GB2382211A

GB2382211A - Display device for a bicycle wheel

Info

Publication number: GB2382211A
Application number: GB0122345A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Hoey
Original assignee: HYENA GAMES Ltd
Current assignee: HYENA GAMES Ltd
Priority date: 2001-09-15
Filing date: 2001-09-15
Publication date: 2003-05-21
Also published as: GB0122345D0

Abstract

A bicycle wheel 11 has a display system 13 contained in a plastic housing 14 disposed on a radial spoke 12. The system comprising a plurality of lights D1-12, such as LEDs, disposed in a linear array 15. The illumination of LEDs is controlled by a control unit 21 such that the LEDs produce alphanumeric characters or symbols or an image as the wheel rotates. The display has an input means 23 to alter the displayed text, symbols or image. The display derives electrical energy from a battery 20. Alternatively the wheel may be orientated in a horizontal plane. Alternatively the wheel may be attached to another type of vehicle, such as a car.

Description

DISPLAY DEVICE This invention relates to a display device.

In viewing a series of events closely spaced both in time and space an observer gains the impression that the events run together giving the impression of a grouped image of the events rather than of a discrete series of events. In practice advantage is taken this to provide for the display of a relatively elaborate image by relatively simple means. An example occurs with cinematic film projection in which a series of separate still images are projected in sequence on a screen at a sufficiently high speed resulting in an observer gaining the impression of viewing a stable continuously projected image.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a display system comprising : an array of light generating units spaced apart on a member, the member being adapted for displacement along a first path from a first to a second position; energising means whereby one or more of the units in the array can be caused to generate light at least while the array is being displaced from the first to the second positions; and control means for governing operation of the energising means to provide for illumination of one or more of the units in the array relative to a datum position (whether in time and/or space) relating to the first path or to the first or second positions.

According to a first preferred version of the first aspect of the present invention the member is adapted for mounting on a transfer unit whereby the member can be displaced along the first path from the first position to the second.

According to a second preferred version of the first aspect of the present invention or of the first preferred version thereof the control means provides for cyclical repetition

of illumination of units in the array at least while the member is being displaced along the first path from the first position to the second.

According to a third preferred version of the first aspect of the present invention or of any preceding preferred version thereof the first and second positions coincide such that the first path is in the form of a closed loop. Typically the loop is a circle.

According to a fourth preferred version of the first aspect of the present invention or of any preceding preferred version thereof the transfer means comprises a wheel and the first path extends part way along a radius of the wheel.

According to a fifth preferred version of the first aspect of the present invention or of any preceding preferred version thereof wherein the control means incorporates an indexing stage to provide for initiation of the energising means at a fixed position during a cycle of operation of the display system.

According to a sixth preferred version of the first aspect of the present invention or of any preceding preferred version thereof the control means incorporates a data processor for storing a program whereby operation of the control means is regulated.

Typically the control means includes an inputting means so that a stored program can varied in whole or in part. Advantageously the, or a, stored program is adapted for initiation at a given point in each cyclical repetition of a display by the device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a wheel equipped with a display system according to the first aspect or any preferred version thereof. Typically the wheel has a periphery adapted for load bearing.

According to a first preferred version of the second aspect of the present invention the wheel is adopted for rotation about a horizontal axis.

According to a second preferred version of the second aspect of the present invention the wheel is adopted for rotation about a vertical axis.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing of a display device of which: Figure 1 is a side view of a wheel equipped with the display device; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of operational elements of the display device of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a side view of the wheel of Figure 1 when in use for display purposes.

Figure 1 A bicycle wheel 11 is equipped with an approximately radial spokes typically spoke2.

The spoke 12 supports a display device 13 contained in a hollow plastics housing 14 whose operational components are considered hereafter in connection with Figure 2.

The housing 14 includes an array 15 comprising twelve light emitting diodes ('LED's) spaced uniformly along radial axis 16 extending from hub 17 of the wheel 11. In use the wheel 11 rotates about axis H (perpendicular to the plane of the Figure as shown) resulting in the housing 14 to following a circular path PI about centre 17.

Figure 2 The hollow housing 14 has projecting through the wall of the housing for external viewing the twelve LED's D1-D12 of the array 15. The LEDs are spaced on a constant pitch length p along the axis 16. The LED's Dl to D12 are mounted on a circuit board 19.

Battery 20 serves to power the device and is demountably attached to a circuit board 19.

Control means 21 mounted on circuit board 20 serves to govern operation of the display 13 by causing one or more of the diodes in the array 15 to be powered by means of the battery 20 at a selected datum point in time and/or position.

The array 15 and control means 21 provide for the array 15 of LEDs of a block twelve units high (the length of the array) and twelve units wide (covering the period of time in which the array 15 takes to move laterally a distance equal to that of the height of the array 15). The individual LEDs of the array 15 can be switched by the control means to provide for a vertical column one unit wide to have the appropriate LED or LEDs to be switched on before the column move a lateral distance to form the next column in the block of twelve to be switched by the control means. In this way in the time it takes for the array 15 to move a distance along path PI corresponding to twelve column widths a letter, number, symbol or space can be represented with reasonable definition and for ready viewing at some distance from the device. It has been found practicable to provide for a train of twelve such blocks to be available so as to enable messages or displays of twelve 12 x 12 elements to be displayed.

Data processor 22 provides for the introduction and storage of one or more programs serving to cause the display device to show the required representation or message.

The data processor 22 can be communicated with by way of keyboard 23 which includes two buttons. The processor 22 includes a memory providing for the availability of a full alphabet, numbers 0-9 and symbols, punctuation and spaces. This obviates the need for the elements in a given block of 144 possible locations to be entered.

Figure 3 This is a time lapsed photo of a wheel similar to that shown in Figure 1 forming a rear wheel 30 of a bicycle 31 of which only the rear half is shown. For the sake of clarity the bicycle 31 is mounted with rear wheel 30 clear of the ground with the wheel 30 being rotated. The wheel 30 has mounted on it a display device (identical to that described in connection with Figures 1 and 2). The device is not apparent in Figure 3 due to the

speed of rotation of the wheel 30 and the time of exposure of the photo. However the device is being used to display the message which in this amounts to the display of the words'HYENA GAMES'for the period in which the shutter of a camera used to take the picture was open. It will be seen that the definition of the letters making up the words varies in quality from a clear display Dl to a more blurred display D3.

Although Figure 3 shows an alphabetic display it is also feasible to display patterns, graphical items, animated sequences or whatever by causing the software to create the required images on the basis of a 12 x 12 block giving 144 sites at any one of which an LED may be caused to illuminate by way of a suitably programmed control means.

The exemplary embodiment is based on a bicycle wheel. However any sort of rotating object could be used including a motor cycle or car wheel could be used. Typically such wheels rotate about a horizontal axis. However other rotating objects could be used rotating about a vertical axis.

A device could also be used in which the transfer unit follows a path other than a circular one.

The path in the exemplary embodiment takes the form of a closed loop. Alternatively the path can be one with separated start and finish points.

In yet a further embodiment the display device can vary the displayed message in dependence upon some selected parameter. Examples include speed of rotation of the display device, ambient temperature or ambient light levels.

Claims

CLAIMS 1 A display system comprising: an array of light generating units spaced apart on a member, the member being adapted for displacement along a first path from a first to a second position; energising means for periodically illuminating one or more of the units in the array at least during displacement of the array from the first to the second positions; and control means for governing operation of the energising means to provide for illumination of one or more of the units in the array relative to a datum position (whether in time and/or space) relating to the first path or to the first or second positions.
2 A display system as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the member is mounted on a transfer unit whereby the member can be displaced along the first path from the first position to the second.
3 A display system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the control means provides for cyclical repetition of illumination of units in the array at least while the member is being displaced along the first path from the first position to the second.
4 A display system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the first and second positions coincide.
5 A display system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the first path is a circle.
6 A display system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the transfer means comprises a wheel and the first path extends part way along a radius of the wheel.

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7 A display system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the control means incorporates an indexing stage to provide for initiation of the energising means at a fixed position during a cycle of operation of the display system.
8 A display system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein operation of the control means is regulated by a stored program.
9 A display system as claimed in Claim 8 wherein the control means includes an inputting means so that the stored program can varied in whole or in part.
10 A display system as claimed in Claims 8 or 9 wherein the, or a, stored program is initiated at a given point in each cyclical repetition.
11 A display system as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
12 A wheel equipped with a display system according to any preceding claim.
13 A wheel as claimed in Claim 12 wherein the wheel has a periphery adapted for load bearing.
14 A wheel as claimed in Claim 12 or Claim 13 wherein the wheel is adopted for rotation about a horizontal axis.
15 A wheel as claimed in Claim 12 or Claim 13 wherein the wheel is adopted for rotation about a vertical axis.