SCROLLING DISPLAY CONTROLLING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USING SAME

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is the first application filed for the present invention.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to the field of scrolling display. More precisely, this invention pertains to a portable apparatus for controlling a scrolling display.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is very desirable to control a scrolling display. The scrolling display may be used for instance to display the price of gas around a gas station.

The skilled addressee will appreciate that since the scrolling display is located outdoor, harsh weather conditions may be found. This may be the cause of the damaging of an apparatus for controlling the scrolling display.

Also the price to be displayed on the scrolling display may change over time very frequently. It is therefore desirable to be able to control easily and speedily the scrolling display.

There is a need for a method and apparatus that will overcome at least one of the above-identified drawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for controlling the scrolling of a

scrolling display, the method comprising providing a portable unit comprising an energy storing unit, connecting the energy storing unit of the portable unit to the scrolling display, performing a scrolling of the scrolling display until a desired position of the scrolling display is reached.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a portable apparatus for controlling the scrolling of a scrolling display, the apparatus comprising an energy storing unit for providing a powering signal, a user interface for providing a user signal indicative of a desired movement of the scrolling display, the user signal comprising at least one of a scrolling up signal, and a scrolling down signal and a no scrolling signal, a user selection processing unit for receiving the user signal and for providing a signal to transmit and a connecting interface for receiving and for transmitting the powering signal and the signal to transmit to said scrolling display.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a portable apparatus for controlling the scrolling of a scrolling display, the apparatus comprising an energy storing unit for providing a powering signal, a user selection switching unit for receiving the powering signal and for transmitting the powering signal according to a desired movement of the scrolling display and a connecting interface for transmitting the powering signal from the user selection switch to the scrolling display.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed

description, taken in combination with the appended drawings, in which:

Fig. Ia is block diagram which shows a first embodiment of a portable apparatus for controlling the scrolling of a scrolling display wherein a user selection processing unit is used;

Fig. Ib is a block diagram which shows a second embodiment of a portable apparatus for controlling the scrolling of a scrolling display wherein a user selection switching unit is used;

Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing how to operate the portable apparatus for controlling the scrolling of a scrolling display;

Fig. 3 is a front perspective view showing an embodiment of a portable apparatus for controlling a scrolling display and the scrolling display;

Fig. 4 is a front perspective view showing an embodiment of the scrolling display wherein a front hollow piece has been removed;

Fig. 5 is a front perspective view showing an embodiment of the scrolling display wherein the front hollow piece is shown transparently;

Fig. 6 is a front perspective view of a first embodiment of a connecting interface showing a polarizing method of the contacts without use of a mechanical polarizing key;

Fig. 7a is a front perspective view of a second embodiment of a connecting interface comprising a phone jack;

- A -

Fig. 7b is a front perspective view of a third embodiment of a connecting interface comprising a slidable member, comprising PCB contacts, engaging a corresponding hollow member, wherein a polarizing key is provided;

Fig. 8a is a front perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a connecting interface comprising a ^' member comprising clip contacts engaging corresponding tubular contacts wherein a polarizing key is provided;

Fig. 8b is a front perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a connecting interface comprising a member comprising hooks engaging corresponding contacts wherein a polarizing key is provided;

Fig. 9a is a front perspective view of a sixth embodiment of a connecting interface comprising a member comprising springs engaging corresponding contacts wherein a polarizing key is provided;

Fig. 9b is a front perspective view of a seventh embodiment of a connecting interface comprising a quick fit member engaging corresponding contacts wherein a polarizing hey is provided;

Fig. 10a is a front perspective view of a eighth embodiment of a connecting interface comprising a banana plug member engaging corresponding contacts wherein a polarizing key is provided;

Fig. 10b is a front perspective view of a ninth embodiment of a connecting interface comprising connecting members wherein a polarizing key is provided.

It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Now referring to figure Ia, there is shown a first embodiment of a portable apparatus 10 for controlling the scrolling of a scrolling display.

The apparatus 10 comprises a user interface 12, a portable energy storing unit 14, a user selection processing unit 16 and a connecting interface 18.

The user interface 12 is used to provide a user signal. More precisely, the user interface provides a user signal comprising, in one embodiment, at least one of a "scrolling up" signal, a "scrolling down" signal and a "no scrolling" signal. It will be appreciated by the skilled addressee that the user interface 12 may comprise various buttons of various shapes depending on aesthetic or design considerations.

The apparatus 10 further comprises a portable energy storing unit 14. In one embodiment, the portable energy storing unit 14 is used to provide a powering signal for powering a scrolling display as explained below. It will be appreciated by the skilled addressee that the portable energy storing unit 14 provides a powering signal having sufficient voltage and current characteristics to drive the scrolling of the scrolling display. It will be appreciated that in one embodiment, the portable energy storing unit 14 may be rechargeable.

The apparatus 10 further comprises a user selection processing unit 16. The user selection processing unit 16 is used to receive the user signal and to provide a control signal to transmit in accordance with the received user signal. The control signal to transmit has specific characteristics compatible with the scrolling display as

explained further below and is used to drive the scrolling display.

In one embodiment the user selection processing unit comprises a field programmable array (FPGA) . Alternatively, the user selection processing unit 16 may be any one of a dedicated processor, a CPLD, or the like. The apparatus 10 further comprises a connecting interface 18. The connecting interface 18 is used to provide a physical connection with the scrolling display via a corresponding connecting interface. It will be appreciated that the connecting interface 18 may be of various size and shape for instance, the connecting interface may be a male connector in one embodiment where the scrolling display comprises a corresponding female connecting interface. Alternatively, the connecting interface may be a female connector in the case where the scrolling display comprises a corresponding male connecting interface.

Now referring to Fig. Ib, there is shown an alternative embodiment of an apparatus 11 for controlling a scrolling display.

The apparatus 11 comprises the portable energy storing unit 14, the connecting interface 18 and a user selection switching unit 15.

The user selection switching unit 15 is used for receiving a powering signal and providing the powering signal according to a desired movement of the scrolling display to the connecting interface 18. In one embodiment, the user selection switching unit 15 is a 3 -state switch driven using the user signal. A first state is used for performing a "scrolling up" of the scrolling display, while a second state is used for performing a "scrolling down" of the

scrolling display and while a third state is used when a "no scrolling" is desired. Alternatively, the user selection switching unit 15 is a 2-state switch wherein a first state is "scrolling" while a second step is "no scrolling" . In the last case, the skilled addressee will appreciate that no indication of a scrolling direction is provided.

The skilled addressee will appreciate that the connecting interface 18 should be carefully selected in order to provide a tight connecting (preferably waterproof) of the two connecting interfaces. Referring to Figs 6, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a and 10b, there are shown some embodiment of connecting interfaces.

More precisely, Fig. 7a discloses an embodiment of a connecting interface comprising a phone jack.

Fig. 7b discloses an embodiment of a connecting interface comprising a slidable member, comprising PCB contacts, engaging a corresponding hollow member, wherein a polarizing key is provided.

Fig. 8a discloses an embodiment of a connecting interface comprising a member comprising clip contacts engaging corresponding tubular contacts wherein a polarizing key is provided.

Fig. 8b discloses an embodiment of a connecting interface comprising a member comprising hooks engaging corresponding contacts wherein a polarizing key is provided.

Fig. 9a discloses an embodiment of a connecting interface comprising a member comprising springs engaging corresponding contacts wherein a polarizing key is provided.

Fig. 9b discloses an embodiment of a connecting interface comprising a quick fit member engaging corresponding contacts wherein a polarizing hey is provided.

Fig. 10a discloses an embodiment of a connecting interface comprising a banana plug member engaging corresponding contacts wherein a polarizing key is provided.

Fig. 10b discloses an embodiment of a connecting interface comprising connecting members wherein a polarizing key is provided.

The skilled addressee will appreciate that the polarizing key is advantageously used in order to avoid mistakes when connecting a connecting interface to a corresponding connecting interface.

More precisely and referring back to Fig. Ia, an operator may use the user interface 12 to provide the user signal. The user selection processing unit 16 receives the user signal provided by the user interface 12 and generates a signal to transmit. It will be appreciated that in the embodiment disclosed in Fig Ia, the user selection processing unit 16 further receives a feedback signal provided by the connecting interface 18 and the signal to transmit is generated according to the feedback signal. In fact, the feedback signal is indicative of a position reached by a film of the scrolling display and may be provided by an apparatus (position detector) located in the scrolling display. The signal to transmit is received by the connecting interface 18 which is connected, in operation, to a corresponding connecting interface to the scrolling display. The portable energy storing unit 14 provides a powering signal for powering the scrolling of the display as explained above. It will be appreciated that

the portable energy storing unit 14 provides also a powering signal for powering the user selection processing unit 18.

In the embodiment disclosed in Fig. Ib, the user selection switching unit 15 receives a powering signal provided by the portable energy storing unit 14 and provides the powering signal to the connecting interface 18 according to a desired movement of the scrolling display. It will be appreciated that in such embodiment, the powering signal may be provided on a given part of the connecting interface

18 according to the user signal.

For instance, in the case where the user selection switching unit 15 is a three-state switch and is actuated in a "scrolling up" position, the powering signal is provided to a given part (pin) of the connecting interface 18 such that a "scrolling up" is performed using a corresponding motor electrically connected to the connecting interface 18. Alternatively and in the case where the user selection switching unit 15 is actuated in a "scrolling down" position, the powering signal is provided to another given part of the connecting interface 18 such that a "scrolling down" is performed using a corresponding motor electrically connected to the connecting interface 18. Finally and in the case where the user selection switching unit 15 is actuated in a "no scrolling" position, no powering signal is provided to the connecting interface 18.

Now referring to Fig. 2, there is shown an embodiment for operating the apparatus for scrolling the scrolling display.

According to step 20, a portable unit is provided. In one embodiment, the portable unit 10 shown in Fig. Ia is provided. Alternatively, the apparatus 11 shown in Fig. Ib is used.

According to step 22, the portable unit is connected to the scrolling display. It will be appreciated that in one embodiment, the portable unit 10 is physically connected by an operator to the scrolling display via a connecting interface .

According to step 23, a scrolling of the scrolling display is performed until a desired position of the scroll on the scrolling display is reached. Still referring to Fig. 2, there is shown an embodiment for performing the scrolling.

According to step 24, a scrolling direction is selected. In a preferred embodiment, the scrolling direction is selected using the user interface of the portable unit. It will be appreciated that the scrolling direction may be any one of a up direction and a down direction. Alternatively and as explained above, a single scrolling direction is used.

According to step 26, the scrolling is performed until a desired position is reached. In one embodiment, the scrolling is performed by pressing a scrolling button on the user interface of the portable unit 10. Alternatively, it will be appreciated that the portable unit 10 may have a "scrolling on" button and a "scrolling off" button and that therefore the operator may decide to perform the scrolling of the scrolling display by pressing the "scrolling on" button.

It will be appreciated that the scrolling is performed until the operator obtains a desired display in the

scrolling display. At this point, the operator may decide to stop the scrolling.

Alternatively, a position detection (feedback signal) may be provided to detect a given position and to stop the scrolling accordingly by interrupting the providing of the powering signal to the motors.

Now referring to Fig. 3, there is shown an embodiment of the portable apparatus 10 together with a scrolling display 30 with which the portable apparatus 10 may be advantageously used. It will be appreciated in this embodiment that the scrolling display 30 comprises three sets of scrolling rolls, each having top and bottom rollers, a first set displays the number "12" while a second and a third set display the number "3" . This exemplary scrolling display 30 is used for providing the price of gas .

It will be further appreciated that adjacently to each of the scrolling roll sets is provided an adaptor which is suitable for connecting the connecting interface 18 of the portable apparatus 10 to the scrolling display. In the case of the roll 12, the connector 36 is adapted to the connecting interface 40. It will be further appreciated that the scrolling display comprises a rear plate assembly 32 and a front hollow piece 36 tightly secured to the rear plate assembly 32 using connecting means, not shown, in order to provide a waterproof scrolling display. The skilled addressee will appreciate that in one embodiment, the rear plate assembly may be made of clear polycarbonate or clear impact resistant acrylic. It will be further appreciated that in one embodiment, the front hollow piece 36 may be made of clear polycarbonate or clear impact

resistant acrylic. It will further be appreciated that the front hollow piece 36 may be manufactured with any color.

Now referring to Fig. 4, there is shown an embodiment of the scrolling display 13 in which the front hollow piece 34 has been removed. The skilled addressee will appreciate that top and bottom motors are operatively connected to corresponding rollers. The skilled addressee will further appreciate that the motors are used to actuate a given scroll in response to a moving scroll signal provided by the portable apparatus 10. For instance, the motors 44 and 44' are used to actuate scroll 42, the motors 48 and 48' are used to actuate scroll 46 and the motors 52 and 52' are used to actuate the scroll 50. The skilled addressee will appreciate that two motors are used for each scroll as it is desirable, in this embodiment, that each scroll may be actuated independently from one another. In one embodiment of the scrolling display, the scroll 42 comprises a film with "9-10-ll-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-Blnk (Blank)" printed on it. The skilled addressee will appreciate that this film is used to display tens and dollar numbers in the case of a gas price scrolling display. Such using of a single film to display tens and dollar numbers is of advantage over the embodiment wherein a first film is used to display dollar numbers and a second film is used to display tens numbers as it requires less resources (scroll, motor and connecting interface) and is therefore less costly. Still in this embodiment of the scrolling display, the scroll 46 and the scroll 50 each comprises a film with "0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9- Blnk (Blank)" printed on it. The scroll 46 is used to display the unit numbers in the case of the gas price scrolling display. The scroll 50 is used to display the decimal numbers in the case of the gas price scrolling display. This embodiment is advantageously used to display

the price of gas in Canada. The skilled addressee will appreciate that this embodiment is merely explanatory and that other configurations may be used depending on a country. It will be appreciated that in one embodiment, the film is made of clear polyester. The skilled addressee will appreciate that the font used to print the film may be of various type and that using a scrolling display having a film is of great advantage over the prior art, as the scrolling display may be kept while the film is changed following a change in the corporate image for instance.

Now referring to Fig. 5, there is shown an embodiment of the scrolling display 30 shown in Fig. 3 wherein the front hollow piece 34 is disclosed transparently. The skilled addressee will appreciate that a first connector 60 is used for electrically connecting the connecting interface 18 of the portable apparatus 10 to the first set of motors 44 and 44' . A second connector 62 is used for electrically connecting the connecting interface 18 of the apparatus 10 to the second set of motors 48 and 48' and a third connector 64 is used for connecting electrically the third set of motors 52 and 52' to the connecting interface 18 of the apparatus 10.

It will be appreciated that while Fig. 5 discloses an embodiment of the scrolling display 30 wherein a given connector is used for each given set of motors, the skilled addressee will appreciate that in an alternative embodiment, not shown in the figures, a single connector may be used for driving the first set of motors 44 and 44', the second set of motors 48 and 48' and the third set of motors 52 and 52' . In such embodiment, the scrolling display further comprises a processing unit. More precisely, the single connector is connected to a

processing unit. The processing unit is connected to each of the first set of motors 44 and 44', the second set of motors 48 and 48' and the third set of motors 52 and 52' . It will be appreciated that the processing unit may be any type of processing unit. The skilled addressee will appreciate that the apparatus 10, shown in Fig. Ia, may be used to drive the scrolling display. It will be appreciated that in such embodiment, a motor selection signal indicative of a selected set of motors to drive is provided to the processing unit in order to adequately drive the selected set of motors. The motor selection signal is provided by the portable apparatus 10. The skilled addressee will appreciate that in such embodiment only one connecting interface, instead of three, is used. This provides an increased overall reliability of the scrolling display. It will further be appreciated that the processing unit is preferably powered up by the portable apparatus 10. A further advantage of such embodiment is that the operating of the scrolling display is easier for the operator as the later is only required to connect the portable apparatus 10 to one single connecting interface instead of three. The processing unit disclosed in this embodiment may also be used to provide feedback information from the scrolling display to the portable apparatus.

The skilled addressee will appreciate that prior art displays wherein printed interchangeable plastic numbers (acrylic plates) are affixed to tracks to display a price for instance may be easily converted into a moving scrolling display which may be advantageously controlled using the apparatus disclosed herein. The skilled addressee will in fact appreciate that the scrolling display assembly may be easily mounted on same tracks of an existing sign

face, enabling therefore such converting from a manual scrolling display to a moving scrolling display.

The skilled addressee will appreciate that the fact that no powering unit is comprised in the scrolling display is advantageous over prior art electronic displays. The skilled addressee will appreciate that, because of on-site security issues, gas stations require more and more the use of low voltage lighting apparatus such as LEDs (5V) or the like, as opposed to the traditional fluorescent (1500V) and neon (15000V) lighting devices. As opposed to the prior art electronic displays, the scrolling display device does not require any power to maintain the information displayed.

The skilled addressee will further appreciate that the film which may be mounted on the rollers of the scrolling display may be of various colors suitable with any color requirements .

The skilled addressee will further appreciate that having a scrolling display removes the need for keeping an inventory of interchangeable printed plastic number plates and is therefore of great advantage and all drawback related to the use of such printed plastic number plates such as breaking, loss, replacing of lost plates using new having different colors, etc.

The skilled addressee will also appreciate that while LED displays may be used to provide a display, such display requires constant electric powering to display the desired information and changing customizing fonts and colors in most LED displays is cumbersome when it is not impossible in the case of a 7 -segment LED display.

The embodiments of the invention described above are intended to be exemplary only. The scope of the invention is therefore intended to be limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.