Rotating display system
OwnerDaniel L. Kowalewskiinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pixel-based display utilizes persistence-of-vision to sweep text and graphics in a cylindrical plane, including time and date, custom messages and animations. The display is generated from a light array with a column of modulated light emitting elements, which is mounted on a rotating display assembly. Power and data are combined on a fixed control assembly and inductively coupled to the display assembly. A control assembly processor interprets a display application language that describes display-specific tasks to generate command, mode, character and graphic data for the display assembly. The control assembly processor also reads a trigger position sensor and adds a trigger delay to generate a virtual trigger command, which provides for flexible display positioning and scrolling display effects.
Claims11
A display system comprising:
- a base;
- an electric motor supported by said base;
- a shaft extending from said motor and operable so as to rotate when power is applied to said motor;
- an elongated, generally planar display assembly center mounted to said shaft so that said display assembly rotates as said shaft rotates;
- a light array mounted to an end portion of said display assembly so as to sweep out a generally cylindrical path as said display assembly rotates;
- an elongated, generally planar control assembly fixedly mounted to said base between said motor and said display assembly, said control assembly configured to accommodate said shaft;
- and
- an inductive coupling adapted to provide electrical communications between said control assembly and said display assembly.
A display method comprising the steps of:
- describing a pixel display with a display instruction;
- interpreting said display instruction so as to create a display command;
- generating a data signal responsive to said display command;
- deriving a plurality of column data responsive to said data signal;
- rotating a display assembly about an axis so that a light array mounted on said display assembly sweeps along an arc surface;
- modulating said light array with said column data so as to create a viewable area of said pixel display across at least a portion of said arc surface;
- combining a power source and said data signal into a waveform;
- inductively coupling said waveform to said display assembly;
- filtering display assembly power from said waveform;
- and
- decoding said data signal from said waveform,
- wherein said waveform is a square wave, said data signal is a plurality of bits and said combining step comprises the substeps of switching said power source so as to generate said square wave, interrupting said square wave for a first time period in response to each of said bits that is a one, and interrupting said square wave for a second time period in response to each of said bits that is a zero, and
- wherein said square wave has a time period of T and said first time period is about 10T and said second time period is about 20T,
- said decoding step comprising the substeps of:
- generating a zero bit if said square wave ceases for a time period greater than 15T;
- and
- generating a one bit if said square wave ceases for a time period less than 15T.
A display method comprising the steps of:
- describing a pixel display with a display instruction;
- interpreting said display instruction so as to create a display command;
- generating a data signal responsive to said display command;
- deriving a plurality of column data responsive to said data signal;
- rotating a display assembly about an axis so that a light array mounted on said display assembly sweeps along an arc surface;
- modulating said light array with said column data so as to create a viewable area of said pixel display across at least a portion of said arc surface;
- combining a power source and said data signal into a waveform;
- inductively coupling said waveform to said display assembly;
- filtering display assembly power from said waveform;
- decoding said data signal from said waveform;
- sensing a trigger position of said display assembly;
- adding a variable delay to said trigger position so as to create a virtual trigger position;
- initiating said modulating step in response to said virtual trigger position;
- and
- adjusting said variable delay so as to position said viewable area.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.