Patent Application
20190033607
This invention relates to a multi-image display structure and a kit comprising substantially triangular optical prisms arranged in a cube-like shape, wherein multiple pictures and/or light-emitting displays may be provided in slots between inward-facing quadrangular surfaces of the optical prisms, wherein at least one slot is perpendicular to a side face of the cube-like shape.
The multi-image display structure may be used to display or exhibit a multiplicity of artworks, photographs, pictures and/or videos and enables switching between different images depending on the viewing angle of the observer.
Numerous display structures are known in the art for the purpose of presenting a multiplicity of still and/or moving images, such as advertising signs, photographs, artwork or videos.
A common design for advertising signs includes an assembly comprising multiple square or triangular shaped prisms that are rotatably mounted side-by-side in a frame. Each side of the prisms has a vertical strip of a poster or other image attached on them, and the rotation is synchronized so that all the strips for one image are shown at once to make up a complete image.
An alternative concept which aims at the presentation of multiple still and/or moving images on a single display surface while minimizing or avoiding mechanical or movable components are display structures which are capable of displaying different images or information on a single display surface depending on the viewing angle of the observer.
For example, JP 2004-333848 A discloses an image display for displaying new images by allowing screen information to be changed depending on the position of the observer without using mechanical or movable components.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,893,413 B1 includes the integration of two complementary pictures/images thereon such that the viewing angle of the viewer determines the resulting picture.
JP 2002-268598 A discloses an image display apparatus in which not only different display images can be switched but an erect image and an inverted image can be both displayed at a time.
However, it would be desirable for a number of applications to provide a display structure which is capable of displaying still or moving images on multiple sides thereof. In this connection, WO 2011/000545 A1 discloses a double-sided display structure comprising a light transmitting element having a pair of opposed light receiving faces and a pair of opposed light emitting faces substantially orthogonally disposed to the light receiving faces, a light reflecting layer disposed at an oblique angle to the light receiving faces and the light emitting faces, and a pair of light-emitting displays for displaying the same or different still and/or moving images and being mounted such that an image from a respective light-emitting display is emitted into a respective light receiving face and is transmitted through the light transmitting element to be reflected by the reflecting layer to a respective light emitting face, whereby the images received at the pair of opposed light receiving faces are visible to observers through the pair of opposed light emitting faces of the display structure. Such a display structure allows enclosing the light-emitting displays within the mounting members so that when looking at one side of the display structure, an observer can only see the image reflected from the hypotenuse face of one of the prism without any visible means of the image generation.
Nevertheless, it may be desirable to provide a display structure and kit which is capable of displaying a large number of pictures and moving images on more than two faces and allows screen information to be changed depending on the viewing angle of the observer, without necessarily using movable components.
Also it still remains desirable to provide a multi-image display structure, which is up- and downscalable in a simple manner, inexpensive, enables excellent optical clarity even when manufactured at larger dimensions, exhibits a favourable visual appearance and may be simultaneously used under harsh environmental conditions and for a large number of purposes.
The present invention has been made in view of the above enumerated drawbacks and/or desires for improvements in the art.
The present invention solves this object with the subject matter of the claims as defined herein. The advantages of the present invention will be further explained in detail in the section below and further advantages will become apparent to the skilled artisan upon consideration of the invention disclosure.
The present invention therefore seeks to provide a display structure which is capable of displaying a large number of the same or different still and/or moving images on more than two display faces, which is up- and downscalable in a simple manner, inexpensive, and exhibits excellent optical clarity and hence enables to provide a space-saving display structure having a favourable visual appearance.
For this purpose, one aspect of the present invention relates to a multi-image display structure comprising: a plurality of substantially triangular optical prisms arranged in a cube-like shape, the triangular prism surfaces being plane-parallel to the top and bottom surfaces of the cube-like shape; slots between inward-facing quadrangular surfaces of the optical prisms, wherein at least one slot is perpendicular to a side face of the cube-like shape; and one or more picture(s) and/or light-emitting display(s) independently provided in a plurality of said slots.
In preferred embodiments, the display structure is a four sided display structure; comprises 5 to 32, preferably 5 to 16, further preferably 8 substantially triangular optical prisms arranged in a cube-like shape. In another preferred aspect, the substantially triangular optical prisms are right-triangular prisms, wherein the hypotenuse faces of the right-triangular prisms are preferably positioned face-to-face in the prism arrangement. In a further preferred aspect, one or more picture(s) and/or light-emitting display(s) are provided in the perpendicular slot and preferably in all slots. Preferred pictures include a painting, an artwork or a photograph, and/or and preferred light-emitting displays include an LCD or OLED.
In another preferred aspect of the multi-image display structure, the prisms are comprised of a first light-transmitting material having a first refractive index and an optional fluid second light-transmitting material having a second refractive index, the difference between the first and second refractive indices being 0.12 or less, preferably 0.06 or less, further preferably 0.03 or less; wherein the slot(s) comprise(s) a third light-transmitting material having a third refractive index; and wherein the oblique angle between a reflective prism surface and the picture(s) and/or the light-emitting display(s), and the difference between the first and third refractive indices are sufficient to cause substantial reflection of the image originating from the picture(s) and/or the light-emitting display(s). Preferably, the first light-transmitting material is a solid, preferably a glass or a polymer, further preferably poly(methyl methacrylate); wherein the optional fluid second light-transmitting material is a liquid, preferably a mineral oil or glycerol, particularly preferably glycerol; and/or wherein the third light-transmitting material is a gas, preferably air.
In another preferred aspect, the multi-image display structure of the present invention comprises: the fluid second light-transmitting material in a tank formed of the first light-transmitting material; a volume compensation chamber, preferably on a non-display face of the cube-like shape, comprising second light-transmitting material in fluid communication with the second light-transmitting material in the tank. Further preferred is a volume compensation chamber comprising a cylindrical body; a piston movably mounted into the cylindrical body via a sealing ring; and an aperture plate.
The multi-image display structure of the present invention may further comprise one or more means selected from a light assembly arranged to illuminate the prism arrangement, a motor for rotatively moving the prism arrangement, and a heating/cooling element; and a power source electrically connected to said means. In addition, it may further comprise a transparent protective cover over the side faces of the cube-like shape and an optional, preferably opaque cover plate on the top and/or bottom faces.
A second aspect of the present invention relates to a kit for making a multi-image display structure, wherein the kit comprises: a plurality of substantially triangular optical prisms arranged in a cube-like shape, the triangular prism surfaces being plane-parallel to the top and bottom surfaces of the cube-like shape; slots configured as receptacles for pictures and/or a light-emitting displays between inward-facing quadrangular surfaces of the optical prisms, wherein at least one slot is perpendicular to a side face of the cube-like shape.
A third aspect of the present invention relates to an advertising sign comprising the display structure according to the first aspect or the kit according to the second aspect and an optional mounting stand.
In a fourth aspect, the present invention relates to a presentation or entertainment article comprising the display structure according to the first aspect or the kit according to the second aspect.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the following description of the illustrative embodiments thereof:
In a first embodiment, the present invention relates to a multi-image display structure comprising: a plurality of substantially triangular optical prisms arranged in a cube-like shape, the triangular prism surfaces being plane-parallel to the top and bottom surfaces of the cube-like shape; slots between inward-facing quadrangular surfaces of the optical prisms, wherein at least one slot is perpendicular to a side face of the cube-like shape; and one or more picture(s) and/or light-emitting display(s) independently provided in a plurality of said slots.
The wording “cube-like shape”, as used herein, denotes a cube or cuboid shape which may have rounded edges.
The expression “optical prism”, as used herein, denotes a transparent optical element with flat, light-reflective surfaces.
As used herein, the expression “triangular prism” refers to a shape corresponding substantially with a polyhedron made of a triangular base, a translated copy, and three faces joining corresponding sides, wherein the three faces are parallelograms. Said expression further encompasses non-truncated and truncated triangular prisms and triangular prisms with rounded edges. In a preferred embodiment, the triangular optical prisms have a right-angled triangular prism shape. Further preferably, the hypotenuse faces of the right-triangular prisms are arranged face-to-face.
The slots are configured as receptactles for picture(s) and/or light-emitting display(s) and typically represent substantially planar elements formed between a pair of walls (i.e. the rectangular inward-facing prism surfaces) of a solid, light transmitting material which may be sealed together at their periphery. In one embodiment, the slots may also be formed by affixing a spacer (e.g. a bar spacer; spacers with T-profiles between non-hypotenuse prism faces; and/or spacers with V-profiles between hypotenuse prism faces) between said pair of walls, which may help positioning the prisms or serve to connect the prismatic elements (via adhesion, for example). Multiple picture(s) and/or light-emitting display(s) may be provided in or inserted into each slot back-to-back. The thickness of the slots is not particularly limited and may be suitably selected depending on the picture or display to be inserted or encapsulated therein. However, a favourable visual appearance is realized with slot thicknesses of 10 mm or less, preferably 7 mm or less.
The pictures that may be employed in display structures of the present invention are not particularly limited and may include paintings, drawings, artworks, prints or photographs, printed or otherwise provided on paper, canvas, non-transparent or transparent plastic substrates, etc. The light-emitting displays are preferably similar to portable electronic displays of the well known type that display either still images, or moving images, which may be stored either in an internal memory of the device (in a video format, such as MP4, AVI, MOV, etc.), on an external memory and coupled via a wire or wirelessly to the device, or be stored on a storage medium, for example a DVD or CD ROM and played by the device. In a preferred embodiment, the devices are portable video players that can display either still or moving images, and can be programmed to change the images displayed either in a predetermined or in random sequence. The screens may be either liquid-crystal displays (LCD) or light-emitting devices (such as OLEDs) or any other suitable light-emitting display which generates an image.
In preferred embodiments, the pictures may be inserted into the slots with the help of frames or transparent templates, which may be similar to a mounted slide, for example. For instance, such frames or transparent templates may provide the user with the information of the necessary picture dimensions to fit neatly into the slot and to insert or remove or exchange the picture. For example, the user may select different photos (e.g., photos of multiple family members, or images of a single person in different positions to simulate a movement as in a flip-book), position the frames or templates onto the photos to establish the required dimensions, cut the photos, insert the photos into the frame(s) or template(s) and slide the latter into the slot between the optical prisms. The frames or templates may comprise a tab or a portion extending beyond the surface of the optical prisms in order to allow them to be easily pulled out for exchange of the pictures.
In a preferred embodiment, the display structure is a four-sided display structure, which enables the picture(s) and/or light-emitting display(s) contained in the slots to be viewed either upon rotation around a center axis (axis of symmetry of order 4) of the cube-like shape or upon movement of the observer around the display structure.
The number of substantially triangular optical prisms comprised in the multi-image display structure of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as it enables a cube-like arrangement, wherein at least one slot between inward-facing quadrangular surfaces of the optical prisms is perpendicular to a side face of the cube-like shape.
In the display structure of the present invention, one or more picture(s) and/or light-emitting display(s) are independently provided in a plurality of slots. Preferably, however, said plurality of slots comprises the perpendicular slot(s) and further preferably all slots. Namely, the presence of picture(s) and/or light-emitting display(s) in the slots perpendicular to a side face has the effect that depending on the angle from which said side face is viewed, a reflected image of the picture and/or light-emitting display(s) appears or disappears. In case two pictures (or displays) are provided in the slot back-to-back, the variation of the viewing angle causes the reflected image of the first picture to disappear and the reflected image of the second picture to appear.
In one particularly preferred example from the viewpoint of simple manufacturing and favourable visual appeal, the multi-image display structure of the present invention comprises eight substantially triangular optical prisms and one perpendicular slot per side face.
An exemplary cube-like shape comprising eight right-triangular optical prisms is illustrated in
A further illustration of the optical effects in case of a cube-like shape comprising eight right-triangular optical prisms is given by means of
In general, the prisms are formed of light-transmitting materials. In a preferred embodiment, the prisms are comprised of a first light-transmitting material having a first refractive index and an optional fluid second light-transmitting material having a second refractive index, the difference between the first and second refractive indices being 0.12 or less, preferably 0.06 or less, further preferably 0.04 or less. Typically, refractive indices are measured by means of a refractometer at a wavelength of 589.29 nm and at 0° C. and 1 atm (gases), 20° C. (liquids) and at room temperature (solids). The first refractive index is preferably in a range of 1.3 to 1.6, further preferably in a range of 1.39 to 1.50. As examples of the first light-transmitting material, glass, resin (e.g. molding resin); polymers and glass/polymer laminates (e.g. safety glasses) may be mentioned, which may be appropriately selected by the skilled artisan depending on the location and purpose of the display structure. As a preferred polymer material, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) may be mentioned. For display devices with relatively large dimensions, glass/polymer laminates may be preferable in view of their stability. While not being limited thereto, preferred glass/polymer laminates include glass/polyvinyl butyral (PVB)/glass or glass/ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA)/glass laminates.
For the manufacture of multi-image display structures with relatively small dimensions (such as those having an edge length of about 20 cm or less; e.g., for key rings, photo holders, promotional giveaways and similar applications), it may be preferable to produce the prisms or the entire display structure (e.g. by cutting the slots appropriately) from solid first light-transmitting material.
An exemplary assembly comprising solid prisms is illustrated in
For larger dimensions, however, it is preferable from the viewpoint of cost-effectiveness to use the first light-transmitting material as a tank into which a fluid second light-transmitting material is filled. The second light-transmitting material is preferably a liquid, such as water, aqueous solutions, oil (e.g. mineral oil, silicone oil) or glycerol, specifically glycerol (propane-1,2,3-triol). The second light-transmitting material may include further additives (such as coloring agents, antifreeze-agents, and the like) as long as they do not impart the function of the device.
Glycerol is particularly preferable as a second light-transmitting material (especially in a purity of 98% or higher, such as 99% or higher) since it is environmentally friendly, inexpensive and exhibits excellent optical properties. Specifically, it produces less streaks and less bubbles when compared to oily fluids, and its refractive index matches that of PMMA and glass, which results in a favourable optical clarity.
One exemplary assembly of a display structure using a fluid second light-transmitting material is illustrated in
In general, the slots comprise a third light-transmitting material having a third refractive index, which may be in the range of 1.000 and 1.002, for example. Preferably, the third light-transmitting material is a gas, further preferably air.
In a preferred embodiment, the light transmitting material has a first refractive index and the light reflecting layer has a third refractive index different to the first refractive index, and the difference in the first and third refractive indices and the oblique angle are sufficient to cause the images to be substantially reflected by the light reflecting layer.
In a generally preferred embodiment, the prisms are comprised of a first light-transmitting material having a first refractive index and an optional fluid second light-transmitting material having a second refractive index, the difference between the first and second refractive indices being 0.12 or less, preferably 0.06 or less, further preferably 0.06 or less; wherein the slot(s) comprise(s) a third light-transmitting material having a third refractive index; and wherein the oblique angle between a reflective prism surface and the picture(s) and/or the light-emitting display(s), and the difference between the first and third refractive indices are sufficient to cause substantial reflection of the image originating from the picture(s) and/or the light-emitting display(s).
In the case where display structure comprises the fluid second light-transmitting material, the latter material may have an undesirably high thermal expansion coefficient (as glycerol, for example), which may cause problems when the display location is subject to extensive temperature changes (e.g., in outdoor installations). Commonly, this problem is solved by setting the dimension of the tank according to the calculated maximum volume of the fluid light-transmitting material under the expected conditions. However, this approach is not satisfactory in terms of the visual appearance, particularly since relatively large voids and/or bubbles may be present in the tank, which must be hidden behind relatively opaque cover lids or similar measures and which may introduce undesirable reflections in the upper part of the prism arrangement. A further alternative is the implementation of a heating/cooling element configured to regulate the temperature of fluid light-transmitting material at a constant value, which is relatively energy-consuming, however.
Therefore, a preferred display structure of the present invention additionally comprises a volume compensation chamber, preferably on a non-display face of the display structure or as a cylindrical element in the center of the structure (as shown in
Further preferably, the volume compensation chamber comprises a cylindrical body; a piston movably mounted into the cylindrical body via a sealing ring; and an aperture plate.
A specifically preferred example thereof is illustrated in
The means of connecting and mounting each of the components of the multi-image display structure according to the present invention are generally not limited and may include mechanical (incl. clips, screws etc.) and chemical (e.g., through adhesives) connection means.
Another preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises one or more means selected from a light assembly arranged to illuminate the prism arrangement, a motor for rotatively moving the prism arrangement, and a heating/cooling element; and a power source electrically connected to said means. The power source may include, but is not limited to batteries (e.g., a secondary battery, an organic thin film battery) and photovoltaic devices.
In a second embodiment, the present invention relates to a kit for making a multi-image display structure, wherein the kit comprises: a plurality of substantially triangular optical prisms arranged in a cube-like shape, the triangular prism surfaces being plane-parallel to the top and bottom surfaces of the cube-like shape; slots configured as receptacles for pictures and/or a light-emitting displays between inward-facing quadrangular surfaces of the optical prisms, wherein at least one slot is perpendicular to a side face of the cube-like shape. The kit may comprise frames or transparent templates as described above with the first embodiment. It will be understood that the kit of the second embodiment may be configured in accordance with the description of the first embodiment and serves the purpose of displaying individual pictures (e.g. paintings, drawings, artworks, prints or photographs; personal or corporate) and moved images. For example, the kit may function as a picture holder for personal photos or comprise slots that are suitably dimensioned to incorporate commercially available light-emitting displays, tablet devices or mobile phones.
In a third embodiment, the present invention relates to an advertising sign comprising the display structure according to the first embodiment or the kit according to the second embodiment. The advertising sign may be provided with an optional mounting stand or ceiling support. For example, as is shown in
In a fourth embodiment, the present invention relates to a presentation or entertainment article comprising the display structure according to the first embodiment or the kit according to the second embodiment. Presentation articles include promotional items, which may include, but are not limited to key rings, souvenirs and corporate giveaways. Entertainment articles may include, but are not limited to toys and/or puzzles.
Once given the above disclosure, many other features, modifications, and improvements will become apparent to the skilled artisan.
It will be appreciated that the present invention may employ any of the preferred features specified above with respect to the description of any of the above-described embodiments, and that the preferred features may be combined in any combination, except for combinations where at least some of the features are mutually exclusive.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17020325.1 | Jul 2017 | EP | regional |
