Idealized display with transparent timing
The display comprises 160 rectangular LEDs and a control-electronics PCB with USB interface.

160 LEDs in a linear arrangement represent one line of an electronic visual display

Timing example (see diagram above)
Width of moving pattern             w = 9 elements (pixels)
Speed                                        = 10 elements / frame period
Aperture ratio (PWM)                a / (a+b) = 2/3 = 66,6%

By proper selection of the aperture ratio the Reference Ticker can simulate both hold-type displays (e.g. LCDs with a = 100%) and impulse-type displays (e.g. CRTs with a – 1%). Blinking and scanning backlight approaches can also be simulated by appropriate choice of the aperture ration parameter.