WO1999054859A1

WO1999054859A1 - Apparatus for reading information on a transparent sheet of material

Info

Publication number: WO1999054859A1
Application number: PCT/GB1999/001133
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Matthew Watson; Lennox Mark Huck
Original assignee: Miniflame Limited
Priority date: 1998-04-17
Filing date: 1999-04-14
Publication date: 1999-10-28
Also published as: GB2353133A; AU3435599A; GB0023122D0; GB9808284D0

Abstract

The apparatus (2) comprises a holder (6) for the sheet of material such as a map (4), and a light source (8) for enabling the information to be read in conditions of poor visibility. The holder (6) comprises a flexible support panel (10) for receiving the sheet of material (4), a flexible cover (12), and releaseable securing means (14) for releaseably securing the cover (12) on the support panel (10). The light source (8) is of an electroluminescent material.

Description

APPARATUS FOR READING INFORMATION ON A TRANSPARENT SHEET OF MATERIAL

This invention relates to apparatus for reading information on a transparent sheet of material . The information may be, for example, a map or a message.

Difficulty is often encountered in reading maps, messages and other information in conditions of poor visibility. For example, drivers of road vehicles trying to find their way at night often have difficulty in reading maps or general directions. People tend to use interior vehicle lights and/or torches in order to be able to see sufficiently clearly what they are trying to read. The interior lights and the torches tend to provide too much illumination in some areas and not enough illumination in other areas. Often a torch light will adversely affect a person's might vision, thereby making it dangerous for the person to continue driving or flying until such time as the person's night vision has returned.

It is an aim of the present invention to obviate or reduce the above mentioned problem.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, there is provided apparatus for reading information on a transparent sheet of material, which apparatus comprises a holder for the sheet of material, and a light source for enabling the information to be read in conditions of poor visibility, the holder comprising a flexible support panel for receiving the sheet of material, a flexible cover, and releaseable securing means for releaseably securing the cover on the support panel in order to contain the sheet of material, the flexible cover comprising a transparent portion through which the sheet of material is able to be read, and the- light source being of an electroluminescent material which becomes illuminated consequent upon receiving an electrical current from a power source.

The information can be printed or otherwise provided on the transparent sheet of material . The transparent sheet of material will usually be a transparent sheet of a plastics material . The sheet of material needs to be sufficiently transparent to enable it to be illuminated from behind by the light source. As indicated above, the information on the transparent sheet of material may be a map, a message or any other suitable and appropriate type of information.

The apparatus may be one in which the releaseable securing means comprises a first portion on the support panel, and a second portion on the cover. The apparatus may be one in which the releaseable securing means comprises a matrix of interlocking plastics members, the matrix having the first and the second portions. Alternatively or in addition, the releaseable securing means may comprise a zip, the zip having the first and the second portions.

Advantageously, the apparatus is one in which the transparent portion of the cover is of a plastics material which can be written on and then wiped clean after use. Thus, for example, persons following a route on a map may mark their route and then wipe the transparent portion clean when they have reached their destination.

In one embodiment of the invention, the apparatus is one in which the light source is in the form of a panel. The panel is able to provide background lighting of a consistent quality over a wide area.

The panel may be of a sandwich construction comprising a transparent plastics face sheet, a plastics backing sheet, and a sheet of the electroluminescent material positioned between the face sheet and the backing sheet .

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the light source is in the form of a strip, the strip being positioned over the support panel such as to be able to provide substantially constant light over the support panel .

The apparatus may include diffuser means for evenly diffusing the light from the strip. The diffuser means may be a sheet of foam material. Other diffuser means may be employed.

The apparatus may be one in which the strip is of a substantially circular cross sectional shape, and in which the strip comprises a first electrode which is a centrally positioned longitudinally extending electrode, and second electrode which is a helically wound electrode. The first and the second electrodes may be separated by a phosphor coating with a metallic sheet . The second electrode may be surrounded by a sheath of an indium tin oxide. The first electrode is preferably a copper wire electrode. The second electrode is preferably a fine wire electrode.

The flexible strip preferably comprises an outer plastics layer. The outer plastics layer is preferably made of polyvinyl chloride but other plastics materials may be employed.

The strip may be secured in position over the support panel by any suitable and appropriate means including stitching, sticking or threading the . strip through loops on the support panel . The apparatus may include an electronic circuit for causing the electroluminescent material to become illuminated.

The apparatus may be one in which the power source is at least one battery, and in which the apparatus includes an inverter for providing power for the electroluminescent material from the battery.

The apparatus may include a pouch for the battery. Alternatively, the battery may be provided remote from the apparatus so that, the battery may be the battery of a road vehicle, a helicopter or an aeroplane .

The apparatus may include releaseable attachment means for releaseably attaching the apparatus to another object. Any suitable and appropriate releaseable attachment means may be employed. Thus, for example, the apparatus may be one in which the releaseable attachment means comprises an array of interlocking plastics members, press studs or a hook arrangement. The releaseable attachment means may be employed for attaching the apparatus to the instrument panel of a vehicle, or to clothing. When attached to clothing, the apparatus may be attached to a leg part of the clothing so that a person sitting down can use the apparatus to read on their lap. Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows first apparatus for reading information;

Figure 2 shows second apparatus for reading information;

Figure 3 shows third apparatus for reading information:

Figure 4 shows a reverse face for the apparatus shown in Figure 2 or Figure 3 ; and

Figure 5 shows an electronic circuit for the apparatus of the invention.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown apparatus 2 for reading information on a transparent or translucent sheet of material in the form of a map 4. The apparatus 2 comprises a holder 6 for the map 4, and a light source 8 for enabling the information on the map 4 to be read in conditions of poor visibility.

The holder 6 comprises a flexible support panel 10 for receiving the map 4, a flexible cover 12, and releaseable securing means 14 for releaseably securing the cover 12 on the support panel 10 in order to contain the map 4. The cover 12 comprises a transparent portion 16 and a border 18. The transparent portion 16 enables the map 4 to be read.

The light source 8 is of an electroluminescent material which becomes illuminated consequent upon receiving an electrical current from the power source.

The releaseable securing means 14 comprises a first strip 20 which is on the support panel 10 and which comprises a matrix of interlocking plastics members . The releaseable securing means 14 further comprises a second strip 22 on the top edge of the cover 12, the second strip 22 comprising another matrix of the interlocking plastics members. The two strips 20, 22 secure together by pushing, and they are separated by pulling.

The releaseable securing means 14 also comprises a zip 24 which extends along the left hand side of the apparatus 2 as shown in Figure 1. A first part of the zip 24 is secured to the support panel 10 and a second part of the zip 24 is secured to the cover 12. The zip 24 has a pull ring 26. When the zip 24 is closed, it is not possible to pull apart the strips 20, 22. The strips 20, 22 are able to be pulled apart when the zip 24 is opened. The cover 12 has a pull tab 28 for enabling the cover 12 to be pulled in order to separate the strips 20, 22. The transparent portion 16 of the cover 12 is of a plastics material which is able to be written on and then wiped clean after use. Thus, a person reading the map 4 is able to mark their route and then wipe the transparent portion clean after arrival at a desired destination.

The light source 8 is in the form of a panel. The panel is of a sandwich construction comprising a transparent plastics face sheet, a plastics backing sheet, and a sheet of the electroluminescent material positioned between the face sheet and the backing sheet. An on/off switch 30 is provided. Wiring 32 extends from the on/off switch 30 to a battery 34. The battery 34 is remote from the apparatus 2. In use of the apparatus 2 in a road vehicle, then the battery 34 could be the battery of the vehicle. Similarly, in use of the apparatus 2 in a helicopter or an aeroplane, then the battery 34 would be one of the batteries employed in the helicopter or the aeroplane.

Referring now to Figure 2, similar parts as in Figure 1 have been given the same reference numerals for ease of comparison and understanding. In Figure 2, the apparatus 2 is provided with a pouch 36 for receiving a battery 38 and an inverter 40. The inverter 40 is for providing power for the light source 8 from the battery 34. In Figure 2, the apparatus 2 is thus provided with an integral power source .

Figure 3 shows apparatus 2 similar to that shown in Figure 2 except that the light source 8 is not in the form of an a panel but instead is in the form of a flexible strip 42. The flexible strip 42 is secured by stitching to the support panel 10. Other methods of securing the strip 42 in position can be employed, for example adhesives or threading the strip 42 through loops secured to the support panel 10.

Figure 4 shows the reverse side 44 of the apparatus 2 shown in Figures 2 and 3. It will be seen that the reverse side 44 includes four strips 46 of interlocking plastics material. Four strips 48 engage the four strips engage the four strips 46. If the four strips 48 were secured to the thigh portion of trousers, then the apparatus 2 could be secured to the trousers so that a person could read the map 2 sitting down with the map 2 being on one of their thighs .

Referring now to Figure 5, there is shown an electrical circuit 50 which is a low power electrical circuit 50 and which is employed for providing electricity as required to the light source 8. The circuit 50 comprises resistors Rl, R2 , R4 , R5 and R6 , capacitors Cl, C2 , C3 and C4 , transistors Tl and T2 , and a transformer TF1. The on/off switch 30 may be formed by a pair of contacts 52. The capacitors C2 and C3 and the resistor R4 form an oscillator circuit which is completed by the primary of the transformer TF1. The primary of the transformer TF1 is driven by transistor T2. Power for the circuit 50 comes from a battery.

The circuit 50 operates such that the inverter 40 is kept in the off position by the resistor R6 which ensures that the transistor Tl is normally in the off condition. When the contacts 52 are made, then the transistor Tl is switched on. The transistor Tl then fires, through the resistor Rl, the oscillator circuit formed by the capacitors Cl, C2 and the resistor R4. The primary of the transformer TF1 completes the oscillator circuit. The primary of the transformer TF1 is driven by the transistor T2 as shown. The completed oscillator circuit is tuned to capacitor C2. The capacitor C4 removes ripples in the direct current . The capacitor C3 matches the capacitance required for the electroluminescent material and stops the circuit 50 from generating high off load voltages. The resistor R5 adjusts the current required: By using the centre tap to feed back, it is able to create effectively 9v-0-9v with a 9 volt battery. The electroluminescent material of the power source 8 illuminates when powered by the alternating current from the inverter 40. The light source 8 gives good continuous light of even distribution.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the apparatus 2 may be such that things other than maps are read. A potentiometer or the like may be used to control the intensity of the light from the light source.

Claims

1. Apparatus for reading information on a transparent or translucent sheet of material, which apparatus comprises a holder for the sheet of material, and a light source for enabling the information to be read in conditions of poor visibility, the holder comprising a flexible support panel for receiving the sheet of material, a flexible cover, and releaseable securing means for releaseably securing the cover on the support panel in order to contain the sheet of material, the flexible cover comprising a transparent portion through which the sheet of material is able to be read, and the light source being of an electroluminescent material which becomes illuminated consequent upon receiving an electrical current from a power source.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the releaseable securing means comprises a first portion on the support panel, and a second portion on the cover.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 in which the releaseable securing means comprises a matrix of interlocking plastics members, the matrix having the first and the second portions.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 or claim 3 in which the releaseable securing means comprises a zip having the first and the second portions.

5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the transparent portion of the cover is of a plastics material which can be written on and then wiped clean after use.

6. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims in which the light source is in the form of a panel .

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 in which the panel is a sandwich construction comprising a transparent plastics face sheet, a plastics backing sheet, and a sheet of the electroluminescent material positioned between the face sheet and the backing sheet .

8. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 - 5 in which the light source is in the form of a strip, the strip being positioned over the support panel such as to be able to provide substantially constant light over the support panel .

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 and including diffuser means for evenly diffusing the light from the strip.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8 or claim' 9 in which the strip is of substantially circular cross sectional shape, and in which the strip comprises a first electrode which is a centrally positioned longitudinally extending electrode, and a second electrode which is a helically wound electrode.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 in which the first and the second electrodes are separated by a phosphor coating with a metallic sheath.

12. Apparatus according to claim 10 or claim 11 in which the second electrode is surrounded by a sheet of an indium tin oxide.

13. Apparatus according to any one of claims 10 - 12 in which the strip comprises an outer plastics layer. ΓÇ₧,,._D._┬½ 15 PCT/GB99/01133 O 99/54859

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 in which the outer plastics layer is made of polyvinyl chloride.

15. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including an electronic circuit for causing the light source to become illuminated.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15 in which the power source is at least one battery, and in which the apparatus includes an inverter for providing power for the light source.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16 and including a pouch for the battery.

18. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims and including releaseable attachment means for releaseably attaching the apparatus to another object.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18 in which the releaseable attachment means comprises an arrangement of interlocking plastics members, press studs or a hook arrangement .