Patent Publication Number: US-6669092-B2

Title: Display apparatus

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to card, picture or sign exhibiting and, more particularly, to light boxes provided with special effects. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Stress must be considered in treating bodily injuries and illnesses. If severe enough or left untreated long enough, stress can produce shock, coma or even death. At a minimum, stress fatigues an individual with its accompanying increases in pain, blood pressure, respiration rate and pulse rate that prolong healing times. Not surprisingly, stress has also been connected to depression and non-compliance with medical directives among the seriously ill. 
     An individual&#39;s environment can have an effect upon how well he copes with stress. Soothing environments have been shown to reduce stress and its negative effects whereas barren environments yield an opposite result. Lush gardens and tropical beaches, for example, have been found by many to be soothing. Thus, many healthcare providers have considered offering attractive gardens and window views that frame verdant scenes to individuals under their care in an effort to promote good health and well-being. 
     Unfortunately, hospitals, clinics, doctors&#39; offices and other healthcare facilities have, over the years, been built with a focus upon efficiency rather than patient well-being. Thus, one often finds pedestrian architecture with minimal glazing and landscaping in such facilities. While a new window overlooking a garden in a treatment area can have a significant effect upon the healing of an individual, adding a window and landscaping can cost thousands of dollars. So, to provide a soothing environment in the traditional sense can involve significant expenditures. 
     Healthcare providers have sought to limit expenses in remodeling their facilities and have taken alternative steps to provide a soothing, or at least distracting, environment for sick individuals under their care. In this regard, some have offered television sets in treatment and visitor areas. Others have displayed artworks on walls and have broadcast music from intercom systems. Still other healthcare providers have proposed displaying landscape murals in treatment areas accompanied by the sounds and smells of nature put out by separate aroma and music producing devices. Being cumbersome to set up and use, these latter systems have not seen widespread commercial acceptance. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In light of the problems associated with the known methods and products for providing relief from environmental and physiological stress, anxiety and pain in healthcare facilities, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a display apparatus offering a realistic, virtual environment that can be readily sensed through the observer&#39;s eyes, nose and ears. The apparatus can, thus, accurately replicate the visual, auditory and olfactory experiences that one might encounter through an open window overlooking forests, mountains or beaches. In a healthcare facility, such experiences can be soothing and distracting to an observer undergoing diagnostic or treatment procedures thereby reducing stress, anxiety, pain, depression and need for medications. Recovery times for sick individuals may ultimately be decreased through use of the apparatus. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus of the type described that automatically coordinates its visual, auditory and olfactory emanations so that the virtual environment produced is thoroughly convincing and can be repeatedly produced if desired. Inserting a special display piece carrying an image of woodlands, for instance, into the apparatus will cause the apparatus to illuminate the display piece from behind and produce accompanying sounds of rustling leaves and the smell of cedar. Of course, there is no limit to the types of environments that can be replicated by the apparatus. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a display apparatus that, after initial set up, is tamper-resistant. The apparatus is constructed so that neither a display piece bearing a visual image nor a cartridge bearing an aromatic substances nor a digital audio file with reproducible sounds can be removed or changed by unauthorized individuals. Thus, the display apparatus of the present invention can be used in both public and private spaces. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus of the type described that can be controlled remotely. In this manner, an invalid user can regulate the illumination, sound and aroma production of apparatus from a distant location and, perhaps, a chair or bed. It is believed that by giving an invalid user some control over his surroundings, of which the apparatus is a part, he becomes an active participant in his recovery. This participation can lead to improved emotional well-being and decreased stress. Moreover, by decreasing stress, the amount of attention required by the individual may be reduced thereby increasing the productivity of healthcare providers. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a display apparatus that is easy to install, set up and use. In healthcare facilities, the apparatus provides a safe, non-pharmacological alternative to invasive forms of treatment for reducing stress and promoting rapid healing. Use of the apparatus provides environmental enhancement without costly building and landscape renovations to provide enhanced views. Funds earmarked for renovations can be redirected toward increases in staff or other upgrades. Avoiding renovations also permits healthcare facilities to provide uninterrupted service while environmental enhancements, i.e., installing display apparatus of the present invention, are being made. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a display apparatus of the type described that can be used virtually anywhere. The apparatus can, therefore, be deployed in: healthcare facilities, retail stores, office buildings, warehouses, hotels, solons, spas, resorts, health clubs and homes. In healthcare facilities alone, the apparatus can be placed in waiting rooms, examination and treatment rooms, windowless interior offices, and convalescent areas. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in a display apparatus for the purposes described which is portable, lightweight in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and dependable in use. 
     Briefly, the display apparatus in accordance with this invention achieves the intended objects by featuring a light box and a display piece removably positioned upon, and illuminated by, the light box. The display piece carries an electronic tag from which an electronic tag reader positioned within the light box obtains information. Also in the light box are a digital audio player for producing audible sounds and an aroma diffuser for entraining an aromatic substance in air. An aroma-bearing cartridge matched with the display piece that may be removably positioned within the diffuser initially carries the aromatic substance. The cartridge has a bar code from which a bar code reader positioned within the diffuser obtains information. A central processing unit in the light box selectively energizes the digital audio player and the aroma diffuser in response to information obtained from the electronic tag and the bar code. 
     The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention may be more readily described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a prospective view of the light box portion of a display apparatus in accordance with the present invention shown with its frame sections in an open orientation for receiving a display piece. 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of the light box of FIG. 1 with its frame sections in a closed orientation. 
     FIG. 3 is a lateral cross-sectional view of a frame section of the apparatus. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the aroma diffuser of the display apparatus. 
     FIG. 5 is a partial, lateral cross-sectional view of the bottom of the aroma diffuser of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 6 is an electrical block diagram of the display apparatus. 
    
    
     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the accompanying drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the FIGS., a display apparatus in accordance with the present invention is shown at  10 . Apparatus  10  includes a light box  12  defined by a rectangular back wall  14  from the periphery of which top, bottom and opposed side walls  16 ,  18  and  20  extend forwardly. Running between side walls  20  at a set distance above bottom wall  18  is a medial wall  22  that divides light box  12  into upper and lower compartments  24  and  26 . Within upper compartment  24 , a number of fluorescent light bulbs  28  are mounted behind a translucent Plexiglas shield  30  that closes the front of upper compartment  24 . Angled reflectors  32  adjacent the top and medial walls  16  and  22  direct light produced by bulbs  28  through shield  30 . Lower compartment  26 , however, is closed by a cover plate  34  behind which are positioned a digital audio player  36 , an aroma diffuser  38  and a central processing unit (CPU)  40  for producing a virtual environment  1  when a display piece  42  is secured atop shield  30 . 
     CPU  40  is a microprocessor that handles many of the processing and controlling operations of apparatus  10 . In addition to embedded firmware, software codes stored in onboard memory in CPU  40  provide the framework for operating apparatus  10 . 
     A holder of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,608,980, issued to Gary D. Pangerel on Mar. 11, 1997, and incorporated for all purposes herein, is employed to releasably secure display piece  42  atop shield  30 . Briefly, the holder includes a number of lockable frame sections  44  having back members  46  each being disposed atop a respective one of the top, medial and side walls  16 ,  18  and  20 . Attached to each back member  46  is a front member  48  that can be pivoted outwardly to open a frame section  44  for selective insertion or removal of shield  30  and overlaying display piece  42 . A magnetic tab  50  is positioned behind each front member  48  and is biased to prevent front member  48  from being opened in the absence of an external magnetic field. To open a frame section  44 , a user slides a magnet  52  along front member  48  until attraction is felt between magnet  52  and tab  50 . Magnet  52 , then, releases tab  50  and allows front member  48  to swing open. Since tab  50  is not visible from the exterior of light box  12 , a display piece  42  dimensioned like shield  30  can be inserted into light box  12  without fear of later tampering. 
     Display piece  42  is a sheet of paper, cardboard, plastic, glass or cloth upon which is printed a high-resolution, landscape photograph or other image that appeals to a user thereby inducing relaxation and reducing stress. Images of this type may include views of streams, lakes, shorelines, forests, and mountains. The sheet is preferably formed such that it is light-transmissive so that bulbs  28  will illuminate such from behind when display piece  42  is positioned atop shield  30  and bulbs  28  are energized. For example, the Eastman Kodak Company produces a translucent material upon which digital images can be printed that it markets under the mark Duratrans®. This material is typically used for producing large transparencies used as backlit displays in light boxes and can be used to make display piece  42 . 
     A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag  54  is attached to display piece  42 . Tag  54  communicates with a tag reader  56  in upper compartment  24  of light box  12  to convey an identification number to CPU  40 . CPU  40  uses this number to examine records stored within itself to identify the visible image carried by display piece  42  and to control audio player  36  and aroma diffuser  38 . Preferably, tag  54  is resistant to shocks, moisture and dirt. Further, it is preferred that tag  54  be small, flat and unobtrusive when attached to display piece  42 . Numerous, examples of RFID tags possessing such characteristics are commercially available from Phillips Semiconductors and others; but, by way of example, tag  54  can be constructed as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,107,920, issued to Noel H. Eberhardt et al., on Aug. 22, 2000. The &#39;920 patent is hereby incorporated by reference into the disclosure of the present invention. 
     Briefly, the &#39;920 patent describes a tag possessing a read only memory for data storage and an antenna for broadcasting stored data. The tag is powered and read by inductive coupling. Inductive coupling utilizes a coil element that is energized by a coded RF signal from a tag reader to provide power to the tag circuitry. The tag coil modulates and reflects the incident RF carrier signal back to the tag reader to transfer stored data from the tag to the tag reader, which receives and decodes the data. Read ranges for inductively coupled devices like this are generally on the order of several centimeters. 
     Manipulating keyboard  56  of a hand-held transmitter  58  causes the broadcast of an infrared wireless signal  60  to a receiver  62  coupled with CPU  40  to energize apparatus  10 . CPU  40 , in receiving the “on” command from receiver  62 , sends a signal to tag reader  56  that directs transceiver  64  of tag reader  56  to broadcast a coded radio frequency (RF) signal  66  to tag  54 . Tag  54  correspondingly modulates the frequency of RF signal  66  providing transceiver  62  with the identification (ID) number of display piece  42 . This signal is “decoded” by the decoder  68  of tag reader  56  into a number that is, then, delivered to CPU  40  in a conventional binary format. 
     CPU  40  examines its internal memory to determine whether the ID number obtained from tag  54  is stored there. If yes, CPU  40  matches the ID number obtained from tag  54  with a previously stored, digital audio file address and commands the audio file located on a hard disk drive  70  in compartment  26  having that address to be downloaded to dynamic memory  72 . If, however, CPU  40  does not find a match between the ID number and data in its internal memory, CPU  40  will require additional input from transmitter  58  to download an audio file from hard drive  70  into dynamic memory  72 . 
     Either of two modes of operation for apparatus  10  can be selected by manipulating keyboard  56  of transmitter  58  that, in response, broadcasts an infrared signal to receiver  62  that is conveyed to CPU  40 . The signal can designate either an “auto start” or a “selective start” mode. In “auto start,” CPU  40  energizes apparatus  10  and causes tag reader  56  to interrogate tag  54 . Upon receiving a recognized ID number from tag reader  56 , CPU  40  commands audio player  36  to decode an audio file in dynamic memory  72  and provide a pair of signal amplifiers  74  and  76  and, then, a plurality of audio speakers  78  and  80  with electrical signals that are transduced into audible sounds. In “selective start” mode, however, CPU  40  commands audio player  36  to decode an audio file selected from hard drive  70  only after depressing a “play” key (not shown) in keyboard  56  of transmitter  58  which broadcasts this action to receiver  62  and CPU  40 . Audio player  36  may, by means of transmitter  58  signaling CPU  40  in a conventional manner, also, be caused to pause its playback of the audio file, select the audio file to be played from storage of hard drive  70 , stop playback, conduct continuous playback of the file until commanded to pause or stop thus deenergizing audio player  36 . Moreover, transmitter  58  may be used selectively to: energize bulbs  28 , energize aroma diffuser  38 , or direct the operation of a dual-channel stereo balance and fader control  82  to adjust the volume of sound emitted by speakers  78  and  80 . 
     Digital audio player  36  is preferably an MP3 player of conventional construction although such may, with appropriate modification to apparatus  10 , also be a compact disc player, cassette tape player, DVD player or any other audio or sound-producing device with a controlled interface. MP3 players, however, permit the use of a digital storage device such as a “smart card”  84  and a compatible card reader  86  for the rapid input of digital audio files into hard disc drive  70  for subsequent playback. By connecting a modem  86  to CPU  40 , MP3-type digital audio files can be readily downloaded from the Internet onto hard disc drive  36  for playback by preferred audio player  36 . 
     Speakers  78  and  80  are of two types for optimum sound reproduction. Speakers  78  are of full range-type and are mounted upon opposite ends of cover plate  34 . Speakers  80 , however, are high-frequency “tweeters” mounted at opposite ends of top wall  16  behind upper reflector  32 . 
     Speakers  78  and  80  are wired directly to audio player  36  to produce stereophonic sound. If desired, an RF transmitter  88  can be connected to audio player  36  so as to permit the use of a remote, wireless headset  90  and wireless subwoofer or surround sound speakers  92  with apparatus  10 . 
     Cover plate  34  is provided with suitable openings at its opposite ends through which sound from speakers  78  can freely pass. Between speakers  78  are cutouts through which audio player  36  and aroma diffuser  38  can be accessed. Cover plate  34  is secured at its top to light box  12  by threaded fasteners (not shown) penetrating medial wall  22 . Cover plate  34  is, however, secured at its bottom to light box  12  by a locking frame section  94  on bottom wall  18  identical to frame sections  44 . 
     An aroma-bearing cartridge  96  is utilized with apparatus  10  and includes a porous and air-permeable pad  98  formed of a dense mat of natural or synthetic fibers to which has been applied one or more essential or botanical oils or other aromatic substances capable of being entrained in air and providing a scent. The aromatic substances may be distilled extracts of leaves, flowers, branches, barks, roots, fungi or like natural or synthetic compounds. A rigid frame  100  surrounds and reinforces pad  98 . Indicia are provided on frame  100  in the form of an arrow  102  indicating the direction of insertion of cartridge  96  into slot  104  in aroma diffuser  38  and a machine-readable tag or bar code  106 . 
     Bar code  106  is a series of varying width, vertical bars and spaces representative of a number. CPU  40  uses this number to look up internally stored records that identify the oils or aromatic substances carried by pad  98 . Once identified, CPU  40  can determine whether to energize diffuser  38  or not as will be detailed below. 
     Cartridge  96  will, prior to use, be contained within an impermeable pouch (not shown) to limit the evaporation of aromatic substances from pad  98 . Once the pouch is opened, cartridge  96  is inserted into aroma diffuser  38  where the aromatic substances on pad  98  are entrained in air in a controlled manner. Pouch will, of course, be suitably labeled to identify its correspondence with display piece  42 . Thus, the general scent of cedar, among other relevant scents, may, for example, be associated with a display piece  42  bearing the image of woodlands whereas the general scent of roses, among other relevant scents, may be associated with a garden image. These correspondences would be stored in the onboard memory of CPU  40  prior to the use of apparatus  10 . 
     Aroma diffuser  38  includes a hollow, box-like housing  108  having an inlet opening  110  in its bottom and an outlet opening  112  in its front. A slot  104  is provided in the front of housing  108  below outlet opening  112  for snugly receiving cartridge  96 . C-shaped guide rails  114  extend inwardly from slot  104  along the opposite sides of housing  108  to grasp frame  100  and maintain cartridge  96  in a fixed, horizontal position between inlet opening  110  and outlet opening  112 . For drawing air into inlet opening  110  through pad  98  and forcing such from outlet opening  112 , an electric motor  116  having a rotatable drive shaft  118  carrying a fan blade  120  is mounted within housing  108  beneath guide rails  114 . CPU  40  can vary the voltage applied to motor  116  so that the speed at which shaft  118  and blade  120  are rotated can be changed to control the flow of air through pad  98  and the rate at which aromatic substances are emitted by diffuser  38 . 
     A duct (not shown) may be utilized within housing  108 . The duct would direct airflow to minimize pressure losses and isolate electrical components from continued exposure dust, dirt and aromatic substances. Such a duct may be a tube with suitable openings for admission of, cartridge  96  and fan blade  120  and would connect inlet and outlet openings  110  and  112  together. 
     A tag or bar code reader  122  having a conventional scanner and decoder (neither shown) is secured within housing  108  above one of the guide rails  114 , a portion of which having been cut away so as to provide a direct line of sight between reader  122  and bar code  106  on cartridge  96 . In use, light from the scanner is directed onto bar code  106  with the light being absorbed by the bars and reflected by the intervening spaces. A photocell in the scanner receives the reflected light and converts such into electrical signals. In response, the photocell generates a low electrical signal for the spaces and a high electrical signal for the bars with the duration of the electrical signal reflecting the varying widths of the spaces and bars. These signals are “decoded” by the decoder into a number that is, then, delivered to CPU  40  in a conventional binary format. 
     CPU  40  energizes diffuser  38  based upon the number interpreted from bar code  106 . For example, CPU  40  permits electrical current to flow to motor  116  so as to impel air through diffuser  38  and cartridge  96  if the number corresponds with another one that is stored in memory within CPU  40  representative of display piece  42 . The decoded number may also be used by CPU  40  to cycle motor  116  on and off and to control its speed since some concentrated oils require minimal air circulation to be detectable in air whereas other less-concentrated oils require extended fan run times at higher speeds. If no correspondence between the decoded bar code number and the stored number is obtained, no current is provided to motor  116  by CPU  40 ; but, CPU  40  will deliver an electrical current to an ejector solenoid  124  to energize such and eject cartridge  96  from slot  104 . 
     Ejector solenoid  124  is secured to the rear of housing  108  and has a piston  126  that may be selectively extended toward slot  104  between guide rails  114 . Upon full manual insertion of cartridge  96  into slot  104 , piston  126  is forced by the front of cartridge frame  100  from housing  108  and into solenoid  124 . Providing an electrical current to solenoid  124 , however, causes piston  126  to return to its original, extended position between rails  114  thereby ejecting cartridge  96  outwardly from housing  108  through slot  104 . 
     Removal of cartridge  96  from housing  108  is accomplished only by the action of solenoid  124  since no portion of cartridge  94  protrudes from slot  104  when such is fully positioned therein to prevent tampering. Nonetheless, a user can selectively energize solenoid  124  to eject cartridge  96  from diffuser  38  in one of two ways. First, he may press a momentary micro-switch button  128  extending from housing  108  and accessible through an opening  130  in bottom wall  18  of light box  12 . A flexible, Mylar disk  132  “hides” opening  130 . Additionally, a user may press an eject button in keyboard  56  of transmitter  58  that causes CPU  40  to deliver an energizing current to solenoid  124 . 
     Electrical power is supplied to all components of apparatus (except hand-held transmitters  58  having an on-board battery) through a cable  134  having a plug  136  for connection to a conventional wall outlet. Cable  134  provides electrical power to a power supply  138  preferably carried within lower compartment  26  of light box  12 . Power supply  138  is of conventional construction with voltage reduction and regulation capabilities. 
     Normal use of apparatus  10  is straightforward. First, light box  12  is mounted in the usual manner on a wall or other support and plug  136  is engaged with an outlet to supply electricity to light box  12  and illuminate bulbs  28 . Next, display piece  42 , perhaps selected from a group of fifteen display pieces with different images and different encoded information on their tags  54 , is pressed against shield  30 . A transparent cover sheet (not shown), formed of plastic or glass and having substantially the same dimensions as display piece  42 , is positioned over display piece  42 . Then, display piece  42  and the transparent cover sheet are locked in place in light box  12  by means of frame sections  44  engaging the periphery of display piece  42 . An aroma-bearing cartridge  96  corresponding with display piece  42  is, then, inserted into slot  104 . CPU  40 , now, automatically compares data derived from tag  54  on display piece  42  with that obtained from bar code  106  on cartridge  96 . If correspondence is found in onboard memory, CPU  40  directs an electrical current to motor  116  thereby causing apparatus  10  to emit an aromatic substance. If CPU  40  finds no correspondence, motor  116  will remain deenergized and cartridge  96  will be automatically ejected from slot  104 . Simultaneously, in either case, CPU  40  will deliver an audio file from hard drive  70  to dynamic memory  72  and cause electrical current to flow to audio player  36  and its associated sound-producing features to cause sounds corresponding to the image observed on display piece  42  to be broadcast from apparatus  10 . 
     The automatic functions of apparatus  10  can be augmented and overridden, to an extent, by user inputs into keyboard  56  on hand-held transmitter  58 . As examples, the volume of sound coming from speakers  78  and  80  can be adjusted and an audio file other than the one selected by CPU  40 , but found to be soothing by a user, can be downloaded to dynamic memory  72  and played by audio player  36 . Furthermore, the speed of motor  116  in aroma diffuser  38  can be varied to adjust the emissions of an aromatic substance from diffuser  38  in response to variations in room size and ventilation rate. 
     Apparatus  10  automatically coordinates and integrates its visual, auditory and olfactory emanations so that the virtual environment produced is thoroughly convincing. Nonetheless, a user can modify these emanations to best suit his desires. In a healthcare setting, the emanations, however generated, can be soothing and distracting to the point where stress, anxiety, pain, depression and need for medications may be reduced. 
     While the invention has been described with a high degree of particularity, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto. For example, an edge-lit light box could be substituted for light box  12  of backlit design. Therefore, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the sole embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.