Patent US 4,740,913

A display device for an electronic dictionary such as an electronic translator or an electronic language dictionary is featured by displaying ornamental patterns formed with ornamental data and word data when the dictionary is left unoperated. The display device includes a memory circuit for storing the ornamental data and the word data, a mixing circuit responsive to the memory circuit for mixing the ornamental data and the word data, and a display responsive to the mixing circuit for displaying the mixed ornamental patterns. In a specific form of the present invention, the ornamental patterns are displayed by shifting or running the overall data across the display.