Character display using point matrix - has display lamps and photocells spaced along cylinder

The character display employs a cylinder (1) which is rotatable about its longitudinal axis. A number of display lamps (31, 35) are angularly offset along the cylinder, each display lamp (31..35) associated with a photocell switch (41..45). The photocell switches (41..45) are actuated by an optical switching system in accordance with the information to be displayed so that the display lamps (31..35) at selected angular positions are energised. The photocell switches (41..45) are preferably positioned along a line parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder (1) and each may be a thyristor, with the optical switches being light-emitting diodes. Several such cylinders (1) may be placed next to one another to form the character display.