Visual information systems
DCFirst Claim
1. A visual information system for use in connection with a carrier for carrying observers along a predetermined path, the system comprising an array to be located adjacent said path and consisting of a plurality of individually and selectively energizable light sources arranged in rows and columns, a memory for storing a program representative of a predetermined image, a controller actuatable to control the selection and sequence of energization of the light sources within a predetermined time span corresponding to persistent time of a human retina to light, and in accordance with the predetermined program stored in the memory, a rate of operation of the controller being set to correspond with a speed of the carrier past the array such that an observer carried by the carrier past the array will observe said predetermined image as an apparently stationary image occupying an area substantially larger than the area of said array.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A visual information system includes an array of light emitting elements located at the side of a train track. The elements are individually energizable by a controller in response to a predetermined program stored in a memory and representative of a predetermined visual image. The controller causes selected elements to be turned ON and OFF, some repetitively, in a predetermined sequence as dictated by the program with a time span of 0.015 seconds. A sensor activates the controller upon the approach of a train so that a passenger gazing at the array as the train passes will perceive the image apparently extending over an area substantially greater than the area of said array.
5 Citations
15 Claims
- 1. A visual information system for use in connection with a carrier for carrying observers along a predetermined path, the system comprising an array to be located adjacent said path and consisting of a plurality of individually and selectively energizable light sources arranged in rows and columns, a memory for storing a program representative of a predetermined image, a controller actuatable to control the selection and sequence of energization of the light sources within a predetermined time span corresponding to persistent time of a human retina to light, and in accordance with the predetermined program stored in the memory, a rate of operation of the controller being set to correspond with a speed of the carrier past the array such that an observer carried by the carrier past the array will observe said predetermined image as an apparently stationary image occupying an area substantially larger than the area of said array.
- 13. A transport system having a path along which carriers can pass and a visual display system located adjacent said path, the display system comprising a fibre optic array in which one end of a bundle of optical fibers is arranged so that ends of the individual fibers form a vertically elongate array of rows and columns and ends of the individual fibers at the opposite end of the bundle are connected to an electro-optical interface unit, control means for supplying electrical signals to the interface unit to cause the array to display a succession of images and means for controlling the rate at which the control means supplies said signals in accordance with a speed of a carrier past the display system, and within a time frame related to a persistent time of a human retina to light, such that an observer on the carrier will perceive apparently simultaneously a single horizontally elongate display consisting of said successive images located side by side.
Specification