US3768188A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Readout
Assignee: Daktronics Inc
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Filing: 1972-02-15
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Granted: 1973-10-30
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Expires: 1992-02-15
Abstract
Abstract A seven-segment readout of the ''''dot'''' segment type in which light for each dot is coupled from a lamp through a light guiding cylinder sandwiched between a lamp board holding the lamp and a light diffusion member to a dot defining aperture of a faceplate, which dot defining apertures are configured to form the segments of a readout.
Inventors
- 👤 P Espeset
- 👤 A Kurtenbach
- 👤 J Morgan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 20:18
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09F; G09F9/00; G09F9/30; G09F9/307
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
235 words
A dot segment readout comprising: A. a faceplate having apertures therein defining the dots of the segments of a readout; B. a light diffusion member underlying the faceplate and coextensive in area with at least each of said apertures; C. a light guiding cylinder for each said aperture, said cylinder having a length approximately equal to the width of said aperture; D. a cylinder locating plate having apertures both in registration with the apertures of said faceplate and of dimensions for accepting said light guiding cylinders to hold said cylinders in axial alignment with said faceplate apertures; E. a lamp board sandwiching said cylinders between said light diffusion member and said board, said board having a lamp aperture over each cylinder and having an electrical conducter proximate each lamp accepting aperture; F. a lamp in each lamp board aperture, the end area of each of which lamps is approximately one-eighth of the cylinder crosssectional area, each of which lamps includes a rim for holding the lamp in said lamp accepting aperture and for making electrical contact with a said electrical conducter; G. a back plate assembly for holding said lamps in said lamp apertures and for providing an electrical contact to each of said lamps: H. fastening means for holding the faceplate, light diffusion member, light guiding cylinders, cylinder locating plate, lamp board, lamps, and backplate assembly together as a unitary dot segment readout assembly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
235 words
A dot segment readout comprising: A. a faceplate having apertures therein defining the dots of the segments of a readout; B. a light diffusion member underlying the faceplate and coextensive in area with at least each of said apertures; C. a light guiding cylinder for each said aperture, said cylinder having a length approximately equal to the width of said aperture; D. a cylinder locating plate having apertures both in registration with the apertures of said faceplate and of dimensions for accepting said light guiding cylinders to hold said cylinders in axial alignment with said faceplate apertures; E. a lamp board sandwiching said cylinders between said light diffusion member and said board, said board having a lamp aperture over each cylinder and having an electrical conducter proximate each lamp accepting aperture; F. a lamp in each lamp board aperture, the end area of each of which lamps is approximately one-eighth of the cylinder crosssectional area, each of which lamps includes a rim for holding the lamp in said lamp accepting aperture and for making electrical contact with a said electrical conducter; G. a back plate assembly for holding said lamps in said lamp apertures and for providing an electrical contact to each of said lamps: H. fastening means for holding the faceplate, light diffusion member, light guiding cylinders, cylinder locating plate, lamp board, lamps, and backplate assembly together as a unitary dot segment readout assembly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A readout according to claim 1 wherein said faceplate dot defining apertures are configured to form the segments of a generally angular figure-eight seven-segment readout; said cylinder is a circular tube; and said diffusion member is a polyester film.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A readout according to claim 2 wherein said circular tube has a length of five-eighths of an inch and a diameter of five-eighths of an inch; and said diffusion member is 0.003 inch thick double matte polyester tracing film.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
73 words
A readout according to claim 1 wherein said electrical conductors of said lamp board comprise printed circuit paths, which paths interconnect the electrical conductors of all lamp apertures of a segment, and which paths include a circuit path which leads to an edge of the lamp board to facilitate selective energization of the readout segments; and said electrical contacts provided by said back plate assembly to each of said lamps are electrically common.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A readout according to claim 4 wheRein said cylinder is a circular tube; and said diffusion member is a polyester film.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
122 words
A readout according to claim 5 wherein said circular tube has a length of five-eighths of an inch and a diameter of five-eighths of an inch; said diffusion member is 0.003-inch thick double matte polyester tracing film; and said back plate assembly comprises an electrically conductive plate having electrically conductive spring contacts secured thereto in a pattern in registration with the faceplate segment dot apertures whereby when the back plate assembly is urged toward the lamp board by said fastening means, said spring contacts are compressed against the base of said lamps to hold the lamps in the lamp board and to provide a common electrical path to all bases through paths comprising the electrically conductive spring contacts and electrically conductive plate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
A readout according to claim 6 wherein said cylinder locating plate comprises a flat plate having apertures therein for accepting said cylinders and having flanges extending therefrom to space the flat plate from said faceplate whereby said cylinders are held stably in the apertures of said flat plate in axial alignment with an axis normal to the faceplate surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A readout according to claim 7 further comprising J. a color filter interposed between said faceplate and said diffusion member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
142 words
A readout according to claim 8 wherein each of said faceplate, filter, diffusion member, cylinder locating plate, lamp board, and back plate include a pair of aligned apertures; and said fastening means comprises a pair of bolts each of which is passed through one of said aligned holes; a nut on each bolt turned down against the cylinder locating plate whereby the locating plate is secured to the faceplate; a nut on each bolt turned down against the lamp board whereby the lamp board sandwiches the cylinders between itself and the light diffusion member and forces the light diffusion member, color filter, and faceplate into intimate contact; and a nut on each bolt turned down against the back plate assembly whereby the back plate assembly contacts hold the lamps in the lamp board assembly to provide a unitary dot segment readout assembly.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
93 words
A readout according to claim 1 wherein said back plate assembly comprises an electrically conductive plate having electrically conductive spring contacts secured thereto in a pattern in registration with the faceplate segment dot apertures whereby when the back plate assembly is urged toward the lamp board by said fastening means, said spring contacts are compressed and press against the base of said lamps to hold the lamps in the lamp board and to provide a common electrical path to all bases through paths comprising the electrically conductive spring contacts and electrically conductive plate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
A readout according to claim 10 wherein said electrical conductors of said lamp board comprise printed circuit paths, which paths interconnect the electrical conductors of all lamp apertures of a segment, and each of which paths includes a circuit path which facilitates selective energization of the associated readout segments.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
A readout according to claim 11 wherein said cylinder locating plate comprises a flat plate having apertures therein for accepting said cylinders and having flanges extending therefrom to space the flat plate from said faceplate whereby said cylinders are held stably in the apertures of said flat plate in axial alignment with an axis normal to the faceplate surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A readout according to claim 1 further comprising J. a color filter interposed between said faceplate and said diffusion member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
136 words
A readout according to claim 13 wherein said back plate assembly comprises an electrically conductive plate having electrically conductive spring contacts secured thereto in a pattern in registration with the faceplate segment dot apertures whereby when the bacK plate assembly is urged toward the lamp board by said fastening means, said spring contacts are compressed and press against the base of said lamps to hold the lamps in the lamp board and to provide a common electrical path to all bases through paths comprising the electrically conductive spring contacts and electrically conductive plate; and said electrical conductors of said lamp board comprise printed circuit paths, which paths interconnect the electrical conductors of all lamp apertures of a segment, and each of which paths includes a circuit path which facilitates selective energization of the associated readout segments.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
59 words
A readout according to claim 14 wherein said cylinder locating plate comprises a flat plate having apertures therein for accepting said cylinders and having flanges extending therefrom to space the flat plate from said faceplate whereby said cylinders are held stably in the apertures of said flat plate in axial alignment with an axis normal to the faceplate surface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
111 words
A readout according to claim 13 wherein said lamp board comprises an electrically conductive plate; and said back plate assembly comprises a printed circuit board carrying printed circuit paths thereon and having electrically conductive spring contacts secured thereto in a pattern in registration with the faceplate segment dot apertures and in electrical contact with said printed circuit paths; which paths facilitate selective energization of each group of spring contacts corresponding to a readout segment whereby when the back plate assembly is urged toward the lamp board by said fastening means, said spring contacts are compressed and press against the base of said lamps to hold the lamps in the lamp board.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
59 words
A readout according to claim 1 wherein said cylinder locating plate comprises a flat plate having apertures therein for accepting said cylinders and having flanges extending therefrom to space the flat plate from said faceplate whereby said cylinders are held stably in the apertures of said flat plate in axial alignment with an axis normal to the faceplate surface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
136 words
A readout according to claim 17 wherein said back plate assembly comprises an electrically conductive plate having electrically conductive spring contacts secured thereto in a pattern in registration with the faceplate segment dot apertures whereby when the back plate assembly is urged toward the lamp board by said fastening means, said spring contacts are compressed and press against the base of said lamps to hold the lamps in the lamp board and to provide a common electrical path to all bases through paths comprising the electrically conductive spring contacts and electrically conductive plate; and said electrical conductors of said lamp board comprise printed circuit paths, which paths interconnect the electrical conductors of all lamp apertures of a segment, and each of which paths includes a circuit path which facilitates selective energization of the associated readout segment.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
111 words
A readout according to claim 17 wherein said lamp board comprises an electrically conductive plate; and said back plate assembly comprises a printed circuit board carrying printed circuit paths thereon and having electrically conductive spring contacts secured thereto in a pattern in registration with the faceplate segment dot apertures and in electrical contact with said printed circuit paths; which paths facilitate selective energization of each group of spring contacts corresponding to a readout segment whereby when the back plate assembly is urged toward the lamp board by said fastening means, said spring contacts are compressed and press against the base of said lamps to hold the lamps in the lamp board.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
111 words
A readout according to claim 1 wherein said lamp board comprises an electrically conductive plate; and said back plate assembly comprises a printed circuit board carrying printed circuit paths thereon and having electrically conductive spring contactS secured thereto in a pattern in registration with the faceplate segment dot apertures and in electrical contact with said printed circuit paths; which paths facilitate selective energization of each group of spring contacts corresponding to a readout segment whereby when the back plate assembly is urged toward the lamp board by said fastening means, said spring contacts are compressed and press against the base of said lamps to hold the lamps in the lamp board.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-29 | 1977-04-30 | 1977-10-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-29 | 1981-04-30 | 1981-10-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-29 | 1985-04-30 | 1985-10-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |