Light display

A light computer is provided for illuminated and animated displays. Light planes are illuminated and images carried thereon are lit when light is applied to any edge. A moving light and opaque coatings on the edges of the light plane are used to vary the sequence and time the frequency and duration of the lighting of the plane. When an opaque coating is positioned between the light and the plane, the plane does not light. Only when the opaque coating is not present and the light is present is the plane lit. In a preferred embodiment, the light source is mounted at the end of a stack of circular light planes and light from the light source is admitted to the edges of the light planes by means of a rotating mask having a window leading to a prism for reflecting the light onto the edges.

TECHNICAL FIELD 
The present invention pertains to the light display art, and more 
particularly, to a stack of light planes selectively lit by a uniformly 
moving light and mask operating in conjunction with edge masking or 
coloring on the planes and method of use. 
BACKGROUND ART 
Stacks of light planes have long been used to create moving or selectable 
static displays for object animation or information transmission. For 
example, a running greyhound dog is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,930,359. Two 
light planes are used with the dog represented on one plane in a first 
running position and on the second plane in a second running position. One 
light on the edge of the first plane selectively lights the first plane 
while a second light on the edge of the second plane selectively lights 
the second plane. The lights are alternately lit creating the effect of a 
running dog. Other two plane systems are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,623,313 
and 2,948,580. 
Ten light plane stacks for selectively displaying the digits from 1 to 0 
are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,751,584; 2,766,447; and 2,813,266. A light 
is provided adjacent each plane for lighting that plane. All of the above 
devices use electrical switching to achieve the desired movement or 
selection. 
Other systems use moving mechanical components including lights, mirrors, 
or masks. A multi-colored rotating bulb is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 
2,524,657 for continuously changing the colors of letters in three light 
planes. All of the planes in this device are lighted continuously. A 
rotating mirror is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,273,274 for reflecting light 
from a bulb into ten light planes one at a time in a continuous sequence. 
Rotating masks between the light source and the light planes are shown in 
U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,722,762; 2,994,971; and 4,244,130. Light shines into a 
particular light plane only when a window in the mask is present between 
the light source and the light plane. Of these, the first and last have 
masks that are rotated continuously by motors. The second has a mask that 
is adjusted by hand to selectively illuminate one of a plurality of 
planes. 
Motor driven rotating lights, mirrors, and masks are therefore known to be 
useful in the sequential lighting of a stack of light planes. However, 
these prior art devices are limited to this sequential lighting of 
adjacent light planes. The simultaneous lighting of two or more 
non-adjacent planes or variations in the lighting sequence or plane 
combinations in the same revolution are beyond the capabilities of these 
devices. 
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
The present invention is directed to a light computer and method for 
illuminated and animated displays where the illumination is not restricted 
to the sequential lighting of adjacent light planes but is limited only by 
the imagination of the designer. A light plane will illuminate the images 
carried thereon when light is applied to any edge because light inside the 
light plane bounces around inside the plane. The present invention relies 
upon this principle. Where an opaque means is positioned between the light 
and the edge of the plane and the light is moved along the edge. The 
images on the plane are not lit when the opaque means is between the light 
and the edge of the plane but are lit when the light moves past the opaque 
means. 
In accordance with one important aspect of the invention, a plurality of 
stacked light planes are provided. 
In accordance with another important aspect of the invention, the light 
plane is circular and the means for moving the light means with respect to 
the light plane includes providing a stationary light source and a 
rotating mask having at least one window. The light plane has a first 
diameter while the rotating mask has a second diameter. The window is 
positioned in the rotating mask outside of the first diameter. A light 
reflective means is positioned outside the first diameter for reflecting 
light from the light onto the edge. Light falls on the edge where the 
window is between the light and the edge and does not fall on the edge 
where the window is not between the light source and the edge. In a 
preferred embodiment, the light reflective means is a circular segmented 
prism. 
In accordance with another important aspect of the invention, the means for 
moving the light with respect to the plane includes a rotating tubular 
light source positioned along the edge having a mask with a spiral window. 
The light then falls on the edge where the spiral window is between the 
light and the edge and does not fall on the edge where the spiral window 
is not between the light and the edge. In a preferred embodiment, light 
shields are provided between the light and the edge for restricting 
transmission of light along the edge. 
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent 
from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the 
accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles 
of the invention.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
Referring initially to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a rear and side 
exploded perspective view of a light computer for illuminated and animated 
displays, generally designated 10, of the present invention. Three stacked 
circular light planes 12, 14, and 16 are shown in the preferred embodiment 
for purposes of illustration. However, it will be appreciated that any 
number of light planes may be used ranging from one to ten or more 
depending upon the object to be animated or selection of static elements 
to be displayed. The viewer is positioned to the right of the computer 10 
and looks into the stack of light planes. Any letters or designs printed 
on or embedded into a light plane will be visible to the viewer if light 
is applied to the edge 18, 18', 18" of that plane. If light is not 
transmitted into the particular plane, the plane is not lit and the 
letters or designs are not visible. 
The circular construction of each light plane allows the plane to be 
lighted equally well from any angle. Arrayed around the edges 18, 18', and 
18" are opaque coatings 20 which prevent light from entering a plane 
through a coating. Thus, a light may be presented to an edge but not be 
able to light the plane 12, 14, or 16 because of an opaque coating. Where 
the light is present and the opaque coating is not between the light and 
the light plane, the light plane is lighted. Where the light is present 
and the opaque coating is between the light and the light plane, the light 
plane is not lighted. 
In order to take advantage of the timing possibilities provided by the 
opaque coatings, the light means is moved around the edges. In the 
preferred embodiment, the light means is provided by a light source 22 in 
the form of a circular fluorescent tube operating in conjunction with a 
moving circular rotating mask 24, and a light reflective means in the form 
of a prism 26. Portions of both the light source 22 and the prism 26 are 
omitted in order to allow sections thereof to be shown. An electric motor 
28 provides a means for rotating the rotating mask 24 on an axle 30 
aligned with the axis 32 of the circular light planes 12, 14, and 16. 
Windows 34, 36, and 38 through the rotating mask 24 allow light from the 
light source 22 to pass through the mask as represented by the arrows 40, 
42, and 44. Light represented by the arrow 40 reflects off the prism 26 
into the left light plane 12. Light represented by the arrow 42 enters the 
middle plane 14, and light represent by the arrow 44 enters the right 
plane 16. The light enters the prism 26 through a light face 46 nominal to 
the light source 22. It exits the prism through an edge face 48 nominal to 
the edges 18, 18', and 18". The light is reflected off a hypotenuse face 
50 of the prism which may have a reflective coating on the outside. The 
body of the rotating mask 24 itself and a light shield 52 prevent light 
from the light source 22 from entering the light planes in any other 
manner. The light planes have a first diameter 54. The rotating mask has a 
second diameter 56 larger than the first diameter. The windows 34, 36, and 
38 are positioned in the rotating mask outside of the first diameter 54. 
Whether a plane is lighted or not is dependent upon two factors: whether 
light is presented at the edge thereof and whether or not an opaque means 
is present to block the light. The light is available every time a window 
is present between the light source and the light plane. If the motor 
turns the rotating mask at a uniform rate, the light is present at any 
given location on the edge of a light plane at precise intervals. These 
intervals are dependent upon the speed of rotation of the rotating mask 
and the number of windows. Three windows are shown in the preferred 
embodiment. The windows are arrayed at 120.degree. from each other in 
order to optimally light the information on the light planes. (It will be 
appreciated that the same frequency and duration of light transmission 
through the mask could be obtained by providing the mask with one window 
three times as wide as the present windows and rotating the mask three 
times as fast.) Whether the light is used or not and for how long it is 
used is determined by the opaque coatings on the edges of the light 
planes. The opaque coatings thus serve as gates for introduction of the 
light into the light planes. For example, if no opaque coatings are 
present at all on the edge of a light plane as is the case with plane 16, 
the plane will always be lit. If opaque coatings are present on alternate 
sixths of the circumference of the light plane as is the case with plane 
14, the plane will be lit half of the time. If opaque coatings are present 
on alternate twelfths of the circumference of the light plane as is the 
case with plane 12, the plane will again be lit half of the time but at 
twice the frequency and for half of the duration of the lighting of plane 
14. 
FIG. 2 is a rear and side perspective view of a segmented prism 60 similar 
to the prism 26 shown in FIG. 1. As in FIG. 1, a portion of the prism 60 
is omitted in order to show a cross section. The fabrication of the prism 
60 by the assembly of segments 62 to 74 provides barriers to the 
transmission of light around the prism in the form of the ends of the 
segments such as the end 80 of the segment 62 that reflect light back into 
the segment from which it originates stopping light from bouncing around 
the prism to areas away from the windows 34, 36, and 38 where it is not 
wanted. The ends of the segments are cut substantially perpendicular to 
the faces of the prism. 
FIG. 3 is a front and top exploded perspective view of a second embodiment 
of the light computer, generally designated 110. The light planes 112, 
114, and 116 have front edges 118, 118', and 118" in the same plane. A 
rotating tubular light source 122 is positioned along the edges. The light 
source has a mask 123 thereon that blocks all light except for light that 
is able to exit through a spiral window 124. Light from the light source 
122 falls on the edges 118, 118', and 118" where the spiral window 124 is 
between the light source and the edges and does not fall on the edges 
where the spiral window is not between the light source and the edges. 
Several light shields 126, 128, 130, 132, and 134 are provided between the 
light source and the edges of the light planes for restricting the 
transmission of light along the edges where it may not be wanted. 
The light computer 110 shown in FIG. 3 operates in the same manner as the 
light computer 10 in FIG. 1. Opaque means in the form of opaque coatings 
136 or an edge mask 138 having windows 140 are positioned between the 
light and the edges of the light planes. Light is able to enter a light 
plane only when the spiral window and no opaque means are present between 
the light source and the light plane edge. If either is present, the plane 
will not be lit. 
FIG. 4 is a front and side perspective view of a third embodiment of the 
light computer, generally designated 150. In this embodiment, either the 
light source 152 rotates about the stack 154 of light planes 156, 158, and 
160 or the stack of light planes rotates in front of light source. No 
rotating mask is present as in the previous embodiments nor is needed 
because the light source is perpendicular to the edges 162, 162', and 162" 
of the light planes and covers only a limited arc of the light planes. 
Other variations are possible in all of the above embodiments by providing 
means for coloring a light plane such as a colored film or coating along 
all or portions of an edge in the same manner as provided by the opaque 
means. Then, instead of blocking all light from entering the light plane, 
the colored film or coating colors the light plane for the time period 
desired. 
In view of the above, it may be seen that several variations of the light 
computer are provided which may be used to illuminate one or a plurality 
of light planes in an unlimited number of variations. Of course, the 
structure may be variously implemented depending upon specific 
applications. Accordingly, the scope hereof shall not be referenced to the 
disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, shall be determined in 
accordance with the claims as set forth below.