# US 4,399,434 A · Line indicating apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,399,434 A - Document ID: US4399434A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/271,412 - Filed: 1981-06-08 - Granted: 1983-08-16 - Earliest claimed: 1981-06-08 - Inventors: Norbert J. Bielat - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4399434A ## CPC - G01R 13/404: {for discontinuous display, i.e. display of discrete values (analogue/digital conversion H03M1/00)} - G08B 5/00: Visible signalling systems, e.g. visible personal calling systems or remote indication of seats occupied - G08B 5/36: using visible light sources - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS ## Abstract A line indicating apparatus for visually monitoring changes of physical constants or functions occurring in a dynamic process. The apparatus has a plurality of units or modules which are associated with the monitoring of a corresponding plurality of variables. Each module has at least two indicating sections, each of which is provided with at least two indicating members. An electric circuit is provided for sensing the condition and changes in each monitored variable and providing various outputs to energize one or more indicating members to give a visual indication of the condition of the monitored variable. The modules are aligned with each other in a straight line so that during normal or mode "A" operation of all the variables, particular indicating sections in all of the modules will present a highly visible indicating line or band. In case of a minor deviation occurring in a particular monitored variable, the indicating section associated with the normal operation will go out and an adjacent indicating section in the module will go on to indicate a caution or mode "B" operation. Should a substantial deviation occur in one of the variables or the variable should become non-existent, all indicating sections go on to indicate a danger or mode "C" operation. One of the components forming the line indicating apparatus is a line indicating device in the form of a display panel having a plurality of indicating segments, each having two or more indicating sections which are adapted to be chromatically stressed by any well-known forms, such as colored tabs which are mechanically or manually affixable to respective indicating sections. ## Claims ### Claim 1 In a line indicating apparatus for presenting the stages or conditions of a plurality of monitored variables, means for sensing the states or conditions of said variables and providing outputs, visual means responding to said outputs for visually presenting said outputs, and means for aligning said visual means in a straight line, the improvement wherein each of said visual means comprises two or more indicating sections, and means for exciting at least each section to represent a normal operating range of the respective variable, whereby, when all of said variables are in their normal operating ranges, each section associated with normal operating range in each visual means will be excited and all of said excited sections will present a single highly visible normal operating line or band. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A line indicating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said visual means comprises a monitor module, each module being provided with two or more chambers, and said exciting means including two or more colored light bulbs disposed in each of said chambers, said chambers being enclosed by said sections. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A line indicating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said visual means comprises a monitor module provided with three chambers vertically aligned, each chamber being associated with an individual section, said exciting means comprising two or more colored light bulbs disposed in each of said chambers, and an electrical circuit for energizing one or more of said colored light bulbs, whereby said electric circuit is selective to energize one or more of said sections depending on the normal value of said monitored variable or the magnitude of variation of the monitored variable from its normal value. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A line indicating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said visual means comprises a monitor module having a housing provided with forward and rear sections defined by an intermediary wall, the forward section of the housing having two or more chambers, said exciting means comprising two or more colored light bulbs disposed in each chamber and supported by said intermediary wall, a circuit panel disposed in the rear section and providing a connection to each of said colored light bulbs, and circuit means connected to said circuit panel for providing an electric current to said colored light bulbs. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A line indicating apparatus according to claim 4, including an illuminating panel closing said chambers, said illuminating panel having portions associated with each of said chambers and defining said indicating sections. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A line indicating apparatus according to claim 5, including a housing for supporting said plurality of monitor modules in a horizontal alignment. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A line indicating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said visual means comprises three sections vertically aligned, said exciting means comprising two or more visual indicating members associated with each section, all of said exciting members being mounted on a common member, and wall members vertically and horizontally isolating each of said two or more of said indicating members, whereby, when the magnitudes of the monitored variables are at a desired level, the visual indicating members associated with the middle section will be excited and give a visual indication in the form of a straight line or band and, whenever a deviation occurs in any one of the variables, the indicating members in the adjoining sections will present a visual indication of such deviation. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A line indicating apparatus according to claim 7, said exciting means including a circuit means associated with each of said visual indicating members, said circuit means comprising sensor means for monitoring the magnitude and deviations of the monitored variable, a power supply, and selective circuit means interconnected between the power supply and the sensor means for determining which of the indicating members are to be excited, whereby said selective circuit means is adapted to energize the indicating member in the middle section to indicate a mode "A" or normal operation, to energize one of the indicating members in each of the outer sections to indicate mode "B" or a slight deviation from normal operation, or to excite one of the other indicating members in each of said sections to indicate mode "C" or a substantial deviation from normal operation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A line indicating apparatus according to claim 8, wherein each indicating member is a colored light bulb, the light bulbs associated with the middle section being green and red, and the light bulbs associated with the outer sections being yellow and red, said selective circuit means being effective to energize the green light bulb to indicate normal or mode "A" operation, said selective circuit means being effective to energize the yellow light bulbs in both of the outer sections and the extinguishment of the green light bulb in the middle section to indicate a cautionary or mode "B" operation, and said selective circuit means being effective to energize the red light bulbs in all three sections and extinguishment of the green light bulb to indicate a danger or mode "C" operation. ### Claim 10 A line indicating device comprising an elongated display panel having a plurality of abutting indicating segments, each segment having two or more vertically disposed indicating sections, each segment being associated with a particular variable being monitored, all indicating sections at a single line level being associated with normal operating ranges of a series of said variables, and means responsive to a normal operating range of each variable for chromatically stressing each of said indicating sections in a predetermined manner, whereby, when said indicating segments are used to present conditions of a series of variables, and all variables vary within established normal operating ranges, all of said indicating sections on said single line level will be similarly chromatically identified and present a highly visible chromatic line. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A device according to claim 10, said means for chromatically stressing each of said indicating sections includes two or more colored light bulbs associated with each indicating section, and means for selectively energizing said colored light bulbs. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) A device according to claim 10, said means for chromatically stressing each of said indicating sections is in the form of a tab having a predetermined color and associated with a particular indicating section, and means for visually presenting said tab on said particular indicating section. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A device according to claim 12, said means for visually presenting said tab comprises a mechanical arrangement associated with each indicating segment. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) A device according to claim 10, said means for chromatically stressing each of said indicating sections comprises a tab having a predetermined color, including means for manually affixing said tab to said indicating section. ### Claim 15 In a line indicating apparatus for presenting the stages or conditions of a plurality of monitored variables, means for sensing the states or conditions of said variables and providing outputs, visual means responding to said outputs for visually presenting said outputs, and means for aligning said visual means in a straight line, the improvement wherein each of said visual means comprises two or more indicating sections, and means for exciting at least each section depending on the magnitude of the respective variable, whereby, when all of said variables possess a desired magnitude, one section in each visual means will be excited and all of said excited sections will present a highly visible line or band, wherein each of said visual means comprises three sections vertically aligned, said exciting means comprising two or more visual indicating members associated with each section, all of said exciting members being mounted on a common member, and wall members vertically and horizontally isolating each of said two or more of said indicating members, whereby, when the magnitudes of the monitored variables are at a desired level the visual indicating members associated with the middle section will be excited and give a visual indication in the form of a straight line or band and, whenever a deviation occurs in any one of the variables, the indicating members in the adjoining sections will present a visual indication of such deviation, said exciting means including a circuit means associated with each of said visual indicating members, said circuit means comprising sensor means for monitoring the magnitude and deviations of the monitored variable, a power supply, and selective circuit means interconnected between the power supply and the sensor means for determining which of the indicating members are to be excited, whereby said selective circuit means is adapted to energize the indicating member in the middle section to indicate a mode "A" or normal operation, to energize one of the indicating members in each of the outer sections to indicate mode "B" or a slight deviation from normal operation, or to excite one of the other indicating members in each of said sections to indicate mode "C" or a substantial deviation from normal operation. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A line indicating apparatus according to claim 15, wherein each indicating member is a colored light bulb, the light bulbs associated with the middle section being green and red, and the light bulbs associated with the outer sections being yellow and red, said selective circuit means being effective to energize the green light bulb to indicate a normal or mode "A" operation, said selective circuit means being effective to energize the yellow light bulbs in both of the outer sections and the extinguishment of the green light bulb in the middle section to indicate a cautionary or mode "B" operation, and said selective circuit means being effective to energize the red light bulbs in all three sections and extinguishment of the green light bulb to indicate a danger or mode "C" operation.