US 4,254,453 A · Alpha-numeric display array and method of manufacture

Abstract

An alpha-numeric array is provided for the selective display of characters as controlled by associated character generator programming circuitry. The display array in one character format utilizes a 5.times.7 matrix array of individually operable illumination sources, LED solid state lamps for example, with programmed combinations of the individual illumination sources being operated to display the programmed characters. The display array includes a lens and front panel array having integrally formed lens areas. The lens areas of the lens and front panel array when unactuated are essentially indistinguishable from the front panel array background area thus providing improved contrast. The display array also includes a reflector array having integrally formed reflector cavities. The integrally formed reflector cavities include predetermined surface characteristics for collimating the light rays emanating from the central axis of the reflector cavities. The display array also includes an illumination source alignment and mounting array having integrally formed illumination source mounting arrangements and integrally formed illumination source alignment arrangements.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A display array comprising:

a lens array having lens areas arranged in a predetermined array;
a reflector array having integrally formed reflector cavities arranged in said predetermined array in alignment with said lens areas;
an illumination source disposed within each of said reflector cavities, each of said illumination sources including electrical connections for the selective energization of each of said illumination sources;
and
a positioning array comprising an integrally formed array of means for positioning said illumination sources in a predetermined relationship with respect to the corresponding reflector cavity in which said illumination source is disposed, said array of positioning means being arranged in said predetermined array, each of said illumination sources including a body portion and device leads extending from said body portion, each of said illumination source positioning means comprising means cooperating with said device leads of respective illumination sources for providing a predetermined resilient mounting characteristic to said corresponding body portion of each of said illumination sources to achieve said predetermined positioning relationship between said illumination sources and said corresponding reflector cavities.

2 more elements

A display array comprising:

a lens array having lens areas arranged in a predetermined array;
a reflector array having reflector cavities arranged in said predetermined array in alignment with said lens areas;
means having a predetermined array of illumination source mounting arrangements arranged in alignment with said lens areas and said reflector cavities for mounting and positioning inserted illumination sources;
and
a plurality of illumination sources, one of said illumination sources being disposed within a respective one of said illumination source mounting arrangements, each of said illumination sources including a body portion and device leads extending from said body portion,
each of said illumination source mounting arrangements comprising means cooperating with said respective device leads for providing a predetermined resilient mounting characteristic to said corresponding body portion of each of said illumination sources to position each of said illumination sources in a predetermined alignment relationship with respect to the corresponding reflector cavity,
each of said reflector cavities comprising a reflector surface with a generally open widened mouth portion disposed adjacent said corresponding aligned lens area and an illumination source receiving aperture opposite said widened mouth portion, said predetermined alignment relationship between said reflector cavity and said respective corresponding body portion providing accurate positioning of said body portion within said reflector cavity with said illumination source body portion protruding into said reflector cavity through said receiving aperture of said reflector cavity, said reflector array comprising an illumination source alignment surface provided for each of said reflector cavities, each of said body portions of said illumination sources comprising a widened base portion, said predetermined alignment relationship between said reflector cavity and said reflective illumination source being the contact of said widened base portion of said illumination source by said illumination source alignment surface of said reflector array.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Alpha-numeric display array and method of manufacture

Life of this patent

Alpha-numeric display array and method of manufacture

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20