VISUAL DISPLAY SYSTEMS

Abstract: A bicycle wheel (4) is supported by a fork (6) to which a magnet (12) is attached. Attached to one spoke (8) of the wheel (4) is an elongate array (10) comprising sixteen light emitting diodes extending radially of the wheel (4). A controller (16), mounted on the spoke (8) is connected to the array (10) by a cable (18). The controller includes a memory that stores a program for controlling the sequence in which the different LEDs of the array are to be energised. By selecting the timing and energisation of the different LEDs in accordance with a predetermined program, the observer will see an apparently stationary image on the wheel notwithstanding that it is rotating.

Description: VISUAL DISPLAY SYSTEMS The present invention relates to visual display systems. The wheels of bicycles are often decorated with material which gives a pleasing effect to a remote viewer. However, because the wheel rotates and rotates at different speeds little more than a blur of colour is usually observable. It is an object of the invention to provide a display system which enables the viewer to view a distinct, apparently stationary, image of alphanumeric characters and/or other material on the rotating member such as the wheel of a bicycle or other vehicle. According to the present invention there is provided a display system for a rotary member comprising an array of light emitting devices to be mounted on the member, a controller to be mounted on the member and connected to the light emitting devices for controlling the energisation of the light emitting devices in a sequence in accordance with a program stored in a memory of the controller, a sensor to be mounted on the member to sense the passage of the member past a locator rigid with a non-rotary support for the member, and control means responsive to the sensor sensing the locator to initiate an energising cycle for the light emitting devices by the controller in accordance with the program stored in the memory, the control means establishing a datum position of the member at which the energisation cycle can be initiated and varying the rate of energisation in accordance with the speed of the member whereby to provide an apparently stationary image on the member corresponding to the program stored. According to the present invention there is further provided a display system for a rotary wheel comprising an elongate array of light emitting devices to be mounted on the wheel extending in a radial direction, a controller to be mounted on the wheel and connected to the light emitting devices for controlling the energisation of the light emitting devices in a sequence in accordance with a program stored in a memory of the controller, a sensor to be mounted on the wheel to sense the rotary position of the wheel, and control means responsive to the sensor to initiate an energising cycle for the light emitting devices by the controller at positions determined in accordance with the program stored in the memory, the control means varying the rate of energisation in accordance with the speed of the wheel whereby to provide an apparently stationary image on the wheel corresponding to the program stored. A bicycle having a visual display system, embodying the present invention, will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the bicycle displaying an advertising trade mark; Figure 2 is a fragmentary view of the front wheel of the bicycle incorporating the display system; and Figure 3 is a block diagram of the display system in conjunction with a system for reprogramming the display system. Figure 1 shows a bicycle 2 having a front wheel 4 carrying an illuminated image of the registered trade mark REEBOK which, to the stationary observer, appears stationary on the bicycle notwithstanding that the wheel 4 is rotating. As shown in Figure 2, the wheel 4 is supported by a fork 6 to which a locator in the form of a magnet 12 is attached. Attached to one spoke 8 of the wheel 4 is an elongate array 10 comprising sixteen light emitting diodes (LEDs) extending radially of the wheel 4. Also mounted on the same spoke 8 is a controller 16, which includes a battery (not shown), and is connected to the array 10 by a cable 18. The imbalance caused by the attachments to the wheel can be corrected by the use of counterweights (not shown) attached to the diametrically opposite side of the wheel. The controller includes a memory (not shown) that stores a program for controlling the sequence in which the different LEDs of the array are to be energised. By selecting the timing and energisation of the different LEDs in accordance with a predetermined program, the observer will see an apparently stationary image on the wheel notwithstanding that it is rotating. The effect is achieved because with light flashes of very short duration, the reaction of the human eye to the flash persists long after the flash has finished. Thus, where a series of very short flashes occur over a short time span less than 0.015 seconds, all the flashes appear to the eye to have occurred at the same time and when the flashes are spaced from one another on the retina because the array has moved relative to the retina, the eye perceives a composite light pattern which will persist for a short while immediately following the time span. It will thus be appreciated that a program can be created and stored in the memory which will produce almost any desired image for the observer. The image may take the form of alphanumeric information or may take the form of an advertising poster. In order for the viewed display to start at a particular angular location on the wheel and to prevent drift due to a change in speed of the wheel, the rotation of the wheel has to be sensed. A sensor in the form of a magnetic reed relay 14 is mounted on the spoke 8 and this is triggered each time the sensor 14 passes the locator magnet 12. Control means (not shown) within the controller 16 responds to the operation of the reed switch to initiate the readout from the memory at the same angular position of the spoke 8 during each full cycle of rotation of the spoke. Thus, the start point of the image will always be in the same position. The control means also measures the repetition rate of the operation of the switch 14 and inhibits a readout from the memory until the speed of the wheel reaches 35rpm. After this point has been reached, the control means controls the readout rate from the memory to the array directly in proportion to the instantaneous repetition rate determined by the control means. The block diagram of Figure 3 shows how the memory of the controller 16 can be programmed. As shown, a desired image is created with the aid of an IBM PC compatible computer 20 and configured as a 200 x 16 pixel array. The array is downloaded into a programmer 22 which converts the driving data stream into a processor compatible processing stream. The processor in turns loads the program for the array into the memory of the controller. It will be appreciated that instead of a battery, power can be induced into the controller from a rotary part of the bicycle using an induction system. As an alternative, power can be fed from a source mounted on the bicycle frame to the wheel through a slip ring arrangement. While the display system has been described in connection with a bicycle wheel, it will be appreciated that it can be applied to any other rotating member for example to an automobile wheel (or hub caps therefor) or a funfair wheel. The bicycle may include an electric speedometer (not shown) which derives its input ie the pulse repetition rate of the reed relay switch from the controller. The controller 16 can be in two parts, a first part fixed to the spoke and a second part which can be plugged into the first part and which contains the power supply (the batteries) and the memory. The plug-in part can be removed for security purposes and or to reprogram the memory. Instead of the trigger being provided by a reed relay, it can be provided by an accelerometer (not shown) mounted on the wheel at a point radially distant from the axis of the wheel. As the wheel rotates, the accelerometer will have a component of motion in the direction of the gravitational field and this will cause the accelerometer to generate a sinusoidal electrical output as the wheel rotates. This output can then be used by the controller to illuminate the LEDs at any desired attitude as the wheel rotates. Of course, while only one elongate array of LEDs is disclosed, any number of arrays can be mounted on the wheel in different attitudes and shapes to form a complex display pattern as required. Other possible triggering devices that can replace the magnetic reed switch arrangement include an optical or electromagnetic wave system or a Doppler effect sound transmitter/receiver for sensing eg a reflector on a stationary part of the bicycle frame to provide either a sinusoidal output synchronised with the rotation of the wheel or a simple impulse each time the wheel has completed one revolution.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A display system for a rotary member comprising an array of light emitting devices to be mounted on the member, a controller to be mounted on the member and connected to the light emitting devices for controlling the energisation of the light emitting devices in a sequence in accordance with a program stored in a memory of the controller, a sensor to be mounted on the member to sense the passage of the member past a locator rigid with a non-rotary support for the member, and control means responsive to the sensor sensing the locator to initiate an energising cycle for the light emitting devices by the controller in accordance with the program stored in the memory, the control means establishing a datum position of the member at which the energisation cycle can be initiated and varying the rate of energisation in accordance with the speed of the member whereby to provide an apparently stationary image on the member corresponding to the program stored. 2. A system according to Claim 1, wherein the member comprises a wheel. 3. A system according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the array comprises at least one elongate array extending in the radial direction. 4. A system according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the control means inhibits operation of the controller until the rotary speed of the member as sensed by the sensor reaches a predetermined rate. 5. A system according to Claim 2, wherein the wheel is a bicycle wheel and the array, the controller, the sensor and the control means are all mounted on a common spoke of the wheel. 6. A system according to Claim 5, wherein the locator is mounted on the fork supporting the wheel and lies in the locus of the sensor as it rotates. 7. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the locator is a magnet and the sensor is a magnetic reed switch. 8. A system according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the sensor comprises a signal emitter/receiver co-operating with the locator which comprises a reflector. 9. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the memory is a reprogrammable memory which can be reprogrammed to store data representing different images. 10. A display system for a rotary wheel comprising an elongate array of light emitting devices to be mounted on the wheel extending in a radial direction, a controller to be mounted on the wheel and connected to the light emitting devices for controlling the energisation of the light emitting devices in a sequence in accordance with a program stored in a memory of the controller, a sensor to be mounted on the wheel to sense the rotary position of the wheel, and control means responsive to the sensor to initiate an energising cycle for the light emitting devices by the controller at positions determined in accordance with the program stored in the memory, the control means varying the rate of energisation in accordance with the speed of the wheel whereby to provide an apparently stationary image on the wheel corresponding to the program stored. 11. A system according to Claim 10, wherein the sensor comprises an accelerometer mounted on the wheel radially spaced from the axis of the wheel. 12. A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the control means comprises two parts, a first part secured to the rotary member or wheel and a second part containing the memory, the second part being detachable from the first part and connectable to a computer for reprogramming. 13. A system according to Claim 12, wherein the second part contains a power source for the system.

Inventors: HEDGES THOMAS ANDREW, MARGETSON GUY EDWARD JOHN, WYATT ROY, HEDGES, THOMAS, ANDREW, MARGETSON, GUY, EDWARD, JOHN, WYATT, ROY
Applicants: ADFLASH LIMITED, HEDGES THOMAS ANDREW, MARGETSON GUY EDWARD JOHN, WYATT ROY, HEDGES, THOMAS, ANDREW, MARGETSON, GUY, EDWARD, JOHN, WYATT, ROY
Application year: 1998
Main classification: G09F21
IPC codes: G09F9, G09F21