
By the time the system had been patented in 1961, TCA had already lost interest and Ferranti's management didn't consider the project very interesting. The flip-disc display was developed by Kenyon Taylor at Ferranti-Packard at the request of Trans-Canada Airlines (today's Air Canada). This uses less power, and may be more robust. Other driving schemes use diodes to isolate non-driven solenoids, which allows only the discs whose state need changing to be flipped. The whole process takes a few seconds, during which time the sound of the discs being flipped over is quite distinctive. Typically, the driving scheme works its way from top to bottom, powering each horizontal line "on" and then powering the needed vertical lines to set up that row. Those on unpowered lines also do not flip. Those solenoids at the crossing point of two powered wires are driven with enough current to flip their discs those powered on only the vertical or horizontal line see only 1/2 of the required force (as flux is proportional to current, which in turn is proportional to the voltage). One driving method is similar to that of core memory: the solenoids are connected in a simple matrix. All common methods connect the solenoids in some sort of matrix. Their basic purpose is to reduce the amount of wiring and electronics needed to drive the solenoids. Some displays use the other end of the solenoid to actuate a reed switch, which controls an LED array behind the disc, resulting in a display that is visible at night but requires no extra drive electronics.
WHO INVENTED THE FLIP VIDEO CAMERA DRIVER
Another style uses a magnet embedded in the disc itself, with separate solenoids arranged at the ends or side to flip it.Ī computerized driver system reads data, typically characters, and flips the appropriate discs to produce the desired display. By pulsing the solenoid coil with the appropriate electrical polarity, the permanent magnet on the axle will align itself with the magnetic field, also turning the disc. Positioned close to the magnet is a solenoid. The disc is attached to an axle which also carries a small permanent magnet. Once flipped, the discs will remain in position without power. With power applied, the disc flips to show the other side. The flip-disc display consists of a grid of small metal discs that are black on one side and a bright color on the other (typically white or day-glo yellow), set into a black background. It has also been used extensively on public information displays.A few game shows have also used flip-disc displays, including Canadian shows like Just Like Mom, The Joke's on Us and Uh Oh!, but most notably the American game show Family Feud from 1976-1995. Flip-disc technology has been used for destination signs in buses across North America, Europe and Australia. The flip-disc display is an electromechanical dot matrix display technology used for large outdoor signs, normally those that will be exposed to direct sunlight.
