Electro-optic device for improving reading ability

Claim 2

An electro-optic device, according to claim 1, in which said layer of insulating material comprises a thin sheet of plastic having a thickness of not over about 0.0005 inch.

Claim 3

An electro-optic device, according to claim 1, in which said layer of nematic liquid has a thickness of not over 0.001 inch.

Claim 4

An electro-optic device for improving reading ability, comprising: a sheet of reading matter, a pair of parallel transparent insulating plates forming a sandwich, each of said plates having a coating on the inside surface of a spaced array of parallel transparent electrode bands, the electrode bands on one plate being disposed perpendicularly to those on the other, said spaced electrode bands forming, at their crossings, a series of rows of separate reading panels disposed in register with said reading matter, a thin layer of transparent insulating material covering the coated inside surface of at least one plate, a thin layer of transparent nematic liquid crystal composition having the property of entering a stage of non-destructive opacity when subjected to a threshold voltage disposed between said plates, a source of electrical voltage designed to impress a variable voltage through said electrode bands and across said sandwich, said voltage ranging from below the threshold value to above the saturation value of said nematic liquid, and sequential switching means connected between said voltage source and said electrode bands and designed first to impress at least a saturation voltage on said panels whereby they become opaque with respect to said reading matter, and the sequentially to reduce said voltage on said panels to below the threshold value in reading relation, whereby said panels are made sequentially transparent to make visible said reading matter in reating relation.

Claim 5

An electro-optic device, according to claim 5, in which said layer of nematic liquid has a thickness of not over about 0.001 inch.

Claim 6

An electro-optic device, according to claim 5, wherein said layer of insulating material comprises a layer of sheet plastic having a thickness of not over about 0.0005 inch.

Claim 7

An electro-optic device, according to claim 5, wherein said electrode bands comprise wide bands separated from each other by insulating scoring lines.

Claim 8

An electro-optic device for improving reading ability, comprising: a stand having a raised forward face and protruding bottom retaining means on which a sheet of printed matter may be supported, a sandwich reading plate disposable on said retaining means and over said printed matter and comprising: a pair of parallel transparent insulating plates forming a sandwich, each of said plates having a coating on the inside surface of a spaced array of parallel transparent electrode bands, the direction of the electrode bands on one plate being disposed perpendicularly to those of the other, said spaced electrode bands forming, at their crossings, a series of rows of separate reading panels disposable in register over said printed matter, a thin layer of transparent insulating material covering the coated inside surface of at least one plate, a thin layer of transparent nematic liquid crystal composition having the property of entering a stage of non-destructive opacity when subjected to a threshold voltage disposed between said plates, a source of electric voltage designed to impress a variable voltage through said electrode bands and across said sandwich, said voltage ranging from below the threshold value to above the saturation value of said nematic liquid, and sequential switching means mounted on said stand and connected between said voltage source and said electrode bands and designed first to impress at least a saturation voltage on said panels whereby they become opaque with respect to said printed matter, and then sequentially to reduce said voltage on said panels to below the threshold value, in reading relation, whereby said panels are made sequentially transparent to make visible said printed matter in reading relation.

Claim 9

An electro-optic device, according to claim 9, having switching speed control means for varying the speed of said sequential switching.

Claim 10

A process for improving reading ability, comprising: placing, over a sheet of reading matter, a pair of parallel transparent insulating plates forming a sandwich, each of said plates being coated on the inside surface with a spaced array of parallel transparent electrode bands, the direction of the electrode bands on one plate being disposed perpendicularly to those on the other, said spaced electrode bands forming, at their crossings, a series of rows of separate panels disposed in register over said reading matter, the coated inside surface of at least one plate being covered with a sheet of thin transparent insulating plastic, and said sandwich enclosing a thin layer of transparent nematic liquid crystal composition having the property of entering a stage of non-destructive opacity when subjected to a threshold voltage, impressing an electrical voltage above the saturation value on said electrode bands, whereby said panels are made opaque to said reading matter, and sequentially switching said voltage to below said threshold value on said panels, in reading relation, whereby said panels are made sequentially transparent, and the said reading matter is thus made visible in reading relation.

Claim 11

A process, according to claim 11, wherein the electrode bands are made by coating the insulating plates with a transparent conductive layer, and then scoring the layered surfaces at spaced intervals to provide insulated bands thereon.