Granted Patent B2

US 9,343,002 · App. 13/586,716 · Granted May 17, 2016

Abstract

Claims (34)

1. A display apparatus comprising:

a transparent panel, wherein the transparent panel includes a first portion and a second portion such that the first portion comprises a first cavity portion and the second portion comprises a second cavity portion that together define a single cavity within the interior of the transparent panel; and

a display system for displaying alphanumeric information, the display system comprising:

a light emitting array of display elements enclosed in the single cavity within the interior of the transparent panel;

a fundamentally transparent molded substrate configured to support the light emitting array display elements, configured to provide electrical interconnection between the display elements, and positioned in the single cavity such that a back side of the fundamentally transparent molded substrate abuts an inside surface and inside side wall of the first cavity portion; about each display element, masking hood features extend from a front surface of the fundamentally transparent molded substrate to an inner surface of the second portion such that the fundamentally transparent molded substrate is held within the single cavity.

2. The display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the display system is configured to display alphanumeric characters in response, to at least one control signal; and

wherein the display apparatus further comprises a controller for generating the at least one control signal.

3. The display apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the controller controls the display system to provide a plurality of control modes to alter a manner for displaying the alphanumeric characters on the light emitting array.

4. The display apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the display apparatus further comprises a user interface enabling selection of one of the plurality of control modes and selection of the alphanumeric characters for display.

5. The display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the display elements of the light emitting array comprise light emitting diodes.

6. The display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the display elements of the light emitting array comprise organic light emitting diodes.

7. The display apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the the masking hood features are configured to limit the effects of intruding sunlight by operating as a miniature shade or awning with respect to each one of the display elements.

8. A display apparatus, comprising:

a transparent panel, wherein the transparent panel includes a first portion and a second portion such that the first portion comprises a first cavity portion and the second portion comprises a second cavity portion that together define a single cavity within the interior of the transparent panel;

a display system for displaying information, the display system being enclosed in the single cavity within the interior of the transparent panel, wherein the display system further comprises:

an array of light emitting diodes for displaying alphanumeric characters, the array of light emitting diodes being responsive to at least one control signal;

a controller configured to generate the at least one control signal; and

a fundamentally transparent molded substrate configured to support each of light emitting diode in the array of light emitting diodes, configured to provide electrical interconnection between the light emitting diodes, and positioned in the single cavity such that a back side of the fundamentally transparent molded substrate abuts an inside surface and inside sidewall of the first cavity portion; about each light emitting diode, masking hood features extend from a front surface of the fundamentally transparent molded substrate to an inner surface of the second portion such that the fundamentally transparent molded substrate is held within the single cavity.

9. The display apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the controller is positioned in a predetermined location in the fundamentally transparent molded substrate and electrically connected to control the array of light emitting diodes in order to provide a plurality of control modes that alter a manner for displaying the alphanumeric characters on the array of light emitting diodes.

10. The display apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the display system further comprises a user interface enabling selection of one of the plurality of control modes and enabling selection of the alphanumeric characters for display on the array of light emitting diodes.

11. The display apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of control modes include at least two of a fixed mode for displaying the alphanumeric characters in a fixed position, a rotating mode for scrolling the alphanumeric characters in a horizontal direction, a waterfall mode for scrolling the alphanumeric characters in a vertical direction and an alternating mode for switching between a first display of alphanumeric characters and a second display of alphanumeric characters.

12. The display apparatus of claim 8 , wherein each masking hood feature is configured to operate as a miniature shade or awning.

13. The display apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the transparent panel comprises glass.

14. The display apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the transparent panel comprises an acrylic plastic.

15. A display apparatus, comprising:

a transparent panel, wherein the transparent panel includes a first portion and a second portion such that the first portion comprises a first cavity portion and the second portion comprises a second cavity portion that together define a single cavity within the interior of the transparent panel;

a display system for displaying information, the display system being enclosed in the single cavity within the transparent panel, wherein the display system comprises:

an array of light emitting diodes configured to display alphanumeric characters responsive to at least one control signal;

a controller configured to generate the at least one control signal, wherein the controller controls the array to provide a plurality of control modes to alter a manner for displaying the alphanumeric characters on the array, the plurality of control modes include a fixed mode for displaying the alphanumeric characters in a fixed position, a rotating mode for scrolling the alphanumeric characters in a horizontal direction, a waterfall mode for scrolling the alphanumeric characters in a vertical direction and an alternating mode for switching between a first display of alphanumeric characters and a second display of alphanumeric characters;

a fundamentally transparent molded substrate configured to support the array of light emitting diodes and the controller, configured to provide electrical interconnection between the light emitting diodes and the controller and configured to be positioned in the single cavity such that a back side of the fundamentally transparent molded substrate abuts an inside surface and inside side walls of the first cavity portion; about each light emitting diode, masking hood features extend from a front surface of the fundamentally transparent molded substrate to an inner surface of the second portion such that the fundamentally transparent molded substrate is held within the single cavity.

16. The display apparatus of claim 15 , further comprises a user interface adapted to enable selection of one of the plurality of control modes and selection of the alphanumeric characters for display on the array.

17. The display apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the masking hood features are configured to operate as a miniature shade or awning.

18. The display apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the transparent panel comprises glass.

19. The display apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the transparent panel comprises an acrylic plastic.

Assignments (9)