Abstract: A modular window electronic sign is provided for outdoor use. The sign is provided with a walk-in cabinet or housing with a forward facing informational display surface viewable through an opening in the cabinet. The window is comprised of a series of vertically elongated transparent lenses which have a truncated U-shaped cross section. The legs of the lenses extend rearwardly from the front face of the lens to behind the display surface. Water is prevented from entering into the enclosure through the window by seals on the legs of the lenses out of sight behind the display surface. A method of maintaining the sign from the interior of the cabinet is also provided by flexing and rotating the lenses, the front of the window may be cleaned from the interior of the cabinet. A method of maintaining and replacing modular electronic components of the sign from within the cabinet is also provided.

Abstract: A fiber optic display sign is provided comprising a plurality of magnetically actuatable indicator elements, each having associated therewith at least two fiber optic cables for transmitting light. Each of the fiber optic cables has an end face for emitting light which terminates in an indicator element, and an end face for receiving light which is positioned in close proximity with the other light receiving end faces to form a light receiving surface. A light source assembly moveable with respect to the light receiving surface includes a primary light source and a secondary light source each adapted to illuminate the light receiving surface when aligned therewith. The light source assembly is alternatively moveable to a first position at which the primary light source is aligned with the light receiving surface or a second position at which the secondary light source is aligned with the light receiving surface.

Abstract: A heavy duty flasher for incandescent lamps for a motor coach or the like incorporates a pair of power MOSFETs in parallel for efficient, cool operation and includes a pair of timers, one for flash rate control and the other for producing AC for operating a voltage multiplier to provide gate voltage for the MOSFETs. Protective circuitry senses current overload and terminates current flow to protect the power devices while allowing inrush current to the lamps at the beginning of each cycle. A circuit sensitive to the presence of load supplies power to the timers only under load conditions.

Abstract: A destination sign for buses is provided with means for adding a route number to the display device independently of the destination name displayed on the sign. The destination sign is of the electronic type in which a long destination name is displayed by showing two or more word units in time sequence on the same display device (10). The word units are stored in memory (18); a destination name selector (14) and logic means (16) addresses the desired combination of word units in sequence. A route number selector (24) generates a route number signal independently of the destination name selector. The memory and the route number selector are selectively coupled by switching means (20) to a character generator (22) which controls the energization of the display device according to the characters to be displayed in the destination message.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp dimming circuit is disclosed for DC fluorescent lighting circuits of the type using a battery voltage source and an inverter. The dimming circuit comprises an electronic switch (24) connected between the battery (18) and the inverter (16) and an oscillator (26) is provided to periodically actuate the electronic switch to reduce the on-time of the lamp current. A timer (30) is connected with the oscillator (26) to disable the dimming circuit for a preset time interval after the lamp has been turned on by an on/off switch (20). Thus, the lamp is started at full intensity upon each start-up and after the time delay the dimmer circuit is effective to reduce the intensity.