Patent ID: 6724355
Filing Date: 2004-04-20
Classification: G09B

Abstract:
A display array for visually representing a plurality of different symbols, one symbol at a time, comprising at least five electronically operable segments, each of said segments being visually continuous, said segments including:(a) a first and central segment which is (1) divisible into (A) congruent left and right halves by an imaginary vertical axis, and (B) congruent upper and lower halves by an imaginary horizontal axis, and (2) bounded by (A) equally-long upper and lower boundaries which (i) are parallel to and equally spaced above and below said horizontal axis, respectively, such that the length of said upper boundary exceeds the distance between said boundaries by at least 20%, and (ii) each have left and right end points which are positioned on opposite sides of and nearly the same distance from said vertical axis with said left and right end points of said upper boundary being the same distance from said vertical axis as said right and left end points of said lower boundary, respectively, and (B) congruent left and right boundaries which connect said left end points and said right end points, respectively, (b) second and third segments which are essentially congruent and extend horizontally to the left and right of said central segment, respectively, (1) said second segment having a right boundary which is adjacent, is essentially congruent with, and essentially parallels said left boundary of said central segment, and (2) said third segment having a left boundary which is adjacent, is essentially congruent with, and essentially parallels said right boundary of said central segment, whereby, using said central segment and at least two more of said segments, but not said second segment nor said third segment, said array can display a substantially filled-out representation of a multiplication symbol resembling a cross, andwhereby, using at least said central, second, and third segments, said array can display, one symbol at a time, a substantially filled-out representation of at least one symbol selected from the group consisting of an addition symbol, a subtraction symbol, and a division symbol.