MOON PHASE DISPLAY

Abstract

A moon phase display includes a frame and a plurality of display elements supported by the frame and rotatable relative to the frame. The plurality of display elements further includes a first side face on which an illuminated moon portion is depicted and a second side face. A first rotational position in which the first side face is arranged along a display plane wherein the first side faces together arranged on along the display plane represent a full moon. A second rotational position in which the second side face is arranged along the display plane. A drive rotates each of the plurality of display elements independently. A controller actuates the drive so that each one of the plurality of display elements is rotated into the second rotational position until all of the plurality of display elements are located in the second rotational position.

Claims

1-18. (canceled)

19. A moon phase display comprising: a frame; a plurality of display elements which are each supported by the frame and configure to rotate about a longitudinal axis relative to the frame, the plurality of display elements further comprises, a first strip-shaped side face on which an illuminated moon portion is depicted, a second strip-shaped side face on which no illuminated moon portion is depicted, a first rotational position in which the first strip-shape side face is arranged along a display plane wherein the first strip-shaped side faces together represent a full moon in a full moon position in which all of the plurality of display elements are located in their first rotational position, and a second rotational position in which the second strip-shaped side face is arranged along the display plane; a drive configured to rotate each of the plurality of display elements independently of each other about the longitudinal axis; and a controller configured to actuate the drive so that, starting from the full moon position, each one of the plurality of display elements is rotated into the second rotational position in a number of successive steps until all of the plurality of display elements are located in the second rotational position, so that a gradually waning moon is displayed.

20. The moon phase display according to claim 19, wherein the plurality of display elements comprises an even number from 4 to 30.

21. The moon phase display according to claim 19, comprising fourteen (14) display elements.

22. The moon phase display according to claim 19, wherein the longitudinal axis of each of the plurality of display elements runs perpendicular relative to a field of view of a viewer who is viewing the moon phase display in a usage position.

23. The moon phase display according to claim 19, wherein the number of successive steps corresponds to the number of display elements, wherein one of the plurality of display elements arranged on the first strip-shaped side face is rotated in a first step, wherein a second of the plurality of display elements is located directly next to the first of the plurality of display elements and is rotated in a second step, and wherein each successive display element is rotated in successive steps, in a last step, a last of the plurality of display elements is arranged on a second side of the moon phase display opposite the first side is rotated.

24. The moon phase display according to claim 23, wherein the controller comprises a northern hemisphere operating mode and a southern hemisphere operating mode, wherein, in the northern hemisphere operating mode, a display element located on a far right based on the viewer's field of view is rotated in the first step and, wherein in the southern hemisphere operating mode, a display element located on a far left based on the field of view of the viewer is rotated in the first step.

25. The moon phase display according to claim 19, wherein the first strip-shaped side faces form a square area in the display plane in the full moon position.

26. The moon phase display according to claim 19, wherein partial areas of the first strip-shaped side faces, which adjoin depictions of the illuminated moon portions, comprise a background color.

27. The moon phase display according to claim 26, wherein the second strip-shaped side faces comprise the background color.

28. The moon phase display according to claim 19, wherein an unilluminated moon portion is depicted on each of the second strip-shaped side faces.

29. The moon phase display according to claim 28, wherein partial areas of the second strip-shaped side faces, which adjoin the depictions of the unilluminated moon portions, comprise a background color.

30. The moon phase display according to claim 19, wherein the frame is positioned in the display plane and is configured to frame the plurality of display elements, and wherein the frame comprises a background color.

31. The moon phase display according to claim 19, wherein the plurality of display elements each comprise a third, strip-shaped side face which is arranged in a third rotational position along the display plane.

32. The moon phase display according to claim 19, wherein the drive for each of the plurality of display elements comprises a separate drive unit including one of (i) a stepping motor, (ii) a servomotor, and (iii) a rotary magnet.

33. The moon phase display according to claim 32, wherein the drive unit of one of the plurality of display elements is arranged at an upper end and the drive unit of an adjacent display element is arranged at a lower end of the adjacent display element.

34. The moon phase display according to claim 19, further comprising a safety coupling arranged between one of the plurality of display elements and the drive, wherein the safety coupling releases one of a positive fit and a force fit between the drive and one of the display elements when a predefined torque is exceeded.

35. The moon phase display according to claim 34, wherein the safety coupling comprises an elastic coupling element configured to interact with a flat spot of a shaft firmly connected to one of (i) the drive and (ii) the display element.

36. The moon phase display according to claim 19, wherein the drive is subject to play and the display element is assigned a spring element and a control part configured to interact with the spring element, wherein the control part for each of the first and second strip-shaped side faces of the plurality of display elements comprises a flat spot on which the spring element rests in a planar manner when a corresponding display element is located in an associated rotational position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] The invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment represented in figures, wherein:

[0036] FIG. 1A illustrates an embodiment of a moon phase display at a first point in time;

[0037] FIG. 1B illustrates an embodiment of the moon phase display of FIG. 1A at a second point in time;

[0038] FIG. 1C illustrates an embodiment of the moon phase display of FIGS. 1A and 1B at a third point in time;

[0039] FIG. 2A illustrates a schematic sectional representation of an embodiment of a section of the moon phase display from FIG. 1A;

[0040] FIG. 2B illustrates a schematic sectional representation of an embodiment of a section of the moon phase display from FIG. 1B;

[0041] FIG. 2C illustrates a schematic sectional representation of an embodiment of a section of the moon phase display from FIG. 1C;

[0042] FIG. 3 illustrates a rear perspective view of the embodiment of the moon phase display from FIGS. 1A-C;

[0043] FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded view of an embodiment of a drive of the moon phase display from FIGS. 1A-C;

[0044] FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic representation of an embodiment of a drive of a display element having a safety coupling; and

[0045] FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic representation of the embodiment of the display element from FIG. 5, which is equipped with a spring element and a control part for fixing a rest position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0046] FIG. 1 shows a moon phase display having fourteen display elements 10-36 and a frame 38 enclosing the display elements 10-36. The display elements 10-36 each have a first and a second strip-shaped, rectangular side face. The display elements 10-36 are rotatably supported about a vertical longitudinal axis.

[0047] In the situation represented in FIG. 1A, all the display elements 10-36 are located in a first rotational position in which the first side face is arranged in each case in a display plane corresponding to the drawing plane. Together, the first side faces of the display elements 10-36 almost completely fill a square area of the display plane. The front of the frame 38 is likewise located in the display plane. It has a square form and a square section in which the display elements 10-36 are arranged so that they fill this section almost completely.

[0048] An illuminated moon portion, which is represented in white in FIGS. 1A-C, is depicted on each of the fourteen first side faces. Together, the first side faces represent the full moon; the situation shown in FIG. 1A is the full moon position. Partial areas of the first side faces, which each adjoin the illuminated moon portion, are kept black in the color forming a background. The frame 38 is likewise black so that the full moon appears against a background which is consistent overall.

[0049] Starting from the full moon position shown in FIG. 1A, the display elements 10-36 are individually brought into their respective second rotational position in successive steps. In the first step this happens for the display element 10 arranged on the far left, then for the adjacent display element 12, and so on. After four steps, this produces the position shown in FIG. 1B, in which the moon has waned by a good quarter (more precisely: by four fourteenths). The four display elements 10, 12, 14 and 16 arranged on the left are now located in their second rotational position, in which a second side face is arranged in each case in the display plane. No illuminated moon portion is depicted on the second side faces, but in each case an unilluminated moon portion which is represented in gray. Partial areas of the second side faces, which adjoin the unilluminated moon portions, are kept black in the background color. The diameter of the moon depiction is adapted to the dimensions of the first side faces so that the area filled by the display elements 10-36 is almost completely or completely exploited.

[0050] After three further steps, the display elements 18, 20 and 22 are also located in their second rotational position; this situation shown on in FIG. 1C is a half-moon position. The course shown in FIGS. 1A-C correspond to a southern hemisphere operating mode, since it represents the situation to be observed in the night sky in the southern hemisphere, in which the moon is waning “from the left”. In a northern hemisphere operating mode (not shown), starting from the full moon position, the display element 36 located on the far right is initially rotated into the second rotational position.

[0051] In FIGS. 2A-C, the display elements 10, 12, 14 are shown schematically in cross section. They each form an equilateral triangle. The first side face 40 is arranged on one side of the triangle, and the second side face 42 is arranged on a second side of the triangle. In the position shown, the first side faces 40 are located in the display plane illustrated by a dotdashed line 44. Adjoining the first side face 40 of the display element 10 (FIG. 2A), a piece of the frame 38 can be seen, the front side of which likewise lies in the display plane. A vertically arranged carrier 46 which forms part of a bearing structure is located behind the frame 38. A supporting element 50, which is only schematically indicated, for each display element 10-36 is located on a further element of the bearing structure, a horizontal carrier not represented in FIGS. 2A-C. The longitudinal axes 48 about which each of the display elements 10-36 is rotatably supported in the supporting element 50 are likewise represented.

[0052] A controller 66, which is configured to control the rotational position of each display element 10-36 is likewise only indicated schematically. For this purpose, the controller 66 is connected to drive units 60 (see FIG. 4). The electronic controller 66 and the drive units 60 are supplied with electrical energy by an accumulator which is not represented.

[0053] FIG. 3 shows a rear view of the moon phase display, wherein a rear wall (not represented) has been removed. The back of the frame 38 as well as two of the vertical carriers 46 and two horizontal carriers 52, 54 which form a bearing structure for the display elements 10-36 can be seen. The frame 38 is fastened to this bearing structure.

[0054] The display elements 10-36 (only partially provided with reference numbers in FIG. 3) each adjoin one of the horizontal carriers 52, 54 with their upper and lower ends. Holding devices 56 for receiving a drive unit are arranged on every second one of the display elements 10-36 at the upper end of the respective display element 10-36, above the horizontal carrier 52. On the remaining display elements 10-36, such holding devices 56 are located at the lower ends of the display elements 10-36, below the other horizontal carrier 54. The drive units themselves are not shown in detail in FIG. 3.

[0055] FIG. 4 shows a section of the moon phase display in a perspective view from the front. Some of the display elements 10-36 and the horizontal carrier 52 arranged above them can be seen. A drive unit 60 having a holding device 56 is arranged above the carrier 52 for every second display element 10-36.

[0056] One of these drive units 60 is shown in an exploded representation. It comprises the two-part holding device 56 having four elongated holes through each of which a screw 58 is guided and screwed into the carrier 52, and a servomotor 62 which is connected to a shaft 64 supporting and driving the associated display element 10-36.

[0057] FIG. 5 shows a portion of a display element 10 at the bottom, which is rotatably supported about the axis of rotation 48 by means of a slide bearing face 74 and is driven by a drive unit 60. The drive unit 60 has a rotary plate 68 to which an elastic coupling element 70 is fastened, which has a laterally deflectable end portion running parallel to the axis of rotation 48. In the rest position shown, this end portion is located at a small distance from the flat spot 72 which is configured on an otherwise circular axis portion 76 arranged concentrically to the axis of rotation 48. When the rotary plate 68 rotates, the end portion comes into contact with the flat spot 72 and takes the display element 10 along with it during the further rotational movement.

[0058] If the rotation of the display element 10 is obstructed, the end portion is deflected outwards and slides off the flat spot 72 so that it rests on the remaining lateral surface of the axis portion 76. Consequently, the flat spot 72 and the elastic coupling element 70 form a safety coupling. After remedying the obstruction, the display element 10 can be realigned so that the flat spot 72 is located on the end portion. This can easily be done by hand, in particular if the friction between the axis portion 76 and the elastic coupling element is less than the self-obstruction of the drive unit 60.

[0059] In FIG. 6, a lower portion of the display element 10 from FIG. 5 is shown. It is rotatably supported about the axis of rotation 48 in a frame part 78. A control part 80 is arranged below the display element 10 concentrically to the axis of rotation 48 and is connected in a non-rotational manner to the display element 10. It has three flat spots 82 which are each assigned to a side face of the display element 10. The free end of a spring element 84, which is fastened to the frame component 78, rests in a planar manner on one of these flat spots 82. When the display element 10 is rotated, the free end of the spring element 84 is deflected outwards away from the axis of rotation 48. As a result, it exerts a torque on the control part 80 that is sufficient to bring the display element 10 exactly into the desired rotational position within the rotational play.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0060] 10-36 Display element [0061] 38 Frame [0062] 40 First side face [0063] 42 Second side face [0064] 44 Line (display plane) [0065] 46 Carrier (vertical) [0066] 48 Axis of rotation [0067] 50 Supporting element [0068] 52, 54 Carrier (horizontal) [0069] 56 Holding device [0070] 58 Screw [0071] 60 Drive unit [0072] 62 Servomotor [0073] 64 Shaft [0074] 66 Controller [0075] 68 Rotary plate [0076] 70 Elastic coupling element [0077] 72 Flat spot [0078] 74 Slide bearing face [0079] 76 Axis portion [0080] 78 Frame part [0081] 80 Control part [0082] 82 Flat spot [0083] 84 Spring element