C08G59/3209—Epoxy compounds containing three or more epoxy groups obtained by polymerisation of unsaturated mono-epoxy compounds
The present invention provides epoxy functional oligomeric compounds, methods of preparation and uses therefor. In particular, the present invention provides to oligomeric epoxy compounds derived from allyl glycidyl ether.
The present application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/922,954 filed Apr. 12, 2007, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The present invention relates to oligomeric compounds, methods of preparation and uses therefor. In particular, the present invention relates to oligomeric epoxy compounds derived from allyl glycidyl ether.
Adhesive compositions are used for a variety of purposes in the fabrication and assembly of semiconductor packages and microelectronic devices. The more prominent uses include bonding of electronic elements such as integrated circuit chips to lead frames or other substrates, and bonding of circuit packages or assemblies to printed wire boards.
Adhesives used in the electronic packaging industry typically contain a thermosetting resin combined with a filler and some type of curing initiator. These resins are primarily used in the electronics industry for the preparation of non-hermetic electronic packages. Adhesives useful for electronic packaging applications typically exhibit such properties as good mechanical strength, cures that do not affect the function of the component or the carrier, and thixotropic properties compatible with application to microelectronic and semiconductor components. Examples of such packages are ball grid array (BGA) assemblies, super ball grid arrays, IC memory cards, chip carriers, hybrid circuits, chip-on-board, multi-chip modules, pin grid arrays, and the like.
Due to their adhesive strength and versatility, epoxy resins have been widely used in the semiconductor packaging industry. Indeed, epoxy resins often offer superior electrical properties, very high heat and chemical resistance, dimensional stability, low cure shrinkage, and durability. Nevertheless, the current and future requirements of the electronics industry will undoubtedly require materials, structures and methods having precise, determined properties and/or features that might not otherwise be available.
Thus, there is a continuing interest in the development of epoxy resins with both expanded properties and finely tuned characteristics, not only for current and future applications in semiconductor packaging applications, but also for applications such as bonding metals, for laminating and filling fiberglass, and in composite structures, for maintenance repairs, and patching applications.
where each M is independently a monomer selected from an acrylate; a methacrylate, a styrenic, a maleimide, a vinyl ester, a vinyl ether, a fumarate, a maleate, an itaconate, a norbornene, a dicylcopentadiene, an indene, an olefin, a cyclic olefin, an allyl oxetanyl ether, a vinyl oxetanyl ether, an oxetanyl, an acrylate, a methacrylate, an acrylonitrile, a methacrylonitrile, an acrylamide, a methacrylamide a N,N-dimethyl acrylamide, and a phenyl acetate; L is an alkylene, oxyalkylene, cycloalkylene or is absent; and each x and y is independently 3 to about 100.
In certain embodiments, the at least one M is a cyclic olefin (such as a norbornene, a norbornadiene, or an oligomer of cyclopentadiene, which can be e.g. a dicyclopentadiene or a tetracyclododecene), a styrenic, an acrylate or a methacrylate. In other embodiments, the at least one M is an acetoxystyrene, a 4-acetoxyphenethyl acrylate, or a 4-acetoxyphenethyl vinyl ether. In yet further embodiments, the at least one M is a styrenic, such as 4-tert-butylstyrene.
In certain aspects of the oligomeric epoxy compound, each x and y is independently about 20 to about 75. In other aspects, L has 2 to about 20 carbon atoms.
In still further aspects, the oligomeric epoxy compound is a block co-oligomer, a random co-oligomer, or an alternating co-oligomer. Thus, for example, the following non-limiting configurations of the oligomeric epoxy compounds of the invention are contemplated:
where each M is independently a monomer selected from an acrylate; a methacrylate, a styrenic, a maleimide, a vinyl ester, a vinyl ether, a fumarate, a maleate, an itaconate, a norbornene, a dicylcopentadiene, an indene, an olefin, a cyclic olefin, an allyl oxetanyl ether, a vinyl oxetanyl ether, an oxetanyl, an acrylate, a methacrylate, an acrylonitrile, a methacrylonitrile, an acrylamide, a methacrylamide a N,N-dimethyl acrylamide, and a phenyl acetate; L is an alkylene, oxyalkylene, cycloalkylene or is absent; and each x, x′, x″ and y is independently 3 to about 100.
The skilled artisan will appreciate the ratios and configuration of epoxy and each M will depend on the composition and starting ratios of each monomer and ally glycidyl ether included in the synthesis. Thus, formulae II, III and IV are exemplary only and should not be considered as limiting the invention compounds.
Also provided by the invention are adhesive compositions, which include: at least one oligomeric epoxy compound of the invention, and 0.1 to about 5 wt % of at least one curing catalyst, based on the total weight of the composition. Such compositions may thermoset adhesives.
In certain embodiments of the invention, the adhesive composition contains about 0.5 to about 98 wt %; about 10 to about 85 wt %; or about 25 to about 50 wt % of at least one oligomeric epoxy compound of the invention.
In yet further embodiments, the at least one curing catalyst is an alkali metal hydroxide or a Lewis acid; or it can be sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, a boron trifluoride etherate, a boron trifluoride amine salts, a tin carboxylate, or a zinc carboxylate.
The adhesive composition of the invention can also include about 10 wt % to about 90 wt % of at least one co-curing compound selected from an epoxy, an acrylate, a methacrylate, a maleimide, a poly-phenol compound, an anhydride, a dianhydride, a polyanhydride, an imide, a carboxylic acid, a dithiol, a polythiol, a phenol functional mono-maleimide, a bismaleimide, a polymaleimide, a mono-itaconate, a mono-maleate, a mono-fumarate, an acrylic acid, a methacrylic acid, a cyanate ester, a vinyl ether, a vinyl ester, a phenol functional ester, a urea, an amide, a polyolefin, a cyanoacrylate, an allyl functional compound, and a styrenic
In certain aspects, adhesive compositions of the invention can also include other components such as a phototoinitiator and/or a thermal initiator; a reactive diluent, and/or at least one filler, such as an electrically conductive or thermally conductive filler, or a filler that modifies rheology.
Also provided by the invention is a b-stageable adhesive composition, which can, for example, include about 5 to about 95% of at least one oligomeric epoxy compound of the invention; about 0.5 to about 5 wt % of at least one curing catalyst; about 0.1 to about 2% wt % of a coupling agent; 0 to about 30% wt % of at least one monomer selected from an acrylate, a methacrylate, a maleimide, a vinyl ether, a vinyl ester, a styrenic compounds and an allyl functional compound; about 1 to about 10% wt % of a curative; about 0.1 to about 5% wt % of a photoinitiator; and about 1 to about 50% wt % of a reactive diluent.
In certain embodiments, the b-stageable adhesive composition includes about 10 to about 50% of at least one oligomeric epoxy compound of the invention.
Assemblies that include a first article permanently adhered to a second article by a cured aliquot of an adhesive composition of the invention are also provide, as well as articles containing a circuit board having a solder mask that includes than invention compound or composition deposited thereon.
Further provided by the invention are electronic components encased within an aliquot of the composition, which can thus be non-hermetic electronic packages.
Also provided by the invention are methods for adhesively attaching a first article to a second article, including the steps of applying an adhesive composition of the invention to the first article, the second article or both the first article and the second article; contacting the first article and the second article to form an assembly, with the first article and the second article are separated only by the applied adhesive composition; and curing the applied adhesive composition thereby adhesively attaching the first article to the second article.
According to the invention, methods for adhesively attaching a semiconductor device, such as a die, to a substrate include the steps of applying an invention adhesive composition to the substrate, the semiconductor device or both the substrate and the semiconductor device; contacting the substrate and the semiconductor device to form an assembly of parts separated only by the applied adhesive composition; and curing the applied adhesive composition, thereby attaching the semiconductor device to the substrate.
In yet further embodiments, the invention provides a method for adhesively attaching a semiconductor device, such as a die, to a substrate by (a) applying an adhesive composition of the invention to the substrate, the semiconductor device or both the substrate and the semiconductor device; (b) melting the applied adhesive composition; (c) contacting the semiconductor device and the substrate, such that the die and substrate are separated only by the applied adhesive composition; and curing the applied adhesive composition, thereby adhesively attaching the semiconductor device to the substrate.
Unless specific definitions are provided, the nomenclatures utilized in connection with, and the laboratory procedures and techniques of analytical chemistry, synthetic organic and inorganic chemistry described herein are those known in the art. Standard chemical symbols are used interchangeably with the full names represented by such symbols. Thus, for example, the terms “hydrogen” and “H” are understood to have identical meaning. Standard techniques may be used for chemical syntheses, chemical analyses, and formulation. The foregoing techniques and procedures can be generally performed according to conventional methods well known in the art.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention claimed. As used herein, the use of the singular includes the plural unless specifically stated otherwise. As used herein, “or” means “and/or” unless stated otherwise. Furthermore, use of the term “including” as well as other forms, such as “includes,” and “included,” is not limiting.
“About” as used herein means that a number referred to as “about” comprises the recited number plus or minus 1-10% of that recited number. For example, “about” 100 degrees can mean 95-105 degrees or as few as 99-101 degrees depending on the situation. Whenever it appears herein, a numerical range such as “1 to 20” refers to each integer in the given range; e.g., “1 to 20 carbon atoms” means that an alkyl group can contain only 1 carbon atom, 2 carbon atoms, 3 carbon atoms, etc., up to and including 20 carbon atoms, although the term “alkyl” also includes instances where no numerical range of carbon atoms is designated).
As used herein, “oligomer” or “oligomeric” refers to a compound having a finite number of repeating structural units, or monomers. Oligomers of the invention typically have 2 to about 500 repeating monomer units; frequently 3 to about 300 repeating monomer units; and often 3 to about 100 repeating monomer units; and usually have a molecular weight up to about 10,000.
“Imide” as used herein, refers to a functional group having two carbonyl groups bound to a primary amine or ammonia. The general formula of an imide of the invention is:
“Polyimides” are polymers of imide-containing monomers. Polyimides typically have one of two forms: linear or cyclic. Non-limiting examples of linear and cyclic (e.g. an aromatic heterocyclic polyimide) polyimides are shown below for illustrative purposes.
“Maleimide,” as used herein, refers to an N-substituted maleimide having the formula as shown below:
As used herein, the term “acrylate” refers to a compound bearing at least one moiety having the structure:
As used herein, the term “acrylamide” refers to a compound bearing at least one moiety having the structure:
As used herein, the term “methacrylate” refers to a compound bearing at least one moiety having the structure:
As used herein, the term “methacrylamide” refers to a compound bearing at least one moiety having the structure:
As used herein “epoxy” refers to a thermosetting epoxide polymer that cures by polymerization and crosslinking when mixed with a catalyzing agent or “hardener,” also referred to as a “curing agent” or “curative.” Epoxies of the present invention include, but are not limited to aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, glycidyl ether, glycidyl ester, glycidyl amine epoxies, and the like, and combinations thereof. Epoxies of the invention include compounds bearing at least one moiety having the structure:
As used herein, the term “vinyl ether” refers to a compound bearing at least one moiety having the structure:
“Glass transition temperature” or “Tg” is used herein to refer to the temperature at which an amorphous solid, such as a polymer, becomes brittle on cooling, or soft on heating. More specifically, it defines a pseudo second order phase transition in which a supercooled melt yields, on cooling, a glassy structure and properties similar to those of crystalline materials e.g. of an isotropic solid material.
“Thermoplastic,” as used herein, refers to the ability of a compound, composition or other material (e.g. a plastic) to melt to a liquid when heated and freeze to solid, often brittle and glassy, state when cooled sufficiently.
“Thermoset,” as used herein, refers to the ability of a compound, composition or other material to irreversibly “cure” to a stronger, harder form. Thermoset materials are typically polymers that may be cured, for example, through heat (e.g. above 200 degrees Celsius, or less than 200° C. in the presence of a suitable catalyst), via a chemical reaction (e.g. epoxy), or through irradiation (e.g. U.V. irradiation).
Thermoset materials, such as thermoset polymers or resins, are typically liquid or malleable forms prior to curing, and therefore may be molded or shaped into their final form, and/or used as adhesives. Curing transforms the thermoset resin into a rigid infusible solid or rubber by a cross-linking process. Thus, energy and/or catalysts are added that cause the molecular chains to react at chemically active sites (unsaturated or epoxy sites, for example), linking the polymer chains into a rigid, 3-D structure. The cross-linking process forms molecules with a higher molecular weight and resultant higher melting point. During the reaction, when the molecular weight of the polymer has increased to a point such that the melting point is higher than the surrounding ambient temperature, the polymer becomes a solid material.
As used herein, “b-stageable” refers to the properties of an adhesive having a first solid phase followed by a tacky rubbery stage at elevated temperature, followed by yet another solid phase at an even higher temperature. The transition from the tacky rubbery stage to the second solid phase is thermosetting. However, prior to thermosetting, the material behaves similarly to a thermoplastic material. Thus, such adhesives allows for low lamination temperatures while providing high thermal stability.
A “die” as used herein, refers to a small block of semiconducting material, on which a functional circuit is fabricated.
A “solder mask” is a layer of polymer, such as an thermoset polymer, that provides a protective coating e.g. for the copper traces of a printed circuit board (PCB) and prevents solder from bridging between conductors, thereby creating short circuits. Solder masks also provide protection from the environment. In certain embodiments, a solder mask of the invention is silkscreened through a pattern onto a PCB. In other embodiments, the solder mask is sprayed or vacuum laminated onto the PCB. Solder masks are typically cured after the pattern is defined.
The present invention is based on the discovery that a wide variety of cross-linkable functional groups can be incorporated into epoxy oligomers, thereby making these multi-functional epoxy oligomers quite useful as thermosetting resin compositions. In particular, the present invention provides oligomers containing allyl glycidyl ether co-oligomerized with varied mono and dual functionalized monomers.
where each M is independently a monomer selected from an acrylate, a methacrylate, a styrenic, a maleimide, a vinyl ester, a vinyl ether, a fumarate, a maleate, an itaconate, an olefin, a cyclic olefin, an allyl oxetanyl ether, a vinyl oxetanyl ether, an oxetanyl(meth)methacrylate, an acrylonitrile, a methacrylonitrile, a N,N-dimethyl acrylamide, and a (meth)acrylamide; L is an alkylene, oxyalkylene, cycloalkylene or is absent; and each x and y is independently 3 to about 100.
In certain embodiments, L has 2 to about 20 carbon atoms. In other embodiments, L has 2 to about 10 carbon atoms. In yet further embodiments, L has 5 to 8 carbon atoms.
As shown in formula I above, the oligomeric epoxy compounds can have a variety of configurations, including random, alternating and block co-oligomers. Thus, for example, the following non-limiting configurations of the oligomeric epoxy compounds of the invention are contemplated:
The skilled artisan will appreciate the ratios and configuration of epoxy and each M substituents will depend on the composition and starting ratios of each monomer and ally glycidyl ether included in the synthesis. Thus, formulae II, III and IV are exemplary only and should not be considered as limiting the invention compounds.
The oligomeric epoxy compounds of the invention retain the reactivity of glycidyl ether epoxies because they are derived from allyl glycidyl ether (AGE). Thus, they can be cured using a variety of curatives, such as amines, anhydrides, phenols, or they can be subject to pure catalytic cures.
Allyl glycidyl ether is available in very high purity (e.g., from Ciba, Basel, Switzerland) versions and has very low chloride (less than 10 ppm total). Accordingly, allyl glycidyl ether does not contribute to chloride ion related corrosion of electronic components. The allyl functional group has another benefit in that it acts as its own chain terminator and thus the polymerization products can be limited to oligomeric species. This property has the practical benefit of providing compounds with low melt viscosities.
The epoxy equivalent weight (and therefore cross-link density) can be varied over a wide range depending on the ratios of monomers used to synthesize the epoxy oligomers. Generally, AGE is used in large excess in the preparation of the epoxy oligomers of the invention. However, almost all of the excess AGE can be recovered after the reaction is complete, so the reaction is efficient and commercially viable.
The AGE can also be converted to a cyclic olefin derivative and this monomer can be used in place of AGE itself to give even higher Tg oligomers. In principle, any monofunctional acrylate, methacrylate, styrenic, maleimide, vinyl ester, vinyl ether, fumarate, maleate, itaconate, norbornene, dicylcopentadiene, indene, olefin, cyclic olefin or the like could be co-cured with AGE. Other monomers contemplated for co-cure with the epoxy oligomers of the present invention include acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, acrylamide, methacrylamide, N,N-dimethylacrylamide, and the like.
Certain monomers cannot be used in the synthesis of the epoxy oligomers of the invention, such as those with amine, acid, anhydride, isocyanate, or thiol functionality. It is, however, possible to safely incorporate phenyl acetates (e.g. acetoxystyrene, 4-acetoxyphenethyl acrylate, and 4-acetoxyphenethyl vinyl ether).
Representative, non-limiting examples of the compounds of the invention are shown in the following formulae:
The present invention also provides adhesive compositions, such as thermosetting resin compositions, including at least one oligomeric epoxy compound of the invention described above.
In certain embodiments, the oligomeric epoxy compound is present at about 0.5 to about 98 weight percent of the adhesive composition. In other embodiments, the oligomeric epoxy compound is present at about 5 to about 95 weight percent of the adhesive composition. In yet other embodiments, the oligomeric epoxy compound contributes about 10 to about 85 weight percent of the adhesive composition. In yet further embodiments, the oligomeric epoxy compound is present at about 20 to about 75 weight percent of the adhesive composition. In still other embodiments, the oligomeric epoxy compound is present at about 25 to about 50 weight percent of the adhesive composition.
In certain embodiments, the adhesive composition includes about 0.1 to about 5 wt % of at least one curing catalyst, based on the total weight of the composition. In other embodiments, the curing catalyst is about 0.5 to about 4 wt % of the adhesive composition.
Additional Co-Curing Compounds. In certain aspects, the adhesive compositions of the invention include is at least one additional compound that can co-cure with the oligomeric epoxy compounds. The additional compound is typically present in the composition from about 10 wt % to about 90 wt % based on total weight of the composition. Such compounds include, for example, epoxies (e.g. epoxies based on glydicyl ethers of alcohols, phenols, bisphenols, oligomeric phenolics, phenolic novolacs, cresolic novolacs, acrylates, methacrylates, maleimides, poly-phenol compounds (e.g. poly(4-hydroxystyrene)), anhydrides, dianhydrides, polyanhydrides such as styrene-maleic anhydride co-polymers, imides, carboxylic acids, dithiols, polythiols, phenol functional mono-maleimides, bismaleimides, polymaleimides, mono-itaconates, mono-maleates, mono-fumarates, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, cyanate esters, vinyl ethers, vinyl esters, or phenol functional esters, ureas, amides, polyolefins (e.g. amine, carboxylic acid, hydroxy, and epoxy functional) siloxanes (e.g. epoxy, phenolic, carboxylic acid, or thiol functional), cyanoacrylates, allyl functional compounds and styrenic, as well as combinations thereof.
Curing Catalysts. Catalysts suitable for use in the present invention are generally compounds that can be employed to catalyze the reaction between a phenolic hydroxyl group, a phenyl ester, an anhydride, or a thiol and a vicinal epoxide group. Such catalysts include, but are not limited to, tertiary amines such as, triethylamine, tripropylamine, tributylamine; N,N-dimethylbenzylamine, dimethylaminopyridine, DBU, DABCO, 2-methylimidazole (such as, for example, the Curezol™ imidazoles (available from Air Products and Chemicals, Allentown, Pa.), N-methylmorpholine, epoxy amine adducts such as any of the Anjicure® or Ancamine® catalysts (Ajinomoto U.S.A., Inc., Fort Lee, N.J.) and carboxylic acid salts thereof, quaternary ammonium compounds such as, benzyl trimethyl ammonium chloride, tetrabutylammonium chloride; phosphines such as triphenylphosphine, tributylphosphine, trilaurylphosphine, trichlorobutylphosphine, trinaphthylphosphine; and phosphonium compounds such as, ethyltriphenylphosphonium chloride, ethyltriphenylphosphonium bromide, ethyltriphenylphosphonium iodide, ethyltriphenylphosphonium phosphate, ethyltriphenylphosphonium acetate.acetic acid complex, tetrabutylphosphonium chloride, tetrabutylphosphonium bromide, tetrabutylphosphonium iodide, tetrabutylphosphonium phosphate, tetrabutylphosphonium acetate.acetic acid complex, butyltriphenylphosphonium tetrabromobisphenate, butyltriphenylphosphonium bisphenate, butyltriphenylphosphonium bicarbonate. Combinations of two or more catalysts are also contemplated by the present invention.
In addition, for applications outside the microelectronic packaging industry, catalysts contemplated for use include alkali metal hydroxides, such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, and combinations thereof. Lewis acids such as boron trifluoride etherates, boron trifluoride amine salts, tin carboxylates, and zinc carboxylates.
The invention can also so be carried out with thermal or photo initiated cationic catalysts including, but not limited to boron, antimony, or phosphorous based iodonium salts.
Photoinitiators. In some embodiments, both photoinitiation and thermal initiation may be desirable. For example, curing of a photoinitiator-containing adhesive can be started by UV irradiation, and in a later processing step, curing can be completed by the application of heat to accomplish the final cure. Both UV and thermal initiators may therefore be added to the adhesive compositions of the invention.
In certain embodiments, the present invention provides adhesives that are of various consistencies including, liquids, gels, pastes and solids. In one embodiment, the adhesive composition is a paste suitable for attaching an electronics die to a substrate (i.e., die-attach pastes).
In one aspect, the invention provides a adhesive die-attach paste that includes 0.5 weight percent to about 98 weight percent (wt %) of at least one oligomeric epoxy compound of the invention, based on total weight of the composition; 0 to about 90 wt % of a filler; 0.1 wt % to about 5 wt % of at least one curing initiator, based on total weight of the composition; 0.1 wt % to about 4 wt %, of at least one coupling agent, based on total weight of the composition.
Fillers. Fillers contemplated for use in the practice of the present invention can be electrically conductive, and/or thermally conductive, and/or fillers which act primarily to modify the rheology of the resulting composition. Examples of suitable electrically conductive fillers which can be employed in the practice of the present invention include silver, nickel, copper, aluminum, palladium, gold, graphite, metal-coated graphite (e.g., nickel-coated graphite, copper-coated graphite, and the like), and the like. Examples of suitable thermally conductive fillers which can be employed in the practice of the present invention include graphite, aluminum nitride, silicon carbide, boron nitride, diamond dust, alumina, and the like. Compounds that act primarily to modify rheology include calcium carbonate silica, fumed silica, alumina, titania, and the like.
Coupling Agents. As used herein, the term “coupling agent” refers to chemical species that are capable of bonding to a mineral surface and which also contain polymerizably reactive functional group(s) so as to enable interaction with the adhesive composition and/or die-attach paste. Coupling agents thus facilitate linkage of the die-attach paste to the substrate to which it is applied.
Exemplary coupling agents contemplated for use in the practice of the present invention include silicate esters, metal acrylate salts (e.g., aluminum methacrylate), titanates (e.g., titanium methacryloxyethylacetoacetate triisopropoxide), zirconates, or compounds that contain a copolymerizable group and a chelating ligand (e.g., phosphine, mercaptan, acetoacetate, and the like). In some embodiments, the coupling agents contain both a co-polymerizable function (e.g., vinyl moiety, acrylate moiety, methacrylate, epoxy, thiol, anhydride, isocyanate, phenol moiety, and the like), as well as a silicate ester function. The silicate ester portion of the coupling agent is capable of condensing with metal hydroxides present on the mineral surface of substrate, while the co-polymerizable function is capable of co-polymerizing with the other reactive components of invention die-attach paste. In certain embodiments coupling agents contemplated for use in the practice of the invention are oligomeric silicate coupling agents such as poly(methoxyglycidylsiloxane).
In general, the adhesive compositions and/or die-attach pastes will cure within a temperature range of 80-220° C., and curing will be effected within a period of time of less than 1 minute to 120 minutes. As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the time and temperature curing profile for each adhesive composition will vary, and different compositions can be designed to provide the curing profile that will be suited to the particular industrial manufacturing process.
Additional Compounds. In certain embodiments, the adhesive compositions and/or die-attach pastes may contain additional compounds, such as modifiers, that lend additional flexibility and/or toughness to the resultant cured adhesive. Such compounds may be any thermoset or thermoplastic material having a Tg of 50° C. or less, and typically will be a polymeric material characterized by free rotation about the chemical bonds, the presence of ether groups, and the absence of ring structures. Suitable modifiers include polyacrylates, poly(butadiene), polyTHF (polymerized tetrahydrofuran, also known as poly(1,4-butanediol)), CTBN (carboxy-terminated butadiene-acrylonitrile) rubber, and polypropylene glycol. When present, toughening compounds may be in an amount up to about 15 percent by weight of the total adhesive composition.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, assemblies of components adhered together by the above-described adhesive compositions and/or adhesive die attach pastes are provided. Thus, for example, assemblies comprising a first article adhered to a second article by a cured aliquot of an adhesive composition containing an oligomeric epoxy compound of the invention are provided. Articles contemplated for assembly employing invention adhesives include electronic components such as dies, memory devices, ASIC devices, microprocessors, flash memory devices, and the like. Also encompassed by the invention are assemblies comprising a microelectronic device permanently adhered to a substrate by a cured aliquot of the above-described die attach paste. Microelectronic devices contemplated for use with invention die attach pastes include copper lead frames, Alloy 42 lead frames, silicon dice, gallium arsenide dice, germanium dice, and the like.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, the oligomeric epoxy compounds may be used in encasements, masks, coatings and the like. Thus, the present invention provides a circuit board having a solder mask made from or containing the adhesive compositions of the invention. In another embodiment, the invention provides electronic components encased within an aliquot of the epoxy oligomeric compounds or compositions of the invention. For example, the electronic component can be a non-hermetic electronic package.
The compositions of the invention include compositions useful as adhesives, coatings, matrix resins and composite resins. In certain embodiments, the composition is a die paste adhesive that includes a filler. In other embodiments, the composition is a industrial or marine coating that includes e.g., a filler, an extender and/or a pigment. Also contemplated by the invention are compositions including industrial, marine, automotive, airline, aerospace, sporting goods, medical and dental matrix resins. In yet other aspects of the invention, the compositions can be composite resins that include for example, carbon fiber, fiberglass and/or silica.
The present invention also provides: assemblies comprising a first article adhered to a second article by a cured aliquot of the adhesive composition described above; articles of manufacture coated with a cured layer of one of the compositions described above, such as a watercraft, automobile or airplane parts. In other embodiments of the invention, articles of manufactures can be comprised substantially of a cured amount of the composition described herein, such as an industrial, marine, automotive, airline, aerospace, sporting goods, medical or dental article. Such articles of manufacture can also include fillers, extenders, pigments and/or reinforcing materials along with the compositions disclosed herein.
According to the present invention, methods for adhesively attaching a first article to a second article. Such methods can be performed, for example, (a) applying an adhesive composition of the invention to the first article, the second article or both the first article and the second article; (b) contacting the first article and the second article to form an assembly where the first article and the second article are separated only by the applied adhesive composition; and (c) curing the applied adhesive composition, thereby attaching the first article to the second article.
In certain embodiments, the invention provides methods for adhesively attaching a semiconductor device, such as a die, to a substrate by (a) applying an adhesive composition of the invention to the substrate, the semiconductor device or both the substrate and the semiconductor device; (b) contacting the substrate and the semiconductor device to form an assembly, where the substrate and the electronic component are separated only by the applied adhesive composition; and (c) curing the applied adhesive composition, thereby attaching the semiconductor device to the substrate
In still further embodiments, the invention provided b-stageable type methods for adhesively attaching a semiconductor die to a substrate. Such methods can be performed, for example, by (a) applying an invention adhesive composition to the substrate, the semiconductor device or both the substrate and the semiconductor device; (b) melting the adhesive composition applied in step (a); (c) contacting the semiconductor device and the substrate, such that the die and substrate are separated only by the applied adhesive composition; and (d) curing the applied adhesive composition, thereby attaching the semiconductor device to the substrate.
The following examples are intended only to illustrate the present invention and should in no way be construed as limiting the subject invention.
All of the structures shown in the below examples are considered to be only representative of the species present and are not intended to be an exact depiction of all of the possible oligomers. Thus, where more than one monomer is co-polymerized with AGE, the examples shown do not necessarily include all of the possible monomer sequences that are likely to be present in the final oligomer.
A 500 mL, two-neck flask was equipped with a magnetic stir bar, liquid inlet, argon inlet, condenser and a bubbler. The flask was swept with argon and heated in an oil bath to 155° C. A solution of 2,4-dimethylphenyl maleimide (40.24 g; 0.2 moles), t-butylstyrene (32.0 g; 0.2 moles), allylglycidyl ether (91.4 g; 0.8 moles), and 8.2 g of dicumyl peroxide was dripped into the flask via a peristaltic pump over the course of four hours. The stirring was continued another half hour at the bath temperature of 155° C. The bath temperature was then lowered to 80° C. and the flask was equipped with a distillation head. The residual allylglycidyl ether (AGE) was removed via aspirator vacuum. The bath temperature was increased in stages up to 180° C. A total of 35.9 g of crude, unused, AGE was recovered. The liquid oligomer was sparged with Argon for forty minutes while still at the high bath temperature. The product was then dumped out onto non-stick aluminum foil while still hot. The product set up to a clear, glassy, light-yellow solid. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was preformed (ramp rate of 10° C. per minute with an air purge) on the neat compound and revealed a weight loss of 0.3% at 200° C. and 3.7% at 300° C. Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was performed on the compound and significant absorptions were found at 2958, 1708, 1509, 1381, 1191, 1102, 836, and 731 wavenumbers.
Analysis of the Epoxy Oligomer. An epoxy equivalent weight (EEW) titration was performed on the solid compound and was found to be 415 g/equivalent. A 1:1:1 equivalent ratio of “x, x′, and y” in structure C-1 (above) would have been expected to give an EEW of 478 g/equivalent. A sample of this resin was cured using an imidazole catalyst, powdered and extracted with deionized water in a Parr bomb at 165° C. Analysis by ion chromatography showed a chloride content of only 10 ppm chloride in the water extract. A sample of this resin was cured using an imidazole catalyst, powdered and extracted with deionized water in a Parr bomb at 165° C. Analysis by ion chromatography showed a chloride content of only 10 ppm chloride in the water extract.
A solution was prepared containing 25.73 g (0.1 mole) 2,6-diisopropylphenyl maleimide, 16.22 g (0.1 mole) 4-acetoxystyrene, 80.0 g (0.7 mole) AGE, and 6.2 g dicumyl peroxide. The solution was dripped into a two-neck, 500 mL flask suspended in an oil bath controlled at 155° C., as in Example 1. The addition was conducted over a 3.1 hour period and the heating was continued for another half hour. The AGE was removed as in Example 1 to yield 72.3 grams of a friable, yellow, clear, glassy solid. A TGA (ramp rate of 10° C. per minute with an air purge) was run on the neat compound and was found to have a weight loss of 0.7% at 200° C. and 4.4% at 300° C. with a decomposition onset of 374° C. An FTIR performed on this oligomer and was found to have absorptions at 2928, 1763, 1707, 1506, 1453, 1373, 1189, 1099, 1016, 910, 849, 805, and 747 wavenumbers. An equivalent weight analysis indicated an EEW of 326 g per equivalent.
A method similar to that of Example 1 was used to make the oligomer represented above as C-3. A solution consisting of t-butylstyrene (32.0 g; 0.2 mole), 2-methylphenyl maleimide (18.7 g; 0.1 mole), 2,4-dimethylphenyl maleimide (20.1 g; 0.1 mole), AGE (160.0 g; 1.4 mole), and 11.54 g dicumyl peroxide was added to an argon blanketed, 500 mL flask at 155° C. over a 4.5 hour period. Heating was continued for another fifteen minutes and the AGE excess was removed to yield 142.9 grams of a light-yellow glassy solid. A TGA was performed on the neat product and it was found to have a weight loss of 1.5% at 200° C. and 7.3% at 300° C., with a decomposition onset of 364° C. An FTIR was performed on the oligomer which revealed absorptions at 2927, 1709, 1455, 1382, 1189, 1098, 909, 837, and 758 wavenumbers. The EEW was determined to be 307 g/equivalent.
A second preparation of this material was performed by the same method. The EEW for the second synthesis was determined to be 313 g per epoxy equivalent.
A method similar to that described above in Example 1 was used to prepare the compound C-4 (shown above). A solution containing AGE (1376 g; 12.05 moles), styrene (247.1 g; 2.37 moles), and 98.4 grams dicumyl peroxide was pumped into a three liter flask that was heated externally to 155° C. over the course of 7.25 hours. Heating at 155° C. was continued another twenty minutes and the flask was cooled to 70° C. The bulk of the AGE excess was removed under vacuum. The residual AGE was removed via a 5.5 hour argon sparge at 175° C. An almost colorless, non-tacky, glassy solid was recovered. A TGA run on the neat compound revealed a weight loss of 2.1% at 200° C. and 8.9% at 300° C. An FTIR run on the oligomer revealed absorptions at 3026, 2926, 2854, 1601, 1493, 1452, 1104, 909, 844, 758, and 698 wavenumbers. An equivalent weight analysis of this product revealed an EEW of 282 g per equivalent.
A similar method as described in the previous Examples was used to prepare the oligomer shown above as C-5. The original solution pumped into the reaction flask consisted of dicyclopentadiene (26.4 g; 0.2 mole), 2,6-diisopropylphenyl maleimide (51.2 g; 0.2 mole), AGE (160 g; 1.4 moles), and 11.9 g of dicumyl peroxide. The addition/reaction time at 155° C. was 4.25 hours plus another twenty-five minutes at this temperature. The synthesis yielded 115.3 grams of a clear, glassy, non-tacky, orange solid. A TGA run on the neat compound revealed a weight loss of 0.9% at 200° C. and 7.8% at 300° C. An FTIR run on this oligomer revealed absorptions at 2963, 1703, 1451, 1374, 1187, 1098, 909, 884 and 746 wavenumbers. The EEW measured on this oligomer was 331 g/equivalent.
A two-neck, 500 mL flask was charged with 30.0 g AGE and a stir bar. The flask was equipped with an argon inlet, liquid inlet, condenser and bubbler. The flask was blanketed with argon and heated in an external bath to 180° C. A solution of 130 g AGE (total moles AGE=1.4) and dicyclopentadiene (66.1 g; 0.5 mole) was added over a 3.5 hour period and then stirring and heating were continued for another 1.25 hours. The excess AGE was distilled off (104.4 grams was recovered). The product (82.5 g, or 46% of the theoretical yield based on the DCPD charged) was recovered as a mobile, yellow liquid. The product had major IR absorptions at 3056, 2959, 2866, 1337, 1252, 1100, 909, 836, and 720 wavenumbers.
A solution containing dicyclopentadiene (11.37 g; 0.086 mole), the C-6 monomer from the previous example (31.0 g; approximately 0.172 mole), 2-methylphenyl maleimide (16.0 g; 0.086 mole), 2,4-dimethylphenyl maleimide (17.3 g; 0.086 mole), and 3.8 g dicumyl peroxide was combined as described in the previous Examples at 155° C., under argon, over 2.33 hours. The synthesis yielded 70.85 g of a dark-orange, friable, glassy solid. The neat product had 9.5% weight loss at 300° C. and a decomposition onset at 402° C. The oligomer had prominent FTIR absorptions at 2951, 1700, 1496, 1374, 1179, 1100, 755, and 718 wavenumbers. The EEW measured for this compound was 557 g per equivalent.
An epoxy functional oligomer represented by the above structure was made according to the same general method described above in the previous Examples. A solution of dicyclopentadiene (26.44 g; 0.2 mole), isobornyl methacrylate, AGE (160 g; 1.4 mole), and 11.55 g dicumyl peroxide was introduced to an argon-blanketed flask heated to 155° C. over a five hour period. A total of 89.8 g of a clear, yellow, extremely viscous, tacky semi-solid was recovered. An FTIR run on the product revealed prominent absorptions at 2951, 1717, 1455, 1390, 1098, 1052, 1003, 910, 844, and 762 wavenumbers. A TGA performed on the neat oligomer revealed a weight loss of 1.76% at 200° C. and a decomposition onset at 331° C. The epoxy equivalent weight was found to be 309 g/equivalent.
A similar method was used to prepare the epoxy oligomer approximately corresponding to structure C-9 above. A solution of 4-dodecylphenyl maleimide (51.2 g; 0.15 mole), AGE (57.1 g; 0.5 mole), and 5.4 g dicumyl peroxide was oligomerized as described in the previous Examples. A clear, red, taffy-like solid weighing 85.1 g was recovered. A TGA performed on the neat compound revealed a 4.75% weight loss by 300° C. and a decomposition onset of 400° C. An FTIR on the oligomer revealed prominent absorptions at 2930, 1708, 1514, 1381, 1185, 1098, and 833.93 wavenumbers. An epoxy equivalent weight measurement on this material indicated 432 g per equivalent. The theoretical EEW for the C-9 compound was calculated at 458.
A sample of this material was cured in the presence of two weight percent undecylimidazole. The cured sample was found to have a Tg of 99.9° C. via TMA. The thermal expansion coefficient below the glass transition was 74.6 ppm per degree C. and 187.3 ppm per degree C. above it.
Several adhesive compositions were formulated to test epoxy functional oligomers described in the previous examples. These compounds were formulated into UV “b-stageable” pre-applied adhesive test compositions. These compositions were applied as liquid pastes in thin films on ceramic substrates. The films were cured to a thermoplastic state via a short UV exposure to give coatings that were non-tacky at room temperature. Silicon dice were placed on these coated substrates at a bonding temperature of 140° C. The parts were then cured to a thermoset adhesive in an oven set to 175° C. A description of those formulations and the corresponding die shear adhesion results can be found in Table 1.
kAll adhesion testing was done using a Dage 4000 die shear tester. The adhesive was first photo-cured using a five minute UV exposure to yield tack-free thermoplastic coatings on the ceramic substrates. Die attach was done on a heated stage set at 140° C. The parts were then cured at 175° C. for one hour in an oven.
The results summarized in Table 1 demonstrate that it is possible to achieve die shear adhesion approximately equal or superior to that obtained using a commercially available, high performance, poly-epoxy compound using the oligomers of this invention. Tactix™ 756 (dicyclopentadiene-based polyepoxide resin, having an epoxide equivalent weight of from 245 to 265 grams/equivalent; Huntsman Advanced Materials Americas, Inc., Brewster, N.Y.) is made via the reaction of epichlorohydrin with a cresol-dicyclopentadiene novolac resin. It is difficult to control the extractable chloride content in epoxy compounds, and especially in polyfunctional epoxies made via this route since the best available methods involve the use of strong base to close chlorohydrin resides back to the desired glycidyl ethers. Base is also a catalyst for the cure of these same epoxies and so it is difficult to reduce the chloride to levels acceptable for use in microelectronic applications without also polymerizing the epoxy oligomer in the process. The oligomers of this invention take advantage of the availability high purity allyl glycidyl ether, which is a commercially available, low chloride source of glycidyl ether epoxy functionality. The polyfunctional monomers of the present invention have the inherent advantage of low chlorine content and are therefore more suitable for use in microelectronic applications. The oligomers of this invention have a significant further advantage in that their properties can be tailored to fit various modulus, glass transition, and polarity requirements. A wide variety of olefinically unsaturated monomers can be used and combined to create a large new toolbox of useful, epoxy functional thermoset monomers.
While this invention has been described with respect to these specific examples, it should be clear that other modifications and variations would be possible without departing from the spirit of this invention.
2. The oligomeric epoxy compound of claim 1, wherein at least one M is a cyclic olefin, a styrenic, an acrylate or a methacrylate.
9. The oligomeric epoxy compound of claim 1, wherein each x and y is independently about 20 to about 75.
13. The oligomeric epoxy compound of claim 1, having a structure selected from formula II, III and IV.
(b) 0.1 to about 5 wt % of at least one curing catalyst, based on the total weight of the composition.
22. The adhesive composition of claim of claim 16, wherein the at least one curing catalyst is a tertiary amine, a quaternary ammonium compound, a phosphine, phosphonium compound, an alkali metal hydroxide or a Lewis acid.
28. The adhesive composition of claim 16, further comprising at least one of a phototoinitiator, a thermal initiator, both a phototoinitiator and a thermal initiator, a reactive diluent, a filler, a coupling agent, a curative, and a monomer selected from an acrylate, a methacrylate, a maleimide, a vinyl ether, a vinyl ester, a styrenic compounds and an allyl functional compound.
US3997344A (en) * 1974-07-05 1976-12-14 American Can Company Dry positive photopolymer imaging process involving heating and application of toner
US4426503A (en) * 1980-06-06 1984-01-17 Alcolac Inc. Derivatives of aminoalkyl alkylene ureas and their use as wet adhesion promoters
An embedded desktop which can run multiple Java applications simultaneously under one instance of a Java™ virtual machine (JVM) and which allows open applications to communicate with one another in a system independent manner. The embedded desktop functionally exists between the JVM and the multiple Java™ applications and consists of a Core and various plug-ins. When applications are launched by a user (by communication between the Core, user interface plug-in and service vendor plug-in), an application class loader for each application is invoked using the class names of the respective applications. By segregating each application into an application class loader, class name collisions and resulting application crashes are avoided. Once application class loaders have been invoked, communication between applications is facilitated through the Core, avoiding the overhead and complexity of system dependent communication through the operating system and associated hardware.
The present invention relates to the field of Internet information appliances and more particularly to a method and apparatus for running a plurality of applications on such appliances in a platform independent environment.
Traditionally, software applications have been built for a particular operating system working with a particular configuration of computer hardware e.g. WORDPERFECT for WINDOWS 95 operations on an IBM (or clone) computer with a PENTIUM chip integral to the motherboard. This system dependent programming resulted in applications which required significant programming code and storage space on a hard drive or similar storage medium to warehouse the application. In an attempt to move away from a dependency on a particular hardware and operating system configuration, the JAVA programming language was developed. JAVA allows applications to be run on any hardware platform without having to be rewritten or recompiled by the programmer for each separate platform. Further, JAVA can be used to create complete applications that may run on a single computer or be distributed among servers and clients in a network such as the Internet. The programs created using JAVA are portable in a network meaning that once the program is compiled into JAVA bytecode it can be run anywhere in a network on a server or client that has a JAVA interpreter or JAVA virtual machine (JVM). The JVM is an abstract computer (i.e. actually a software layer) that provides an interface between compiled JAVA binary code and the hardware platform which actually performs the programs instructions. Once a JVM has been provided for a platform, any JAVA program can run on the platform. Diagrammatically, this can be described as shown in FIG. 1.
JAVA is an object-oriented programming language which means, among other characteristics, that similar objects can take advantage of being part of the same class and inherit common code. An object is what is actually run in the computer. It contains programming code (sequences of computer instructions) and data (information which the instructions operate on). Traditionally, code and data have been kept apart (e.g. In the C language, units of code are called functions, while units of data are called structures. Functions can operate on more than one type of structure, and more than one function can operate on the same structure). All communication to an object is done via messages which define the interface to the object i.e. the internal data and code of the object cannot be accessed directly. An object is defined by its class, with a class being a template definition of the methods and variables in a particular kind of object. Objects are individual instances of a class, containing real values instead of variables. Each object is made into a generic class of objects and even more generic classes are defined so that objects can share models and reuse the class definitions in their code. Variables are data types which are not assigned a constant value, while a method is the action or programmed procedure that a message carries out. A method is defined as part of a class and included in any object of that class. The object's methods are designed to handle the actual values that are supplied to the object when the object is being used. Arguments are often supplied as part of a message. For example, consider the following example expressed in SMALLTALK, an object-oriented programming language similar to JAVA:
In this example, the code specifies: “Take object a, which has a value of 1, and send it the message “+”, which included the argument b, which in turn, has the value 2. Object a, receives this message and performs the action requested, which is to add the value of the argument to itself. Create a new object, give this the result 3, and assign this object to c.”
JAVA code is robust meaning that JAVA objects contain no references to data external to themselves or other known objects. This ensures that an instruction cannot contain the address of data stored in another application or in the operating system itself, either of which could cause the program to crash, in the event that such data was inaccessible. In JAVA programming, there are application programs and compact programs called applets. An application program is a program designed to perform a specific function directly for the user or, in some cases, for another application program (e.g. word processors, Web browsers, etc.). Applications use the services of the computer's operating system and other supporting applications. The formal requests and means of communicating with other programs that an application program uses is called the application program interface (API). On the other hand, an applet is a small program that can be sent along with a Web page to a user. JAVA applets can perform interactive animations, immediate calculations, or other simple tasks without having to send a user request back to the server. Web browsers that support JAVA are able to download the applet to the user's hardware and then execute it i.e. the executable software is downloaded when you need it and then discarded when the program has been executed.
Practically speaking, the major software manufactures have built a JVM into their operating systems and/or Web browsers to allow JAVA applications or applets to run e.g. a WINDOWS machine will have a JAVA interpreter for the WINDOWS/INTEL/IBM environment, an APPLE MAC will have a MAC-JAVA interpreter, etc. An example of such software would be the web browser NETSCAPE.
Presently, when a user desires to use multiple JAVA applications they must invoke separate JAVA interpreters. As shown in FIG. 2, in the traditional model each JAVA application has its own associated JVM which must be run (instantiated) as a system process to run the application with which it is associated. This is considered inefficient because the applications must share the same memory and other resources of the information appliance in which they are operating. Further, each application runs independent of the other resulting in inefficient inter-application communication. Instead of being able to communicate at the application level, virtual communication paths must be created which engage the Operating Systems level. As a result, the manner in which applications communicate is very system dependent. A diagrammatic view of this traditional configuration is shown at FIG. 3.
The present invention seeks to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art by providing an embedded desktop which can run multiple applications simultaneously under one instance of a JVM and which allows open applications to communicate with one another in a system independent manner.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer implemented method of running multiple JAVA applications under one instance of a JAVA Virtual Machine comprising the steps of: invoking a system class loader when the JAVA Virtual Machine is launched; launching an embedded desktop comprising a core and at least a service vendor plug-in, wherein the embedded desktop communicates with the JAVA Virtual Machine and each of the multiple JAVA applications, receiving a request into the core to launch one of the multiple JAVA applications; retrieving into the core class files associated with the requested JAVA application; invoking an application class loader corresponding to the requested JAVA application; hooking the application class loader into the system class loader; opening the requested JAVA application; updating an open application list after the requested JAVA application is opened.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided in a computer comprising storage means, input means, a central processing unit, an operating system and a JAVA Virtual Machine, an embedded desktop for running a plurality JAVA applications under one instance of said JAVA Virtual Machine, the embedded desktop stored in the storage means and comprising at least: a core; and a service vendor plug-in communicating with the core; wherein the embedded desktop communicates with the JAVA Virtual Machine and the plurality of JAVA applications, each of the plurality of JAVA applications containing class files; and wherein a system class loader is invoked when the JAVA Virtual Machine is launched; and wherein an application class loader is invoked when each of the plurality of JAVA applications is launched, using the respective class files of each of the plurality of JAVA applications; and wherein the application class loader is hooked to the system class loader; and wherein an open application list is updated after each of the plurality of JAVA applications is launched.
In yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for allowing a plurality of JAVA applications running under one instance of a JAVA Virtual Machine to communicate with each other in a system independent manner comprising the steps of: invoking a system class loader when the JAVA Virtual Machine is launched; launching an embedded desktop comprising a core and at least a service vendor plug-in, wherein the embedded desktop communicates with a JAVA Virtual Machine and a plurality of JAVA applications; invoking a respective application class loader when each of the plurality of JAVA applications is launched; receiving a request into the core from one of the application class loaders; polling each of the applications; and presenting the results of the poll to the requesting application class loader.
FIG. 5 is a model of the operating system, embedded desktop, JVM and application relationship in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a pictorial representation of a graphical user interface (GUI) associated with an embedded desktop;
FIG. 10 is a chart depicting the relationship between the application, class services, and systems class loaders; and
FIGS. 4 and 5 depict the relationship of the hardware platform, operating system, embedded desktop, JVM and JAVA applications in accordance with the present invention. As will be explained below, through the introduction of the embedded desktop, only one instance of a JVM is required to be run, regardless of the number of JAVA applications which have been launched. Further, the JAVA applications which are running are able to easily communicate in a system independent manner. The embedded desktop can be implemented on any information appliance which is configured as described in FIG. 4. Such information appliances include, but are not limited to, workstations, cellular phones, and personal digital assistants such as 3Com's PALM PILOT or APPLE'S NEWTON.
As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the expression “hardware platform” used in the drawings is a generic term used to describe the main physical components of an information appliance. In general, such information appliances comprise a bus for communicating instructions, a processor coupled to the bus for processing the instructions, random access memory coupled with the bus for storing volatile information and instructions for the processor, read only memory coupled to the bus for storing static information and instructions for the processor, a display device (shown as 20 in FIG. 6) coupled with the bus for displaying information to a user, an alphanumeric input device coupled with the bus for communicating information and command selections to the processor, and a mass storage device (shown as 22 in FIG. 6) for storing information and instructions. The processor may be any of a wide variety of general purpose processors or microprocessors such as the SPARC manufactured by Sun Microsystems or the PENTIUM manufactured by Intel Corporation. The display device may be a liquid crystal display, cathode ray tube or the like, while the mass storage device includes, but is not limited to, a hard disk, floppy disk, optical storage device or the like.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention is implemented as a software module, which may be executed in a conventional manner on an information appliance as described above. The embedded desktop is stored in read only memory and subsequently loaded into and executed by the processor integral to the information appliance. Once initiated, the software of the preferred embodiment operates in the manner which will be described below.
FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic overview of the embedded desktop in accordance with the present invention. An embedded desktop serves to manage all aspects of the operating environment and incorporates such user aids as an application launcher, input device manager and a remote application deployment manager (RADM). An application launcher manages applications and provides users with a method to access applications and document shortcuts. An input device manager allows users to select the input device of their choice. Finally, the RADM allows users to download or receive subscription software and install it as well as providing device manufacturers and content developers the ability to upgrade their device software transparently and remotely. In general, the embedded desktop comprises a kernel or Core 10 with hooks to a variety of plug-ins. One such example of a plug-in is the “look-and-feel” or user interface (UI) plug-in 12 which allows the user to integrate their own GUI or adopt the standard GUI provided with the embedded desktop. FIG. 7 depicts a standard GUI 14 and a customized GUI 16 available through an embedded desktop. It is important to note that the embedded desktop has a relatively small footprint of approximately 50 Kilobytes and is generally stored in the ROM of the information appliance in which it is installed, although other storage medium would also be satisfactory. Despite the small footprint, the embedded desktop provides the full functionality normally associated with much larger (10Mbyte) desktop managers.
The present invention focuses on the relationship of the Core 10 and two plug-ins, the user interface (UI) plug-in 12 previously discussed and the service vendor (SV) plug-in 18. The UI plug-in 12 is typically configured to communicate with a display device 20 while the SV plug-in is typically configured to communicate with a local mass storage device 22 or remote network server or device 23 which stores applications to be loaded.
As shown in FIG. 8, one critical function of the Core 10 is to manage all applications as specified by the service vendor plug-in 18. As indicated above, applications may be launched from a local hard drive or from a remote server situated within a network. Applications could be written by the same vendor but typically a user runs applications which have been programmed by a variety of different commercial software providers. There exists the possibility that the programmer could inadvertently use a class name which has been used by another programmer producing another application which the user desires to run on their information appliance. Under the JAVA specification, there is no guarantee of distinctive naming between applications. In the event of a class name overlap, if these applications are run on only a single JVM, a namespace collision will occur which could ultimately crash the applications. In order to avoid such collisions the present invention takes advantage of the concept of a class loader, well known in the JAVA specification. When an application is launched, the Core invokes an application class loader 24 for that first application by retrieving the class files 25 associated with that application. Similarly, if a second application is launched, a second application class loader 26 is invoked. This procedure is repeated for each application that is launched. A separate system class loader 28 is also invoked by the JVM to load the embedded desktop itself. As each application class loader is invoked, an open application list 29 is maintained in the Core.
FIG. 9 describes the sequence of steps which are performed on startup of an application. At step 30 the user selects an application icon presented on a display screen. At step 32, the Core launches the application selected and gives back the user interface for the application. At step 34, the Core retrieves application class files from the application. As shown at step 36, this requires that the service vendor locate and extract the class files from either a local storage device or a remote server in a network where the application is resident. At step 38, the class files are delivered by the service vendor to the Core. At step 40 the Core constructs the application class loader using the application class files and hooks the class loader to the system class loader which was invoked when the embedded desktop was launched. At step 42 the Core instantiates the application so that it's ready to run and updates a list of loaded applications. Finally, at step 44, the user interface for the application is presented to the user.
In the preferred embodiment there is also invoked a services class loader, to facilitate access to service classes defined by the various applications. In the same manner that the user applications invoke an application class loader, a services class loader is invoked when a service application is launched. FIG. 10 defines the hierarchical nature of the class loaders. Operationally, if an application class loader needs to communicate with the system class loader, it would have to communicate first with the service class loader.
It will be understood by those skilled in the art that separate application class loaders need not be invoked where there is some level of assurance that there will not be any namespace collisions. This could arise, for example, if a user has adopted software written by the same vendor who has ensured that classes associated with each application are named differently. Alternately, if the software vendors adhere to a naming guideline to avoid similar class names, then separate application class loaders need not be invoked. The ability to eliminate the use of application class loaders may be important where memory is limited in the information appliance into which the embedded desktop is loaded.
It will also be understood by those skilled in the art that a user interface plug-in 12 and display device 20, as described in relation to FIG. 6, need not be included for the present invention to operate effectively. For example, where JAVA applications are automatically invoked on startup and do not require interaction with a user, the user interface plug-in 12 and associated display device 20 can be eliminated, with the embedded desktop maintaining full functionality including class name collision avoidance.
Once the class loader structure is established, communication between applications is able to be managed at the desktop level through the Core. FIG. 11 is a message flow diagram demonstrating, for a specified example, how communication between open JAVA applications occurs at the embedded desktop level. First we assume that three JAVA applications are running—e-mail, address book, and web browser. If the e-mail application requires an address, at step 46 it polls the Core. At step 48, the Core retrieves the open application list and sequentially polls (at steps 50, 52 and 54) each open application to determine if one or more of them are “address book”. At step 56, the list of applications which have responded positively to the Core's poll is given to the e-mail application for processing.
(c) sandboxing (compartmentalizing) is introduced so that applications cannot adversely affect each other;
1. A computer implemented method of running multiple applets under one instance of a virtual machine for executing an applet comprising the steps of:
(b) launching an embedded desktop comprising a core and at least a service vendor plug-in, wherein said embedded desktop communicates with said virtual machine for executing an applet and each of said multiple applets;
3. The method of claim 2 further including the step of presenting the user interface of said open applet to a display screen.
4. The method of claim 1 further including the step of invoking a services class loader using class files associated with a service application.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein said multiple applets are stored locally in an optical storage device or remotely at a server in a network.
7. In a computer comprising storage means, input means, a central processing unit, an operating system and a virtual machine for executing an applet, an embedded desktop for running a plurality of applets under one instance of said virtual machine for executing an applet, said embedded desktop stored in said storage means and comprising at least:
wherein said embedded desktop communicates with said virtual machine for executing an applet and said plurality of applets, each of said plurality of applets containing class files;
and wherein a system class loader is invoked when said virtual machine for executing an applet is launched;
and wherein an application class loader is invoked when each of said plurality of applets is launched, using the respective class files of each of said plurality of applets,
8. The embedded desktop of claim 7 wherein said computer further includes display means and said embedded desktop further includes a user interface plug-in.
9. The embedded desktop of claim 7 wherein a services class loader is also invoked when a service application communicating with said embedded desktop is launched using class files contained in said service application.
10. The embedded desktop of claim 7 wherein said storage means includes read only memory and said embedded desktop is stored in said read only memory.
11. The embedded desktop of claim 7 wherein said storage means includes an optical storage device and said plurality of applications are resident locally in said optical storage device or remotely at a server in a network.
12. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon, computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of:
(b) launching an embedded desktop comprising a core and at least a service vendor plug-in, wherein said embedded desktop communicates with a virtual machine for executing an applet and a plurality of applets;
14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 wherein said computer-executable instructions further include the step of presenting the user interface of said open applet to a display screen.
15. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 wherein said computer-executable instructions further include the step of invoking a services class loader using class files associated with a service application.
17. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 wherein said multiple applets are stored locally in an optical storage device or remotely at a server in a network.
18. A method for allowing a plurality of applets running under one instance of a virtual machine for executing an applet to communicate with each other in a system independent manner comprising the steps of:
(b) launching an embedded desktop comprising a core and at least a service vendor plug-in and a user-interface vendor plug-in, wherein said embedded desktop communicates with said virtual machine for executing an applet and said plurality of applets;
(c) invoking a respective application class loader when each of said plurality of applets is launched;
19. The method of claim 18 further including the step of invoking a services class loader using class files associated with a service application.
21. The method of claim 18 wherein said plurality of applets are stored locally in an optical storage device or remotely at a server in a network.
US20040006632A1 (en) * 2002-07-02 2004-01-08 Heung-For Cheng Methods and apparatus for dispatching JavaTM software as an application managed by an operating system control manager
US7213241B2 (en) * 2002-07-02 2007-05-01 Intel Corporation Methods and apparatus for dispatching Java™ software as an application managed by an operating system control manager
An apparatus that authenticates the contents of identification documents provided by different issuers having machine-readable and/or human readable information is disclosed. The contents of the identification documents are verified without encountering any human error. The verified contents of the identification documents may be used for identification purposes such as age restricted purchases, preordained organ donors or possible criminal prosecution. The verified contents of the identification documents may be logged to provide ID checking compliance and/or may be transferred to a remote computer for additional processing or logging.
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/048,209, filed on Feb. 1, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,478,067, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/077,641, filed on Feb. 15, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,920,437, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/236,531 filed on Jan. 25,1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,463,416, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/680,452 filed on Jul. 15, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,864,623, which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention generally relates to an identification system for documents. More particularly, the present invention relates to a programmable apparatus for authenticating drivers' licenses used for identification purposes. Specifically, the present invention relates to a programmable apparatus that identifies the contents of the driver licenses used for identification purposes without any human error and allows the information carried by the driver licenses to be transferred to a remote location for further identification purposes.
The problem of rampant and readily available fake identification cards, more particularly, driver licenses/identification cards, has caused many retailers fines, sometimes imprisonment, loss of tobacco and liquor licenses, and has even subjected them to other forms of civil and criminal liability. Over the course of years, various attempts have been made to prevent or detect the use of fake identification cards, but not with a great deal of success. To help prevent the use of fake identification, since 1992 the United States and Canada have been issuing new driver licenses in accordance with an international North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) standard created and enforced by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA). These new driver licenses/identification cards have embedded coded, or even encrypted coded information, with machine readable formats that conform to the NAFTA standards. It is desired that means be provided that authenticate the contents of these identification cards so as to safeguard the retailer against the penalties that may otherwise be encountered by fake identification cards.
The use of driver licenses has expanded over the years to serve as identification for various applications, such as for the purchase of alcohol, tobacco or lottery products, as well as for gambling in casinos, off-track betting (OTB), movie theaters and user-definable events, such as allowing the ingress into liquor establishments. All of these fields have an age requirement for the purchase of a product at the point-of-transaction or for ingress into an establishment and the driver license is the document used to provide age identification and all age verification is commonly accomplished in a relatively quick manner. It is desired that means be provided that easily decides a driver licenses authenticity so that any purchase of a product having an age requirement is satisfied at the time of purchase and in a quick and convenient manner.
As is known, driver licenses are accompanied with photo identification of the particular driver, and in addition to the identification supplied by a driver' license to a liquor retailer, the driver license is frequently used for other identification purposes, such as for providing proper identification for check cashing. The frequent use of driver licenses allows the licenses to serve as tools to detect or uncover individuals who are being sought out because of being subject to pending criminal prosecution. It is desired that means be provided to allow the information on the driver licenses to be transferred to a local or remote jurisdiction to help identify and detect individuals that may be classified as being offenders against the criminal law of the associated jurisdiction.
Driver licenses not only serve for identification for commercial transactions, but also serve a humanitarian need of identifying preordained organ donors that may be involved in tragic accidents. It is desired for humanitarian purposes that means be provided to transfer the organ donor information commonly present on driver licenses to a local or remote jurisdiction so that an available organ donor may be quickly matched to an individual in need of the now-available organ.
Driver licenses are commonly used in places of business, such as convenience stores, liquor stores, entertainment centers which also have personal computers for use in business purposes, such as inventory management. It is desired that means be provided so that personal computers may be readily adapted to serve as an integral part of an authentication system for driver licenses.
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide an authentication system to authenticate driver licenses that are coded with machine readable information conforming to AAMVA standards.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an authentication system for not only verifying the contents of a driver license, but also allowing for the information to be transferred to a local or remote jurisdiction so that it may be identified for criminal prosecution purposes or, conversely, for humanitarian purposes, such as for identifying preordained organ donors.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an identification system that utilizes personal computers that are commonly found in places of business having a need for authenticating the contents of a driver license used for identification purposes.
The present invention is directed to an authentication system that verifies the contents of documents, such as driver licenses.
The authentication system comprises a programmable apparatus that verifies the contents of the document embodying both human recognizable information and machine recognizable coded information. The apparatus comprises means for reading, means for parsing, means for comparing and means for displaying. The information of the document is read by the means for reading and directed into the programmable apparatus. The means for parsing reads the information of the document in the programmable apparatus and parses such information into the jurisdictional segments each having predetermined values. The means for comparing analyze the information against the predetermined values and generates a verification signal if the information and the values match. The means for displaying displays the verification signal.
FIG. 2 is composed of FIGS. 2(A) and 2(B) that illustrate the human recognizable and machine recognizable formats carried by driver licenses related to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is composed of FIGS. 4(A), 4(B), 4(C) and 4(D), that respectively illustrates one of the four (4) primary program subroutines making up the overall operation illustrated in FIG. 3.
With reference to the drawing, wherein the same reference numbers indicate the same elements throughout, there is shown in FIG. 1 a block diagram of a programmable apparatus comprising a computer 12, more particularly, a central processing unit and arithmetic logic unit whose actions are directed by computer programs comprising a series of operational steps performed on information read into the computer 12.
In general, the programmable apparatus authenticates a document embodying information comprising both human recognizable information and machine recognizable information comprising a series of codes. The programmable apparatus comprises means for reading the information of the document into the programmable apparatus, means for parsing the read document information into jurisdictional segments each having predetermined values, and means for comparing the read information of the document against the predetermined values and generating at least a verification signal on a display means, if the information of the document and the predetermined values match. The programmable apparatus comprises a plurality of conventional elements arranged in a non-conventional manner with all elements being listed in Table 1.
The keyboard 14 and the pointer device 16, such as a mouse, provide a means for the operator or user to enter information, via signal path 64, into the CPU 12. The printer 18 converts the outputs, present on signal path 66, of the central processing unit 12 into printed images.
The non-volatile storage 20, the removable storage 22, and the volatile storage 24 are all storage mediums, whose contents are controlled and updated by the central processing unit 12, via signal path 68, 70 and 72 respectively. The non-volatile storage 20 and the removable storage 22 provide for permanent recordings of every transaction involved with or determined by the CPU 12, whereas the volatile storage 24 provides temporary storage of information while it is being processed by the CPU 12. The removable storage 22 may be a disk that is insertable and removable from the CPU 12.
The modem 26 is interconnected to the CPU 12 by way of signal path 74 and allows the CPU 12 to share its input and manipulated data, as well as the contents of its storage information, with the remote computer 26, via the signal path 76, which is typically established by a telephone communication link.
The digital scanner 30, magnetic reader 32, and bar code scanner 34 are each capable of reading the information on the identification card 78, to be more fully described with reference to FIG. 2, that is routed to these reading devices, via path 80. The digital scanner 30 converts the information on identification card 78 to machine understandable codes via a conventional optical character recognition technique and routes such converted information to the CPU 12 via the signal path 82. The magnetic reader 32 and the bar code scanner 34 each read the information present on the identification card 78 and supply respective output signals that are routed to decoder 36, via signal path 84 which, in turn, supplies machine readable signals to the CPU 12 via signal path 86. The signal paths 82 and 86 may be provided by wireless devices, such as, the wireless transmitter 50 and wireless receiver 62 both being conventional and both to be further described hereinafter. The usage of wireless devices may be advantageous if the digital scanner 30, magnetic reader 32 and bar code scanner 34 are remotely located relative to the CPU 12.
A clock source 38 supplies the clock signal, via signal path 88, to the CPU 12 that, in response to an appropriate computer program routine, establishes the time and date in which the information present on signal path 82, 84, 86 or 88 is read into and/or stored on the storage medium 20, 22 or 24. The CPU 12 under the direction of its computer programs, to be more fully described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, routes the information of the identification card 78, preferably encrypted as to be described hereinafter, via signal path go to the decrypter routine 40. The decrypter routine 40 decrypts the information and routes its noncrypted information, via signal path 92, to a parser routine 42 which parses the information into jurisdictional segments, to be further described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, each having predetermined values. The parsed information is directed back to the CPU 12 via signal path 94. The CPU 12, performs a series of operations, under the direction of its computer programs, and provides, among other things, at least a verification signal, as well as human recognizable information that is placed on signal path 96 and routed to a first CRT display 44 via signal path 98 and to a second CRT display 56 via signal path 100.
The human recognizable information on signal path 98 also preferably contains a digital signal representation that is routed to the digital-to-analog (D/A) converter 46, which converts the digital representation into an analog signal representative of an audio signal. The digital signal representation also contains at least three bits each representative of verification signal conditions, such as YES, NO, and UNKNOWN to be used to respectfully flash GREEN, RED and AMBER LEDs of the LED array 58 to be further described with reference to FIG. 4(C). The digital-to-analog converter 46 is preferably excited by a D.C. voltage supply 48 which is also routed, via signal path 102, to a wiring hub 52 that also accepts the audio signal and the three bits (YES, NO and UNKNOWN) developed by the D/A converter 46. The wiring hub 52 is of a conventional type that arranges the received power and signal sources into appropriate cables, such as cable 104, that routes the representative audio signal from the D/A converter 46 to the speaker 60 and the three digital bits (YES, NO and UNKNOWN) as well as the excitation signal of the D.C. voltage supply 48 to the light emitting diode array 58. The wiring hub 52 may also include a switch that controls the on-off state of the excitation signal of the D.C. power supply 48 applied to one of the light emitting diodes 58 (and also to the CRT display 56 and speaker 60) so that the on-off power state of all elements 56, 58 and 60 may be remotely controlled from the wiring hub 52.
The speaker 60 may be a piezoelectric device that when activated by the audio signal developed by D/A converter 46 generates a buzzing sound that alerts an individual at the user's console 54 that the information (to be further described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4) being displayed on either or both of the CRT displays 44 and 56 is not authentic. The CRT displays 44 and 56 are preferably of the type that is capable of handling text and graphics of the Super Video Graphics Array (SVGA) and/or National Television Standards Committee (NTSC).
The audio signal and the three bits (YES, NO and UNKNOWN) of the D/A converter 46 previously discussed and a signal representative that power is available from the D.C. voltage supply 48 may also be applied to the speaker 60 and light emitting diode array 58, by way of the wireless transmitter 50 cooperating with the wireless receiver 62 and interconnected thereto by signal path 106, with the output of the wireless receiver 62 being routed, via signal path 108, to speaker 60 and the light emitting diode array 58. The wireless transmitter 50, wireless receiver 62 and signal paths 106 and 108 are shown in phantom to indicate the alternate embodiment formed by the conventional wireless devices 50 and 62.
The speaker 60, and the CRT display 56 are both part of a user's console 54 and allow a user, such as a retailer to visually verify the authenticity of the information present on the identification card 78, such as a driver license, embodying human recognizable information and machine recognizable information generally illustrated in FIG. 2 which is comprised of FIGS. 2(A) and 2(B) that respectively show the front face 78A and the rear face 78B, each embodying information that is given in Table 2.
The information given in Table 2 is read into the CPU 12 via signal paths 82 or 86 and the machine readable information 130, 132 and 134 on face 78B is preferably encrypted in a format preferably specified by ANSI-20.1; 1993 character set. The information 134 may also be encrypted in a format in accordance to a 2D bar code known as PDF-417 defined by the Symbol Technology Corporation of New York. The information 132 is also preferably decrypted and readable by the ANSI-20.1; 1993 Character Set and more fully described in “Recommendation for use of Magnetic Stripe on Drivers License” which is part of the NAFTA standard created and enforced by AAMVA which has been in existence in the United States and Canada since 1992 and is herein incorporated by reference.
In general, the operating programs residing in the CPU 12 authenticate the information embodied in the document, such as a driver license 78, having the particulars given in Table 2 each located at a predetermined region of the driver license 78 and corresponding to those of an individual and to those of a state or province in the United States or Canada, respectively, in which the individual legally resides but which are generally referred to herein as a jurisdiction. The particulars of the individual include height, weight, date of birth, sex and organ donor consent, whereas the particulars of the jurisdiction may include the state or province emblem or voting information. Further, the driver license 78 also includes graphics defining a background and/or a logo of the driver license 78. The operating program residing in the CPU 12 that authenticates these particulars and are comprised of a plurality of program segments represented by an overall sequence 140 illustrated in FIG. 3 and tabulated in Table 3.
The overall sequence 140 of FIG. 3 comprises the plurality of elements and has four (4) major subroutines 148, 160, 168 and 178 to be further described hereinafter respectively with reference to FIGS. 4(A), 4(B), 4(C) and 4(D). As used herein with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the program segments, sometimes referred to herein as processing segments, are shown as being interconnected by signal path and control is passed from one program segment to another when the output information of one program segment is placed on the signal path connected to the other program segment.
As seen in FIG. 3, and with simultaneous reference to FIG. 1, the overall program 140 is started by event 142 which initiates the reading of input data via signal path 82 or 86 of FIG. 1. With again reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the information embodied in driver license card 78 is read into CPU 12 via the digital scanner 30, magnetic reader 32 or bar code scanner 34 and represents the program segment 144 (input data) of FIG. 3. The operating program of CPU 12 routes the input data to program segment 146 via signal path 190 which, in turn, decodes the input data 144 and supplies the decoded information on signal path 192 to program segment 152.
The program segment 152 is part of subroutine 148, to be further described, that receives license format information from license format 150 and decrypts the information therein and provides such as the output of subroutine 148.
The output of subroutine 148 is applied to signal path 194 to program segment 154 which, like program segments 166 and 174, is a decisional segment which detects if the license format of the driver license 78 is correct, and if the format of the driver license 78 is correct, supplies the license format information to the processing segment 164 via signal path 196, but if the driver license 78 format is invalid, supplies the invalid license format on signal path 198 so that it is displayed on both CRT displays 44 and 56 shown in FIG. 1 as a display error message 156. The activation of the CRT displays 44 and 56 for the display error message 156, as well as other error displays and messages, is controlled by the CPU 12 servicing the input/output ports connected to the CRT displays 44 and 56. The displayed error message 156 is placed on signal path 200 which is routed to program segment 158 so that the error message is saved along with its time and date and the program segment 158 returns control to the start event 142 via signal path 202.
The program segment 164 is part of subroutine 160, to be further described, and receives jurisdiction formats information that is decrypted from program segment 162 which is also part of subroutine 160. The program segment 164 parses the decrypted information into jurisdictional segments having predetermined values, to be described with reference to FIG. 4(B). The program segment 164 supplies the decrypted information via signal path 204 to jurisdiction format detect program segment 166 which, in turn, detects if the jurisdictional format information 162 is correct, and if the information is correct, then the correct information is routed to program segment 172 via signal path 206, but if the information is incorrect then, the incorrect information is routed, via signal path 208, to the display error message program segment 156 which displays such an error on the CRT displays 44 and 56 of FIG. 1 and supplies that display error message to signal path 200 previously described.
The processing segment 172 is part of subroutine 168, to be further described, and receives jurisdictional legal ages information from program segment 170 which is also part of subroutine 168. Program segment 172 determines if the legal age requirements of the jurisdiction are met by the date of birth information of the driver license 78 and then sends its determined information, via signal path 210 to decisional segment 174. If the decisional segment 174 detects that the legal age has been satisfied, it routes this information onto program segment 182 via signal path 212, but if the legal age information is incorrect, then an error notification (display error message) is routed to program segment 156 via signal path 204. Program segment 156 responds in a manner as previously described.
The processing segment 182 is part of subroutine 178, to be further described, and receives the license background of the particular jurisdiction from program segment 180, also part of subroutine 178. The program segment 182 generates license graphics and places such on signal path 216 applied to program segment 184 which, in turn, is transferred as output displays to the CRT displays 44 and 56 of FIG. 1. Program segment 184 applies its output on signal path 218 which in turn, is routed to program segment 186 which saves the transaction along with its time and date. The processing segment 186 provides notification, via signal path 219 to the next start event 142 which, in turn, causes the sequence of the next overall segment 140 having four subroutines, the first of which may be further described with reference to FIG. 4(A) which is comprised of a plurality of program segment tabulated in Table 4.
The subroutine 148 of FIG. 4(A) is initiating with start procedure event 192 and is terminated with the end procedure event 194, wherein events 192 and 194 correspond to the signal paths shown in FIG. 3. It should be noted that program segments 150 and 152 shown in FIG. 3 as making up subroutine 148 are not shown in the programming functions performed by segments 150 and 152 are integrated and blended into the plurality of elements of FIG. 4(A). This same rationale is applicable to the program segments 162-164, 170-172 and 180-182 of FIG. 3 that have been blended into the program segments of FIGS. 4(B), 4(C), and 4(D) respectively to be further described hereinafter.
With reference to FIG. 4(A), the output of start procedure event 192 is applied to signal path 250 which is routed to program segment 220. The program segment 220 retrieves the decoded data shown in FIG. 3 as program segment 146 (decode data input) and provides such information on signal path 252 which is applied to program segment 222.
Program segment 222 retrieves the unencrypted jurisdiction data specified in the decoded data of program segment 220 and routes such information on signal path 254 which is applied to program segment 224. Program segment 224 loads the jurisdiction “keys” which identifies a record for the jurisdictional segment. More particularly, the “keys” identify the tracks on the storage mediums 20, 22, 24 where jurisdiction segments are stored so that the license format of the jurisdiction segment under consideration may serve as the predetermined values of subroutine 148 to which the format of the data of the driver license 78 read into the CPU 12 may be compared and authenticated as being correct. The comparison and authentication of the predetermined values of the jurisdictional segments is also accomplished for subroutines 160, 168 and 178 to be described.
The information loaded by program segment 224 is applied to signal path 256 that is routed to program segment 226 which decrypts the data it receives from program segment 224 and routes such decrypted data on signal path 258 which, in turn, is applied to program segment 228.
The program segment 228 parses the data into 3-5 tracks, dependent on the jurisdictional segment specified by the decoded data of program segment 220. The parsed data of program segment 228 is applied to signal path 260 which, in turn, is applied to program segment 232 which is part of the reading track data loop 230 which is repetitively repeated 3-5 times dependent upon the jurisdictional segment specified by the data of program segment 220. More particularly, for example, if one jurisdiction (representative of a state in the United States or of a province in Canada) requires three (3) tracks of storage, loop 230 is repetitively repeated three (3) times.
The first program segment 232 of loop 230 retrieves the next or first track of data of the information present on signal path 260 and routes such information to decisional segment 234 which, if the track information is blank, provides that determination on signal path 264 and, conversely, if the track is not blank provides that determination on signal path 266 which is applied to program segment 236. Program segment 236 stores the values for the retrieved track of data and after it is stored applies an appropriate signal on signal path 268 to pass control to program segment 238 that also has signal path 264 from program segment 234 applied thereto.
Program segment 242 determines if any tracks are blank and if the answer is yes then provides a notification thereof on signal path 280 however, if the answer to the question “any tracks blank” is no, (which signifies a correct condition) then program segment 242 passes control to the end procedure event 194 via signal path 278 which, in turn, returns to the overall step-by-step procedure 140 shown in FIG. 3. If signal path 274 or 280 is activated, then program segment 244 or 246, respectively, is activated and an alarm message is displayed on the CRT displays 44 and 56 of FIG. 1 and then control is passed to program segment 248. Program segment 248 stores the alarm message of program segment 244 or 246 and then passes control to signal path 284 which, in turn, provides notification to the end procedure event 194 which allows the program to return to the overall procedure 140 of FIG. 3. The program segment 140 of FIG. 3 sequences until it reaches signal path 196 which initiates the subroutine 160 of FIG. 4(B) that is comprised of a plurality of program segments that are tabulated in Table 5.
As seen in FIG. 4(B) the subroutine 160 is initiated by start procedure event 196 and terminated by end procedure event 204 each of which events corresponds to the signal path having the same reference number shown in FIG. 3. The notification of the start procedure event 196 is applied on signal path 316 which is routed to program segment 286 which, in turn, retrieves the decrypted data originally loaded into the CPU via program segment 144 of FIG. 3. Program segment 286 activates signal path 318 that is routed to program segment 288 which loads the stored jurisdictional format defining the format related to the jurisdiction of the individual specified in the driver license 78 loaded into the CPU 12. After such loading, program segment 288 passes control over to program loop 290 via signal path 320.
The first segment of loop 290 is program segment 292 which retrieves the first or next track of data defined by program segment 288 and passes control over to program segment 294 via signal path 322. Program segment 294 parses the retrieved track data according to the particular jurisdictional format under consideration and passes control over to program 296 via signal path 324.
Program segment 296 is a decisional segment that matches the data from program segment 292 to the jurisdictional format under consideration, and if a proper match exists passes control over to program segment 300 via signal path 326, but if a match does not occur, passes control over to program segment 298 via signal path 328.
Program segment 300 receive control from signal paths 326 and 332 and stores the individual values of the driver license data read into the CPU 12 into the driver license fields in the CPU 12.
Program segment 300 returns control, via signal path 334, to program segment 292 which, as previously mentioned, is the first step of loop 290. Loop 290 has a repetitive cycle between 3 to 5 times dependent on the jurisdictional segment and for each repetitive cycle program segment 300 passes control over to program segment 292 via signal path 334, and when loop 290 is complete, program segment 300 passes control over to program segment 304 via signal path 332. The interaction of loop 290 serves as a fraudulent check which in actuality detects any counterfeit documents.
Program segment 304 loads the stored jurisdiction checksum and passes control over to program loop 306 having a first program segment, that is, program segment 308. The checksum determines if the data has been tampered with or altered after having been officially issued.
Program segment 308 performs the parity checksum on the track data received from program segment 304 and then passes control onto program segment 310 via signal path 338.
Program segment 310 performs a data match of the jurisdictional format and if the data is not correct passes control over to program segment 312 via signal path 340. Program segment 312 causes the CPU 12 to activate the CRT displays 44 and 56 of FIG. 1 and display the error message “tampered card” and then passes control over to program segment 314 via signal path 342. Program segment 314 stores the error information along with its time and date and passes control to end procedure event 204 via signal path 344. End procedure event 204 also receives control from program segment 310 via signal path 346 if the data match jurisdictional format performed by program segment 310 is correct. End procedure event 204 returns control back to the overall program segment 140 of FIG. 3 which sequences to subroutine 168 of FIG. 4(C) which is comprised of a plurality of program segments which are tabulated in Table 6.
As seen in FIG. 4(C), the subroutine 168 is initiated by the start procedure event 206 and is terminated by the end procedure event 212, with the events corresponding to signal paths 206 and 212 of FIG. 3. The occurrence of the start procedure event 206 is applied upon signal path 374 which notifies program segment 348. Program segment 348 loads the stored category ages related to the particular jurisdictional segment under consideration, and then passes control over to program segment 350 via signal path 376. The category ages may include the legal age for drinking and voting.
Program segment 350 retrieves the individual's age from the initial data read into the CPU 12 by program segment 144 of FIG. 3. The program segment 350 passes, via signal path 378, control over to the program loop 352 which is repetitively performed 5 times and has a first program segment 354.
Program segment 354 retrieves or gets the next or first category age of program segment 350 and passes, via signal path 380, control over to program segment 356. Program segment 356 determines if the age of the individual is within the category of ages for the jurisdictional segment, and if the answer is yes, then passes control over to program segment 360 via signal path 382 and, conversely, if the category age is not correct passes control over to program segment 358 via signal path 384. Program segment 358 sets the category results false, and then passes, via signal path 386, control back to program segment 354 which, as previously discussed, is the first program segment of the loop 352.
Once the loop is iterated 5-times, then either program segment 358 or 356 passes control over to program segment 362, via signal path 388.
Program segment 362 retrieves the primary age category, that is, for example, the legal age of drinking in the particular jurisdiction, and then passes control to program segment 364 via signal path 390.
Program segment 364 determines the age of the individual designated by the contents of the driver license 78 read into the CPU 12, and, more particularly, determines if the age is below the required legal age. Program segment 364 in its determination sets one of the three (3) digital bits previously discussed with regard to the D/A converter 46 that is past onto the LED array 58, both previously described with reference to FIG. 1. If the age of the individual does not at least equal that required by the jurisdiction for the selected category, such as drinking, program segment 364 passes control over to the program segment 368, via signal path 392A, which causes the CPU 12 to have a RED indicator of the LED array 58 flashed. If program segment 364 is unable to determine the age category, it passes, via signal path 392B, control over to program segment 366 which, in turn, causes the CPU 12 to have the amber LED of the LED array 58 flashed. If program segment 364 determines the primary age to be correct, program segment 364 passes control over to program segment 370, via signal path 392C. Program segment 370 causes the CPU 12 to have the green LED of the LED array 58 flashed. Once the LED flashing is completed, program segment 370 passes, via signal path 394, control over to the end procedure event 212 which, in turn, allows the subroutine 168 to be returned to the overall program segment 140 of FIG. 3 which, in turn, allows the program segment 140 to sequence to subroutine 178 which may be further described with reference to FIG. 4(B) comprised of a plurality of program segments that are tabulated in Table 7.
As seen in FIG. 4(D), the subroutine 178 is initiated with the start procedure event 212 and terminated with the end procedure event 216 which correspond to the signal paths 212 and 216 of FIG. 3. The occurrence of the start procedure event 212 is passed to the program segment 396 by way of signal path 426.
Program segment 396 retrieves the jurisdiction identification (ID) and the code of the driver license 78, which is a code indicating the AAMVA assigned Jurisdiction Number and a Code which denotes which security encryption key was used by that jurisdiction at the time of encrypting. Program segment 396, after its completion, passes control over to program segment 398 via signal path 428.
Program segment 398 loads the stored license background that was read into CPU 12 by the program segment 144 of FIG. 3. Program segment 398 passes control over to program segment 400 by way of signal path 430.
Program segment 402 determines if the age on the driver license is, for example, under 21 (Legal Age) and if the answer is yes, passes control over to program segment 404 via signal path 434, but if the answer is no, passes control to program segment 408 via signal path 436.
Program segment 404 loads the stored under age graphics and passes control over to program segment 406 via signal path 438 which causes the CPU 12 to have the CRT displays 44 and 56 of FIG. 1 display the under age graphics. The under age graphics may be selected to attract the attention of the user of the authentication system 10 of the present invention. After such display the program segment 406 passes control over to program segment 408 via signal path 440.
Program segment 408 is an age determining segment loop which is accomplished by a program loop 410 interlinked to program segment 408 via signal paths 442 and 444. The first program segment of program loop 410 is program segment 412 which retrieves the next age category which, for example, may be the age for smoking and passes control over to program segment 414 via signal path 446.
Program segment 414 determines if the age of the individual of the driver license 78 read into the CPU 12 is equal to or greater than the category age. The categories include alcohol, tobacco, lottery, gambling and custom guidelines used for casino or for entrance into an entertainment facility. If the answer of program segment 414 is yes, program segment 414 passes control over to program segment 418 via signal path 448, but if the answer is no, program segment 414 passes control over to program segment 416 via signal path 450.
Program segment 416 causes the CPU to provide the “no” symbol on the CRT displays 44 and 56 of FIG. 1, whereas program segment 418 causes the CPU 12 to cause the display of the “yes” symbol on the same CRT displays 44 and 56. The “yes” and “no” symbols may be selected to attract the attention of the user of the authentication system 10 of the present invention. The program loop 410 is typically and repetitively repeated five (5) times and upon such completion passes control back to the program segment 408 via signal path 444.
Program segment 408 after its completion passes control over to program segment 420 via signal path 454.
Program segment 420 retrieves the driver class designation and passes control over to program segment 422 via signal path 456. Program segment 422 loads the stored driver class graphics and passes control over to program segment 424 via signal path 458.
Program segment 424 causes the CPU 12 to display the class graphics on the CRT displays 44 and 56 of FIG. 1 and upon its completion passes, via signal path 460 control to end procedure event 216 which is also shown as signal path 216 of FIG. 3.
As seen in FIG. 3, the signal path 216 notifies the program segment 184 of the generation of license graphics which, in turn, passes control over to program segment 186 via signal path 218 which, in turn, passes control back to the start event 142, via signal path 220 so that the overall program 140 of FIG. 3 may be repeated, if necessary.
It should now be appreciated that the practice of the present invention provides for an authentication system 10 to authenticate driver licenses that are coded with machine readable information in accordance with AAMVA standards, as well as coded with human recognizable information.
It should be further appreciated that the present invention, not only verifies the contents of driver licenses but also allows the information contained in the CPU 12 to be transferred to a remote or local jurisdiction, via modem 26, to remote computer 28 so that the information may be identified for criminal prosecution purposes or, conversely, for humanitarian purposes, such as, for identifying preordained organ donors. The identification for criminal or humanitarian purposes may be accomplished in a manner similar to that hereinbefore described with reference to FIGS. 1-4.
Furthermore, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides the means for not only rapidly authenticating a document, such as a driver license, but also allowing the driver license to serve as a convenient means for rapidly verifying that age requirements are satisfied in any purchase at the point-of-transaction or in allowing ingress into establishments having their own age requirements.
Further still, it should be appreciated that the practice of the present invention utilizes a personal computer, such as CPU 12, commonly found in many places of businesses used for inventory purposes but also having a need to authenticating the contents of a driver license, such as authenticating identification for credit card and check writing at the point-of-sale. Further uses could be to authenticate driver licenses in police cars, ports of entry such as domestic and internal airports, sea ports, rail stations and border check -points. Attached to existing locking mechanisms, could be integrated into lottery, tobacco and alcohol vending machines and to points of entry to buildings and other sensitive areas. Verifying identity is also important: to other areas such as child day care centers and Post Offices to verify parcel pick-up and drop-off.
1. A method in a computing system that uses the contents of an identification document to determine whether an individual is authorized to perform a transaction, the method comprising:
reading, by the computing system, contents of an identification document presented by an individual in connection with a transaction, wherein the identification document is encoded with machine-readable identification information of the individual;
identifying, by the computing system, an issuer of the identification document based on an Issuer Identification Number that is contained in the read contents;
parsing, by the computing system, at least one portion of the read contents into one or more identification segments based on a known format of the identified issuer;
determining, by the computing system, whether the individual is authorized to perform a transaction by applying a criterion to at least one parsed identification segment; and
providing, by the computing system, an indication of whether the individual is authorized to perform the transaction.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the computing system includes two or more computers connected by a communications link.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein at least one portion of the read contents is transferred from the portable computer to a remote computer for further identification processing.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the applied criterion is an age requirement, and wherein the transaction is for the purchase of alcohol or tobacco.
displaying the at least one portion of the read contents as encoded within the identification document.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the known format is an American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) format.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the issuer is a state of the United States or a province of Canada.
12. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to:
identify an issuing jurisdiction of the identification document based on at least one of the two or more read segments, wherein the at least one read segment used to identify the issuing jurisdiction is an Issuer Identification Number;
14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 12 further encoded with instructions that, when executed by the computing system, cause the computing system to:
apply a predetermined criterion to one of the parsed segments to determine whether the individual is allowed to perform a commercial transaction;
when the one parsed segment satisfies the predetermined criterion, display an indication that the individual is authorized to perform the commercial transaction; and
when the one parsed segment does not satisfy the predetermined criterion, display an indication that the individual is not authorized to perform the commercial transaction.
18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 wherein at least one of the two or more segments of information are transferred from the portable computer to a remote computer for further identification processing.
22. One or more non-transitory computer memories encoded with an identification data structure and a reference data structure that are used to determine whether an individual is authorized to perform an activity, wherein the identification data structure specifies identification information of the individual that is read from an identification document encoded with machine-readable information conforming to an established format of a jurisdiction, wherein at least one portion of the machine-readable information is an Issuer Identification Number that is used to determine the jurisdiction, wherein the reference data structure specifies a plurality of jurisdictional formats, and wherein the established format is one of the plurality of specified formats and is used to parse and populate the identification data structure with the read identification information.
23. The computer memories of claim 22 wherein the one or more computer memories are included in a portable device.
24. The computer memories of claim 23 wherein at least a portion of the identification data structure is transferred from the portable device to a remote location for further identification processing.
26. The computer memories of claim 22 further comprising a criteria data structure, the criteria data structure specifying at least one criterion that is applied to a value derived from the identification information to determine whether the individual is authorized to perform an activity, and wherein the activity is a commercial transaction.
27. The computer memories of claim 26 wherein the at least one criterion is an age requirement, wherein the value derived from the identification information is an age of the individual, and the commercial transaction is for the purchase of alcohol or tobacco.
a reader component to read two or more portions of machine-readable information from an identification document issued by an issuing jurisdiction, wherein at least one of the two or more read portions is an Issuer Identification Number used to identify the issuing jurisdiction of the identification document;
a conformance component to compare a criterion to a value derived from one of the parsed portions; and
33. The portable device of claim 32 wherein the criterion is an age requirement and wherein the value derived from the one parsed portion is an age of an individual to which the identification document was issued.
34. The portable device of claim 32 wherein at least one of the two or more read portions is transferred to a remote device for further identification processing.
35. The portable device of claim 32 wherein the criterion is an age requirement and wherein the comparison is performed to determine whether a transaction for the purchase of alcohol or tobacco is authorized.
37. The portable device of claim 32 wherein the output component further displays the read two or more portions as encoded within the identification document.
39. The portable device of claim 32 wherein the issuing jurisdiction is a state of the United States or a province of Canada.
40. The portable device of claim 32 wherein the comparison is performed to determine whether entry to a location is authorized.
US8484723B2 (en) 2009-06-05 2013-07-09 Signix, Inc. Method and system for signing and authenticating electronic documents via a signature authority which may act in concert with software controlled by the signer
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2017-09-12 CBM Aia trial proceeding filed before patent trial and appeal board: covered business methods
2018-02-13 CBM Aia trial proceeding filed before patent trial and appeal board: covered business methods
WO2001080204A2 - Illuminated viewing assembly, viewing system including the illuminated viewing assembly, and method of viewing therefor - Google Patents
Illuminated viewing assembly, viewing system including the illuminated viewing assembly, and method of viewing therefor Download PDF
G09G3/005—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes forming an image using a quickly moving array of imaging elements, causing the human eye to perceive an image which has a larger resolution than the array, e.g. an image on a cylinder formed by a rotating line of LEDs parallel to the axis of rotation
A viewing assembly, viewing system, and method of use are provided. The viewing assembly and system and method of use provide images that may be viewed from any position orthogonal to, and from a plurality of positions oblique to, the axis on which a substantially planar viewing assembly may be rotated. The assembly and method allow viewers to view images from any position 360 degrees around the viewing assembly.
Technical Field The present application is directed to an illuminated viewing assembly, a viewing system including the illuminated viewing assembly, methods of use for both and, in particular, to an illuminated viewing assembly and method of use that provides images that may be viewed from any position orthogonal to, and from a plurality of positions oblique to the viewing assembly.
Related Cases Priority for this application is hereby claimed under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to commonly owned and co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 60/197,289 which was filed on April 14, 2000; 60/197,289 which was filed on July 11, 2000; and 60/197,289 which was filed on December 21, 2001; each of which were filed in the name of Salley, Neil B ., and each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Related Art There are many instances in which it is desirable to provide a picture or display simultaneously and continuously to a group of people. Examples of such instances include business meetings, at airports and other transportation centers, shopping centers, and anywhere large numbers of people are assembled or congregate. Such displays are difficult to provide when several people wish to view the display simultaneously from a variety of locations, because conventional display systems generally cannot be viewed from the rear or extreme sides. Conventional displays are limited to situations in which a viewer's line of sight is precisely normal to the plane of the picture. Thus, the area from which a viewing audience may be accommodated is limited to locations with suitable sight lines. As a result, use of available space near and around conventional display systems is often limited.
Some attempts to solve this problem have involved displays rotating through 360 degrees. Such displays have permitted several people surrounding the display to view the display. The rotation of such displays must be relatively slow in order to permit the various viewers to have an opportunity to study the display. Such a slow rotation means that essentially only a few people at a time may view the display, while others out of the line of sight must wait until the display comes into their line of sight.
U.S. Patent No. 3,976,837 to Lang discloses an apparatus for projecting an image onto a rear view screen positioned in a vertical plane which can be rotated extremely rapidly about a vertical axis exactly bisecting the picture in the plane.
U.S. Patent No. 4,943,851 to Lang et al. discloses a viewing system that includes a liquid crystal display screen including a plurality of LCD panels positioned in a stationary position around a rear projection screen.
U.S. Patent No.4,979,026 to Lang et al. discloses a viewing system in which an image is projected from a CRT.
U.S. Patent No. 5,152,089 to Bellico discloses a multi-image sign display. Recently, billboards have been displayed that appear to include louvers that allow viewers passing by the billboard to view two different images, depending on the angle at which they pass by the billboard.
There remains a need for improved systems for providing displays that will permit persons located at any position around the display to examine the display substantially simultaneously.
SUMMARY Historically, cinema-photographic projections are based on projecting a sequence of images in the form of a linear strip of translucent film onto a reflecting screen at a rate that allows the effect of persistence of vision to occur. Persistence of vision is a physiological term that describes how the human brain retains an image cast upon the retina for an instant after the object viewed is removed or changed. The entire concept of cinema is based on the effect of persistence of vision. In cinema, the rapid sequencing of images is provided by a mechanical shutter that closes, advances, aligns, and then reopens to project the film image upon a screen consecutively at a rate higher than the reaction frequency of the human eye.
The present invention utilizes the same principals that form the bases for conventional cinema but in a different arrangement. Images are emitted or reflected from a rotating illuminated viewing assembly, which includes an arrangement of at least one illumination source, at least one image member, and at least one blocking member.
The effect of the blocking member is similar to louvers or Venetian blinds whereby narrow strips of light blocking material allow a limited field of view. This field of view can be regulated by the width of the louvers, the distance between the louvers and number of louvers utilized.
As the viewing assembly rotates, the blocking member prevents the viewer from viewing the illuminated image member until the plane of the viewing assembly has rotated to 0 degrees (+ or -24 degrees) of the viewers line of sight. The resulting optical effect is such that as the viewing assembly rotates, the images on both sides of the viewing assembly are presented consecutively without the motion blur that would otherwise be inherent in, for example, a rotating screen. This optical effect is due to the combined effect of the alignment of images on either side of the viewing assembly together with effect of persistence of vision. The optical effect is also affected by the relative thickness of the viewing assembly, i.e., the optical effect is improved as the thickness of the viewing assembly decreases. When viewed at eye level, the perception of rotational movement of the viewing assembly decreases as the distance from the surface of the image member to the axis of rotation is reduced. For example, when viewing the rotating viewing assembly at low speed without the louvers attached, the viewing assembly would appear to repeatedly "grow" from a vertical line until it reaches its full size and then "contract" upon itself. The louvers simply present the illuminated image to the viewer only when it has reached its full size.
Another aspect of the invention is directed to animated imaging, which describes a looped or continuous animation sequence. Animated imaging may be provided by including two images that, when aligned properly in a viewing assembly, are able to create the illusion of perceived motion as the image assembly rotates. One example is the image of a butterfly hovering in mid air as its wings appear in motion, flapping up and down repeatedly. Animated imaging may be provided at predetermined rotation rates at which printed text, graphics, or any combination thereof, may be displayed.
At relatively higher rotational rates, the ability to provide animated imaging is lost. However, at relatively higher rotational rates, the invention may provide flicker-free imaging, which describes the elimination of the stroboscopic effect that otherwise occurs at lower rotational rates. Because the stroboscopic effects are made imperceptible at the higher rotational rates, flicker-free imaging may be used to display printed text, graphics, photographs, or any combination thereof.
It should be noted that the rotation rates of the animated imaging and flicker- free imaging do not necessarily need to remain a constant, and that it may be desirable to change the rotation rate, for example, as part of a presentation, especially if multiple illuminated panels and text are mounted to a single viewing assembly.
Another aspect of the invention is directed to viewing assemblies that include computer and/or video displays. Such displays require rotation rates that are coordinated, and preferably identical to the scan rate of the screens mounted to the assembly. For example, traditional LCD video screens scan at a rate of about 29.97 scans per second. Therefore the screen must rotate at about 29.97 revolutions per second. Scan rates sometimes vary between manufacturers, some manufactures offer screens with adjustable scan rates, and some screens have a "softer" scan than do others. Therefore, a precisely regulated rotational rate is not always critical.
When a viewing assembly is rotating continuously it may be necessary or desirable to shield the viewing assembly from unwanted obstacles such as hands or other means of obstruction and to minimize wind resistance to the surface of the rotating viewing assembly. This may be achieved by enclosing the viewing assembly within a housing constructed from a transparent material such as glass or acrylic. The housing may be mounted coaxially with the axis of rotation of the image assembly, which allows the viewing assembly to rotate freely. At high rotation rates, it may be desirable to create an air vacuum within the cylindrical chamber to eliminate wind resistance.
To improve the contrast and overall visibility of the viewing assembly, it may be necessary or desirable to provide a dark background that blocks the view of structures and lights on the opposite side of the viewing system. This may be accomplished by positioning a layer of polarizing film completely around the viewing system such that the angle of polarization is at 45 degrees to horizontal. In this manner, the polarization angle on any two opposing points on the film will be perpendicular and as a result, will block unwanted light. When a polarizing film is disposed on the interior or exterior of the transparent housing, the effect is that of a constant black background behind the rotating viewing assembly.
By means of a rotating viewing assembly of the type described above that is contained within a transparent housing lined with polarizing material, the invention has the unique ability to present animated imaging, flicker-free imaging, and video or computer generated images. When positioned in the center of a room, this imagery is visible to any number of viewers simultaneously within a 360-degree parameter of the display.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It should be understood that the drawings are provided for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to define the limits of the invention. The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the embodiments described herein will become apparent with reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a viewing system including a rotatable viewing assembly; FIG. 1 A is a top view of the viewing assembly of FIG.1 while rotating; FIG. IB is a side view of the viewing assembly of FIG. 1 while rotating; FIG.2 A is an exploded perspective view of the rotatable viewing assembly of FIG. 1; FIG.2B is an perspective view of the assembled viewing assembly of FIG.2A; FIG. 2C is a top plan view of another embodiment of a viewing assembly having a non-planar configuration; FIG. 2D is an illustration showing the field of view obtained utilizing a single blocking member; FIG. 2E is an illustration showing the field of view obtained utilizing two blocking members arranged as shown in FIG. 2C; FIG. 3 A is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of a viewing assembly; FIG.3B is an perspective view of the assembled viewing assembly of FIG.3 A; FIG. 3 C is a perspective view of another embodiment of a viewing assembly; FIG. 3D is a top plan view of the viewing assembly of FIG. 3C; FIG.4A is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of a viewing assembly; FIG.4B is an perspective view of the assembled viewing assembly of FIG.4A; FIG. 5A is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of a viewing assembly; FIG.5B is an perspective view of the assembled viewing assembly of FIG.5A; FIG. 6 is a top view of another embodiment of a viewing assembly that includes an illumination image source; FIG. 7 is a top view of another embodiment of a viewing assembly that includes an illumination/image source and polarizing filters; FIG. 8 is a perspective exploded view of another embodiment of a viewing system that includes a rotatable viewing assembly; FIG.9 is a perspective view of the viewing assembly of the system of FIG. 10; FIG. 10 is a side view of the viewing assembly of FIG. 8 showing the first image member; FIG. 11 is a side view of the viewing assembly of FIG. 8 showing the second image member; FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the viewing system of FIG. 8 in an assembled configuration; FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating the image displayed by the viewing system of FIG. 8 during operation; FIG. 14 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a viewing system which is a video viewing system; FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a portion of the system of FIG. 14; FIG. 16 is a side view of the system through line 16- 1 of FIG. 15 ; FIG. 17 is a top view of a viewing assembly that forms part of the viewing system shown in FIG. 14; FIG. 18 is a schematic illustration of a sheet of polarized film with the angle of polarization at a 45 degree angle to horizontal; and FIG. 19 illustrates the sheet of FIG. 18 arranged in a cylindrical shape. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention is directed to a viewing system and a method of using the system. The viewing system includes a rotatable illuminated viewing assembly that provides an image that may be viewed from any position orthogonal to, and from a plurality of positions oblique to, an axis "a" bisecting the viewing assembly. When the viewing assembly is rotatable, it is preferably rotated about axis "a." The viewing assembly may be rotated about axis "a" at a variety of rotation rates to provide a variety of different optical effects for a viewer, which will be described in greater detail below.
FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of the present viewing system 10. Viewing system 10 includes a viewing assembly 12, ameans for rotation 14, and a source of power 16 connected to the means for rotation 14, which in the present embodiment is a motor. "Viewing assembly," as used herein, is meant to define any arrangement of at least one illumination source, at least one image member, and at least one blocking member, each of which are defined below. In some embodiments, the viewing assembly may be supported on a support member for rotation. In the present embodiment, viewing assembly 12 is preferably supported by a support member 18 which is connected to the means of rotation 14. A variety of viewing assemblies may be used in any of the viewing systems described herein, some of which are described in greater detail below.
Preferably, support member 18 may be rotatable about an axis of rotation "a" that substantially bisects viewing assembly 12 within plane "P." In the present embodiment, support member 18 is preferably a rod formed from a relatively lightweight high strength material such as aluminum. Support member 18 may extend through viewing assembly 12 provided that the thickness of the viewing assembly 12 may be maintained within suitable limits. Alternatively, support member 18 may be divided into portions that extend from viewing assembly 12 along axis "a" in order to minimize interference with the construction of the viewing assembly. If desired, a support base 20 may be included to provide support for support member 18, but it is not necessary.
Support member 18 may be supported on any surface having any orientation including, but not limited to, ceilings, walls, and floors, windows, and the like. For ease of construction, in the present embodiment, support member 18 may be connected to and supported by motor 14. However, it is possible to provide support for viewing assembly 12 by support member 18 on any of the previously described surfaces and connecting motor 14 to support member 18 by other means including, but not limited to, pulleys, and the like. Suitable configurations will be apparent to those ofskill in the art.
A brush and collector ring assembly (not illustrated) are also included for conducting power to the illumination source, as is known in the art. Those of skill in the art will understand that any suitable method for providing power may be used. If desired, motor 14 may be provided with a separate speed control (not illustrated) to regulate the rate of rotation and/or a tachometer (not illustrated) to monitor the speed of the motor. Although illustrated herein as a motor, those of skill in the art will recognize that the means for rotation may be any type of device that will impart rotational movement to the viewing assembly. In addition, those of skill in the art will recognize that it is not necessary for the means for rotation to be directly connected to the support member. For example, the means for rotation may be offset to allow belt or gear drive of the viewing assembly. Those of skill in the art will also recognize that any source of power may be used, such as, for example, batteries, wind, or power from an electrical outlet. In general, typical consumer rated 120 volt AC electrical power may be used, which may be converted to DC with a suitable AC/DC transformer or from suitable DC batteries. Of course, those of skill in the art will recognize that suitable modifications to the assembly will be required, such as, for example, an electrical plug adapted to be received into the electrical outlet. Such modifications are easily accomplished by those of skill in the art.
In operation, the system may be placed, for purposes of illustration, on a horizontal surface such as a table. Power may then be turned on, illuminating the viewing assembly and allowing the viewing assembly to rotate at a rate that allows the effect of persistence of vision to occur. FIG. 1A shows a top view of the system during operation. As shown, when rotating, all viewers "V" located circumferentially "C" around viewing system 10 may be able to view the image being displayed on viewing assembly 12. Of course, the distance of each viewer "V" from the viewing assembly may vary depending on each individual's eyesight. Thus, the position of "C" may vary, and its representation is not intended to define a particular distance from the viewing system. Thus it should be apparent that viewers with better eyesight may be able to view the image being displayed from farther away than those with poor eyesight. The important aspect of the method is that is provides a viewer with the ability to view the display at any position surrounding the system, limited only by the viewer's eyesight.
FIG. IB shows a side view of system 10 during operation. In addition to providing 360 degree viewing, viewers may be able to view the images being displayed on the viewing assembly from a variety of different positions other than orthogonal to the viewing assembly. For example, a viewer standing above or below the viewing system 10 would be able to view the display.
FIGS. 2A and 2B, when taken together, illustrate the viewing assembly 12 shown in FIG. 1. As shown in exploded view in FIG. 2 A, viewing assembly 12 includes a single illumination source 22 having opposing surfaces 24, 26, two image members 28, each having opposing surfaces 30, 32, two blocking members 34, each having opposing surfaces 36, 38, and first and second polarizing filters 40, 42, each having opposing surfaces 44, 46. "Illumination source," as used herein, is meant to define any material that is capable of providing illumination including for example, emitted or reflected light. "Image member," as used herein, is meant to define any material through which light may be transmitted. "Blocking member," as used herein, is meant to define any material or device that selectively blocks, bends, deflects, reflects, or absorbs light.
When assembled as shown in FIG. 2B, viewing assembly 12 includes opposing upper and lower edges 48, 50, opposing side edges 52, 54, and opposing outer surfaces 56, 58. In the present embodiment, each surface 24, 26 of illumination source 22 is a light emitting surface. In the present embodiment, opposing surface 24 of illumination source 22 is positioned in adjacent relation to a surface 32 of image member 28; surfaces 30 of image members 28 are positioned in adjacent relation to surfaces 38 of blocking members 34; one of blocking members 34 has a surface 36 positioned in adjacent relation to surface 44 of polarizing filter 40 having a first orientation; and the remaining blocking member 34 has a surface 36 positioned in adjacent relation to surface 46 of polarizing filter 42 having a second orientation perpendicular to the first polarizing member 40. In the present embodiment, the adjacent surfaces of illumination source 22, image members 28, blocking members 34, and polarizing filters 40, 42 are also preferably positioned in direct contact with one another.
Viewing assembly 12 may be assembled by any method known to those of skill in the art, for example, by glueing, taping, clasping, clipping, or clamping the edges of the illumination source, image member, blocking member, and polarizing filter, together. This may be accomplished by, for example, adhesion, provided that the adhesion method does not interfere with light transmission.
Suitable materials from which image members may be formed include photographic transparencies, LCD panel, a layer of ink, printed text on clear acetate, orthographic film, and the like. An image may be formed on or in each image member, which may be the same or different.
In some embodiments, the illumination source and image member may be integral, which will be referred to hereinafter as an illumination/image member. Thus, "illumination/image member," as used herein, is meant to define any material that is capable of providing both illumination and an image without the assistance of an image member.
Examples of suitable planar illumination sources include electroluminescent panels (ELPs), fluorescent displays, organic light emitting devices (OLEDs), light conductive elements such as light pipes, woven fiber optic panels, vertical or horizontal arrangements of cold cathode florescent tubes, edge-lit light guides, and the like. Examples of illumination sources that may be made into a planar configuration include light pipes, woven fiber optic elements, conductive light elements, and the like. An image may be formed on or in the image member. Edge-lit light guides are one preferred illumination source (available from Bright View Technologies, formerly CLIO Technologies Inc., Holland, Ohio under the product name CCFL, edge light- light guide).
Examples of other suitable illuminationimage sources include organic light emitting devices (OLEDs), transparent organic light emitting devices (TOLEDs), stacked organic light emitting devices (SOLEDs), flexible organic light emitting devices (FOLEDs), woven fiber optic panels, etchings or carvings directly in the illumination member, and the like.
Examples of suitable blocking members include a shutter, a louver, a grating, a screen, a lenticular sheet, a prism, a lens, a Light Control Film (available under the product name Light Control Film from 3M), or any suitable material or device that would be apparent to those of skill in the art. In preferred embodiments, the blocking members may be adjustable. The selection of material for the blocking member will depend on the application as well as practical considerations. The blocking member may have any shape or size.
In a particularly preferred embodiment, the blocking member may be a Light Control Film (LCF) (available from 3M, St. Paul, Minnesota). Such films simulate a tiny Venetian blind or louver and shield unwanted ambient light, direct the display of light, or both. The effect of the films is similar to Venetian blinds whereby narrow strips of light blocking material allow a limited field of view. This field of view may be regulated by the width of the louvers, the distance between the louvers, and the number of louver contained within the given area. Such films may be available with a variety of viewing angles (i.e. louver angles). The selection of the viewing angle, or louver angle, will depend on the application as well as practical considerations. For example, where "sharper" images are desired, it is generally desirable to provide a narrower viewing angle. Generally, LCFs with narrower louver angles will provide narrower viewing angles and consequently sharper images. For example, an LCF with a 24 degree louver angle will provide a sharper image than a 48 degree louver. In another particularly preferred embodiment, the blocking member may be a "skived film" (available from 3M, St. Paul, Minnesota), which is an unlaminated version of an LCF.
As shown in the present embodiment, the viewing assembly may include polarizing filters arranged to polarize light in opposite directions, which may be used in conjunction with polarized glasses, as discussed in greater detail below. Those of skill in the art will recognize that the polarizing filters may be used in any of the embodiments described below. Moreover, although illustrated herein with the polarizing filter overlaying the blocking members, those of skill in the art will recognize that the position of the filters is not crucial to the invention. For example, a polarizing filter may be disposed between the illumination source and the image member or it may overlay a blocking member.
It is generally advantageous to minimize the distance between the image member and the axis of rotation "a." As the distance between the image member and the axis of rotation "a" (and consequently plane "P") increases, the clarity of the image provided will decrease and image distortion will increase. Conversely, mώimizing the distance between the image member and axis "a" generally minimizes image distortion and increases clarity when the viewing assembly is rotating.
One way of minimizing the distance between the image member and the axis of rotation is to minimize the thickness of the viewing assembly. For example, when the surface of the image member remains very close to axis "a," the perceived rotational motion at eye level is virtually non-existent. In contrast, using a rotating viewing assembly at low speed without the louvers attached would provide an image that would appear to repeatedly "grow" from a vertical line until it reached its full size and then "contract" upon itself. In some instances, the particular arrangements may be limited by the thickness of each. For example, it is possible to provide a blocking member "sandwiched" between an illumination source and an image member, provided the blocking member is relatively thin, as are the LCFs or skived films.
The arrangement of the illumination source, image member and blocking member may be non-planar or substantially planar, each of which provide specific optical effects, as described in greater detail below. In embodiments in which the viewing assemblies are substantially planar, it is preferred that a substantial portion of the viewing assembly lies within or is coplanar with plane "P" which is parallel to axis "a." By "substantially planar," it is meant that the viewing assembly has less than about 20 percent surface deviation and may be slightly convex or concave, and have other minor surface variations.
Although illustrated in the present embodiment as substantially planar, the viewing assemblies may have any shape or size, depending on the desired optical effect. One example of such a viewing assembly 60 is shown in top view in FIG. 2C. Viewing assembly 60 includes an illumination source 62, an image member 64, and two blocking members 66, 68 which are, in the present embodiment, microlouvers having a field of view of about 48 degrees. Preferably, the illumination source 62 and image member 64 are positioned in adjacent relation. Blocking members 66, 68 both have curved profiles. The outer edges of blocking member 66 are positioned adjacent image member 64 such that the backside of blocking member 66 faces outwardly. The backside of blocking member 68 is positioned adjacent the backside of blocking member 66 such that the outer edges of blocking member 66 face outwardly. Arranging blocking members 66, 68 in this manner reduces the field of view of the microlouvers from about 48 degrees to an effective field of view of about 15 degrees. The resulting optical effect is one in which the vertical range of view is increased from θ] to θ2 for a viewer, as shown comparatively in FIGS. 2D and 2E.
As stated above, a variety of viewing assemblies may be used in the foregoing system as well as any other of the systems described herein. Another embodiment of a viewing assembly 112 is illustrated in FIGS. 3 A and 3B taken together. As shown in exploded view in FIG. 3 A, viewing assembly 112 includes an illumination source 122 having opposing surfaces 124, 126, an image member 128 having opposing surfaces 130, 132, and a blocking member 134 having opposing surfaces 136, 138.
When assembled as shown in FIG. 3B, viewing assembly 112 includes opposing upper and lower edges 148, 150, opposing side edges 152, 154, and opposing surfaces 156, 158. In the present embodiment, surface 124 of illumination source 112 is a light emitting surface. In the present embodiment, the illumination sources, image members, and blocking members may be the same as those previously discussed, and the viewing assembly may be constructed in a similar manner as the previous embodiments.
As stated above, it is generally advantageous to minimize the distance between the image member and the axis of rotation "a." Another way of minimizing the distance between the image member and the axis of rotation is to mount the image member such that it is coplanar with plane "P" or substantially coplanar with plane "P." FIG. 3C and 3D show perspective and top views of a viewing assembly 70 utilizing such an arrangement. Viewing assembly 70 includes two viewing assemblies 112 as illustrated previously in FIGS. 3 A and 3B, mounted for rotation on supporting rod 72. As shown, surface 156 of viewing assembly 70 is coplanar with plane "P." To accommodate such an arrangement, the remainder of the viewing assembly (i.e., the image member 128 and illumination source 122) must be mounted behind or in front of plane "P." In the present embodiment, the illumination sources, image members, and blocking members may be the same as those previously discussed, and the viewing assembly may be constructed in a similar manner as the previous embodiments.
As shown in FIGS. 3C and 3D, in the present embodiment, both the image member 128 and illumination source 122 extend behind plane P and travel behind surface 156 when the viewing assembly is rotating in the direction indicated by arrow "R." Such an arrangement may be advantageous when it is desirable to have brighter illumination sources, which are generally relatively thicker than less bright illumination sources. Arrangements using thicker light sources typically mean that the distance between the face of the viewing assembly and the axis of rotation is increased, resulting in less clarity and increased image distortion. Thus, an arrangement using thicker illumination sources in which the face of the viewing assembly is coplanar with plane P may be desirable, for example, in ambient light conditions, and in some instances brighter than ambient conditions.
Another embodiment of a viewing assembly 212 is illustrated in FIGS .4A and 4B. As shown in exploded view in FIG. 4A, viewing assembly 212 includes an illumination source 222 having opposing surfaces 224, 226, two image members 228, each having opposing surfaces 230, 232, and two blocking members 234, each having opposing surfaces 236, 238. In the present embodiment, illumination source 222 may emit light from one or both of the opposing surfaces 224, 226. Thus, when provided with a suitable source of power to illuminate the illumination source 222, viewing assembly 212 may emit light from one or both surfaces.
When assembled as shown in FIG. 4B, viewing assembly 212 includes opposing upper and lower edges 248, 250, opposing side edges 252, 254, and opposing surfaces 256, 258. In the present embodiment, the illumination sources, image members, and blocking members may be the same as those previously discussed. The present viewing assembly is constructed in a similar manner as the previous embodiments with the exception of the polarizing filter. Although illustrated herein with two illumination sources, those of skill in the art will recognize that only one may be used if desired. When a single illumination source that emits light from both opposing surfaces is used, and polarized filters are included, the arrangement of the polarized filters is as described above.
Another embodiment of a viewing assembly 312 that includes two illumination sources will be illustrated with references to FIGS. 5 A and 5B taken together. In some instances, such as when using an illumination source that provides light through only one surface, or when it is desired to maximize the amount of light transmission from opposing sides of the viewing assembly, it may be desirable to include additional illumination sources in the viewing assembly. Thus, viewing assembly 312 differs from the previous viewing assemblies by the inclusion of an additional illumination source. As shown is exploded view in FIG. 5 A, viewing assembly 312 includes two illumination sources 322, two image members 328, and two blocking members 334. In the present embodiment, each iUumination source 322 may include a light emitting surface and a non-light eirritting surface, and the illumination sources may be arranged such that the non-light emitting surfaces face each other and the light emitting surfaces face outwardly.
When assembled as shown in FIG. 5B, viewing assembly 312 includes opposing upper and lower edges 348, 350, opposing side edges 352, 354 and opposing surfaces 356, 358. In the present embodiment, the illumination sources, image members, and blocking members may be the same as those previously discussed and the viewing assembly may be constructed in a similar manner as the previous embodiments.
As stated above, in some embodiments of the viewing assembly, a unitary illumination/image source may be provided rather than separate illumination sources and image members, which may sometimes simplify the construction of the viewing assembly. In such instances, the illumination/image source acts both as a source of illumination and a source of an image. Examples of these include OLEDs, FOLEDs, and etchings or carvings directly into the illumination member.
FIG. 6 is a top view of a viewing assembly 410 that includes two illumination/image sources 434. Viewing assembly 410 differs from the previous viewing assemblies by the elimination of separate image members. The assembly of the present viewing assembly is the same as in previous embodiments. Thus, in the present embodiment, one opposing surface (not illustrated) of each illumination/image source 438 may be positioned in adjacent relation to one of the opposing surfaces (not illustrated) of blocking members 424. In the present embodiment, the illumination/image member and blocking members may be selected from those previously described and the viewing assembly may be constructed in a similar manner as the previous embodiments. FIG. 7 is a top view of a viewing assembly 510 that includes two illumination/image sources 538, two blocking members 524, and first and second polarizing filters 530, 532. The viewing assembly of the present embodiment differs from the previous embodiment by the inclusion of the polarizing filters. In the present embodiment, one opposing surface (not illustrated) of each illumination/image source 538 may be positioned in adjacent relation to one of the opposing surfaces (not illustrated) of blocking members 524. Preferably, one of the polarizing filters 530, 532 may be positioned adjacent to each blocking member 524. Thus, in the present embodiment, first polarizing filter 530 having a first orientation may overlay each blocking member 524, and a second polarizing filter 532 having a second orientation perpendicular to the first polarizing filter 530 may overlay the remaining blocking member 524. In the present embodiment, the illumination/image member and blocking members may be selected from those previously described and the viewing assembly may be constructed in a similar manner as the previous embodiments.
Another embodiment is directed to a method that involves rotating the illuminated viewing assembly. When the viewing assembly is rotated and power supplied to the illumination source or illumination image/member, light may be emitted from the illumination source, transmitted through the image members, when included, and through the apertures in the blocking members. In this manner, the light emitted may reach a viewer viewing the viewing system at any position orthogonal to, and from a plurality of positions oblique to, the axis "a" about which the viewing system may be rotating. Any viewer at any of the above-described positions relative to the viewing system may simultaneously observe the same image. As the viewing assembly rotates, the louvers prevent the viewer from seeing the illuminated image member until the plane of the viewing assembly has rotated to 0 degrees (+ or - 24 degrees) of the viewers' line of sight. The effect is such that as the viewing assembly rotates at a given rate, the images on the image members on one or both sides of the viewing assembly are presented consecutively without the motion blur that would otherwise be inherent in a rotating screen. This effect is due to the alignment of the images on either side of the screen together with effect of persistence of vision.
As stated previously, the rotation rate of the viewing assembly may vary, depending upon the desired effect as well as practical considerations. Various effects may be achieved with the different viewing assemblies, each of which may be rotated about axis "a" at different rates.
One embodiment of the method involves a viewing assembly that includes two different images, which may be rotated about axis "a" to provide the perception of motion. In me present embodiment, due to the persistence of vision, the mind perceives the changing images as actual motion, or animated imaging. Preferably, in the present embodiment, the viewing assembly may be rotated about axis "a" at a rotation rate of about 120 RPM to about 600 RPM, more preferably about 160 RPM to about 525 RPM, and more preferably still about 200 RPM to about 450 RPM. At this rate of rotation the image member is also able to display printed text, graphics, or any combination thereof.
At relatively higher rotation rates, the stroboscopic effect is eliminated, but the ability to present animation is lost. However, the viewing assembly can still contain printed text, graphics, photographs, or any combination thereof. Thus, another embodiment of the method involves a viewing assembly that includes the same or different images, which may be rotated about axis "a" to provide a uniform image (see Example 2 below). In the present embodiment, a range of rotational speeds may be used such that stroboscopic effects that would otherwise occur at lower rotational rates are eliminated or made imperceptible, resulting in a uniform image. The stroboscopic effects are eliminated or made imperceptible by increasing the rotation rate of the viewing assembly. Thus, in the present embodiment, the viewing assembly preferably may be rotated about axis "a" at a rotation rate of at least about 1200 RPM, more preferably at least about 1400 RPM, and more preferably still at least about 1750 RPM.
For example, the viewing assembly could include one image member containing printed text and another image member including a picture. When rotated at the desired rate, a viewer may perceive the printed text overlaying the picture. Alternatively, the printed text may be disposed on the upper half of the first image member and the picture on the lower half of the second member such that when rotated, the viewer perceives a single image in which the text is disposed above the picture.
It should be noted that the rotation rates of any of the previously described embodiments do not necessarily need to remain a constant, and that it may be desirable to change rotation rates as part of the presentation, especially if multiple illuminated panels and text are mounted to the same viewing assembly.
In yet another embodiment, the viewing assembly may include a screens of the type used in computer and video displays. For example, an LCD may be used as an image member, with an illumination source behind the LCS screen. The rotational rates of the viewing assembly in the present embodiment preferably correspond to the scan rates of the screens. For example, LCD video screens generally scan at a rate of 29.97 scans per second. In other instances, it is not necessary that the correspondence be exact. For example, a similar effect may be achieved with a rotational rate that is +/- 10% of the scan rate. Those of skill in the art will recognize that scan rates vary depending on the type and manufacturer of the screens. In addition, some screens are manufactured to include adjustable scan rates.
According to any of the methods described above, a viewing assembly that is illuminated on only one side may be used. However, in order to achieve any of the described effects with such a viewing assembly, the rotation rate of the assembly must be about double what is required for a viewing assembly that is illuminated on two sides. Moreover, viewing assemblies that are illuminated on only one side may not be capable of providing an animation effect.
In some instances, it may be desirable or necessary to block from view structures on the opposite side of the viewing system in order to minimize visual interference for the viewer. This may be accomplished, for example, by positioning a polarizing film 800 as shown in FIG. 18 such that it would surround a viewing assembly or system as shown in FIG. 19, when the angle of the polarizing film 800 is at about 45 degrees to horizontal. In this manner, the orientation of the polarizing film 800 at any two opposing points on the film will be perpendicular. This may be accomplished most easily when the viewing system is surrounded by a housing. For example, because the viewing assembly is rotating continuously it may be necessary to shield it from unwanted obstacles such as hands or other means of obstruction and to minimize wind resistance to the surface of the rotating assembly. This may be achieved by enclosing the viewing assembly within a housing constructed from transparent material such as glass or acrylic. Preferably, the housing may be preferably mounted coaxially around axis "a" of a viewing assembly such that the viewing assembly can rotate freely inside. At high rates of rotation it may be desirable to create an air vacuum within the housing to eliminate wind resistance. To improve the contrast and overall visibility of the viewing assembly it may be necessary to provide a dark background that blocks the view of structures and lights on the opposite side of the viewing system. As shown in FIG. 19, at point "X" the angles of polarization are perpendicular and light is effectively blocked. When an object or illuminated form is placed within the cylinder it appears before a black background that effectively follows the viewer within a 360-degree circumference of the cylinder. This may be accomplished by positioning a layer of polarizing film completely around the viewing system such that the angle of polarization is at 45 degrees to horizontal. In this manner, on any two opposing points on the film the polarization will be perpendicular, therefore blocking unwanted light. When this polarizing film lines the interior or exterior of the transparent housing the effect is that of a constant black background behind the rotating viewing assembly.
When the viewing assembly is contained within a cylindrically shaped transparent housing lined with polarizing material, the viewing assembly has the unique ability to present two-phase animated images, flicker-free images and video or computer generated images in 360-degrees. When positioned in the center of a room, this imagery is visible to any number of viewers simultaneously within a 360- degree perimeter of the display.
In addition, stereo-optic displays may be provided to viewers with the assistance of polarizing glasses, which facilitate a method of providing depth- perception to a viewer or viewers when viewing a rotating viewing assembly. The stereo-optic effect may only be observed when polarizing filters are included in the viewing assembly. The stereo-optic effect is negated when the glasses are used in conjunction with a polarizing film surround. The stereo-optic images may be viewed from any position orthogonal to, and from a plurality of positions oblique to, the axis on which the viewing assembly may be rotated. Thus, several viewers positioned at various positions around a viewing system may be able to view the display provided by the viewing system as a stereo-optic display.
The present invention will be further illustrated by the following examples, which are intended to be illustrative in nature and are not to be considered as limiting the scope of the invention.
WORKING EXAMPLES Systems incorporating different viewing assemblies were constructed to demonstrating of the advantages of the present viewing assemblies and systems.
EXAMPLE 1 One example of an exemplary viewing system 600 will be illustrated with reference to FIGS. 8*13, when taken together. The viewing system 600 included a transparent housing 604 and a viewing assembly 606 of the type illustrated in FIGS . 2A,B. The viewing assembly 606 was disposed within a frame of black plastic material 608 having a total thickness of about 1/8 inch. The viewing assembly was secured within the frame using black double-sided adhesive tape.
A support 610 was used to provide support for an inverter 612, two batteries 614, 618, and a motor 616 which in the present embodiment was a fan (available from Radio Shack). Inverter 612 was coupled to battery 618, which was a 9V DC battery. Battery 618 was in turn coupled to the ELPs via brushes and collector rings (not illustrated) mounted on rod portion 623b and via lead wires 622. Battery 614 was a 4.5 V DC battery coupled to the motor 616 via lead wires 620. Thus, battery 614 supplied power to rotate the motor 616 and battery 618 supplied power to illuminate the ELPs.
Support rod portions 623 a,b were connected to frame 608 along axis "a," which substantially bisects the viewing assembly 606. Support rod portion 623b was connected directly to the motor 616. Support rod portion 623 a was inserted into a boss member 624 in housing 604.
Viewing assembly 606 included two ELPs as the illumination source (available as product No. H90002W Proto-Kut Lamp from BKL Inc.). Each of the ELPs included a light emitting surface and a non-light emitting surface. The non- light-emitting surfaces of the ELPs were disposed adjacently and in direct contract with one another to form a substantially planar unit with the light emitting surfaces facing outwardly.
The image members were photographic transparencies disposed adjacent to and in direct contact with the light emitting surface of one of the ELPs. One of the photographic transparencies included an image of an angel with down-turned wings, as shown in FIG. 10. The other photographic transparencies included an image of the same angel with upturned wings, as shown in FIG. 11.
The blocking members were LCFs having a 48 degree viewing angle (available from 3M). The LCFs were disposed adjacent to and in direct contact with each of the photographic transparencies.
The ELPs, photographic transparencies, and LCFs were maintained in adj acent relation using clear, double-sided adhesive tape that was disposed about the perimeter of each of the illumination sources, image members, and blocking members. In operation, the system was placed on a horizontal surface, such as table, and power to the motor was turned on, illuminating the ELPs and allowing the support rod and viewing assembly to rotate about axis "a." The image of the angel with its wings moving up and down could be seen from any position around the table, whether standing, sitting, or kneeling. Thus, the present example illustrates the effectiveness of the apparatus for simultaneously providing a visual display to any viewer within a 360 degree perimeter surrounding the viewing system.
EXAMPLE 2 Another example of an exemplary viewing system 700 will be illustrated with reference to FIGS. 14-17, when taken together. The exemplary viewing system 700 of the present example was a video display system.
A support assembly that included a base 702 and a top surface 704 was used as a support. The base and top surface were spaced apart equidistantly by aluminum spacers 706 for support and stability. The spacers were directly connected to the opposing end plates by ! inch aluniinum post holders 708.
Viewing assembly 710 was disposed within a cast acrylic housing 712 supported by a hollow aluminum rod 718 between opposing end caps 714, and about which the viewing assembly was rotatable. Framing and supporting the viewing assembly 710 within the cast acrylic housing 712 was a two-sided 1/8 inch thick black plastic mounting surface 716. The viewing assembly 710 was the type illustrated in FIGS. 5A,B, and was disposed in an aperture (not illustrated) formed in the mounting surface 716. The uminum rod extended through the center of each end cap 714, and through the base 702 and top surface 704 of the support assembly, but not through the viewing assembly. The viewing assembly 710 included two ELPs disposed back-to- back as the illumination source (available as product No. H90002W Proto-Kut Lamp from BKL Inc.), two 2.3 inch color LCD screens as the image members (available as Product No. 16-180 from Radio Shack), and the same blocking material used in Example 1.
Supported on the mounting surface 716, and rotatable with the viewing assembly, were two tuner/drivers 722 for the LCD (available as Catalog No. 16-180 from Radio Shack). Those of skill in the art will recognize that it is not necessary that these components must be positioned on the mounting surface. For example, it may be desirable to place these components in a separate housing in order to shield them from view.
Also contained within the housing were a wireless video receiver 726 (a 2.4 Ghz wireless A V distribution system available as Catalog No. 15-1971 from Radio Shack) connected to the LCD tuner/driver 722 by video wiring, and a -12V inverter 728 (available as Item No. 15W5678 from Inverter Designs, Inc.) connected to the ELP. Those of skill in the art will recognize that these components may be positioned on the mounting surface, if desired.
A portion of the aluminum rod extended above the top surface 704 of the support assembly and was insulated with non-conductive PVC plastic tubing. Two sets of bronze 1/4 inch x 5/8 inch collector rings 730 were disposed about the non- conductive PVC plastic tubing that extended above the top surface 704. A plurality of nonconductive supports 732 were disposed on a 4 bolt center bearing mount 734 (available as Part No. VF4$208 from Browning). A plurality of bronze emitter wires 736 for conducting DC power to the collector rings 730, were wrapped about the collector rings 730 so as to contact the collector rings without hindering the free rotation of the viewing assembly. Non-conductive supports 732 extended to two separate DC power supplies 720, 734 each adapted to be plugged into a 120 volt AC electrical outlet. The first set of collector rings provided 6 volts of electricity to po er the two tuner/LCD drivers. The second set of collector rings conducted 12 volts of DC power to the ELP inverter and the 2.4 GHS wireless Av receiver.
Peripheral to, but included in system 700 were a VCR 724 (available as Model No. VCH800U from Sharp), a 2.4 Ghz wireless video transmitter 738 (available as Catalog No. 15-1971 from Radio Shack), a variable speed DC motor 740 housed in base 702 (available as Model No. C0047 from Bodine), and a source of power 742. The motor included a separate speed control 744 (available as Model No. BC 141 from Baldor) and a tachometer 746 (available as Model No. MP62TA from Red Lion Controls). A 10K potentiometer 748 was connected to the speed controller from adjusting the speed of the motor. A tachometer read-out 750 was also included (available as Model No. Ditak #5 Pt# DT500000 from Red Lion Controls). The variable speed control and tachometer readout were attached to the motor by conventional lead wires that extended through apertures (not illustrated) in the housing. The aluminum rod supporting the mounting surface was connected to the motor for providing rotation to the viewing assembly.
In operation, power to the motor was turned on, illuminating the ELPs and allowing the support rod and viewing assembly to rotate about axis "a." Power to the VCR and video transmitter were turned on, allowing the VCR to provide a video signal to the wireless video transmitter. The wireless video transmitter transmitted a video signal to the wireless video receiver, which in turn distributed the video signal to the video tuner, LCD driver and LCD screens. The scan rate of the LCD screens was 29.97 scans per second, and the rotation rate of the viewing assembly was about 29.97 revolutions per second.
A continuous moving video image could be seen from any position around the table, whether standing, sitting, or kneeling. Thus, the present example illustrates the effectiveness of the apparatus for simultaneously providing a video display to a plurality of viewers at any position orthogonal to, and from a plurality of positions oblique to, the axis on which the viewing assembly was rotated.
EXAMPLE 3 The apparatus of Examples 1 and 2 were modified to include a polarizing filter as shown in Fig. 19 around the transparent housing. Thus, when the systems were in use, the polarizing filter masked from view any structures that might otherwise be viewed through the transparent housing.
Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. All combinations and permutations of the electrical contacts and operational methods are available for practice in various applications as the need arises. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.
1. A viewing assembly, comprising; an illumination source having a first surface, a second surface, and opposing side edges, at least a portion of the first surface being a light emitting surface; a first image member; a blocking member; and a source of power coupled to the illumination source.
2. The viewing assembly of claim 1, wherein the illumination source and the first image member are substantially planar.
3. The viewing assembly of claim 2, wherein the illumination source and the first image member are disposed in adjacent relation.
4. The viewing assembly of claim 4, wherein the illumination source and the first image member are in direct contact with each other.
6. The viewing assembly of claim 5, wherein the illumination source, the first image member, and the blocking member are disposed in adjacent relation.
7. The viewing assembly of claim 6, wherein the illumination source, the first image member, and the blocking member are in direct contact with each other.
9. The viewing assembly of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the second surface is a light emitting surface, and further comprising a second image member and a second blocking member.
10. The viewing assembly of claim 7, wherein the illumination source and the first and second image members are substantially planar.
11. The viewing assembly of claim 10, wherein the illumination source and the first and second image members are disposed in adjacent relation.
12. The viewing assembly of claim 11 , wherein the illumination source and the first and second image members are in direct contact with each other.
14. The viewing assembly of claim 13, wherein the illumination source, the first and second image members, and the first and second blocking members are disposed in adjacent relation.
15. The viewing assembly of claim 14, wherein the illumination source, the first and second image members, and the first and second blocking members are in direct contact with each other.
17. The viewing assembly of claim 1 , wherein the illumination source comprises at least two adjacent illumination sources.
18. The viewing assembly of claim 9, wherein the illumination source comprises at least two adjacent illumination sources.
19. The viewing assembly of claim 6, wherein the illumination source is an electroluminescent panel, the image member is a liquid crystal display, and the blocking member is a light controlling film.
20. The viewing assembly of claim 6, wherein the illumination source is an edge- lit light guide, the image member is a liquid crystal display, and the blocking member is a light controlling film.
22. The viewing assembly of claim 1, wherein the illumination source and the image member are unitary.
23. The viewing assembly of claim 1, wherein the viewing assembly is bisected by an axis, and further comprising a support member disposed about the axis and constructed and arranged to support the viewing assembly.
24. The viewing assembly of claim 23, wherein the image member is coplanar with a plane intersecting and parallel to the axis.
25. A viewing system, comprising; a viewing assembly disposed about an axis bisecting the viewing assembly; a support member for supporting the viewing assembly; means for rotation connected to the support member; and a source of power coupled to the illumination source and to the means for rotation; wherein the viewing assembly includes an illumination source, an image member, and a blocking member.
26. The viewing system of claim 25, wherein the viewing assembly is constructed and arranged to rotate about the axis.
27. The viewing system of claim 25, wherein the viewing assembly is constructed and arranged to rotate about the axis at a rotation rate of at least about 120 revolutions per minute to at least about 2000 revolutions per minute.
28. The viewing system of claim*25, wherein the viewing assembly is constructed and arranged to rotate about the axis at a rotation rate of about 120 revolutions per minute to about 600 revolutions per minute.
5 being a light emitting surface; an image member adjacent at least a portion of each of the light emitting surfaces; a blocking member adj acent at least a portion of each image member; and a source of power coupled to the illumination source.
36. The viewing assembly of claim 35, further comprising a supporting member constructed and arranged to rotate about an axis.
41. The viewing assembly of claim 40, wherein the light controlling film has a viewing angle of from about 0 to about 60 degrees.
42. A viewing system, comprising; a viewing assembly; a support member for supporting the viewing assembly and about which the viewing assembly is constructed and arranged to rotate; a means for rotation; and a source of power coupled to the means for rotation and the viewing assembly; wherein the viewing assembly includes an illumination source, an image member, and a blocking member, and the illumination source and image member are substantially planar.
43. The viewing system of claim 42, wherein the blocking member is a light controlling film having a viewing angle of from about 0 to 60 degrees.
44. A video system, comprising; a viewing assembly bisected by an axis; means for rotation connected to the viewing assembly for rotating the viewing assembly about the axis; means for receiving a transmitted video signal; and a source of power coupled to the viewing assembly, the means for rotation, and the means for receiving the transmitted video signal.
45. The viewing system of claim 44, further comprising an adjustment device coupled to the means for rotation, the adjustment device for adjusting the speed of rotation of the viewing assembly.
46. The viewing system of claim 44, further comprising a transparent housing surrounding the viewing assembly.
47. The viewing system of claim 46, further comprising a polarizing filter surrounding the viewing assembly.
48. The viewing system of claim 46, wherein the polarizing filter is disposed on a surface of the transparent housing.
49. A method, comprising: providing a rotating illuminated viewing assembly disposed substantially in a plane and displaying an image, the viewing assembly supported about an axis bisecting the plane; wherein the image is viewable by a viewer from any angle incident to the plane and within the viewer's range of vision.
50. The method of claim 49, wherein the viewing assembly is supported by a substantially horizontal surface.
51. The method of claim 49, wherein the viewing assembly is suspended from a substantially horizontal surface.
52. A viewing assembly, comprising; a substantially planar illumination source having opposing surfaces positioned in adjacent relation, each opposing surface being a light emitting surface; an image member adjacent at least a portion of each of the light emitting surfaces; a blocking member adj acent at least a portion of each image member; and a source of power coupled to the illumination source.
PCT/US2001/012136 2000-04-14 2001-04-13 Illuminated viewing assembly, viewing system including the illuminated viewing assembly, and method of viewing therefor WO2001080204A3 (en)
EP20010928512 EP1299872B1 (en) 2000-04-14 2001-04-13 Illuminated viewing assembly, viewing system including the illuminated viewing assembly, and method of viewing therefor
CA 2406411 CA2406411A1 (en) 2000-04-14 2001-04-13 Illuminated viewing assembly, viewing system including the illuminated viewing assembly, and method of viewing therefor
AU5536001A AU5536001A (en) 2000-04-14 2001-04-13 Illuminated viewing assembly, viewing system including the illuminated viewing assembly, and method of viewing therefor
PCT/US2001/012136 WO2001080204A3 (en) 2000-04-14 2001-04-13 Illuminated viewing assembly, viewing system including the illuminated viewing assembly, and method of viewing therefor
A47B17/04—Writing-tables with secret or fireproof compartments ; Trays or the like countersunk in the table top and obturable, e.g. by means of a roller or sliding shutter
Apparatus (2) for housing a product comprising a frame (4) mounted on or in a surface; and a member (6) moveable within the frame (4) and for securing the product wherein the member (6) is moveable between a first position in which the product is concealed from view and a second position in which the product is in view and accessible by a user.
Field of the Invention This invention relates to apparatus for housing a product, such that when the product is not in use, it is concealed from view.
Background of the Invention In many installations of products, such as data/video projectors, monitors, telephones or keyboards it is paramount that protection is afforded to the product against theft or damage. It is often not feasible to remove these products from their locations when not in use either due to the size of the product or connection of leads to the product. Previous solutions to this problem have included the use of a motorized lift which retracts the product into a surface, such as a ceiling. Some problems associated with these devices are that often when the product is in use the opening in the ceiling is not sealed off, giving unsightly views and loss of effectiveness of heating and/or cooling systems. These types of lifts are also quite cumbersome requiring a large surface cavity in which to be housed and a difficult installation process. Another benefit of this type of discrete installation is the aesthetics, in many applications it is not desirable to view the projection unit when not in use. The present invention seeks to provide an apparatus for housing a product which is concealed from view when not in use. In this manner, after a product has been used, it can be stowed away from view and its surrounds are aesthetically more appealing when the product is unnoticeable.
Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for housing a product comprising: a frame mounted on or in a surface; and a member moveable within the frame and for securing the product; wherein the member is moveable between a first position in which the product is concealed from view and a second position in which the product is in view and accessible by a user. According to an embodiment, the member may substantially cover an opening through the frame in the first position or the second position. The apparatus may further comprise pivot means, such as pins, axles or rods, connecting the frame to the member to enable movement of the member between the first position and the second position. The member may comprise a panel that fits within the frame and is rotatable within the frame through the pivot means. An elongate bar may be attached adjacent opposite sides of a four sided panel and in which is formed a portion of the pivot means. The pivot means may comprise a rod attached to or formed in each of the bars and a bush formed in corresponding sides of a four sided frame for receiving a respective rod. The panel preferably is level with the frame in each of the first and second positions. The panel may rotate up to 360 degrees about the pivot means. In this manner, the apparatus retracts the product, such as a projection unit, into a surface, such as a ceiling by means of the revolving panel that fits within the frame and rotates 360° within this frame, pivoted in the center of either two parallel sides. There may be one or more recesses in a side (section) of the frame to enable cables to be connected to the product without interfering with the movement of the product and the member. According to a further embodiment, the member may include a first panel and a second panel connected by one or more side frames. The first panel may be level with the frame and closes the opening in the first position. The second panel may be level with the frame and closes the opening in the second position. A portion of the first panel may be connected to the frame through the pivot means. The first panel may have a pair of legs extending therefrom, a distal end of each leg being connected to the frame through the pivot means. The pivot means may comprise a rod attached or formed in each of the legs and a bush formed in corresponding sides of a four sided frame for receiving a respective rod. Each side frame may be shaped to enable the first panel to remain level with and in the frame in the first position and to enable the second panel to remain level with and in the frame in the second position. Each side frame may comprise four sections joined in the shape of a quadrilateral, with a section joined respectively to the first panel and the second panel. hi another form of the invention a motor can be connected to the pivot means in order to control the pivot means to operate the member to move between the first position and the second position. Thus, one of the axles/rods could be extended outside the frame in such a way that a motor may be attached to the axle allowing the panel or panels to be rotated by the motor. The motor may be remote controlled. The product may be any one of a projector unit, keyboard, telephone or monitor and the surface may be any one of a ceiling, wall, floor, desktop or a part of a piece of furniture. Each panel may be made of craft wood or any other appropriate material that can be attached to the pivot means and allows for the ability to attach a product, such as a projection unit to the panel. The frame may be fabricated from metal or be constructed from moulded plastic.
Brief Description of the Drawings One or more preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a frame and member of apparatus for concealing a product according to a first embodiment; Figures 2(A), 2(B) and 2(C) respectively depict the apparatus of Figure 1 in a first (closed) position, the member in a rotating position and the apparatus in a second (open) position; Figure 3 is a perspective view of apparatus for concealing a product according to a second embodiment shown in a slightly open position; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of the apparatus of Figure 3 shown in a fully open or second position.
Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments With reference to Figure 1 there is shown a first embodiment of apparatus that is used to conceal a product. The apparatus 2 includes a frame 4 and a member 6 which includes a panel freely rotatable within the frame 4. The frame 4 is constructed of four sections or sides 8, 10, 12 and 14 that are shown joined to each other approximately in the form of a square. The sections 8, 10, 12 and 14 may be made from metal, such as steel, or from moulded plastic and be joined to each other by welding or other known joining techniques. In this instance these sections are all approximately of the same length, but may vary in length or shape depending on the application or for which product is to be concealed when not in use. Located at approximately midway along the sections 10 and 14 are bushes 16 and 18 for receiving and supporting corresponding rods or axles 20 and 22 forming part of the member or panel 6. Located either end of the section 14 are recesses 24 and 26 to enable cables to be attached to the product so as not to get entangled when the apparatus 2 is rotated between a second position in which it is in use and a first position when it is concealed from view and not in use. The bushes 16, 18 may be suitably made of brass or nylon or any other low wearing material. The member 6 comprises a panel 28 of a thickness and size so that it fits within the opening of the frame 4. The panel 28 can be made of a suitable material such as craft wood that is easily painted and can match the surrounding surface: Attached adjacent two opposite sides of the panel 28 are pivot bars 30 and 32 which are shorter in length than the adjacent side of the panel 28. Approximately at the center of the bars 30 and 32 are the axles 20 and 22 that fit within corresponding bushes 16 and 18 of frame 4 to support the member 6 within the frame 4 and allow free rotation of the member 6 within the frame 4. The axles 20 and 22 may suitably be made of metal and in particular brass or steel. The bars 30 and 32 may also be made of steel and for added rigidity and strength are in the form of an L section or right-angled bar. With reference to Figures 2A, 2B and 2C there is shown three views showing the operation of the apparatus with a.product, in the form of a projector unit, attached to member 6. In Figure 2A the projector unit 34 is concealed from view and is not in use. The frame 4 together with the member 6 are fitted to a surface 36, in this particular instance a ceiling. Alternatively the product may be a keyboard, monitor or telephone that is fitted to the apparatus 2 and installed in a cavity mounted in another surface, such as a desk, piece of furniture, wall or floor. In Figure 2A the sections 8 and 12 are directly mounted to the internal portion of ceiling 36 to provide a support for the apparatus 2. The projector unit 34 is shown in a first position where it is concealed from view and securely attached or fitted to panel 28 of member 6. In Figure 2B the member 6 is rotated, pivoting on rods 20 to 22 towards a second position as shown in Figure 2C where it is ready for use. Thus the projector unit 34 is able to be rotated 180° from its position shown in Figure 2A to its position shown in Figure 2C. It maybe further rotated another 180° so that a full 360° rotation is possible. In Figure 2C the projector unit 34 may be secured or locked in position (not shown). With reference to Figure 3 there is shown a further embodiment of an apparatus 40 used to conceal a product. The apparatus 40 comprises a frame 42 and a member 44 which freely rotates within the frame 42. The frame 42 comprises four sections/sides 46, 48, 50 and 52 which are preferably made from metal, such as steel or brass and are joined to each other to form substantially a rectangular shape. Such joining may be done by welding or any other suitable joining means. The frame 42 is adapted to fit within a cavity protruding through a surface, such as a ceiling. The member 44 comprises a pair of panels 54 and 56 with panel 54 adapted to fit flush within the frame 42 when the member 44 is in an open position, such that a product housed between the panels 54 and 56, is operable and in use. Panel 56 is adapted to fit flush within the frame 42 when the product is not in use and is therefore concealed by the panel 56. Suitably the panel 56 and the panel 54 are adapted to match the surrounding ceiling characteristics or surface characteristics. The panels 54 and 56 may be made from a suitable timber that can be painted to match the surrounding surface characteristics. Both panels 54 and 56 are joined together by side frames 58 and 60 each of which comprises four sections or members defining an opening. Member 62 of side frame 58 and member 64 of side frame 60 are suitably secured to a top face of panel 56. Member 65 of side frame 58 and member 66 of side frame 60 are suitably secured to a lower face of panel 54. Members 68 and 70 of side frame 58 and members 72 and 74 of side frame 66 provide necessary support between the respective panels 54 and 56. A pair of legs 76 and 78 extend from members 65 and 66 and are connected at their distal ends to frame 42 by a pair of rods 67 and 69 which are housed in respective bushes formed in members 46 and 50 of frame 42. The rods 67 and 69 are secured respectively to the legs 76 and 78 so that the member 44 is able to freely rotate within the frame 42 via the hinge motion or action provided by the rods connecting the legs 76 and 78 to the frame 42. In situations where the panels 54 and 56 are shorter in length than the entire frame 42 a further ceiling panel 80 may be incorporated within the frame 42. Thus in Figure 3 the apparatus 40 is shown partially open where the panel 56 is below the level of frame 42. Where it is in a first closed position such that the product mounted between the panels 54 and 56, such as a projector unit, is concealed the panel 56 is level and fits within the frame 42 between ceiling portion 80 and members 46, 50 and 52 of frame 42. It can be secured or suitably locked in position. With reference to Figure 4 the apparatus 40 is shown in a fully open position whereby the product that is housed between the panels 54 and 56 is able to be used or operated. In this situation the panel 54 is flush within the frame level with members 46' and 50 and extra panel 80. Thus to the user the panels 54 and 80 are level with the surrounding ceiling so that aesthetically there is no gap provided in the ceiling. Again the position of the apparatus shown in Figure 4 can be locked in place by suitable locking means. Each of the bushes, rods and side frames may be made from a suitable material such as steel, brass, plastics or nylon. Each of the sections 48 and 52 may be suitably made in an L shaped configuration having a ledge which can provide suitable connection to the inner portion of the ceiling or surface that the apparatus is attached to. Where additional ceiling panel 80 is not required then the' panels 54 and 56 will extend along the entire area within the frame so that either in the open position or the closed position the respective panel matches the surrounding surface and therefore provides no gap or a cavity, in which the apparatus is installed, is not visible to users. Additionally the side frames 58 and 60 have respective legs or portions 68, 70, 72 and 74 which are so shaped that enable panel 54 to remain substantially level within frame 42 in the open position and allows panel 56 to be substantially level within frame 42 in the closed position. With regard to both embodiments described a motor may be connected to the apparatus in order to rotate the respective members 6 or 44 between open and closed positions. With regard to the first embodiment a motor may be attached to either one or both of rods or pins 20 and 22. In the second embodiment of Figure 3 a motor may be attached accordingly to the rods 67 and 69 connected to legs 76 and 78 so that rotation of the rods or pins rotate the frame 44 between open and closed positions. The motor may include an electronic circuit that has an infrared receiver so that infrared signals may be sent from a remote control unit to control a motor to operate the apparatus. Hence, rotation of the members 6 or 44 can be initiated and stopped when the product is in the desired position. As mentioned previously the apparatus is not only useful for a ceiling mounting of projector units and the like but can also be used to conceal products in a wall, a floor, a piece of furniture or another suitable location such as a desk top. The invention is not limited to concealing projector units and the like but also may be used to conceal other products such as visual display units, keyboards, telephones and any other particular product that requires concealment when not in use.
1. Apparatus for housing a product comprising: a frame mounted on or in a surface; and a member moveable within the frame and for securing the product; wherein the member is moveable between a first position in which the product is concealed from view and a second position in which the product is in view and accessible by a user.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the member substantially covers an opening through the frame in the first position.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the member substantially covers and opening through the frame in the second position.
4. Apparatus according to any one of the previous claims further comprising pivot means connecting the frame to the member to enable movement of the member between the first position and the second position.
5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the member comprises a panel that fits within the frame and is rotatable within the frame through the pivot means.
6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein an elongate bar is attached adjacent opposite sides of a four sided panel and in which is formed a portion of the pivot means.
7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the pivot means comprises a rod attached to or formed in each of the bars and a bush formed in corresponding sides of a four sided frame for receiving a respective rod.
8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the panel resides level with the frame in each of the first and second positions.
9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the panel rotates up to 360 degrees about the pivot means .
10. Apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising one or more recesses in a section of the frame to enable cables to be connected to the product without interfering with the movement of the product and the member.
11. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the member includes a first panel and a second panel connected by one or more side frames.
12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the first panel is level with the frame and closes the opening in the first position.
13. Apparatus according to claim 11 or claim 12 wherein the second panel is level with the frame and closes the opening in the second position.
14. Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein a portion of the first panel is connected to the frame through the pivot means.
15. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the first panel has a pair of legs extending therefrom, a distal end of each leg being connected to the frame through the pivot means.
16. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the pivot means comprises a rod attached or formed in each of the legs and a bush formed in corresponding sides of a four sided frame for receiving a respective rod.
17. Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein each side frame is shaped to enable the first panel to remain level with and in the frame in the first position and to enable the second panel to remain level with and in the frame in the second position.
18. Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein each side frame comprises four sections joined in the shape of a quadrilateral, with a section joined respectively to the first panel and the second panel.
19. Apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 18 wherein a motor is connected to the pivot means in order to control the pivot means to operate the member to move between the first position and the second position.
21. Apparatus according to any one of the previous claims wherein the product is any one of a projector unit, keyboard, telephone or monitor. ' 22. Apparatus according to any one of the previous claims wherein the surface is any one of a ceiling, wall, floor, desktop or a part of a piece of furniture.
NZ54803904A NZ548039A (en) 2003-11-25 2004-11-25 Apparatus for concealing a product such as a video projector by moving a hinged panel
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