Abstract: A high frequency power supply for distributed luminous tube signage including a master power unit and one or more slave units. The master unit includes a digital oscillator, controller, and electronic switches to induce a switched high frequency waveform across the primary of an output transformer. This waveform is preferably of a non-symmetrical variety to minimize neon bubble formation and mercury gas migration. The output transformer includes one or more low voltage ancillary power outputs for interconnection through appropriate twisted pairs or other transmission medium to the slave units. A high voltage secondary for direct luminous tube connection may also be provided. Various slave unit topologies are contemplated including remote or moving luminous tube segments; electronic controllers and sequencers, and motors.

Abstract: A roll sign has closed loop belts made up of a series of pivotally connected links for the belts to translate parallel to each other and vertically after passing over driven wheels. Grid members having grooved tracks into which menu strips slide for being lighted from behind to make information on the strips readable. The grid members have similar end portions or webs which contain a keyhole defined by a large hole intersecting a smaller hole. Each link has an attachment pin including a shank whose end is extending through an aperture in the link and a head on the shank that is disposed on a side of the link opposite from the end of the pin. A spring biases the head against the grid member. The large holes of the keyholes fit over the head so that when this is done the grid is shifted laterally against the spring force to have the small holes slide under the head to hold the grid.

Abstract: Apparatus for detecting certain load fault conditions of gaseous luminous tube loads connected to high voltage, high frequency power supplies including open-circuit, broken tube and other balanced load fault conditions. The detector includes a filter for emphasizing the harmonic content of the power supply output, an attenuator, a comparator or other detector/threshold device, and a delay circuit. A power supply shut-down switch may be included or the present fault detector may be interconnected to shut-down switch of a conventional ground fault interrupter. In one embodiment the filter and attenuator and, in another, the filter, attenuator, and delay circuit employ common components and may include a filter/attenuator capacitor defined by placement of metalization on the high frequency power supply transformer adjacent a high voltage output lead.

Abstract: A dimmer oscillator for a high frequency luminous tube power supply including a frequency shiftable high frequency oscillator, a variable duty cycle low frequency oscillator operatively connected to the high frequency oscillator for controlling the high frequency oscillator between a first normal output operating frequency and a second higher frequency. A low pass filter within the high frequency supply whereby the supply output to a luminous tube load is reduced, when the oscillator is operating at the second higher frequency, to a low intensity ionization maintenance level. An integrator between the low and high frequency oscillators whereby the transition between the first nominal and second higher operating frequencies is smoothed to reduce acoustic noise and false GFI and OVP triggering. A frequency control diode between the low and high frequency oscillators to limit the lower frequency excursion, and to maintain oscillation of, the high frequency oscillator.

Abstract: A sign or menu board has a pair of parallel vertical side rails with opposite end portions of upper and lower cross rails joined to the upper and lower end portions of the side rails to form a carrier frame. Each side rail has a track coextensive with its length. Grid modules make up modular grid units. Each unit, which may contain only one module, is comprised of cross bars that are joined at their opposite ends by tie-bars which together with the cross bars define a window opening. The cross bars are provided with lengthwise grooves for slidably accepting an information strip between them. The grid units slide into the carrier frame along the tracks and are constructed such that the information strips can be slid into or out of a grid without withdrawing the grid from the carrier frame. Pictorial assembly retainer bars are also constructed for sliding into the frame on the side rails.

Abstract: A modular neon sign system comprising two or more independent neon or similar luminous tube segments. One or more of the luminous segments are arranged in generally parallel configuration across the remaining tube segments and each such parallel segment includes a series capacitive ballasting element to selectively control the current through the respective segment. Receptacles may be provided to facilitate the attachment of the parallel segments thereby forming detachable neon modules. The capacitive ballasting element is preferably a ceramic button-like disc that may be connected to an end of the parallel neon module or inserted into the receptacle. In one embodiment the several parallel segments are connected to a reduced tension constant voltage power supply. In a second erabodiment, a constant current power supply is continuously interconnected to one or more neon luminous tubes that define a fixed portion of the sign with the parallel segment(s) or module(s) being connected across said fixed portion.

Abstract: Rectangular transparency panels form the sides of triangular units that are lighted from within. A gear train drives the units in synchronism. A base housing has a plurality of parallel aligned round posts projecting upwardly from it. The posts have a bore in which the lower end of a tubular lamp resides. Annular recesses around the posts have ring bushings in them. Gears having axially upwardly and downwardly projecting hub portions rotate concentrically to but not directly on the posts. The downwardly projecting hub portion has an annular shoulder that imparts a thrust load to the bushing and the hub extends through the bushing to be journaled for rotation. A gear cover arranged above the posts contains similar bushings that journal the upper hub portions and accept upward thrust load. The upper hub portions of the gears have axial slots.

Abstract: A tubular plastic body of a neon tubing support has a bore terminating in a lower opening and in an opposite internally shouldered upper opening. A helical spring is installed in the bore through the lower opening and retained by a plug in the lower opening at one end of the bore and by the shoulder at the other end. A stem unit includes a shaft having a tubing engaging element on one end, and extends into the bore coaxially with the spring and terminates in an integral bulbous portion. The bulbous portion is axially slotted to define legs which can flex toward each other for clearing through the undersized top opening in the body. The bulbous portion has a shoulder and passes axially through the spring to compress some of the convolutions for developing a force causing the shoulder to engage with the convolutions intermediate of the ends of the spring to create a bidirectionally resilient neon tubing support.

Abstract: Two thin sheets of material have slits to define coplanar flaps that are configured and arranged in conformity with segments of a segmental display such as a seven-segment digital display. The layers are superimposed such that corresponding segments are superimposed. The layers have contrasting colors. Applying a force against the overlying flap in a segment causes the overlying and underlying flaps to deflect in the same direction for the outer edges of the flaps to pass each other. When the force is removed the flaps restore to positions that are substantially coplanar with the layers in which they are formed. When the flap in the overlying layer is coplanar with its layer that flap and, hence, the segment is not visible because there is no contrast between the flap and the layer being viewed. When the flap of the underlying layer is caused to switch over the flap in the overlying layer there is contrast between the flap and the overlying layer so the segment represented by the flap is visible.

Abstract: A low frequency parasitic oscillation suppressor for series, current-fed high frequency luminous tube power supplies. The suppressor incorporates a transformer, the primary of which serves as the conventional series input choke. A parasitic damping resistor and diode are connected in series with the transformer secondary and this series combination is, in turn, connected across the DC supply source for the oscillator. The transformer turns-ratio is selected such that no current flows through the series secondary under normal operating conditions. Upon the generation of a low frequency parasitic oscillation, a current is caused to flow through the secondary including the parasitic damping resistor thereby dampening the parasitic oscillation while maintaining normal high frequency operation.

Abstract: A high frequency power supply for neon and mercury luminous tubes including means for simultaneously suppressing bubbles formed in neon tubes and for minimizing migration of mercury commonly associated with the use of solid-state luminous tube power supplies.

Abstract: A sign body has light transmitting side panels for displaying information. The panels are arranged adjacent each other in a relationship that provides a top opening for entry between the panels of light emitted from fluorescent tubes in a light fixture mounted in the ceiling of a room. A reel having a spindle on which a web similar to a household window shade is wound. The sign body is supported on the free end of the web. The sign body can be raised manually sufficiently for the top opening to be near the light source for illuminating the panels from inside of the body and the body can be held there by tension in the web. The body can be pulled down manually in which case the web unwinds and holds the sign body at a level above the floor of the room so the sign can be accessed for maintenance or exchange of information bearing media.

Abstract: Apparatus for dimming neon tubes and signs in which certain problems associated with high dimming levels (lowered illumination intensities), namely, of tube non-excitation and non-uniform illumination, are eliminated. The apparatus includes a generator for creating pulse groups, which groups consist of one or more high frequency, full-amplitude pulses and a modulator for selectively controlling the repetition rate of the pulse group and/or the number of pulses forming each group. The apparatus further includes ground fault interruption circuitry that is immune from the false triggering occasioned by the low pulse group repetition rate which in turn results in the repeated de-ionization/re-ionization of the neon gas. The ground fault interruption circuitry includes a detector for establishing the initiation of a pulse group and an inhibitor to preclude ground fault interruption during periods of gas re-ionization following the commencement of each pulse group.

Abstract: A sign in which multiple scenes are presented in sequence is comprised of a plurality of juxtaposed rotationally driven display units that are assembled with triangularly-shaped hollow sleeves whose side panels are constituted by transparencies on each of which there is a portion of a different complete scene. There are adapters on the upper and lower ends of the display units which have bushings for allowing the juxtaposed display units to be journaled for rotation on a stationary light transmissive tubes that serves as axles. The tubes are retained at their lower ends in a row of equally spaced apart and colinear bores and they are retained at their upper ends by a plate which also has a corresponding row of bores that provide for stabilizing the upper ends of the tubes and for maintaining them in perfect alignment and spacing.

Abstract: A unitary helical coil spring assembly is inserted in a tubular body to form a neon tube support. The assembly is molded of plastic using a mold comprised of two planar blocks in each of which there are a series of axially spaced apart recesses configured to form half convolutions of a spring and there are projections having rounded ends projecting from between half convolution recesses on each mold block which interdigitate and project into the half convolution recesses in the opposite mold block when the planar surfaces are interfaced so the rounded ends cooperate to form a circular inside diameter of the spring when plastic is injected in the recesses.

Abstract: A high frequency power supply for neon and mercury luminous tubes including means for simultaneously suppressing bubbles formed in neon tubes and for minimizing migration of mercury commonly associated with the use of solid-state luminous tube power supplies.

Abstract: A unitary helical coil spring assembly is inserted in a tubular body to form a neon tube support. The assembly is molded of plastic using a mold comprised of two planar blocks in each of which there are a series of axially spaced apart recesses configured to form half convolutions of a spring and there are projections having rounded ends projecting from between half convolution recesses on each mold block which interdigitate and project into the half convolution recesses in the opposite mold block when the planar surfaces are interfaced so the rounded ends cooperate to form a circular inside diameter of the spring when plastic is injected in the recesses.

Abstract: A high frequency PWM power supply for luminous tubes including a low power constant frequency, uniform pulse width generator which charges the intrinsic input capacitance of an insulated junction power FET thereby switching a source of DC voltage across the primary of a high voltage transformer. A current sense resistor and load current compensator discharge the FET gate capacitance upon attaining a predetermined average luminous tube load current. The secondary power supply output includes a series capacitance to minimize tube end discoloration particularly prevalent in mercury luminous tubes. A ground fault detector employing the intrinsic secondary capacitance and transformer core with a dual-peak detector thereby providing enhanced accuracy and ground fault reliability.

Abstract: A power supply for high voltage, low current gas discharge tubes such as neon, argon, and mercury vapor. A free running, flyback oscillator, converts D.C. voltage energy into radio frequency energy by means of a compact, ferrite transformer and associated circuitry. The primary winding is tuned by a resonant capacitor and driven by a power transistor. A high voltage, centertapped winding of a ferrite transformer drives the gas tube load directly. A feedback winding arranged across the transistor base and emitter junction sustains oscillation and controls the drive level of the transistor by means of a regulating circuit which controls the amplitude of the current. Oscillator starting is achieved by means of an on-off switch which supplies a single starting pulse to the power transitor or by means of a time delayed starting pulse.