US3594762A

US3594762A - Display system

Info

Publication number: US3594762A
Application number: US626038A
Authority: US
Inventors: Joseph Gardberg; Robert A Payne; Howard G Posner
Original assignee: Stewart Warner Corp
Current assignee: Stewart Warner Corp
Priority date: 1967-03-27
Filing date: 1967-03-27
Publication date: 1971-07-20
Anticipated expiration: 1988-07-20
Also published as: US3594778A

Abstract

A control system for a data display system such as a scoreboard, message board or the like wherein display indicators having location addresses, on the board are addressed and actuated through a logic system which first receives and stores address data pertaining to a particular indicator, receives display character data, and responsive to the receipt of the character display data automatically reads out the address data to the board for enabling the desired indicator followed by the display character data to actuate it to display the desired character. Indicator circuits are provided for the control of each indicator comprising semiconductor switches which are reset by the addressing of the indicator and actuated to display the desired character responsive to the receipt of the display character data. A memory storage is also provided to cause the display of repeatedly used messages and animated characters.

Description

United States Patent {72] Inventors Joseph Gardberg 3,423,626 1/1969 Bouchard et al I 340/324 Chicago; 3,416,133 l2/l968 Hunkins et al 340/334 g gayne' Des Flames Howard Primary Examiner-John W. Caldwell osncr, Chicago, all of, III.

Assistant Exammer-Marshall M. Curtis m l Appl' 626938 Attorn Au 1 0 D vas W'll m J New d 22] Filed Mar. 271967 eysgus us ou I la man an 45 Patented July 20, 1971 Lesser [73] Assignee Stewart-Warner Corporation Chicago, Ill.

ABSTRACT: A control system for a data display system such 54] DISPLAY SYSTEM a scoreboard, message board or the like wherein display in- Chins 22 Drawing Fig dicators having location addresses, on the board are addressed and actuated through a logic system which first receives and i A tores address data pertaining to a particular indicator 340/337 receives display character data, and responsive to the receipt 1 Int. of the character data automatically reads out the ad- 0 Search dress data to the board for enabling the desired indicator fol- 3 339 lowed by the display character data to actuate it to display the l Reerenm Cited desired character. Indicator circuits are provided for the control of each indicator comprising semiconductor switches UNITED STATES PATENTS which are reset by the addressing of the indicator and actuated l,0S4,336 2/ I913 Brown 3401339 to display the desired character responsive to the receipt of 2,006,436 7/1935 Bowers 340/339 the display character data. A memory storage is also provided 3,225,342 12/1 965 Clark 340/ 324 to cause the display of repeatedly used messages and animated 3.273.140 9/1966 Foster et al. 340/334 characters.

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PATENYEU JULZO ms 3. 5 94. 76 2 sum on HF 17 00 00 00000 0. 0000000 0 O O O 0 00.0.0. 0 0 0 O0 0 00000 O 0 0 0000000 000000. 00000 0 0000000 000000 on... o 00 o 00 (D :00:0o: 0 0 o 0 a 0 00 o H 0 000000 00 o 0o 0 I o 0 0 o 0 Q 0 0 o 0 o o 0 o 0 o 0 0000000 00 0 0000 0 00000 000 00 00 0000000 no. 0 o 0 0 I. 1 u o o a o 0 u 000 0 3 Q o o o 0 o u o 0 0000' can... .000 Q.

3 o :0 a 0 "0 o o 0 o o o o o o o o a o o o o o o a a 0 0000000 0000. o a 00 00 o o 00 0 .0 0 000 o o o o 0 00 0 0 o o o o o o 0 o o o w o a o o o o o o o a o o 0 0000000 0000000 00 00 o 000 o '0 00000 00000 00 0 00 o o 0 0 o 3 000000. a o o a w o 0 a 0 o a 0 m o o w o o o a eoooooem .0000 w 00 one o o momma on a o a o a an o 0000 an m m a @0009 0Q000 on em m0 0000mm em am 0 w as 9 a w a m as a a ca 0 cw w a snowman mummmm 0a cm I N VE N T O R S 00000. 0 0000000 g JOSEPH GARDBERG 00:00. 000000: 00000:. ROBERT A. PAYNE HOWARD G. POSNER Attorney PATENTED JUL20 12m SHEET 05 [1F 17 I III I 08% AA AI Il I I Ros INVENTORS JOSEPH GARDBERG ROBERT A PAYNE HOWARD G POSNER AHornov PATENTEB JUL20 :97;

SHEET 0a or n MOM/7E0 4561! 600i 7 7 111 w wmwanmmvw c cccccc I r. 5 I r. 5 S 5 5 1234 6 59 1 1 0 6 a c c c c U C c c c q 6 U a q a AJSIIJSSSSSSSIIS 1 QP- U WXYZ 10 4 A50F64IJK M 0 0 1 1 3 0 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 a M a l 0 2 M F 8/ M r w I 6M 00 m E 000 f a c a 125 0 234 6 0123456 MHMMMM M a 1 0 l 0 1 a 1 a 1 a r. 0 1 0 1 Ma011001100110011 Macao/ 11000 11 1 M o 0 a 0 a 0 a 0 1 J 1 1 1 1 1. 7 6 0 INVENTORS JOSEPH GARDBEHG ROBERT A PAYNE HOWARD G. POSNEH AHornuv PATENTEB JULEO ism SHEET 09 0F 17 mmh muoOOz mMPZDOO wmwmcoq INVENTORS JOSEPH GARDBERG I ROBERT AFN/NE HOWARD 6. POSNER Ano nov PATENTEU JUL20197| sum 10 0F 17 SS ENCODER. FIG. l4

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w w JOSEPH GARDBERG 1 3 3 ROBERT A PAYNE o mum g 5 2 1 5 HOWARD e. POSNER Anornev PATENTED JUL 20 I971 SHEET 11 [1F 17 l N V E N T O R S JOSEPH GARDBERG ROBERT A. PAYNE HOWARD G. POSNER y AHornov r lllllllllllllllll 11L PATENTED JUL20 I971 SHEET 12 0F 17 KNVENTORS JOSEPH GARDBERG ROBERT A PAYNE HOWARD G. POSNER PATENTEU JULZO 15m sum 13 0F 1 mmcouzm mmumna mohm 40 INVENTORS JOSEPH GARDBERG ROBERT A. PAYNE HOWARD G. POSNER wa M...

AHornoy PATENTED JULZO I971 SHEET 1'4 0F 17 Qdl w: JOmFZOO mmkzzoo I N V E N T O R S JOSEPH GARDBERG ROBERT A.PAYNE HOWARD e. POSNER A r lornev PATENTEnJuLamsn 3594762 764/9 5 A A4602) X W FIG. l6.

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ADDRESS INVENTORS asosd v; I, JOSEPH GARDBERG DECODER 5 moz. m 3 11 ROBERT A. PAYNE XU2 n L% g a g HOWARD e. POSNER In J fiIBOZI 606' 3 5 v Attorney PATENIEU JUL 20 :97:

SHEET 17 [1F 17 IT TER NALS A T A D I N V E N T O R S JOSEPH GARDBERG ROBERT A. PAYNE HOWARD G. POSNER H l .n 59 3099.

DISPLAY SYSTEM The system herein described and claimed is a digital con trolled, all electronic, semiconductor system having highly flexible input and display output capabilities operable at very high speeds. Basic to the system is its capability to address and read in display data to any location on the display board without having to switch through a number of other locations and without disturbing the data at any other location. That is, any display device or indicator at the display board may be reached and caused to display a desired character merely by inserting the proper address data followed by the desired character data. The address data enables the desired indicator at the desired location on the board and the display data triggers that indicator to operate in accordance with the desired character. Any other desired display device or indicator may then be addressed and triggered or, in the case of message information display, the next sequenced indicator may be automatically addressed to display the desired character. Hence, the system has full flexibility to provide an almost unlimited array of visual arrangements. Besides the usual alpha and numeric characters, the system includes capability to display pictures and even animated cartoons or caricatures.

Typical older type systems were generally electromechanical in nature. Usually an electrical mechanical stepping switch was used for each row of display devices or indicators. To select a desired indicator the operator would press a button to select the proper stepping switch and then pulse the stepping switch the required number of times to reach the desired indicator in that row. The stepping switches had multibanks of contacts by which the data information was sent to the selected indicator. The pulsing of the selector switch of course slowed up the addressing function so that it was difficult to randomly change the display on a particular indicator as is required in animated picture displays.

Because many display systems require that the display panel be located at a remote location from the data input and control console, the'number of conductors between the console and the display panel becomes an important factor. In spite of I the high flexibility of the system of this invention the number of conductors required is minimized because all of the address information is transmitted over one set of conductors in binary coded decimal form, and all the data display information is transmitted over another set of conductors. In other systems capable of displaying animated cartoons, etc. it has been required to have a separate line from the picture generator to the display panel for each display device or indicator at the display panel.

The system of the present invention also'has single button addressing and word generating capabilities. For example, in a baseball scoreboard where it is desired to have ready access to the game in progress indicators for displaying the number of strikes, balls, outs etc. as the game proceeds, the present system has the capability of addressing the desired section of the board by pressing a single button and then inserting the proper numeric data for displaying the proper information.

The word generating capability enables a section of the scoreboard to be used for one or more different, but often repeatable data displays pertaining to the game. For example,

there may be a section of the board on which it is desired to display the number of the batter at the plate and alternatively to indicate a particular play during the progress of the game. When the batter number is displayed it is desired to write the word BATTER in that location of the board with the batters number, and when a rule is to be displayed the word PLAY is displayed at that same location with the proper description. The operator may select the proper display by operating a single button for BATTER or PLAY, whichever is desired, followed by the proper hatter number or play information as required. In previous scoreboard systems single button addressing and/or single button addressing with word generating required separate lines between the console and the particular display panel indicators involved. In the system of this invention the address and word generating data is transmitted over the same conductors used for the address and data signals to any display indicator on the board.

This display system also includes a unique control'circuit for each of the display devices or indicators at the display panel. No electrical mechanical devices, such as relays, are used in these indicators, but rather switch means are used which are completely electronic utilizing highly reliable and fast operating semiconductor devices such as silicon controlled rectifiers. Unique means are used to reset each indicator if, but only if, the indicator has been addressed, and then reenabled for operation responsive to the subsequent receipt of display data in accordance with the character to be displayed by that indicator.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a new display system for scoreboard, information message and/or advertising display materials.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a display system in which a display device or indicator located at any position on the board maybe randomly addressed and caused to display desired data.

It is another object of this invention to provide a display system in which the number of conductors between the control console and the message display board is minimized.

Also it is an object of this invention to provide a display system in which particular locations on the board may be selected by means of one button addressing for the display of desired information.

A further object of the invention is to provide a system in which particular locations on the board may be addressed and caused to display predetermined information such as particular words upon the operation of a single button at the console.

Further it is an object of this invention to provide a display system in which a single display indicator encoder is utilized to cause any selected indicator on the display panel to display a desired data character.

Another object of this invention is to provide a control system in which animated characterizations may be displayed by means of the rapid input of serially stored address and display data inserted into the control system from a memory device such as magnetic or punched tape, or the like.

It is another object of this invention to provide a unique indicator circuit utilizing electronic semiconductor devices.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an indicator control circuit having a unique means for resetting the displayed contents of the display indicator.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be readi- Iy apparent to the reader upon a further reading of this specification, especially when taken in view of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is an elevation view of a display board of the type to be used in an athletic stadium for the display of game statistics and message information;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of an auxiliary scoreboard;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the operator control console for operating the scoreboards of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of an indicator of the type used in the scoreboards of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 5 depicts alpha-numeric and punctuation characters of the type which may be displayed on the indicator of FIG. 4;

FIG. 5a depicts special characters which may be displayed on the indicator of FIG. 4 for shaping pictures and/or designs on the message portion of the scoreboard of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 6a-6e depicts the type of figures that can be formed by the characters of FIG. 50, showing figures in animated sequence for animated cartoon display;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the display control system of this invention; 1

7 FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a control circuit for each individual indicator;

FIG. 9 is a table of modified ASCII coded representations for the display characters shown in FIGS. 5 and 5a; and

FIGS. I0 through I7 are schematic diagrams of the control system to be arranged in the manner shown in FIG. 19.

Although the features of this invention pertain to any type of display system, they will be herein described with reference to a scoreboard system which embodies all of the claimed features. The scoreboard hereinafter described is essentially of the type now being used in the Anaheim Stadium at Anaheim, Calif. ln the description to follow, the reference numbers used will be coded by means of the l's and IOOOs digits to the particular figure in which the component or element first appears and that component or element will retain that number in any subsequent figure in which it appears. Thus, an element with the number 246 would be found in FIG. 2 whereas an element with number 1216 would be found in FIG. 12. Conductors extending between one or more figures will be numbered in accordance with the first figure to which they are referenced in the description.

GENERAL DESCRlPTlON OF SCOREBOARD AND CONSOLE (FIGS. 1, 2 & 3)

The scoreboard display portion of the system comprises a main scoreboard 100 (FlG. 1) made up of a plurality of display devices or indicators 102 which may register alpha-numeric characters or other designs if desired as will be described hereinafter. If the main board is located in the park so that certain portions of the spectators cannot view it, one or more auxiliary scoreboards 200 (FIG. 2) may be located at appropriate locations. The auxiliary scoreboard 200 is also made up of display indicators 102 of essentially the same type utilized in the main board. The main scoreboard 100 is divided into two basic sections, namely, the game in progress section 104 and the message portion 106, while the auxiliary scoreboard 200 is devoted strictly to game in progress informat|on.

As shown in FIG. 1 the scoreboard display panel is arranged in rows (Y0l through Yl5) and columns (X01 through X28) of indicators for the purpose of exact addressing of any desired indicator. Thus, any indicator on the display panel 100 may be referred to by stating its address in terms of its Y number and its X number. in the system described the first row of the message section 106 is designated Y01 and the message portion continues through row Y while the game in progress portion includes rows Y1l through Y15. Thus, the indicator 105, upon which the letter A in the word AMER- [CAN is portrayed, has the location address Y01-Xl1, whereas the indicator 107 displaying the letter G in theword ANGELS is located by the address YI5X03. In the system described each Y and X address number must consist of two digits to satisfy the system logic as will be seen later. Hence, address numbers under 10 must be preceded by a zero, e.g. 0l 02 etc.

Any indicator on the board except certain fixed caption indicators in the game in progress section 104 may be reached to display a desired character by reading into the control system the proper address for that indicator. This is accomplished, for example, by the use of the numeric keyboard 302, forming a part of the operators console 300 shown in FIG. 3. Thus, indicator 105 may be reached to display the letter A by first punching the key marked SPEC. ADD. (Special Address) followed by the number Ol for the Y address, which is in turn followed by the number l l for the X address. The subsequent actuation of the A key in the typewriterlike alpha keyboard 304 will then cause the latter A to be displayed on addressed indicator 105. The following indicators are then automatically sequentially addressed so that the operator needs merely to punch the alpha keys M, E, R, l, C, A and N to display the whole word AMERICAN.

If the message is longer than the row, then further message display is impeded until the carriage return key 305 is actuated to cause the automatic addressing of the first indicator in the next row. The message may then be continued until the last indicator in the last row of the message section (Yl0- X28) is reached. Further automatic advancing of the address is then prevented because the next numbered indicator row Y1] is in the game in progress section 104. Thus, the indicators in the Game in Progress Section cannot be inadvertently affected, when writing in a message on the Message Section 106.

As previously mentioned, the game in progress section 104 of the main scoreboard as well as the auxiliary scoreboard 200 are devoted to information pertaining to the particular game being played. The top two rows of indicators Y1] and Yl2 are used for the display of play by play information while the next three rows Yl3 through YIS are used for the inning by inning or line score information as well as the game totals. This section of the board is controlled by the upper portion 305 of the operators console shown in FIG. 3. The indicators in the top row Yll displaying the words BALL, STRIKE, OUT and BATTER are fixed caption indicators which are actuated by a power switch directly connected to those indicators and are not controlled by the control logic of the system hereinafter described. These indicators might also be arranged to display fixed captions for football games in which case the words DOWN, TO GO, QTR, and BALL ON will be displayed. The indicators in row Y13 displaying the captions R, H, E and 1G are also fixed caption indicators not controllable by the control logic.

To display the desired play by play information the operator manipulates the proper button 306,308,310 or 312 which automatically addresses the related numeric indicators immediately below the appropriate fixed captions. The numeric information is then read in by means of the numeric keyboard 302. Thus, the present batters number is displayed by first operating key 306 which automatically addresses numeric indicator Y12-X21 followed by the players number inserted from the keyboard 302. Each ball and strike of the batter is registered by operation of

buttons

308 and 310, followed by the insertion of the numeric data from keyboard 302. When the next batter comes to bat the previous batters number and the balls and strikes may be erased by operation of the CLEAR button 314.

The ball, strike and out data is displayed on the auxiliary scoreboard 200 simultaneously with its display on the main board 100. The numeric indicators immediately following the fixed captions on the auxiliary board 200 are designated by the same addresses as the corresponding numeric indicators on the main board so that they may be controlled together. Thus, the indicator immediately after the fixed caption indicators spelling BALL on the auxiliary board 200 has the same address, Y12X02, as the indicator immediately under the fixed caption indicators spelling BALL on the main board 100.

The group of indicators 206 are used for displaying various information including the present batters number. However, since these indicators are used for other information, fixed caption indicators cannot be used and the word BATTER is automatically displayed by means of the control logic. Therefore, when the operator actuates button 306 on the console, the control logic automatically generates the word BATTER and causes it to be displayed on the first six indicators of the group 206. The insertion of the batters number automatically causes its display on the last two indicators of the group 206 on the auxiliary board. The addresses for the auxiliary board indicators of group 206 and the word is generated in a manner which will be hereinafter described with respect to the control logic system.

The line score information of rows Yl3 through YlS of the main board is also controlled by means of single button addressing in a manner similar to the play by play information of lines Y 11 and Y12. For example, the word ANGELS is written onto indicators YI5X01 through Y15-X06 on the main board 100 by use of the home team button 318 in the team name format portion of the console 300 which automatically addresses indicator YI5X01. This is followed by the insertion from the alpha character buttons on keyboard 304, the letters spelling out the name ANGELS. The visiting team name format button 320 is used for the single button addressing of indicator Y14X01 for writing in the name of the

Claims

1. An information display system comprising a message board, a plurality of display devices arranged in groups at sequential address locations on said board, input means for inserting address data segments pertaining to any desired group of display devices and display data segments pertaining to desired patterns to be displayed on a group of display devices, means for storing an inserted address data segment means for preparing for subsequent actuation the group addressed in response to said stored address segment, means responsive to a first inserted display data segment following a stored address data segment for actuating the prepared group of display devices to display the desired pattern of said first display data segment, means operable responsive to said actuating means for automatically advancing the address data in said storing means to the next sequential address, and means responsive to the insertion of each subsequent display data segment not preceded by an inserted address data segment for causing said actuating means to actuate the advanced address group of display devices to display the pattern pertaining to the display data segment and for causing said address advancing means to advance the stored address data to successive sequential addresses.

2. The display system of claim 1 wherein said display device groups are arranged in substantially an X and Y coordinate system wherein said data input means comprises means for entering the address segments in separate X and Y coordinate numerical data in binary coded decimal character form, and wherein said address storage means comprises means for storing each digit of the X and Y coordinate address data separately.

3. The display system of claim 1 wherein said data input means comprises a typewriter type keyboard.

4. The display system of claim 1 wherein means are provided for jamming the automatic advance of said address data in said address storing means responsive to the address data in said address storing means corresponding to the last group of display devices.

5. The display system of claim 1 wherein said data input means comprises a data memory device capable of having said address and display data stored therein.

6. The display system of claim 1 wherein said address data input means comprises a manually operable key for selecting a certain desired group of display devices, and means operable responsive to said key for encoding and transmitting to said address storing means the address data pertaining to said desired indicator.

7. The display system of claim 1 wherein said data input means comprises a manually operable key, means operable responsive to said key for automatically encoding and transmitting to said address storing means address data pertaining to a particular desired group of display devices, and means also resPonsive to said key for generating and transmitting to said actuating means and said causing means predetermined successive display data segments for displaying characters making up a predetermined message.

8. The information display system of claim 1 wherein said display device groups comprise a matrix of lamps arranged in rows and columns and means interconnecting corresponding rows of each of said indicator lamps, wherein said display device actuating means comprises a lamp encoder having a matrix of gate elements arranged in rows and columns corresponding to said lamp rows and columns, means connecting corresponding rows of said gate elements to corresponding rows of said lamps, each of said gate elements actuatable to enable the corresponding lamp in the selected lamp block, means responsive to the input of display data for enabling certain gate elements in said matrix dependent on the particular data to be displayed, means responsive to the storage of the address data and the input of the display data for producing strobe signals to sequentially strobe each of said columns of gate elements to thereby actuate said certain enabled elements and to simultaneously strobe each of said columns of lamps for actuating certain lamps in the selected lamp block corresponding to the certain actuated elements in said lamp encoder, and means in each of said indicators for maintaining the lamps actuated therein until said lamp block is again addressed.

9. The information display system of claim 7 wherein said display data segment generating and transmitting means comprises a plurality of gates each of which corresponds to a character in the message to be displayed, means including a clock operable responsive to the operation of said key for sequentially opening each of said gates momentarily, and a data generator operable responsive to the opening of each gate to generate data pertaining to the respective message character.

10. A system for displaying an animated characterization comprising a display board made up of a plurality of display devices, a memory for storing multibit coded data in data frames pertaining to patterns for forming said animated characterization, means for reading said data frames from said memory in sequence including electric signal conductor means having a sufficient number of conductors to transmit said multibit coded data but substantially less than the number of display devices making up said display board, and means in receipt of the data signals on said conductor means for operating said display devices in accordance with said sequenced data frames.

11. An information display system comprising a message board, a plurality of display lamp groups blocks at address locations on said board, a logic control system, a storage memory input means for serially entering address data and display data into said logic control system corresponding to desired lamp groups blocks and desired display characters, said memory having stored therein a plurality of serially time sequenced segments of address and display data for automatically displaying a series of display characters on said board to form an animated display sequence, and means in said logic control system operative responsive to the input of each data segment for selecting each addressed lamp groups block and actuating said addressed lamp groups block to display the desired display character.

12. A system for displaying an animated characterization made up of a sequence of visual display frames comprising a display board having display devices arranged in addressable locations, a memory for storing coded address and display data in data frames pertaining to a desired pattern for each of said visual display frames, means for reading the coded address and display data in said data frames from said memory in sequence, means responsive to the coded address data from said memory for preparing the addressed display devices and means responsive to the display data from said memory for actuating the adDressed display devices to form the patterns of each frame.

13. In the system of claim 12 wherein said memory comprises a magnetic tape storage.

14. An information display system comprising a message board, a plurality of groups of display devices at sequential address locations on said board, means for inserting address data and display data to display desired characters at desired locations, means for storing the address and display data connected to said data inserting means, address data decoder means at said board and connected to said address storing means for selecting an addressed display device group, a display device group encoder actuatable by said data inserting means to actuate an addressed display device group to display the desired character, means operable responsive to the storage of the address data and the insertion of the display data for transmitting the address data stored in said address storage means to said address decoder and for transmitting the desired character display data to the addressed display device group, and means for maintaining each addressed display device group actuated until subsequently readdressed, said data inserting means comprising a memory capable of storing discreet segments of address and display data and continuously transmitting said discreet segments in serial mode to said address storage means and said display device group encoder, whereby said actuated display device groups form an animated display.

15. For use in an information display system having a plurality of display indicators at address locations, each display indicator comprising a plurality of lamps, an electric current power supply, an electronic lamp switch in series with each of said lamps and one terminal of said power supply, an electronic reset switch connected between the other terminal of said power supply and said series connected lamps and lamp switches, means adapted to receive address signals peculiar to said indicator, means operable responsive to said address signal receiving means for opening said reset switch to open the connection between said lamps and the other side of said power supply, means adapted to receive lamp signals peculiar to selected lamps in said indicator, means operable responsive to said lamp signal receiving means for actuating each lamp switch corresponding to a selected lamp.

16. The display indicator of claim 15 wherein said power supply is a direct current source.

17. The display indicator of claim 16 wherein said electronic lamp switches and said reset switch are SCR''s.

18. The display indicator of claim 17 wherein said reset SCR opening means comprises a monostable multivibrator having a short duty cycle with respect to the address signals and a transistor operable responsive to said multivibrator for temporarily shunting said reset SCR.

19. The display indicator of claim 17 wherein said reset SCR reactuating means comprises a monostable multivibrator having a long duty cycle with respect to said address signals and a triggering SCR operable responsive to the simultaneous operation of said multivibrator and the receipt of a lamp signal to trigger said reset SCR into conduction.

20. The display indicator of claim 19 wherein said lamp SCR actuating means comprises a gate circuit operative responsive to the receipt of said selected lamp signals and the operation of said triggering SCR for triggering each lamp SCR in the selected indicator corresponding to a selected lamp.

21. An information display system comprising a message board, a plurality of display indicators at address locations on said board, each of said indicators comprising a matrix of lamps arranged in rows and columns, address and display data input means, means for storing the address data inserted by said input means, address data decoder means connected to said address storing means for producing address signals corresponding to a desired indicator, a lamp encoder having a matrix of elements arranged in rOws and columns corresponding to said lamp rows and columns, means interconnecting the outputs of corresponding rows of said elements, means responsive to the input of display data for enabling certain elements in each row dependent on the particular data to be displayed, means for producing strobe signals to cause said address storing means to transmit the address data to said address decoder to produce said address signals and for subsequently producing column strobe signals to sequentially strobe each of said columns of elements to thereby actuate and produce row lamp signals at the outputs of said certain enabled elements; each display indicator further comprising an electric current power supply, an electronic lamp switch in series with each of said lamps and one terminal of said power supply, an electronic reset switch connected between the other terminal of said power supply and said series connected lamps and lamp switches, means in receipt of address signals corresponding to said indicator for opening said reset switch to open the connection between said lamps and the other side of said power supply, means operable responsive to the first strobe signal for reactuating said reset switch, means operable responsive to said address signal and the first column strobe signal for preparing each lamp switch in said indicator, and means responsive to the simultaneous receipt of column strobe lamp signals and row lamp signals for actuating corresponding lamp switches to energize the corresponding lamps in accordance with the display data to be displayed.

22. The display system of claim 21 wherein said indicators are arranged in substantially an X and Y coordinate system, wherein said data input mean comprises means for entering the indicator address in separate X and Y coordinate numerical data into binary coded decimal form, and wherein said address storage comprises means for storing each digit of the X and Y coordinate numerical data and means for encoding the address coordinate numerical data into binary coded decimal form, and wherein said address storage comprises means for storing each digit of the X and Y coordinate address data separately.

23. The display system of claim 22 wherein said address storage means comprises means responsive to said input means for recognizing a first input character indicating the immediately following data relates to an indicator address and a counter operative responsive to the input of said first character and a predetermined number of address significant digits for preparing said strobe signal producing means, and wherein said lamp encoder comprises means responsive to the receipt of legitimate display data for actuating said strobe signal producing means.

24. The display system of claim 23 wherein means are provided for automatically advancing the address data for one coordinate in said address storing means to the next highest number responsive to said strobe signal producing means.

25. The display system of claim 24 wherein means are provided for jamming the automatic advance of said address data in said address storing means responsive to the address data in said address storing means corresponding to the last indicator in said one coordinate.

26. The display system of claim 21 wherein said lamp switches and said reset switch are SCR''s.

27. The display system of claim 26 wherein said reset SCR opening means comprises a monostable multivibrator having a short duty cycle with respect to the address signals and a transistor operable responsive to said multivibrator for temporarily shunting said reset SCR.

28. The display system of claim 26 wherein said reset SCR reactuating means comprises a monostable multivibrator having a long duty cycle with respect to said address signals and a triggering SCR operable responsive to the simultaneous operation of said multivibrator and the receipt of said first column strobe signal to trigger said reset SCR into conduction.

29. An informatiOn display system comprising a message board, a plurality of display indicators at address locations on said board, each of said indicators comprising a matrix of light devices arranged in rows and columns, means interconnecting corresponding rows of each of said indicator light devices, a logic control system, operator controlled means for inserting numerical address data and display data to display desired characters at desired locations on said board, said data inserting means having a multiline output for transmitting signals to said logic control system in binary coded decimal form, said logic control system comprising a separate gate for each number and character, address storage means for each significant digit of said address data, an address counter, means responsive to the input of a special character for triggering said address counter one count and for enabling said digit storage means, means responsive to the input of each significant digit of said address data for enabling the respective digit storing means to receive and store its respective digit, a light device encoder having a matrix of elements arranged in rows and columns corresponding to said light device rows and columns, means connecting corresponding rows of said elements to corresponding rows of said indicator light devices, each of said elements actuatable to enable the corresponding light device in an addressed indicator, each of said elements actuatable to enable certain elements in said matrix of elements dependent on the particular data to be displayed on the addressed indicator, a strobe counter operable responsive to a signal from said address counter indicating the receipt and storage of the address data and a signal from said encoder indicating the encoding of a legitimate character for producing strobe signals to cause said address data storage devices to simultaneously transmit the stored data to said address decoder and thereafter to sequentially strobe each of said columns of elements to thereby actuate said certain enabled elements and to simultaneously strobe each of said columns of indicator light devices for actuating certain light devices in the selected indicator corresponding to the certain actuated elements in said light device encoder.

30. The information display system of claim 29 wherein said light devices comprise electric lamps and wherein said indicator has a control circuit comprising a lamp switch for each lamp in said indicator, means responsive to the receipt of the address data corresponding to said indicator for preparing each of said switches in said indicator and for extinguishing any lamps in said indicator previously actuated, means responsive to the first strobe signal for enabling said indicator lamps, and means responsive to the concurrent receipt of said strobe signals and signals from said certain lamp and coder elements for actuating the lamp switches corresponding to the certain actuated elements in said lamp and coder.

31. In an information display system for displaying characters on a matrix of light devices arranged in rows and columns, a light device encoder comprising a matrix of gate elements arranged in rows and columns corresponding to said matrix of light devices, said means connecting corresponding rows of elements to corresponding rows of devices, character display data input means, each of said elements actuatable to enable the corresponding device in said matrix, means responsive to the input of display data for enabling certain elements in said matrix dependent on the particular character to be displayed, and means for sequentially strobing each of said columns of elements and each of said columns of light devices to control the transfer of encoding data in said gates to said light devices to thereby actuate corresponding light devices.

32. In an information display system for displaying characters in a matrix arrangement of display devices arranged in rows and columns, a display device encoder comprising a matrix of elements arranged in roWs and columns corresponding to said matrix arrangement, means connecting corresponding rows of elements to corresponding rows of display devices, said elements actuatable to enable certain devices in said matrix, character display data input means, means responsive to the input of display data for enabling certain elements in said matrix dependent on the particular character to be displayed, and means for sequentially strobing each of said columns of elements to thereby actuate display devices corresponding to said enabled elements.