US3736043A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrochemical molecular display and writing
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1971-03-29
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Granted: 1973-05-29
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Expires: 1991-03-29
Abstract
Abstract An electrochemical, electrically-controlled, reversible, segmented, display method and apparatus presents character patterns which can be erased. The apparatus includes a substrate carrying highly reflective display electrode strips which can be electrically addressed selectively to present characters. Characters are displayed by producing a cloud of iodine molecules obscuring certain electrode segments or strips composed of a noble metal or the like normally visible through a transparent cover in the absence of an iodine cloud. An electrolyte capable of undergoing an electrochemical reduction-oxidation reaction yields a molecular, highly non-reflective film on the display electrode strips to selectively obscure the selected display strips from view to present different characters to the viewer. Satisfactory electrolytes include organic polar iodide compounds including ammonium, arsonium, and phosphonium iodides. Preferably, the electrolyte includes pentavalent nitrogen iodides with a radical selected from the choline group such as acetylcholine, propionylcholine and butyrylcholine iodides. The iodine molecules provided in the film tend to remain near the electrode for a substantial period of time to provide ''''shortterm'''' memory. If gelatine or other water soluble substances are added to the electrolyte, which substances are inert, transparent, and which retard migration of ions, then the duration of the memory provided by the system is extended according to the concentration of such substances. Alternatively, iodine lines can be used to form characters where the gold background is present everywhere and dark lines are written upon the display electrodes which normally are not distinguishable from the background optically. In still another alternative, the form of this invention electrolyte carried in a paper can be used to provide electrochemical writing upon the paper.
Inventors
- 👤 C J Sambucetti
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 06:16
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K9/00; C09K9/02; B; B41; B41M; B41M5/00; B41M5/20; G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/15; G02F1/1506
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
An electrochemical data presentation apparatus including: a. a pair of electrodes, b. one of said electrodes comprising a data presentation electrode including a noble metal selected from gold, platinum, iridium and rhodium, c. a medium for presentation of indicia, said medium containing an electrolytic compound providing an electrochemical reversible reduction-oxidation reaction product changing the transmission characteristics of said medium, d. a container holding said electrodes and said medium containing said electrolytic compound, and e. said eLectrolytic compound comprising an organic polar iodide compound selected from the group including ammonium, arsonium, and phosphonium compounds.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
86 words
An electrochemical data presentation apparatus including: a. a pair of electrodes, b. one of said electrodes comprising a data presentation electrode including a noble metal selected from gold, platinum, iridium and rhodium, c. a medium for presentation of indicia, said medium containing an electrolytic compound providing an electrochemical reversible reduction-oxidation reaction product changing the transmission characteristics of said medium, d. a container holding said electrodes and said medium containing said electrolytic compound, and e. said electrolytic compound comprising a pentavalent nitrogen compound of the general formula
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said choline groups are selected from acetylcholine, propionylcholine and butyrylcholine iodides.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 in which the concentration of said electrolytic compound varies from 0.5 to 20 percent by weight in solvent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein the concentration of said electrolytic compound is approximately 2.5 percent by weight in solvent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
103 words
An electrochemical data presentation apparatus including: a. a pair of electrodes, b. one of said electrodes comprising a data presentation electrode including a noble metal selected from gold, platinum, iridium an rhodium, c. a medium for presentation of indicia, said medium containing an electrolytic compound providing an electrochemical reversible reduction-oxidation reaction product changing the transmission characteristics of said medium, d. a container holding said electrodes and said medium containing said electrolytic compound, and e. said medium comprising an electrolytic solution of said electrolytic compound and a soluble, non-reactive material added to said electrolytic solution for retarding motion of substances in said electrolytic solution.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein said non-reactive material is gelatine added in sufficient concentration to increase viscosity of said solution.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
98 words
An electrochemical data presentation apparatus including: a. a pair of electrodes, b. one of said electrodes comprising a data presentation electrode including a noble metal selected from gold, platinum, iridium and rhodium, c. a medium for presentation of indicia, said medium containing an electrolytic compound providing an electrochemical reversible reduction-oxidation reaction product changing the transmission characteristics of said medium, d. a container holding said electrodes and said medium containing said electrolytic compound, and e. said one electrode including a basic layer of copper supported upon a substrate, an intermediate layer of palladium and an outer layer of gold.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 9 with said palladium layer electrodeposited upon the copper base and said gold layer plated upon said palladium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein the other of said electrodes comprises a reference electrode composed of silver and silver iodide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
115 words
An electrochemical radiation reflection controlling apparatus including: a. a pair of electrodes, b. at least one of said electrodes having a light reflecting surface, said surface being composed of an inactive substance, c. electrical terminals connected to said electrodes, d. an electrolytic fluid comprising means for providing a reversible reduction-oxidation reaction to produce at said one electrode, when current flows between said electrodes in one direction a reaction product composed of free molecules of an anion having an optical characteristic of absorbing light directed towards said electrode to a substantial degree when said reaction product is suspended in said fluid adjacent to said one electrode, e. and a container holding said electrodes and said electrolyte.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
69 words
An electrochemical reflection controlling device including: a. a pair of electrodes at least one of which is composed of noble metal material, b. an electrolyte containing an organic compound of pentavalent nitrogen with an iodide ion combined in the compound, c. at least one of said electrodes having a radiation reflecting surface, d. electrical terminals attached to said electrodes, e. and a container including said electrodes and said electrolyte.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
78 words
A display device including a. a pair of sets of electrodes, one set of electrodes comprising a printed circuit board including an etched copper pattern of electrode structures plated with palladium and then plated with gold, b. an electrolyte containing an organic compound of pentavalent nitrogen with a negative iodide ion included in the compound and a choline group comprising a radical of a positive ion including the nitrogen, c. a container including said electrodes and said electrolyte.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 14 wherein said compound is selected from a group including acetylcholine iodide and propionylcholine iodide.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
87 words
An electrochemical display apparatus including: a. a pair of electrodes, b. one of said electrodes including a noble metal with high reflection characteristics selected from gold, platinum, iridium and rhodium, c. and an electrolyte providing a reversible reduction-oxidation reaction product in said electrolyte adjacent to said electrode at the end of said reaction for absorbing radiation, said reaction product composed of free molecules of an anion and providing a change in the reflection from said one electrode, d. and a container holding said electrodes and said electrolyte.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
103 words
An electrochemical data presentation method including: a. employing a pair of electrodes, b. using one of said electrodes including a noble metal selected from gold, platinum, iridium and rhodium as a data presentation electrode, c. and employing a medium for presentation of indicia, said medium containing an electrolytic compound yielding an electrochemical reversible reduction-oxidation reaction product suspended in said medium adjacent to said one electrode composed of free molecules of an anion for absorbing radiation and thereby changing the transmission characteristics of said medium to present data formed by passing direct current between said electrodes with a positive potential upon said one electrode.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method in accordance with claim 17 including employing as said electrolyte an organic polar iodide compound selected from the group including ammonium, arsonium, and phosphonium compounds.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method in accordance with claim 17 including employing as said electrolyte a pentavalent nitrogen compound of the general formula
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
106 words
An electrochemical radiation reflection controlling apparatus including: a. a pair of electrodes, b. at least one of said electrodes comprising a display electrode having a surface adapted for reflection of radiation, said surface being composed of gold, c. said one electrode including a basic layer of copper supported upon a substrate, an intermediate layer of palladium and an outer layer of gold, said palladium being electrodeposited upon the copper base, said gold being plated upon said palladium, the other of said electrodes comprising a reference electrode composed of silver and silver iodide, d. an electrolyte, said electrolyte being a pentavalent nitrogen compound of the genera formula
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said electrolytic compound comprises an iodide and said reaction product comprises free molecules of iodine.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said electrolytic compound comprises an organic halide and said reaction product comprises free molecules of said halide.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-05-28 | 1976-11-27 | 1977-05-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-28 | 1980-11-27 | 1981-05-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-28 | 1984-11-27 | 1985-05-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |