Display apparatus for signage

A display assembly for displaying characters or graphics by an array of display units in varying ambient light conditions, comprising:

• a printed circuit board having connections for a first set of display units and a second set of display units;
• said first set of display units connectively disposed on said printed circuit board in a first array for cooperatively displaying characters or graphics, said first display units including a completely circular disk with a reflecting side and non-reflecting side and means for rotating the disks about an axis so as to display one side or thre other;
• said second set of display units spaced from said first units, said second set of display units connectively disposed on said printed circuit board in a second array for cooperatively displaying characters or graphics, said second display units including an illumation source;
• said first array and said second array being arranged such that both are viewed simultaneously;
• means for controlling said first and second array;
• said first set of display units is arranged in a generally rectangular matrix which includes generally diamond shaped spaces between the array display units where the edges of adjacent display disks meet;
• said second set of display units is arranged in a generally rectangular matrix overlapping said first matrix and having units located in said diamond shaped areas;
• thereby each of said first display units is associated with one of said second display units to form overlapping arrays wherein both associated display units can be operated simultaneously while not affecting the field of view of the other.