can be easily and quickly set-up and operated by one person and can readily be stored in a vehicle trunk or other convenient location when not in use.

Abstract: The invention relates to a control device for vehicular street traffic, including a signal disc which consumes very little energy. This signal disc is provided with signal webs separated by deep grooves and with a diffusely reflecting color coating. Pivotal slats are disposed in a frame in front of the signal disc. If the signal disc is displaced with respect to the frame, the slats are pivoted upwardly and push themselves completely into grooves. The signal disc is therefore visible at any observation angle. At dusk or at night, the signals may be given by suitably disposed, dot-shaped, colored light sources in the form of light emitting diodes.

Abstract: A matrix lamp bank display utilizes individually removable light filtering assemblies that are composed of a rectangular tinted lens and a supporting frame. Each frame is removably mounted to the display at the front of the lamps provided within it. Each lens is inclined from the vertical to reduce sun or external lighting glare. Provision is made to accommodate thermal expansion of the lens and its supporting frame, as well as ventilation of each lens during lamp operation. Multicolored displays can be achieved by grouping two or more lens colors and operating multiple lamps in combination to project a desired color mix about the matrix.

Abstract: A display device of the matrix type utilizes coincident current selection of display elements by the provision of row conductors (R) activating row electromagnets (D) and column conductors (C) activating column electromagnets (H). Each display element includes a rotatable vane (S) which is stable in open and closed positions and a permanent magnet (M) co-operates with the electromagnet (D) to urge the vane (S) into the appropriate position.A clutch member in the form of a bar (L) extending from the vane (S) contacts the pole face of an electromagnetic (H) which, when activated, serves to inhibit movement of the vane irrespective of activation of the row electromagnet (D). Thus by pulsing the display row-by-row, the state of the display elements can be set by selective inhibiting of movement in coincident manner of the appropriate vanes (S) by pulsing the respective column conductors.

Abstract: Electromagnetically actuated rotatable display element uses low coercivity magnetic core drive through cores running parallel to the rotation axes and magnets on the element outside each end of the cores.

Abstract: A matrix display of the back-illiminated electromechanical type has enhanced picture display features by including display elements whose brightness is individually adjustable.In one arrangement, each display element has an aperture and an opaque shutter selectively settable to each one of at least three stable positions. In one position, the shutter covers the aperture completely, and in the other positions, it uncovers the aperture to a differing extent so as to pass light of differing intensity depending on the position.The activating mechanism for the matrix display is a moving head having two magnetic actuators arranged side-by-side for each row of display elements. One magnetic actuator serves to accelerate the shutter of a selected display element, and the other applies a braking force to halt the shutter in the desired position so as to control the brightness of the display element.By providing a group (e.g.

Abstract: A price cassette (1) is described which comprises a moulding (2) in which a plurality of parallel wells (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19) at least partially open towards the cassette front side and separated from each other by webs (9, 10, 11, 12, 13) are disposed for receiving price and/or information tags (31). The price cassette is provided with a cover (20) which is connected to the moulding and is adapted to be placed against the cassette front side for covering the wells. The cover comprises transparent window areas (22, 23) through which the price and/or information tags can be read. The wells at the moulding are open over their entire length towards the cassette front side and the webs between the wells at least along a portion of their front faces (32) facing the cassette front side are formed in arrowhead shape.

Abstract: The invention provides an alphanumeric display module of four controllable cells, each constituted by electrically selectable elements that is able to provide significantly increased vocabulary of words considered essential for merchandising, such as "SAVE" and "BUY", displayed in an acceptable unambiguous manner, while requiring less than 40 electric control lines, so that currently available 40 terminal memory storage devices can be employed in a simple and economical control circuit. The first two cells are of conventional "figure 8" configuration, each employing seven controllable elements. The third cell includes an upward right inclined element in its lower half thus, for example, removing ambiguity between "U" and "V", while the fourth cell includes an additional vertical stroke of two separate elements between and parallel to the existing vertical strokes to permit, for example, acceptable display of "T" and "Y" and "W".

Abstract: A sign for displaying prices and other information, in which at least one numeral character is changeable to display any numeral from zero through nine. A plurality of flap members are each pivotably attached to a flat foundation portion of the sign by resilient clips which hold a portion of each flap closely against a flat front side of the foundation member, thus holding the entire flap against the front side of the sign to prevent the flaps from being caught by wind. The flaps can be overturned by use of a tool including a spatula-like end, to display selectively a background colored face of the flap, covering a contrastingly colored portion of the foundation member, or to display the opposite face of the flap, which is of the contrasting color, and uncover the contrastingly colored portion of the foundation member. The spring clips are movable to permit the flap to be overturned, yet resiliently urge the flap against the front side of the foundation member at other times.

Abstract: The invention includes a display device having a support structure including an opening forming a display window and a spring roll visible through the window, the spring roll including display characters along its length and comprising material having the property of tending to form coils at its opposite ends. The display device also includes a spring roll carrier for supporting the spring roll closely adjacent the rearward surface of the window, this carrier including a planar member having a planar forward surface positioned closely adjacent but rearwardly of the window.

Abstract: An improved matrix display device is disclosed which includes a display matrix assembly having electromechanical display elements in horizontal rows and vertical columns. The assembly has two support portions extending the width of the assembly, one portion being at the top and the other being at the bottom. A rail member extends along the width of the matrix and is arranged to guide a movable electromagnetic head device. A series of hooks attach the rail member to one of the support portions at locations in the portion having a defined distance relative to each row of the matrix, thereby ensuring that the electromagnetic head device moves in registration with the rows of the matrix. A degree of resilience is included in the display device so as to apply tension between the support portions thereby maintaining the matrix assembly substantially flat. It is therefore unnecessary for the assembly to be made completely rigid, e.g. by including a sheet of glass, and the assembly may be left relatively flexible.

Abstract: A remote controlled image display device includes an assembly of contrast bodies each of which is pivotally mounted for movement between a position of rest and an optionally arrestable position and exhibits to a viewer in combination with a background surface a contrast picture which depends upon which of the two positions the contrast bodies occupy. Movement of the contrast bodies from the rest position to the arrestable position can be effected in various ways such as by means of flexible control threads attached to the bodies, or by use of air jets, and the bodies are held in the arrestable position by releasable electrostatic attractive forces.

Abstract: In a display device, a precoiled plastic tape bearing informational indicia runs over a back-up surface to present the front side of the tape for observation and for manual access to enable translating the tape. The tape also runs over stationary pins which allow the tape to coil when translated in one direction. Opposed ends of the tape are provided with apertures which are entered by the pins when one end portion of the tape is nearly uncoiled so that further translation and complete uncoiling of the tape is prevented. The tape end portion is automatically disengaged from the pins by the inherent coil forming stress in the tape when reverse translation is initiated.