| JP2003161970 | MAGNETIC DISPLAY |
| WO/2008/078252 | MICRO-ELECTRO-MECHANICAL SYSTEM WITH ACTUATORS |
| JP10178606 | COMMUNICATION TERMINAL AND PROJECTING DEVICE OF VISIABLE RECOGNITION INFORMATION |
CLAIMS
1. A display unit comprising: a display compartment, displaying a plurality of images, each of which being made of image-elements of various colors, the image-elements positioned to form together the image; a build-up compartment, in which images to be displayed at a later time are built-up from image-elements; and a mechanism capable of replacing at least one of the plurality of images displayed at the display compartment with at least one of the images built-up in the build-up compartment, without replacing at least some of the other images.
2. A display unit according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of images is an image of a digit, and the digits represent together time.
3. A display unit according to claim 1, wherein the build-up compartment is viewable by a viewer of the display compartment.
4. A display unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein image elements are consumable products.
5. A display unit according to claim 4, wherein said consumable products are edible.
6. A display unit according to claim 5, wherein said consumable products are candies.
7. A display unit according to any one of the preceding claims, associated with a dispenser for dispensing image-elements out of the time display unit.
8. A display unit according to claim 7, wherein the image-elements dispensed by the dispenser are all of same color.
9. A display unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein image elements released from the time display compartment are collected regardless of their color.
10. A display unit according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein image elements released from the time display compartment are collected into magazines in accordance with their color.
11. A display unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein image elements are positioned in their appropriate places in the build-up compartment by means of a pinball-like arrangement of directors.
12. A display unit according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a weighing machine configured for distinguishing broken image elements from non- broken ones. |
A DISPLAY UNIT
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to display panels having the displayed information represented by a plurality of particles of different properties. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
WO 98/10403, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, describes an apparatus for displaying information on a display panel with a plurality of picture elements, all having the same shape but different colors. A display panel is segmented into a plurality of picture element domains, and the picture elements are moved from storage positions to the picture element domains in accordance with the image to be formed. After one still pattern appears on the display panel for a desired displaying period, the picture elements are recovered from the display panel and returned to the original storage positions in accordance with their colors.
EP 0 947 972, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a display panel with the displayed information represented by a number of image points provided by different color particles. In one of the embodiments, this publication describes an extremely large-size display with a vertically arranged display body, arranged along a wall of a building, and a matrix memory arranged above the display body, on the roof of the building. Image change is implemented by releasing the display elements to allow them to fall out of the matrix memory, filling the display body with image particles falling down from the matrix memory.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An aspect of some embodiments of the present invention relates to displaying an image with a display panel, where the image is displayed with image-elements of different colors that are positioned in a matrix to create the image. The image is displayed for a certain period, and then a portion of the image changes, and the rest remains unchanged.
In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, refreshing the display is done by preparing a physical image in a build-up compartment, and replacing an image displayed in a display compartment with the image in the build up compartment.
In an embodiment of the invention, the image is a digital time display, and only digits that need to be changed when the time display is refreshed are changed.
For instance, when the time changes from 23:58 to 23:59 only the digit 8 changes into
9, while when the time changes from 23:59 to 00:00 all four digits change.
In an embodiment of the invention, the image-elements are consumable items, such as candies, whipping tops, space-ship models, pills, etc. In an embodiment of the invention, the image that is in preparation is also displayed, such that a viewer may inspect not only the time but also the process of building the digit images. This may attract the attention of a viewer to the time display for much longer periods than are needed for just reading the time, and enhance the viewer exposure to the image-elements, hi case of consumable image-elements, such enhanced exposure may have an advertising effect.
In an embodiment of the invention, the time-display is associated with a dispenser for dispensing image-elements to an end-user. Preferably, the dispenser is associated with a sorter that enables dispensing image-elements of one color or type.
Dispensing image-elements may require adding new image-elements to the display unit for replacing the dispensed ones. hi moving the image-elements into the display panel and from it, it may happen that display elements wear or break. The above-described process of dispensing elements from the display unit and adding elements thereto refreshes the stock of image-elements and may decrease the number of worn elements in the display unit.
In an embodiment of the invention, the display unit comprises a weighing machine for weighing the display elements, and elements having a weight below some pre-defined limit are suspected as being broken, and taken out of the display unit.
Thus, an aspect of some embodiments of the invention relates to a display unit comprising: a display compartment, displaying a plurality of images, each of which being made of image-elements of various colors, the image-elements positioned to form together the image; a build-up compartment, in which images to be displayed at a later time are built-up from image-elements; and a mechanism capable of replacing at least one of the plurality of images displayed at the display compartment with at least one of the images built-up in the build-up compartment, without replacing at least some of the other images.
In some embodiments of the invention, each of the plurality of images is an image of a digit, and the digits represent together time.
In some embodiments of the invention, the build-up compartment is viewable by a viewer of the display compartment. In preferred embodiments, image elements are consumable products, which are optionally edible, for instance candies.
In an exemplary embodiment, the display unit is associated with a dispenser for dispensing image-elements out of the display unit. Optionally, all the dispensed elements are of same color. hi some embodiments of the invention, image elements released from the display compartment are collected regardless of their color. Alternatively, image elements released from the display compartment are collected into magazines in accordance with their color. While collecting the elements regardless of their color may make the display unit more interesting to watch, collecting by color may make the display process more efficient.
In an embodiment of the invention, image elements are positioned in their appropriate places in the build-up compartment by means of a pinball-like arrangement of directors.
Optionally, a display unit according to embodiments of the invention includes a weighing machine configured for distinguishing broken image elements from non- broken ones.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
Non-limiting examples of embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to figures attached hereto and listed below. Dimensions of components and features shown in the figures are chosen for convenience and clarity of presentation and are not necessarily shown to scale.
Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of a display unit according to an embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 2 is a schematic illustration of a display unit according to another embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 3 is a schematic illustration of a conveyer for conveying image-elements according to an embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 4 is a schematic illustration of a top view of a display unit according to the invention;
Fig. 5 is a schematic illustration of a dispenser shown in Fig. 4; and Fig. 6 is a schematic illustration of a display unit according to another embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of a display unit (100) according to an embodiment of the invention. Display unit 100 has a current time display compartment (102) and a build-up compartment (104) positioned above it. The current time display compartment (102) has a matrix of image-elements (106) in two or more colors, forming together a current time display.
The build-up compartment (104), has one "8" digit (the minute digit) that is complete, one "4" digit (of the tens of minutes) that is almost complete, and two digits that are far from being complete. When the display compartment will be refreshed (at 02:38), the minute digit in the display compartment will be replaced by the one in the build-up compartment. The other digits in the build-up and display compartments will remain unchanged.
Display unit 100 includes a mechanism capable of replacing at least one of the digits displayed at the display compartment (104) with at least one of the digits in the build-up compartment (106), without replacing at least some of the other digits. The mechanism includes blocking elements 110, 112, 114, 116, provided at the border between the build-up compartment and the display compartment, and blocking elements 120, 122, 124, and 126 provided at the bottom of the display compartment. Locking or releasing the blocking elements prevents or allows the image elements gliding down out of the display compartment (120-126) or from the build-up compartment to the display compartment (110-116).
When display refresh is desired, the minute digit will be released from its place by releasing blocking element 126 as to empty display compartment 102; re-locking element 126; releasing blocking element 116 as to allow the image elements making the digit "8" take their places in the display compartment; and re-locking blocking element 116. Blocking elements 110, 112, 114, 120, 122, and 124 stay locked during the process. Optionally, the display compartment and the build-up compartment have
an arrangement that prevents display elements from mixing in between columns during refresh. In an embodiment of the invention this arrangement is in the form of channels that go along each column in each of the compartments.
In another embodiment, the emptying of the display compartment and the transfer of the image elements from the build-up compartment overlap in time. In this case, the actuation of the blocking elements needs to be designed to ensure that the lower blocking elements (120-126) are already locked by the time image particles from the build-up compartment reach the lowest row in the display compartment. In an embodiment of the invention, depicted in Fig. 2, image-elements 202 that are released from the display compartment 204 are transferred directly to appropriate positions in build-up compartment 206. For this, the color of each image-element is optionally read with a reader 208 as the element is conveyed by a conveyer 220 above the build-up compartment. From the top of the build-up compartment 206, the display element is dropped into the position where it is most urgently required by means of, for instance, processor-actuated directors (230). The processor (210) that actuates directors 230 receives input on the color of each of the elements from the reader 208. Processor 210 optionally actuates also the conveyer (220), for instance, to determine how fast it rotates. Connections between the processor, and all the elements actuated or controlled thereby are not shown in the drawing for clearness of representation. Directors 230 act as in a pinball machine to direct each image element to its place. In general, the urgency is decided by how soon the image element must be replaced. For instance, in a time display, building the minute digit is more urgent than building the hour digit (except for in the last minute in every hour, or when the minute digit is already completely built up and the hour digit is still not complete).
Optionally, reader 208 is an optical reader. Alternatively or additionally image-elements of different colors may have different magnetic properties, (for instance, they may be marked with magnetic marking or be made of materials of different magnetic properties) and reader 208 is a magnetic reader. Optionally, image-elements of different colors have also different weight, and the reader 208 is replaced with a weighing machine (not shown) for determining the color of the different elements. The processor (not shown) which actuates the directors (230) receives information on the color of the different image elements from reader
208.
In another embodiment of the invention, the image elements are sorted in magazines, each devoted to image-elements of a particular color, and dispensed from the magazines to the build-up compartment independently of the magazines being filled by the conveyer. For this, the number of image-elements that have room in a magazine is preferably larger than the number of elements being displayed at each instance.
Fig. 3 is a schematic illustration of a conveyer 300 for conveying image particles from beneath the display compartment to above the build-up compartment in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Conveyer 300 is made of two parallel flights of stationary stairs (302, 304) and a set of moving flight of stairs 306 between them. The moving flight of stairs is moved circularly (see arrow 308) up and down by an engine (310). An image element 312 sitting on a stair (314), is taken up and towards the next stair (316) when the moving stairs move up, and down to stair 316 when the moving stairs move down. The stairs are optionally designed to prevent the particles from falling, for instance, they are made with a small incline, such that angle α is smaller than 90°. The conveyer 300 optionally conveys image-elements to an endless belt 320.
Fig. 4 is a schematic illustration of a top view of a display unit according to an embodiment of the invention, and having a conveyer (400) conveying spherical image elements 402 on an endless belt 404, optionally made with links (406) separating the image elements. The image elements 402 may arrive at the conveyer 400 directly after being released from a display compartment, or from a dispenser 410, which optionally receives image elements released from a display compartment. In an embodiment of the invention, some of the image elements arrive at belt 404 directly from the display compartment, and some from the dispenser 410.
The figure also shows openings 412, through which image elements are dispensed by solenoids 414 into their appropriate place in a build-up compartment hidden underneath the endless belt 404. Dispenser 410 and solenoids 414 are controlled by controller 420 to build the images in the build-up department. Optionally, controller 420 receives information on the color of the different elements (for instance, from a reader of the kind depicted in Fig. 3), and controls which image- element is put into which place in the matrix. Optionally, controller 420 also controls
the replacement of a displayed image with a built-up image, for instance, by controlling blocking elements of the kind depicted in Fig. 1. Optionally, one or more of the openings 412 is for dispensing image elements not to a position within the built-up matrix, but for dispensing them out of the display-unit, for instance, to a consumer. In an embodiment of the invention, when a consumer requests receiving image elements, for instance, by sending a signal indicative of such request to controller 420, the controller controls some of the image elements that are less urgently required for building images in the built-up compartment, to travel on belt 404 to a position from which the image elements are dispensed out of the display unit, and then actuate the solenoid associated with this position. Controller 420 may also take into consideration the consumer request to receive image elements, and control only image-elements of this color to be dispensed out of the display unit.
Fig. 5 is a schematic illustration of the dispenser 410 of Fig. 4 according to an embodiment of the invention. The figure shows two magazines 502 and 504, each having therein image elements of a different color. Each magazine has a door 506, arranged to open and close to dispense one image element at a time onto the belt 404. The doors (506) are optionally process-actuated to provide on the belt 404 image elements of different colors in the order required for efficient building of digit images in the build-up compartment. Fig. 6 is a pictorial representation of a display unit 600 according to another embodiment of the invention. Display unit 600 has a current time display compartment (602) and a build-up compartment (604) positioned above it and creating with it an obtuse angle. Each of the current time display compartment (602) build-up compartment (604) has a matrix of image-elements (606) in two colors. The image elements (606) of unit 600 are in four colors: two colors that are shown to be used in the display compartment, and two that are used in the build-up compartment.
The display elements are sorted by color, and kept in magazines (such as 502 or 504 of Fig. 5), with elements of each color in a different magazine. The display elements are prepared for display in feeding arcs 650, from which they are picked by a screw 660, having threads of a width that fits the width of an image element. The screw is rotated back and forth by a controller, and when in the proper position, an image element is let fall from the feeding arc to between the threads of the screw. Rotating of the screw and feeding it with image elements continues until several
S elements (606') are ready for going into the build-up compartment. Then, a barrier 670 is lift up, and the elements fall into the build-up compartments, forming a portion of the built up image. This process may continue as required for building up the image in the build-up compartment, and then the built-up image may replace the displayed image, in a way similar to that described above in the context of Fig. 1.
The present invention has been described using non-limiting detailed descriptions of embodiments thereof that are provided by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. It should be understood that features and/or steps described with respect to one embodiment may be used with other embodiments and that not all embodiments of the invention have all of the features and/or steps shown in a particular figure or described with respect to one of the embodiments. Variations of embodiments described will occur to persons of the art. Furthermore, the terms "comprise," "include," "have" and their conjugates, shall mean, when used in the disclosure and/or claims, "including but not necessarily limited to."
It is noted that some of the above described embodiments may describe the best mode contemplated by the inventors and therefore may include structure, acts or details of structures and acts that may not be essential to the invention and which are described as examples. Structure and acts described herein are replaceable by equivalents, which perform the same function, even if the structure or acts are different, as known in the art. Therefore, the scope of the invention is limited only by the elements and limitations as used in the claims.