Patents Assigned to Daktronics, Inc.
  • Patent number: 6314669
    Abstract: Electronic alpha-numeric or symbol sectional display system featuring readily accessible access to internally located modular display and other components for quick changeout of modular and other components. Display panels, which are modular, having side-by-side display module/nested frame assemblies which include outer and inner nested frameworks, fine mesh screen, display circuit boards with LED character block displays, and driver circuit boards, are readily and quickly secured in stackable enclosure cabinets by the use of ¼ turn or other quick fastening hardware. Other changeout friendly hardware is incorporated within to promote economy of manufacturing and changeout functions. Viewability of alpha-numeric or other symbol information is preserved and enhanced by the use of small panel fine mesh screens which maintain planar attributes and which are located at the front of each modular display panel residing in close proximity to the LED character block displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Daktronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne R. Tucker
  • Patent number: 6169632
    Abstract: Modular display system having LED pixels and lenses aligned to the LED's to increase intensity, increase view angle and increase overall viewability. Louvers align along the LED's and lenses to shade the LED's and lenses from ambient light to increase viewability. Modular display panels which contain the LED's, lenses, louvers and other associated components are accessible from the front and back for changeover or repair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Daktronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Reece A. Kurtenbach, Robert James Lutz, Robert E. Seeley, Brett David Wendler
  • Patent number: 6154945
    Abstract: Electronic indoor or outdoor alpha-numeric sign display system featuring readily accessible access to internally located electronic and other components from either the front or the rear of the sign display system for quick changeout of components. Opposing accessible spring latch rods located interiorly to a sign display module including a reflector/lens/louver assembly engage opposing catches on catch panels located in the interior of an enclosure or frame to secure the sign display module to the enclosure or frame. The spring latch rods are operated by special tools from the front or rear of the sign display system for disengagement of the sign display module from the enclosure or frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Daktronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Vernon P. Voelzke
  • Patent number: 6156987
    Abstract: A submersible, touch-operated signaler including at least a pair of facially confronting, electrically conductive plates. Strips of resilient, nonconductive material are interposed between the plates to maintain a substantially preset spacing therebetween and to yieldably resist movement of the plates toward each other. The strips are disposed in a plurality of vertically aligned and spaced rows with vertically aligned fluid-draining passages therebetween. Rigid edge containment brackets along adjacent margins of the plates secure the edges of the plates against movement away from each other. Openings extend through a rear electrically conductive plate which align with the vertically oriented passages between the resilient strips to provide free vertical fluid flow into and out of the space between the plates. The touch-operated signaler operates on low voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Daktronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Jason C. Warne
  • Patent number: 6144562
    Abstract: A component mounting bracket system for mounting a component on a mounting wall having a pair of support apertures and a hole. The system comprises an upper bracket and a lower bracket mountable on a component. The upper bracket has a mounting aperture and the lower bracket includes a main portion and a pair of bracket arms attached to the main portion. The bracket arms are positioned in a spaced relationship and have a lower edge with a mounting notch opening downwardly for engaging a lower edge of one of the support apertures. The notches permit a relatively small degree of pivot movement of the lower bracket and the component mounted thereto with respect to the mounting wall while supporting the component in a position substantially adjacent to the mounting wall. The mounting aperture of the upper bracket forms a loop structure for looping over a fastener protruding from the hole in the mounting wall for hanging the component from the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Daktronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Vernon P. Voelzke, Jack R. Tolk
  • Patent number: 5949581
    Abstract: Modular display system having LED pixels and lenses aligned to the LED's to increase intensity, increase view angle and increase overall viewability. Louvers align along the LED's and lenses to shade the LED's and lenses from ambient light to increase viewability. Modular display panels which contain the LED's, lenses, louvers and other associated components are accessible from the front and back for changeover or repair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Daktronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Reece A. Kurtenbach, Robert James Lutz, Robert E. Seeley, Brett David Wendler
  • Patent number: 5779351
    Abstract: A lamp matrix display includes a vertical planar array of light sources arranged in rows and columns and a plurality of reflectors positioned about corresponding light sources and having reflector surfaces for directing the light emitted from the light source in a forward direction. The reflective surface of at least one of the reflectors includes multiple parabolic reflective surfaces having offset focal points. At least one lens is mounted in front of the reflectors. The lens may be a single lens having an inner flat surface disposed adjacent an outer edge of each reflector surface and an outer prismatic surface having vertical prisms to horizontally spread the light from the planar array of light sources. Further, the plurality of reflectors may be structurally supported about corresponding light sources by a matrix framework and the matrix framework may include a plurality of air vents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Daktronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Troy A. Erickson, Vernon P. Voelzke
  • Patent number: 5321417
    Abstract: A light transmitting, visual display panel for use as a sign or message board and comprised of a plurality of closely adjacent, rectangular modules, each of which includes a closed, vertically disposed housing having top, bottom, side and back walls, and a front wall comprised of a plurality of closely adjacent, interchangeable, rectangular, 3-dimensional, light refracting filtering lenses. The lenses are removably secured in the housing. A vertical array of individual light sources is disposed within the housing behind the lenses and dividers behind the lenses separate the light sources. Each housing includes at least one pressurizing cooling fan and narrow, slot-like air exhaust ducts are provided between adjacent lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1994
    Assignee: Daktronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Vernon P. Voelzke, Troy A. Erickson, Ronald L. Sitzema