Vane display
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A vane display is a type of 7-segment display. Unlike LED and VFD segmented displays, vane displays are composed of seven physical surfaces, typically painted white, but occasionally other colors, such as yellow or fluorescent green. If a segment is to be displayed as "off", it will be rotated so that its edge faces forward, with the painted surface pointing upward and not visible. A segment that is to be displayed as "on" will be rotated so that the painted surface is shown.
Vane displays operate in a similar manner to flip-disc displays, in that the segments are quickly moved using electromagnets. Some variants used where the display need not necessarily be changed quickly use electric motors to rotate the displays in and out of place.
Vane displays have been used often in game shows, or on scoreboards in sports arenas. Like eggcrate displays, they are not washed out by bright lights such as those found in a television studio. Another benefit of the vane display is that if the power supply is lost, the display will continue to show whatever the last value was before power was cut. However, like flip-disc displays, if a large number of elements must be changed at the same time, the flipping displays may present a significant amount of noise.
[edit] Examples
- The American game show Jeopardy! has used vane displays for the scoreboards on the contestants' podiums from 1984 to 2002. In November 2002 the vane displays were replaced by flat panel video displays that display positive scores with a blue background and negative scores with a red background.
- The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority has used vane displays on several of their automatic toll collection baskets to display the toll due.
- The American version of The Price is Right has used vane displays in several pricing games, including Balance Game '06, Check-Out (notably on the large calculator that was part of the game's prop until 2001, and on the totals of the ARPs until 1996, the vane display is only still intact on the small readout that shows the contestant's totals), and Pocket ¢hange. The large scoreboard used in the Showcase Showdown also has a vane display.
- In the Austin Powers film The Spy Who Shagged Me, the self-destruct countdown to Dr. Evil's secret volcano lair was displayed on a vane display.
- From 1973 until 1991, various versions of the American game show Pyramid used vane displays for the scoreboards on the team tables, and on the countdown timer in the Bonus Round.
[edit] See also
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