A planar solid state LCD display for presenting numeric information comprises six generally rectangular arrays of segments arranged in ladder-like disposition with the outermost rectangles being of progressively decreasing height. The segments are selectively energizable to present multiple 7 segment digit displays wherein a digit has maximum height when centered and a reduced height when above or below the centered position. This provides to a viewer a perception which simulates the rotation of rolling of a digit wheel of conventional counter type wherein the trend of rotation is observable.

An electroluminescent panel is provided for displaying a simulation of a speedometer for a vehicle. The simulation includes a rotating needle for indicating the speed of the vehicle and a drum type odometer for keeping track of the total mileage of travel of the vehicle. The electroluminescent panel has a microcomputer and a video ram associated therewith. On successive (Direct Memory Access) DMA periods of a millisecond operating cycle, the microcomputer is programmed to read columns of data out of the video ram to be displayed as corresponding columns of pixels on the electroluminescent panel. Between the successive Direct Memory Access periods of the millisecond operating cycle, the microcomputer is programmed to execute needle control and odometer control routines to update the data in the video ram in response to an input fed to the microcomputer indicative of the speed of the vehicle upon which the electroluminescent panel is mounted.

A liquid crystal display is provided with elements arranged in matrix form and addressed by timing scanning and signal pulses so as to select particular display elements. According to input data, the display is made to move while maintaining its shape so that an analog of a mechanical system such as a dial or gauge having a movable pointer may be obtained.

A display system is disclosed for depicting a moving image of a graphic representation of a sequence of, for example, letters, words, symbols or artwork. The system comprises a display area defined by an array of light emitting diodes (LED's) which form a matrix having a series of rows and columns. The LED's are arranged in rows parallel to the intended direction of movement of an image and the columns are arranged orthogonal to the intended direction of movement. The LED's are further arranged in first and second groups in an interlacing fashion, wherein successive LED's of the first and second groups are spaced apart by one or more columns which do not contain LED's. A controller is further included for generating a plurality of electrical signals in sequential groups, each such group of signals representing encoded data of a sample portion of the graphic to be represented by one column of the matrix at a prescribed instant, and successive groups of the sets of data providing further encoded data of successive sample portions of the graphic to be represented by a column and successive prescribed instants. The system is capable of displaying high-definition graphics with only a fraction of the picture elements necessary in prior art systems, and yet which produces an image that does not tend to break up into momentary fragments, jitter, or wobble.

An altimeter has four display panels each being a matrix array of light-emitting diodes. An energizing unit energizes selected diodes to produce a representation of a number in each panel indicative of the value of the input. A knob on the altimeter selects input signals from a barometric source or a radar source. When barometric signals are selected, the altitude is represented in the panels by bright numbers against a dark background. When radar signals are selected, the energizing unit changes the format of energization of the display to represent altitude by dark numbers against a bright background. Other formats are also possible.