WO2004111982A2

WO2004111982A2 - Controlling system

Info

Publication number: WO2004111982A2
Application number: PCT/SE2004/000933
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ali Shafiei
Original assignee: Ali Shafiei
Priority date: 2003-06-17
Filing date: 2004-06-14
Publication date: 2004-12-23
Also published as: WO2004111982A3; SE0301769L; SE0301769D0; SE525625C2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a controlling system (1) designed to control a segmented display means (2), comprising a first interface (11) for an incoming signal (3), a processing unit (12), an amplifying unit (13), and a second interface (14) for outgoing signals (4). The incoming signal to the processing unit (12) consists of first information-carrying data bits (31) according to a pre-defined format, wherein the processing unit (12) is adapted to transform data bits (31) into second information-carrying data bits (32) which, in turn, correspond to segments belonging to the segmented display means (2). The processing unit (12) is also adapted to switch incoming first data bits (31) to a position (15a) in a table (15), said position (1 5a) representing a graphic symbol adapted to be shown on or presented by the segmented display means (2) and thereafter form the second information-carrying data bits (32) on the basis of said given position (15). The present invention also relates to different segmented display means adapted to be driven by an inventive controlling system and thereby present different signals or symbols. The invention also relates to an indicating system that comprises both an inventive controlling system and segmented display means.

Description

CONTROLLING SYSTEM

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a controlling system designed to control a segmented display means, wherein the system comprises a first interface for an incoming signal, a processing unit, an amplifying unit, and a second interface for an outgoing signal. The present invention also relates to a segmented display means adapted for control by an inventive controlling system, and an indicating system comprising an inventive controlling system and a segmented display means.

KNOWN TECHNOLOGY

Several different methods of presenting information through the medium of segmented display means are known to the art. The most usual display means is one with which Latin letters and numbers can be shown with the aid of a few segments. Patent publication WO 00/72294 illustrates an example of this technology, in which a traditional display means having seven segments has been developed into a display means that has eleven or sixteen segments with the intention of increasing the number of characters that can be shown by the display means. The number of segments included in this display means is sufficiently few to enable the display means to be addressed relatively simply with a relatively short data word.

Patent publication US 4 647 924 teaches a segmented display means adapted to show letters belonging to the Arabic alphabet. A display means according to this publication is able to take into account, to some extent, whether the letter to be presented is located at the beginning of a word, in the centre of the word or at the end of the word, or whether the presentation shall consist of the freestanding letter.

It can be seen directly that as the number of segments increases so does also the complexity of how the display means shall be controlled and addressed. Patent publication US 5 407 355 also teaches a letter display means for showing Arabic letters. However, it is difficult to comprehend how the same display means unit is capable of showing an arbitrary letter in accordance with the segmentation described in this publication. It is also known that when a display means is comprised of a large number of segments, such as a matrix, a large flow of information is required for controlling and updating the display means, particularly when complex letters, symbols or figures shall be shown on the display means.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Technical Problems

With a starting point from controlling systems that are designed to control segmented display means, a technical problem resides in showing characters, symbols or combinations of several characters on a segmented display means.

A technical problem also resides in the ability to show a large number of different characters, symbols or images on a segmented display means.

A further technical problem also resides in the ability to show Arabic, Chinese and/or Latin numbers and characters on a segmented display means.

Still another technical problem resides in the ability to control and to check a segmented display means that includes a large number of segments and that is adapted to be able to show a large number of different characters, symbols or images.

Solution

With the intention of solving one or more of the above technical problems with a starting point from a controlling system which is adapted to control a segmented display means and which comprises a first interface for an incoming signal, a processing unit, an amplifying unit, and a second interface for outgoing signals, it is proposed in accordance with the present invention that the signal incoming to the processing unit is comprised of first information-carrying data bits according to a pre-defined format or protocol and that the processing unit is adapted to transform the received first data bits to second information-carrying data bits, wherewith respective second information-carrying data bits correspond to a segment belonging to the segmented display means.

The amplifying unit is adapted to receive the second information-carrying data bits and to amplify said bits to a signal strength which is adapted to drive the segmented display means and to send the amplified second information-carrying data bits to the second interface as output signals.

The processing unit is adapted to transform or alter the first data bits to a table position in a table in which respective positions represent a graphic symbol adapted to be shown on said segmented display means, wherein the processing unit is also adapted to form the second information-carrying data bits with a starting point from the position indicated in the table. In this way, only one address need be made to the table, which may then include complex symbols or images. Such addressing requires only a few data bits in comparison with what is required to activate the segments when showing a symbol on a segmented display means.

According to the present invention, a table may include a large number of different characters, symbols or even messages that contain complete words or several words. For instance, tables may include Arabic characters where respective characters are represented in the table in different forms, such as a character form at the beginning of a word, a character form in the middle of a word, a character form at the end of a word, and in the form of a free standing character. It is also possible to include in the table Chinese, Japanese and/or Korean characters, and Latin characters. Because of the properties possessed by the invention with regard to the handling of a plurality of different characters, it is possible to adapt one and the same display means to show arrays of characters from different character groups or sets, for instance both Arabic and Latin characters or both Chinese and Latin characters.

According to other possible embodiments, the table may also include symbols or indicators belonging to an indicating instrument, such as a gauge or a technically equivalent device for instance.

The characters included in the table may be adapted to be shown on different types of segmented display means, such as a display means that consist of segment-forming points in a matrix, or a display means consisting of segment- forming triangles where groups of four triangles form squares or oblongs that build a matrix configuration. With the intention of providing a user friendly and adaptable controlling system it is proposed in accordance with the invention that the table is stored in a first and a second memory space, where the first memory space is comprised of a readable memory that includes pre-programmed characters or symbols, and where the second memory space is comprised of a read and write memory that includes characters or symbols which can be readily changed or re- programmed by a user according to his/her own requirements.

With the intention of providing a standardised interface for an inventive system it is proposed that the system will include an interpretation unit which is adapted to receive an incoming signal of standardised format and to convert or transform this standardised incoming signal to the first information-carrying data bits according to the pre-defined format. Such a standardised format may consist of the ASCII-format or the Unicode format for example.

With the intention of simplifying communication with a plurality of different inventive controlling systems, it is proposed in accordance with the present invention that the system will include a receiving unit adapted for wireless reception of the incoming signal.

The present invention also relates to a segmented display means that includes a number of segments that can be activated independently of one another and that may be adapted to show certain characters from different alphabets, symbols, figures or indicators in accordance with the aforedescribed.

Such a display means may include segments that consist of matrix points or triangles, where groups of four triangles form squares or oblongs that build a matrix.

An inventive display means is preferably adapted to be controlled and driven and by a controlling system according to the present invention.

The present invention also includes an indicating system adapted to present information on one or more display means, wherein the indicating system, which may comprise a gauge or some technical equivalent, includes an inventive segmented display means and an inventive controlling system adapted to control and drive the segmented display means. Such an indicating system may include a plurality of segmented display means where, for instance, a controlling system is adapted to control each segmented display means, or where a controlling system is provided for each segmented display means.

According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the segmented display means and its related controlling system consist of an integrated unit. It is also proposed in accordance with the present invention that respective display means can be addressed separately through an identity unique to respective display means. Advantages

Those advantages primarily associated with a controlling system, a segmented display means or an indicating system according to the present invention reside in the possibility of readily addressing a display means that includes a large number of segments. Addressing can be affected with a relatively short data word and solely this short data word is required for changing the information shown on or presented by the display means, even when the display means divulges complex information with a large number of activatable segments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A controlling system, a segmented display means and a character indicating system according to the present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Figure 1 is a schematic and highly simplified illustration of a controlling system according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is an example of a table containing Arabic characters; Figure 3 is an example of a table that includes symbols, indicators and messages;

Figure 4 is an example of how a matrix-type segmented display means can be divided up;

Figure 5 is an example of how a segmented display means adapted for showing Arabic characters can be divided up; Figure 6 is an example of how a segmented display means adapted to show symbols, indicators or complete messages can be divided up;

Figure 7 illustrates a first embodiment of an inventive indicating system; Figure 8 illustrates a second embodiment of an inventive indicating system;

Figure 9 illustrates a third embodiment of an inventive indicating system; and

Figure 10 illustrates a fourth embodiment of an inventive indicating system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Shown in figure 1 is a controlling system 1 which is adapted to control a segmented display means 2.

The controlling system 1 includes a first interface 11 for an incoming signal 3, a processing unit 12, an amplifying unit 13, and a second interface 14 for an outgoing signal 4. According to the present invention, the signal incoming to the processing unit consists of first information-carrying data bits 31 according to a predefined format. The processing unit 12 is adapted to transform the received first data bits 31 to second information-carrying data bits 32, where respective second information-carrying data bits 32 correspond to a segment belonging to the segmented display means 2.

The amplifying unit 13 is adapted to receive the second information-carrying data bits 32 and to amplify said bits to a signal strength adapted to drive the segmented display means 2 and thereafter to send the amplified second data bits 33 to the second interface 14 as an output signal. It is proposed in accordance with the present invention that the processing unit 12 is adapted to switch the first data bits 31 to a position 15a in a table 15 in which respective positions 15a, 15b, 15c represent a graphic symbol adapted be shown on or presented by the segmented display means 2. The processing unit 12 is also adapted to form the second information-carrying data bits 32 with a starting point from the given position 15a in the table 15. Thus, all that is required is address information to the table 15 in order to address and select what is to be shown on the display means 2, regardless of the complexity of the symbol or image to be presented on the display means and regardless of the number of segments in the segmented display means 2 that need to be addressed in order to show an intended symbol.

This enables, for instance, the use of a table 15 which includes a large selection of widely different characters, such as characters taken from different alphabets, symbols, or even messages in the form of words or sentences.

Figure 2 illustrates an extract from an incomplete table that includes Arabic characters, constituting an example of the possible configuration of such a table 15. In this case, the table may include positions that represent respective characters in different forms, such as the form of the character at the beginning of a word, the form of the character in the middle of a word, the form of the character at the end of a word, and a freestanding form of the character. The table 15 may also include Chinese, Japanese and/or Korean characters.

The table may alternatively include Latin characters and an independent table, or Latin characters in combination with Arabic and/or Chinese characters. Figure 3 is intended to show that symbols completely different to alphabetic characters can be included by the table 15, such as symbols or indicators belonging to an indicating instrument 151 , such as a gauge or technically equivalent means for instance, thereby enabling a display means belonging to the instrument panel of an automotive vehicle to be addressed and controlled by a controlling system according to the present invention.

As earlier mentioned, the table may also include a number of messages 152, such as complete words, sentences, or images, including those that can be used in conjunction with a vehicle instrument panel for instance.

Different ways of segmenting a display means are known to the art. One way is to form a display means from the dots in a dot matrix. The resolution of the display means increases with the number of dots or points included in the matrix. The drawback with this method is that it becomes more difficult to address and control the display means with an increasing number of matrix dots. The present invention, however, provides a possibility of readily addressing a large number of segments and hence an inventive controlling system is well suited to include a table of characters that can be shown on or presented by a display means consisting of segment-forming matrix points.

The table may also include characters that can be shown on a display means consisting of segment-forming triangles, where groups of four triangles form squares or oblongs which build a matrix, as shown in figure 4. The number of segments is therewith increased at the same time as the raggedness of the diagonal line that may need to be reproduced in symbols is reduced.

Referring back to figure 1 it will be seen that a table according to the present invention may be stored in a first and a second memory space 12a, 12b, of which the first memory space 12a is a readable memory that includes pre-programmed characters or symbols, and of which the second memory space 12b is a read and write memory that includes user specific characters or symbols which may also be readily supplemented, changed or re-programmed according to the requirements of the user himself/herself. This enables a controlling system to include standardised characters or symbols that have already been entered into the first memory space 12a during manufacture and that are therewith available to the system, whereas the second memory space is available to user-adapted characters and symbols that can be entered and changed in accordance with user requirements.

There are available several different standardised formats that enable different characters to be represented by information-carrying data bits. The predefined format of the first data bits 31 needs to be adapted to the construction or compilation of the table 15 used. The converting or transforming unit 12 need then be adapted to the way in which an addressed symbol can be reproduced on a specific segmented display means 2.

Depending on the application in which an inventive controlling system 1 shall be used, the system may need to be adapted to different standardised formats for representing a character. It is therefore proposed in accordance with the present invention that the inventive controlling system 1 will include an interpreting unit 16 which is adapted to receive an incoming signal 3 of standardised format and transform this standardised signal 3 to the first information-carrying data bits 31 according to the pre-defined format or protocol.

Such a standardised format may, for instance, consist of the ASCII-format or the more comprehensive Unicode format.

There are many different ways of communicating with an inventive controlling system. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the system 1 includes a receiving unit 17 which is adapted for wireless reception of incoming signals 3. This enables simple communication with the controlling system, particularly in the case of applications where a display means is situated at a location which is difficult to reach or when it is desired to reach different display means, such as price labelling of goods in a store where display means are seated on store shelving and where there is a need for simple remote control of respective display means. The present invention also relates to a segmented display means 21 which includes a number of segments that can be activated independently of one another, where the display means are adapted to show Arabic characters, in accordance with figure 5. Such a display means 21 may be adapted to show respective characters in different forms, such as in the form of the character at the beginning of a word, the form of the character in the middle of word, the form of the character at the end of a word, and the form of a free-standing character. Such a display means 21 may also be adapted to show Latin characters.

The present invention also relates to a segmented display means that comprises a number of segments that can be activated independently of each other, wherein said display means is adapted to show or present Chinese, Japanese and/or Korean characters, not shown in the figure. Such a display means may also be adapted to show or present Latin characters.

The present invention also relates to a segmented display means 22 that comprises a number of segments that can be activated independently of each other and that are adapted to show or present symbols 221 or indications 222 belonging to an indicating instrument according to figure 6. An inventive segmented display means may also be comprised of segments formed by matrix points or elements. The segmented display means may also include segments that can be activated independently of each other and that are comprised of triangles of which groups of four triangles form squares or oblongs which build a matrix according to figure 4. It is particularly proposed that an inventive segmented display means will be adapted so that it can be controlled and operated by a controlling system 1 according to the present invention.

As shown in figure 7, the present invention also includes a indicating system 5 adapted to show or present information on one or more display means, including an inventive segmented display means 2 and an inventive controlling system 1 adapted to control and drive the segmented display means 2.

As shown in figure 8, such a indicating system 5 may include a plurality of segmented display means 2a, 2b, 2c, ... .

One and the same controlling system 1 may be adapted to control each segmented display means 2a, 2b, 2c ... belonging to the indicating system 5. As illustrated schematically in figure 9, the indicating system 5 may include a controlling system 1a, 1b, 1c, ... for each segmented display means 2a, 2b, 2c

According to one particularly preferred embodiment, shown schematically and highly simplified in figure 10, an indicating system 5 is comprised of a segmented display means 2 and a display means-related controlling system 1 , which together form an integrated unit 6. Present technology enables such a unit to be made very small and, in principle, to occupy solely the surface area required by the actual display means 2, with the controlling system 1 mounted integrally on the rear side of the display means 2.

It is also proposed in accordance with the invention that respective display means 2 can be addressed separately by a unique identity allotted to a respective display means. This enables separate steering and control of each display means included in an indicating system 5. It will be understood that the present invention is not restricted to the exemplifying embodiments described above, and that modifications can be made within the concept of the invention illustrated in the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A controlling system for controlling a segmental display means, comprising a first interface for an incoming signal, a processing unit, an amplifying unit, and a second interface for an outgoing signal, characterised in that that the signal incoming to the processing unit is comprised of first information-carrying data bits according to a pre-defined format or protocol; in that the processing unit is adapted to transform the received first data bits to second information-carrying data bits; in that respective second information-carrying data bits correspond to a segment belonging to the segmented display means; in that the amplifying unit is adapted to receive the second information-carrying data bits and to amplify said bits to a signal strength which is adapted to drive the segmented display means; in that the amplifying unit is adapted to send the amplified second information-carrying data bits to the second interface as output signals; in that the processing unit is adapted to transform or switch the first data bits to a position in a table; in that respective table positions represent a graphic symbol adapted to be shown on or presented by said segmented display means; and in that the processing unit is adapted to form the second information-carrying data bits with a starting point from the position indicated in the table.

2. A controlling system according to claim 1 , characterised in that the table includes Arabic characters.

3. A controlling system according to claim 2, characterised in that respective characters are represented in said table in different forms, such as in the form of the character at the beginning of a word, the form of a character in the middle of a word, the form of a character at the end of a word, and the form of a free-standing character.

4. A controlling system according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the table includes Chinese, Japanese and/or Korean characters.

5. A controlling system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the table includes Latin characters.

6. A controlling system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the table includes symbols or indicators belonging to an indicating instrument.

7. A controlling system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said table includes a number of messages, such as complete words, sentences or images.

8. A controlling system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said table includes characters that can be shown on or presented by a display means consisting of segment-forming points in a matrix.

9. A controlling system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that said table includes characters that can be shown on or presented by a display means consisting of segment-forming triangles, wherein groups or sets of formed triangles form squares or oblongs; and in that said squares or oblongs build a matrix.

10. A controlling system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said table is stored in a first memory space and in a second memory space; in that said first memory space is comprised of a readable memory that includes pre-programmed characters or symbols; and in that said second memory space is comprised of a read and write memory that includes user specific characters or symbols that can readily be supplemented, altered or re-programmed according to the wishes of the user.

11. A controlling system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said controlling system includes an interpreting unit; and in that the interpreting unit is adapted to receive said incoming signals according to a standardised format and to transform said standardised signal to said first information-carrying data bits in accordance with said pre-defined format.

12. A controlling system according to claim 11 , characterised in that said standardised format is the ASCII-format.

13. A controlling system according to claim 12, characterised in that the standardised format is a Unicode. 1 ό

14. A controlling system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said system includes a receiving unit adapted for wireless reception of said incoming signals.

15. A segmented display means comprising a number of segments that can be activated independently of each other, characterised in that said display means is adapted to show Arabic characters.

16. A segmented display means according to claim 15, characterised in that the display means is adapted to show respective characters in different forms, such as in the form of the character at the beginning of a word, the form of the character in the middle of a word, the form of the character at the end of the word, and the form a character in a free-standing form.

17. A segmented display means according claim 15, characterised in that the display means is adapted to show Latin characters.

18. A segmented display means comprising a number of segments that can be activated independently of one another, characterised in that said display means is adapted to show Chinese, Japanese and/or Korean characters.

19. A segmented display means according to claim 18, characterised in that said display means is adapted to show Latin characters.

20. A segmented display means comprising a number of segments that can be activated independently of one another, characterised in that said display means is adapted to show symbols or indications associated with an indicating instrument.

21. A segmented display means comprising a number of segments that can be activated independently of one another, characterised in that said segments consist of matrix points.

22. A segmented display means comprising a number of segments that can be activated independently of one another, characterised in that said segments consist of triangles; in that groups of four triangles form squares or oblongs; and in that said squares or oblongs form a matrix.

23. A segmented display means according to anyone of claims 15 to 22, characterised in that said display means is adapted to be controlled arid driven by a controlling system according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

24. An indicating system adapted to present information on one or more display means, characterised in that said indicating system includes a segmented display means according to any one of claims 15 to 22 and a controlling system according to any one of claims 1 to 14 adapted to control and drive said segmented display means.

25. An indicating system according to claim 24, characterised in that said indicating system includes a plurality of segmented display means.

26. An indicating system according to claim 25, characterised in that said controlling system is adapted to control each segmented display means.

27. An indicating system according claim 25, characterised in that said indicating system includes a controlling system for each segmented display means.

28. An indicating system according to claim 24 or 25, characterised in that said segmented display means and its related controlling system have the form of an integrated unit.

29. An indicating system according to anyone of claims 24 to 28, characterised in that respective display means can be addressed separately by a unique identity allotted to a respective display means.