Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a light sensitive illuminated exhibitor that assists in providing illumination for reading and viewing objects in low-light situations, such as restaurants and any other places where low light conditions make it difficult to read printed matter without additional lighting. The light sensitive illuminated exhibitor includes at least one illuminatable panel as well as a light source and battery. A microprocessor and light sensor, such as a photocell, may be included to adjust the intensity of the light source based on the lighting conditions present. When the microprocessor and light sensor are included, the life of the battery is extended because the battery is not used when the exterior lighting is sufficient by which to read. The battery may also be rechargeable. One or more illuminatable panels may be provided. An audio circuit, static or programmable, may be provided to play an audio message under certain circumstances.

Description:
[0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/203,565 filed Aug. 12, 2005 and claims priority thereto under 35 U.S.C. § 365 to PCT application Serial No. PCT/US2006/031460 having an International filing date of 11 Aug. 2006, which application is hereby incorporated in its entirety by the foregoing reference thereto. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates to presentation devices, and more particularly relates to an intelligent device that utilizes a condition responsive circuit to selectively illuminate articles, such as restaurant invoices, menus and credit card bills, in response to low ambient lighting conditions.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The problems associated with low-lighting conditions in restaurants and other places are well known. One of the most significant problems is the difficulty patrons have in reading printed matter, such as a restaurant bill, in a restaurant. Typically, the restaurant&#39;s bill is presented to the patron in a folder made of leather or vinyl over reinforced cardboard. Such folders are widely used, and may employ a first pouch for holding a credit card partially extended from the top of the folder and a second pouch or flap adapted to retain the restaurant bill and/or credit card receipt prior to signing by the patron. These folders also typically include a logo of the establishment and/or a bank or credit card company logo on the front cover and/or on an inner surface of the folder. When the patron attempts to read the bill or invoice, especially a patron with deteriorated eyesight, the patron experiences great difficulty, often searching for an alternative light source which is usually not to be found.  
         [0004]     Some attempts have been made to address this problem. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,639,156 to Broxson discloses an illuminated reading device comprised of a foldable book-like device in which illumination means is energized upon one of the cover portions being opened to a pre-selected degree of tilt. The Broxson device does not directly illuminate the printed material to be read or illuminate it from behind, and requires a complicated tilt-sensitive switching assembly which uses mercury.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,808,208 to Ward discloses a restaurant check holder in which a slidable magnifying member and light-emitting assembly are removably attached to an inner facing surface of the holder. Ward suffers from the disadvantage that the slidable magnifying member requires a specific edge structure and magnifier, and does not illuminate the document upon which the printed matter to be read is printed upon from behind. Additionally, the light member of Ward is located in a position where it provides the greatest amount of illumination when the two cover sections are moved toward each other. Therefore, users who require significant illumination to read printed matter will have to substantially close the booklet in order to use the device, which is both counterproductive and counter intuitive.  
         [0006]     U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2004/0059689 to Masden discloses a check presentation system which includes a folder having a credit card pocket and a bill/credit card receipt pocket on one side and a tip calculator on the other. A light is provided for downwardly directing light from an illumination source onto the key pad of the tip calculator. Not only does the light source of Masden not illuminate the document upon which the printed matter has been placed from behind, but the light source, being positioned opposite the printed bill/credit card receipt pocket as in Ward, requires the folder to be nearly folded in half for the light source to illuminate the printed matter.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,409,357 to Thompson discloses an illuminated billfold which directs light from an illumination source off of a reflector downwardly toward, and in a direction parallel to, a sheet of printed matter such as a restaurant bill or credit card invoice. Again, this device does not illuminate the document upon which the printed matter appears from behind, and, given that the direction of incident light from the light source is parallel to the surface upon which the printed matter is printed, only a small amount of illumination results.  
         [0008]     U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,850,767 and 5,813,748 to Maxymych discloses a transaction tray comprised of a folder having an illuminated window or windows on one side and a recessed tray having a light source disposed about the tray&#39;s periphery on the other side. Once again, no illumination of the document containing the printed matter from behind is accomplished.  
         [0009]     U.S. Pat. App. Pub 2004/0099546 A1 to Schlosser discloses a “Guest Check Presenter” which employs a tip calculator, a mirror, a “backlight” panel which purports to illuminate a printed document such as a restaurant bill or a credit card invoice from behind, a magnifier for the bill or invoice, and a series of waiter alert lights. Among the drawbacks of Schlosser are that the device incorporates features not necessary for the basic function of assisting a restaurant patron to view a bill or invoice, thereby rendering the device unduly complicated and expensive to manufacture and maintain. Schlosser also fails to provide an enabling disclosure of the “backlight” feature. All that can be discerned from the disclosure of Schlosser is that a transparent or translucent panel  26  is illuminated from behind that panel to light a bill or invoice. Additional lighting is provided by a lamp  44  in the Schlosser device which supposedly illuminates the bill or invoice from the side. Moreover, Schlosser&#39;s device appears to contemplate the use of non-rechargeable batteries, and does not show how power is provided to the panel  26 , how the panel  26  is uniformly illuminated, how the illumination source for illuminating panel  26  is energized and de-energized, and under what conditions that would occur. Still further, by illuminating panel  26  from behind the panel (i.e. on the rear side of panel  26  opposite the side on which the bill or invoice would be overlaid), Schlosser&#39;s device would have to be unduly thick, which would take up unnecessary space in any given restaurant. Even further, by not being rechargeable, the batteries in Schlosser will have to be constantly replaced, adding unnecessarily to the maintenance burden imposed upon the restaurant&#39;s employees in which the device is used. In actuality, the likelihood that batteries will be replaced in devices such as Schlosser, given the frequency with which they will have to be changed, will diminish over time and whatever benefits the illumination components of Schlosser provide will be totally lost.  
         [0010]     Moreover, the device of Schlosser does not provide any means to automatically reduce or eliminate power supplied to the “backlight” feature when the device is either not in use or in conditions of bright ambient light, when there is absolutely no need to provide illumination. Therefore, the device of Schlosser is highly inefficient in as much as it is not able to conserve battery power when illumination is unnecessary. Still further, the Schlosser device is a complicated, expensive and impracticable aggregation of components, most of which require significant electrical power to operate. Therefore, the resulting product is subject to high power consumption, resulting in the need for frequent battery replacement. Additionally, there is no teaching whatsoever in Schlosser of the structure, orientation or operation of the so-called “backlight” feature or of the waiter alert feature. Therefore, Schlosser does not teach one of skill in the art to make and use the device.  
         [0011]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,637,907 to Levy discloses a lighted restaurant menu in which conductive ink is used on the rear side of the menu. When the menu is contacted by a user, lights along the side edge of the menu will cast light downwardly onto and across a printed menu. No means for charging batteries which operate the lights is disclosed. No circuit is disclosed for causing the device to operate. The device of Levy illuminates from the side and not from a generally uniformly illuminated panel disposed below the menu, and the light provided by the device of Levy is so diffuse that it does not appear to be sufficiently concentrated to illuminate a small area such as that occupied by a restaurant bill or invoice. Moreover, the device of Levy does not utilize an intelligent, condition responsive, circuit and lighting system adapted to minimize battery power consumption while maximizing the convenience to the restaurant patron. Finally, the disclosure in Levy appears to be inadequate to enable one of skill in the art to make and use the invention.  
         [0012]     Therefore, there is still a need for a light sensitive illuminated exhibitor that provides variable, condition sensitive, lighting by way of an illuminable panel to allow one to read printed matter in a low light environment using the widely accepted, standard, restaurant invoice and credit card receipt presentation folder in use today with minor modifications.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     The present invention is directed to a light sensitive illuminated exhibitor which employs an illuminatable panel to automatically illuminate from behind the receipt in conditions of low ambient lighting, but which does not illuminate the credit card bill in the presence of relatively high ambient lighting. The present invention also employs any one of a variety of recharging systems for the power source. Finally, an enunciator may be employed to produce a customizable or pre-recorded audible message. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a light sensitive illuminated exhibitor in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the outside of one embodiment of the light sensitive illuminated exhibitor of the present invention in the fully open position.  
         [0016]      FIG. 3A  is a front elevational view of the inside of one embodiment of the light sensitive illuminated exhibitor of the present invention in the fully open position.  
         [0017]      FIG. 3B  is a cross-sectional bottom plan view of the light sensitive illuminated exhibitor of the present invention taken along lines  3 B- 3 B of  FIG. 3A .  
         [0018]      FIG. 3C  is a cross-sectional bottom plan view of the light sensitive illuminated exhibitor taken along lines  3 C- 3 C of  FIG. 3A .  
         [0019]      FIG. 4A  is a front elevational view of the light sensitive illuminated exhibitor of the present invention with the inside covering layer removed to expose various components of a first embodiment of the device.  
         [0020]      FIG. 4B  is a schematic representation of an exemplary charging circuit which may be used with the present invention.  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of an example of an illuminated panel which may be employed with the invention.  
         [0022]      FIG. 6A  is a front elevational view of the exhibitor with the inside covering layer removed to expose various components of a second embodiment of the device.  
         [0023]      FIG. 6B  is a cross-sectional bottom plan view taken along lines  6 B- 6 B of  FIG. 6A .  
         [0024]      FIG. 7  is a front elevational view of the exhibitor with the inside covering layer removed to expose various components of a third embodiment of the device.  
         [0025]      FIG. 8  is a rear elevational view of a light sensitive illuminated exhibitor in accordance with the invention showing battery charging contacts of a fourth battery charging embodiment.  
         [0026]      FIG. 9  is a schematic representation of a circuit which can be used to operate the various aspects of the invention, showing provision for the illumination of two illuminatable panels as well as memory and an audio circuit for producing customizable or pre-recorded audible messages.  
         [0027]      FIG. 10  shows one embodiment of a multiple cradle charger for use with the embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 8 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 11  is a front perspective view of a light sensitive illuminated exhibitor of the present invention situated in the cradle charger of  FIG. 10 .  
         [0029]      FIG. 12  is a partial cutaway perspective view of  FIG. 11 .  
         [0030]      FIG. 13  is a single panel embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0031]     Generally, the present invention is directed to a light sensitive illuminated exhibitor that assists in providing illumination for reading and viewing objects in low-light environments, such as restaurants or any other environment in which low level lighting dictates a need for illumination of printed matter. A first embodiment of the light sensitive illuminated exhibitor includes a front cover pivotally connected to a back cover as well as a light source, integrated circuit, power source that may be rechargeable and a light sensor. The light source includes an illuminatable panel adapted to illuminate printed matter from behind when printed matter is placed within the exhibitor. The light sensor may be an ambient light-responsive switch, photocell or any other current varying (e.g., variably) resistive means to adjust the intensity of the light source in proportion to the ambient light level. The exhibitor may include one or more additional panels that illuminate and can be used to display any type of information such as advertising, logos or the like. Finally, an enunciator may be employed which includes an audio amplifier, sound card and speaker to provide audible messages such as greetings, music and/or salutations when the exhibitor is opened and/or closed.  
         [0032]     For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is had to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers reference like parts throughout.  
         [0033]      FIG. 1  provides a perspective view of one embodiment of the light sensitive illuminated exhibitor  100  of the present invention. Exemplified as being incorporated within a standard restaurant bill folio in  FIG. 1 , the exhibitor  100  includes a front cover  110  pivotally connected to a back cover  120  by a spine or seam  119 , or any other hinge arrangement. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that seam  119  may be located along the sides, top or bottom of front cover  110  and back cover  120  without departing from the teachings of the present invention. As stated above, and still within the teachings of the present invention, seam  119  can be replaced by any suitable structure used to pivotally connect front cover  110  to back cover  120 , including, but not limited to, hinges or binders. Standard restaurant bill folios are generally comprised of a semi-rigid cardboard backing surrounded by a leather or vinyl sheet, stitched or otherwise joined about a peripheral edge of the folio.  
         [0034]     The front cover  110  has a front side  111  and a back side  117 . As depicted in  FIG. 1 , the front side  111  of the front cover  110  may include a panel  112 A used to illuminate a restaurant logo and another panel  112 B used to illuminate a credit card logo. Either or both of these panels may be illuminated by the teachings of the present invention, which will be discussed in detail further along in this detailed description. In the alternative, if such an illuminated display on the front side  111  of the front cover  110  may disturb the ambience of the setting, it is possible to include the logos without illumination, or with a switching structure to interrupt power to the source of illumination of the panels  112 A and  112 B. If desired, the front side  111  of the front cover  110  may be provided without one or both of panels  112 A or  112 B without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.  
         [0035]     The back cover  120  also includes a front side  121  and a back side  127 . As depicted in  FIG. 1 , the front side  121  of the back cover  120  may include a credit card pouch or holder  123 , a credit card bill and/or receipt flap  129  and an illuminator, such as illuminatable panel  122 . The details of the front side  121  of the back cover  120  are discussed in further detail in connection with  FIG. 3A .  
         [0036]      FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the outside of a modified embodiment (the illuminatable panel  112 B shown in  FIG. 1  has been deleted) of the light sensitive illuminated exhibitor  200  of the present invention. The back cover  220  is pivotally connected to the front cover  210  by a seam  219 . In this embodiment, the front side  211  of the front cover  210  includes or defines one window  212  and the back side  227  of the back cover  220  does not include or define any windows. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that alternate embodiments may be accomplished utilizing the teachings of the present invention, such as, for example, employing a window or windows (not shown) on the back side  227  of back cover  220 , which can be used for advertising or other information disseminating purposes.  
         [0037]     Any of the “windows” of this invention may employ “transparent” coverings, which may be clear or translucent, or may simply be openings defined by the covering material of the light sensitive illuminated exhibitor without employing any protective covering over the illuminatable panel. As used throughout this description and the appended claims, the term “transparent” means capable of conducting, radiating, permitting passage of, or otherwise conveying or exhibiting visible light.  
         [0038]      FIG. 3A  is a front elevational view of the inside of the light sensitive illuminated exhibitor  300  of the present invention. The inside of the exhibitor  300  is comprised of a back side  317  of front cover  310  and a front side  321  of back cover  320 . In this embodiment, the front cover  310  is pivotally connected to the back cover  320  along a seam  319 . Similar to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the seam  319  may take other forms and/or be alternately located or constructed and still be within the teachings of the present invention.  
         [0039]     The embodiment of the light sensitive illuminated exhibitor  300  depicted in  FIG. 3A  includes light sources, preferably illuminatable panels  314 ,  322 , substantially in registry or substantially aligned with two transparent windows; first transparent window  312  defined by the back side  317  of front cover  310  and second transparent window  325  defined by the front side  321  of the back cover  320 . The present invention is not limited to these embodiments and may include only one of either of the transparent windows and associated illuminatable panels. In an alternative embodiment, additional windows and associated illuminatable panels may be included.  
         [0040]     The structure, purpose and utility of the transparent windows and associated illuminatable panels will be discussed in more detail below with respect to  FIGS. 3B, 3C  and  5 . However, it is to be understood that the term “window,” as used herein and in the appended claims, means an opening or aperture in the respective covers. The windows may or may not be covered by a transparent (as defined herein) sheet to cover the illumination source. One or more of the windows may be partially covered by opaque or translucent graphical material such as lettering and/or graphics which, when illuminated from behind, are permanently emphasized.  
         [0041]      FIG. 3B  is a cross-sectional bottom plan view along lines  3 B- 3 B in  FIG. 3A . As shown in  FIG. 3B , the illuminatable panel  314  of the front cover  310  is aligned with the window or aperture  312  in the back side  317  of the front cover  310 . In this embodiment, there is no transparent sheet or other covering over the window  312 . Window  312  is simply an aperture in the back side  317  of front cover  310 . The surface of the illuminatable panel  314  is located in substantially the same plane as the back side  317  of the front cover  310 . This may result in direct contact between the illuminatable panel  314  and the bill or receipt when the bill or receipt is placed upon the panel  314 . As a result, the illuminatable panel  314  is preferably fabricated to withstand the expected abuses to be encountered in a variety of settings, including spilled drinks, curious children, friction from numerous bills and receipts being dragged thereover, just to name a few.  
         [0042]      FIG. 3C  is a cross-sectional bottom plan view taken along lines  3 C- 3 C in  FIG. 3A . Similar to  FIG. 3B , the illuminatable panel  322  is substantially co-planar with the front side  321  of back cover  320 . Once again, window  325  is simply an aperture in the front side  321  of back cover  320 . As discussed previously, the embodiments depicted in  FIGS. 3B and 3C  provide two examples of the position and arrangement of the windows in accordance with the present invention. In alternative embodiments, the windows may include transparent sheets or opaque sheets containing logos and insignia, and may be located in any position as will occur to those of skill in the art.  
         [0043]      FIGS. 3B and 3C  provide cross-sectional bottom plan views at two locations of the light sensitive illuminated exhibitor  300 . The front cover  310  and back cover  320  and the material out of which they are fabricated may be reinforced and secured by reinforcement material  309  between the front sides  311 ,  321 , and back sides  317 ,  327 . The reinforcement material  309  may include cardboard, plastic, or any other material that is thin and lightweight, but that will provide adequate support to allow the exhibitor to be used for its intended purpose.  
         [0044]     The embodiment of the light sensitive illuminated exhibitor  300  depicted in  FIG. 3A  includes an optional pouch or pocket  323  for a credit or debit card on the front side  321  of the back cover  320 . One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the location and size of the pockets  323  can be varied without detracting from the scope of the present invention, such as by placing them on the back side  317  of front covers  310  or on the outside of the exhibitor  300 . The pocket  323  may be made of plastic or any other suitable material. Any number of pockets  323  may be employed.  
         [0045]      FIGS. 4A, 6A  and  7  provide internal views (i.e., with back side  417 ,  617 ,  717  of front cover  410 ,  610 ,  710  and front side  421 ,  621 ,  721  of back cover  420 ,  620 ,  720  removed to expose the interior of the light sensitive illuminated exhibitors) of three embodiments of the light sensitive illuminated exhibitors  400 ,  600 ,  700  of the present invention. All of the embodiments depicted in  FIGS. 4A, 6A  and  7  include illuminatable panels  414 ,  614  and  714  associated with the back sides  417 ,  617  and  717  of the front covers  410 ,  610  and  710  and illuminatable panels  422 ,  622  and  722  associated with the front sides  421 ,  621  and  721  of the back covers  420 ,  620  and  720 . The illuminatable panels  414 ,  422 ,  614 ,  622 ,  714 ,  722  are placed generally substantially in registry or substantially aligned with the windows  312 ,  325  present in the embodiments depicted in  FIGS. 3A, 3B  and  3 C. Details of an example of an illuminatable panel such as panels  414 ,  422 ,  614 ,  622 ,  714 ,  722  or any other panels employed in the instant invention are provided in connection with  FIG. 5 , discussed below. The windows  312 ,  325 , if they include (i.e., are covered by) a transparent sheet, are located in registry with, and illuminated by, the illuminatable panels  414 ,  422 ,  614 ,  622 ,  714 ,  722 . The windows  312 ,  325  may simply be transparent windows or may include information such as logos or advertising of the owner of the light sensitive illuminated exhibitor  300 . In an alternate embodiment, no transparent sheet is used to cover the windows, such that the illuminatable panels  414 ,  422 ,  614 ,  622 ,  714 ,  722  are joined or placed substantially in registry with windows  312 ,  325 . Once again, these embodiments are provided for exemplary purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims.  
         [0046]     The embodiments of the invention provided in  FIGS. 4A, 6A  and  7  include internal batteries  415 ,  615 ,  715 , optional speakers  416 ,  616 ,  716 , two illuminatable panels  414 ,  422 ,  614 ,  622 ,  714 ,  722 , one or more component parts  430 ,  630 ,  730  of a charging circuit, a processor  431 ,  631 ,  731 , and an ambient light condition responsive (i.e., automatic) dimmer switch such as photo cell  432 ,  632 ,  732 . It is to be understood, however, that all that is needed to practice the principles of this invention is to provide a single illumination source, such as one or more of illuminatable panels  422 ,  622 ,  722  to illuminate the bill or receipt or other printed material.  
         [0047]     Preferably, the internal batteries  415 ,  615 ,  715  are sufficiently flat so as to fit within the light sensitive illuminated exhibitors  400 ,  600 ,  700  without appearing bulky and detracting from the general overall appearance. Some suitable examples of internal batteries include lithium-ion, nickel-cadmium and nickel metal hydride batteries. At the present time, a lithium-ion battery is preferred because it is readily available, re-chargeable, inexpensive, lightweight, has a high power density and does not exhibit a memory effect. In addition, the lithium-ion battery preferably operates at 3.6 volts, which is the voltage required by one embodiment of the illuminatable panel(s) of the present invention. Therefore, there is no need for the addition of a limiting resistor to adjust the battery&#39;s voltage. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that battery technology is continually evolving and other batteries, both currently existing and future developed, may function equally well in connection with the teachings of the present invention.  
         [0048]     The light source L of the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 5 , may be located along the side of, or within the illuminatable panels  514  (which for purposes of this description corresponds to the construction of panels  414 ,  422 ,  614 ,  622 ,  714  and  722 ). The light source L selectively projects light into the illuminatable panels  514  in response to a control signal. Illuminatable panel  514  is preferably made of vinyl, plastic, glass, acrylic, thermoplastic acrylic resins sold under the Trademarks LUCITE or PERSPEX by Lucite International, or another other transparent or translucent material, and corresponds in thickness generally to the thickness of reinforcement material  309  shown in  FIGS. 3B and 3C . The material of panel  514  is preferably transparent, but may be translucent, and conducts light. A light diffusive film layer  513  may be associated with the restaurant bill/credit card receipt-facing side of panel  514 . A light supporting strip  540 , to which is attached one or more lights “L” such as LED lights, nests within notches created by tabs  543 ,  544  of panel  514 , to hold light supporting strip  540  in place relative to panel  514 . Lights L preferably align with corresponding recesses  542  defined by panel  514  to maximize to the greatest extent possible the transfer of light energy from lights L to panel  514 . An opaque or a light reflective film layer  548  may be associated with the bottom (i.e. the side facing away from the restaurant bill/credit card invoice when it is placed within the exhibitor  500 ) of panel  514 , as well as an opaque or reflective film layer  549  associated with the rear side of the light supporting strip  540 , to channel the light energy from lights L into panel  514 . For the same reason, a like film layer  518  may be placed along the front edge of panel  514 . Electric leads  545 ,  546  supply power to the lights L from battery  515  (not shown, but the same as batteries  415 ,  615  and  715 ). Light supporting strip  540  may function as a printed circuit board in the event LED lights are used as the light source. Alternatively, any other suitable light sources may be employed.  
         [0049]     A suitable provider of an LED illuminatable panel  514  is the Shenzen MingPu Optotech Co., Ltd of Shenzen, Peoples&#39; Republic of China. The panel has a peak forward current of 100 mA, a reverse voltage of 5V, a power dissipation of 5 W, an average luminous intensity of 113 cd/m 2 , a forward voltage of between 3.0 and 3.5 V, and a reverse current of 0.01 mA. It is to be appreciated that the forgoing specifications are but an example of a suitable range of characteristics, and that illuminatable panels having other characteristics are contemplated to be within the scope of the invention.  
         [0050]     Another suitable illuminatable panel  514  for use with the present invention is produced by Marktech Optoelectronics of Latham, N.Y. The preferred illuminatable panel  514  is available in a variety of sizes and colors and includes a durable acrylic sheet layer  513  on its surface (thereby acting as a protective covering and removing the need to include a transparent sheet over the windows). The preferred illuminatable panel  514  typically lasts 100,000 hours or more and utilizes less power than standard incandescent, electroluminescent (EL), or cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) light sources. The Marktech illuminatable panel  514  (Marktech Part No. MTBL2129-G) provides 574 nm of light at an intensity of 220.00 millicandelas.  
         [0051]     The three embodiments depicted in  FIGS. 4A, 6A  and  7  also include a processor  431 ,  631 ,  731 . The processor  431 ,  631 ,  731  can be designed to control the charging circuit (indicated as  436  in  FIGS. 4B and 936  in  FIG. 9 ), the speaker  416 ,  616 ,  716 , the illuminatable panels  414 ,  422 ,  614 ,  622 ,  714 ,  722  and the photocell  432 ,  632 ,  732 . The processor  431 ,  631 ,  731  can be designed using standard “chip on board” (“COB”) technology. A processor  431 ,  631 ,  731  suitable for use in the invention closes (i.e., enables) the circuit and thereby illuminates the illuminatable panels  414 ,  422 ,  614 ,  622 ,  714 ,  722  when the light sensitive illuminated exhibitor  400 ,  600 ,  700  is opened and opens (i.e., disables) the circuit when the light sensitive illuminated exhibitor  400 ,  600 ,  700  is closed, rendering the illuminatable panels  414 ,  422 ,  614 ,  622 ,  714 ,  722  dark. In an alternate embodiment, the processor  431 ,  631 ,  731  is connected to a photo cell  432 ,  632 ,  732 , and thereby adjusts the intensity of the illuminatable panels  414 ,  422 ,  614 ,  622 ,  714 ,  722  responsive to changes in resistance of the photo cell resulting from changes in the ambient light intensity. For example, when the light sensitive illuminated exhibitor  400 ,  600 ,  700  is opened outside, the photo cell  432 ,  632 ,  732  will detect the light and direct the processor  431 ,  631 ,  731  not to activate the illuminatable panels  414 ,  422 ,  614 ,  622 ,  714 ,  722 . One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that additional processor embodiments may also be designed without departing from the teachings of the present invention, such as automatic de-energization of the illuminatable panels  414 ,  422 ,  614 ,  622 ,  714 ,  722  after a predetermined period (i.e. 10 minutes) of non-use or the like.  
         [0052]      FIG. 4B  shows a schematic of a representative circuit  437  for operating the light sensitive illuminated exhibitor  400  under the control of a processor  431  in accordance with the present invention. Battery  415  supplies direct current (DC) power to processor  431 . A charging circuit  436  is connected between battery  415  and processor  431  to accomplish a battery charging function of the invention, to be described in more detail below. A variable impedance device, such as a photocell  432 , a rheostat (not shown) or the like, may be used to vary the current flowing to illuminatable panels  414 ,  422  in proportion to ambient lighting conditions, the position of the rheostat (not shown) or the like. In other words, in the case of a photocell  432 , if the ambient light is bright, the power to illuminatable panels  414 ,  422  can be reduced or eliminated entirely by the processor  431 , reducing or eliminating its power output to the illuminatable panels  414 ,  422  responsive to a substantial reduction in impedance or resistance of the photocell  432 . The extinguishment or dimming of the illuminatable panels  414 ,  422  reduces battery depletion and extends the life of the battery  415  or the time between recharging.  
         [0053]     The charging circuit  436  is utilized in conjunction with the component part  430 , to be described in more detail below. The charging circuit  436  protects the battery  415  from being overcharged during the recharging process and prevents the battery  415  from being depleted.  
         [0054]     One of ordinary skill in the art will also recognize that inclusion of a processor  431 ,  631 ,  731  is not required to practice the teachings of the present invention. The electrical connection between the battery  415 ,  615 ,  715  and any one or more of the illuminatable panels  414 ,  422 ,  614 ,  622 ,  714 ,  722  shown herein could be designed to provide a closed (i.e., enabled) circuit when the light sensitive illuminated exhibitor  400 ,  600 ,  700  is open and an open (i.e., disabled) circuit when it is closed. For example, the connection between the battery  415 ,  615 ,  715  and one or more of the illuminatable panels could be disconnected by a manually depressable switch (an example of one which is shown as  733  in  FIG. 7 ) associated with one of the covers ( 710  in  FIG. 7 ). Alternatively, the connection between the battery  415 ,  615 ,  715  and one or more of the illuminatable panels, preferably an illuminatable panel located on the opposite cover from the battery  415 ,  615 ,  715 , could by associated with the seam  419 ,  619 ,  719 , which is caused to be opened when the light sensitive illuminated exhibitor  400 ,  600 ,  700  is closed, thereby opening the circuit and rendering any one or more of the illuminatable panels dark. When the light sensitive illuminated exhibitor  400 ,  600 ,  700  is opened, the electrical connection between the battery  415 ,  615 ,  715  and the illuminatable panel so connected could be rejoined, thereby lighting the particular panel or panels.  
         [0055]     Moreover, there may be users who desire to have the light sensitive illuminated exhibitor  400 ,  600 ,  700  illuminated when closed as opposed to opened, for any variety of reasons, such as to illuminate one or more panels associated with one or more information conveying articles (e.g., logos). If so desired, this may be accomplished by reversing the circuit described above as to such panels.  
         [0056]     To help reduce waste and lengthen battery life, the light sensitive illuminated exhibitor of the present invention contemplates a variety of alternative battery recharging systems. Suitable recharging systems include using solar, magnetic and electric energy sources. In  FIG. 4A , the recharging mechanism is an inductive coupler which employs a near field charge coil as the component part  430  of the charging circuit  436  and a corresponding charging base (not shown) which generates a magnetic field into which one or more of light sensitive illuminated exhibitors  400  are to be placed. One such charging system is sold under the trademark “Splash Pad” by Splashpower Ltd., of Cambridge, U.K. When the battery  415  needs recharging, the light sensitive illuminated exhibitor  400  is placed in the charging base (not shown). The charging base generates a magnetic field that induces a current in the charge coil  430 , which is used to charge the battery  415 . The benefit of this embodiment is that one or more light sensitive illuminated exhibitors  400  can be placed in the charging base (not shown) whenever staff has finished using them. As the technology is wireless, there is no need to “plug in” the light sensitive illuminated exhibitor  400 . This embodiment is convenient as it reduces the need for owners to monitor staff for compliance with re-charging because a visual survey of the light sensitive illuminated exhibitors lying in the charging base provides the needed assurances that re-charging is occurring.  
         [0057]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  show an alternate embodiment of the battery charging system of the light sensitive illuminated exhibitor  600  of the present invention. In this embodiment, charging pins are used as the component part  630  and are connected to the processor  631  to facilitate recharging the battery  615 . These connections may be made by a piece of wire, flexible circuit or direct contact with charging pins  630  of adjacent light sensitive illuminated exhibitors (not shown) stacked one upon the other such that the charging pins  630  of adjacent exhibitors  600  contact each other. As depicted in  FIGS. 6A and 6B , the charging pins  630  are located in each corner of the front cover  610  and back cover  620 . The charging pins  630  extend from the back side  617  to the front side  611  of the front cover  610  and from the front side  621  to the back side  627  of the back cover  620 . With this design, multiple exhibitors  600  can be stacked on top of each other for recharging. A charging base (not shown) is provided in which the first exhibitor  600  is placed. The charging base contains charging contacts (not shown) that mate with the charging pins  630  of the next adjacent exhibitor  600 . Additional exhibitors can then be stacked one on top of the other when charging is required to achieve electrical continuity between all stacked exhibitors. At the end of an event or at the close of business, the manager can view the charging base and light sensitive illuminated exhibitors stacked therein to determine that the staff has complied with any recharging requirements.  
         [0058]     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the present invention may also utilize a conventional plug-in charging connector to facilitate charging. The exhibitor  700  may include an electrical connector as the charging component  730  to be used with a corresponding connector  750  to conductively couple battery  715  to the charging source. Re-charging would occur by plugging one or more transformers  760  into an electric source, such as a standard household outlet or car cigarette lighter adapter. Electrical lead  762  between electrical connector  750  and transformer  760  may be split into any number of parallel leads such that charging of multiple batteries  715  can be accomplished at the same time. One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the transformer  760  may be varied in its characteristics to accommodate the charging of multiple batteries simultaneously.  
         [0059]     The embodiment depicted in  FIG. 7  employs an additional element to the internal components of the light sensitive illuminated exhibitor  700  in the form of an on/off switch  733 . Inclusion of such a switch  733  is useful when the charging pin method is used or if the light sensitive illuminated exhibitor is used in both day and night time conditions. For example, a restaurant may have outside seating and not require the light sensitive illuminated exhibitor to be illuminated by day, but may need it by night. In that case, the battery charge can be saved during daylight hours by turning off the light sensitive illuminated exhibitor. When dusk falls, the switch  733  can be manually turned on by depressing switch  733  to cause the panels  714  and/or  722  to be lit. In lieu of switch  733 , a hinge switch (not shown) associated with hinge  719  may be employed. The hinge switch interrupts power to the processor  731  and thereby to panels  714 ,  722  when the front cover  710  is placed in its closed position atop rear cover  720 , and permits current to flow to processor  731  when front cover  710  is opened (i.e. moved from abutting relationship with rear cover  720 ).  
         [0060]      FIGS. 8 and 10 - 12  depict a still further battery charging option in which electrical contacts serve as the charging component  830  and are used to electrically couple battery  815  (not shown) to a charging source, such as charging cradle or base  1000 . Base  1000  may employ one or more charging cradles or slots  1011  into which one or more exhibitors  800  may be placed, which will cause charging contacts  830  of exhibitor  800  to come into conductive contact with corresponding charge base contacts  1050 . In all other respects, the features and arrangements of the exhibitor  800  correspond with any one or more of the features and arrangements disclosed in connection with any other embodiment herein. Moreover, the battery charging scenario disclosed in connection with  FIGS. 8 and 10 - 12  may be used in place of any of the other battery charging scenarios disclosed herein or which may occur to one of skill in the art.  
         [0061]      FIG. 9  is a schematic of a representative circuit  937  which can be used to operate the various aspects of the invention, showing provisions for the illumination of two illuminatable panels as well as memory and an audio circuit for producing customizable or pre-recorded audible messages. Two LED drivers  934 , memory  935 , a charging circuit  936  and an audio circuit  938  are coupled to the processor  931 . Each of the two LED drivers  934  are connected to their respective lights L. In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 9 , the oscillation regulator  939  is shown connected to one of the two LED drivers  934 . The LED drivers  934  are connected to the panels  122 ,  322 ,  422 ,  622 , and  722 . The panels  122 ,  322 ,  422 ,  622  and  722  perform the function of illuminating the printed matter from behind. Oscillation regulator  939 , in the preferred embodiment, causes one or more lamps L, such as those shown in  FIG. 5 , associated with one or more of the panels  122 ,  322 ,  422 ,  622 , and  722  to illuminate when the presenter is opened (i.e., when the front cover panel is rotatably moved away from the rear panel). When this happens, an oscillation is detected by oscillation regulator  939  and power is caused to be sent to lamp L to give an initial illumination thereto. Thereafter, photocell  932  regulates the luminosity of lamps L, as well as the associated panel  122 ,  322 ,  422 ,  622  and/or  722 , to cause the panels to be fully illuminated if the ambient light is diminished sufficiently, or to cause the panels to be unlit if the ambient light is sufficiently strong, and to cause the panels to be illuminated with any intensity therebetween if the ambient light warrants. The power provided to the panels is inversely proportional to the degree of ambient light detected by the photocell  932 . In other words, the amount of light provided by the panels  122 ,  322 ,  422 ,  622  and/or  722  can vary depending on the amount of environmental lighting encountered by the photocell  932 .  
         [0062]     The audio circuit  938  preferably includes a speaker (see  416 ,  616  and  716  in  FIGS. 4, 6  and  7 ) and associated drive circuitry  938 , such as an audio amplifier and a sound card, and may alternatively include an audio-media player (e.g., MP3 player, WAV player or MIDI player) controlled by the processor  931 .  
         [0063]     The memory  935  may include one or more audible messages (e.g., greetings, music and salutations) that are programmed to be output to the audio circuit  938  in response to signals from the processor  931 . For example, when the light sensitive illuminated exhibitor ( 900 ) is initially opened, the photocell  932  may trigger the processor  931  to retrieve a salutary announcement from the memory  935 , such as “Greetings!” or “Welcome to our Restaurant!” The processor  931  forwards the salutary announcement to the audio circuit  938 , which may include circuitry to convert the message from digital format to analog, as well as an audio amplifier and a speaker. When the light sensitive illuminated exhibitor  900  is closed, the processor  931  may optionally retrieve a tribute announcement, such as “Thank you, please come again” or “We hope you enjoyed our restaurant,” from the memory  935  and provide the announcement to an appropriate decoder/player (not shown) for audio playback.  
         [0064]     In an alternate embodiment, the memory  935  may be programmed with, for exemplary purposes only, ten different greetings, messages and/or musical compositions. Each time the photocell  932  detects ambient light (i.e., each time the exhibitor is opened), processor  931  instructs the memory  935  to replay the next successive announcement or to randomly choose an announcement to replay. The memory  935  returns to the first message after producing the tenth message. In this embodiment, customers sitting at adjacent tables may not hear the same messages. As with batteries, memory storage capabilities are increasing at a rapid pace. The best mode of the present invention utilizes a memory device that includes ten different messages of six seconds each. However, it is easily conceivable that future memory devices will be capable of holding more and longer messages without detracting from the teachings of the present invention.  
         [0065]     In a still further embodiment of the invention, shown in  FIG. 13 , the exhibitor may take the form of a single panel embodiment  1100  including a panel  1120  to which is mounted an illuminatable panel  1122 , a credit card receiving pouch or pocket  1123 , a printed matter receiving/holding pocket  1129 , an ambient light condition responsive switch, such as photocell  1132 , and a manual on/off switch  1140 . In this embodiment, because there is no cover as there was in the previous embodiments, provision is made to cause the illuminatable panel  1122  to be in the non-illuminated state until switch  1140  is placed in to the “on” position (as by depression of a mechanical switch). Provision is made in the processor software to cause the illumination of panel  1122  to be extinguished after a predetermined amount of time so that the panel will not remain illuminated until the battery (not shown) is depleted. Means are provided to recharge the battery (not shown), such as those examples described elsewhere herein. Photocell  1132  functions to detect the amount of ambient light available and supplies an indication of such amount to the processor. The processor controls the output from the battery (not shown) to the panel  1122  such that the amount of battery power supplied to the panel  1122  is inversely proportional to the detected strength of the available ambient light. Therefore, the more ambient light there is present, the lower the strength of the signal sent to the panel  1122 . In this way, power consumption is kept to a minimum. The panel  1122  is structured and arranged in accordance with the disclosure of panels  414 ,  422 ,  514 ,  614 ,  622 ,  714  and  722 .  
         [0066]     The invention has been shown and described herein in the form of preferred embodiments with alternative features. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the embodiments and additional features disclosed herein, and that the invention is intended to be limited only by the following claims.