Patent US3812490A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3812490A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flexible membrane display panel for generating characters visible in ambient light
Assignee: Bendix Corp
•
Filing: 1972-09-18
•
Granted: 1974-05-21
•
Expires: 1992-09-18
Abstract
Abstract A digitally addressed magnetically actuated ambient light display panel is disclosed which incorporates a thin flexible magnetic membrane suspended between a ferromagnetic member and a transparent window in a fluid of a contrasting color. A plurality of small electromagnetic elements are disposed along the face of the ferromagnetic member adjacent to the magnetic membrane, which are capable of selectively magnetizing the ferromagnetic member at discrete locations. The magnetized ferromagnetic member attracts or repels the magnetic membrane in accordance with the magnetic polarity induced in the ferromagnetic member by the electromagnetic elements. Repelling the membrane against the face of the window at predetermined locations displaces the fluid between the membrane and the window and permits the contrasting color of the flexible membrane to become visible. A selectively repelled membrane generates characters or patterns visible under ambient light conditions.
Inventors
- 👤 G Goodrich
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 13:44
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G3/00; G09G3/20; G09G3/34; G09G3/3486; G02; G02B; G02B26/00; G02B26/004; G08; G08B; G08B5/00; G08B5/22; G09F; G09F9/00; G09F9/30; G09F9/37; G09F9/372; G09F9/375; G09G3/04; G09G3/16; G11; G11B; G11B5/00; G11B5/62
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A character generating ambient light display panel comprising: an enclosure having at least one transparent window; an opaque colored fluid filling said enclosure; a flexible membrane, having a color contrasting to the color of said fluid and porous to said fluid, said membrane supported in said enclosure proximate to and spaced from said transparent window; and means disposed in said enclosure for selectively deflecting said membrane at a plurality of predeterminable locations indicative of at least one character to contact said transparent window, thereby displacing said fluid from between said transparent window and said membrane at said predetermined locations, permitting the contrasting color of said membrane and therefore said at least one character to be visible through said window.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
A character generating ambient light display panel comprising: an enclosure having at least one transparent window; an opaque colored fluid filling said enclosure; a flexible membrane, having a color contrasting to the color of said fluid and porous to said fluid, said membrane supported in said enclosure proximate to and spaced from said transparent window; and means disposed in said enclosure for selectively deflecting said membrane at a plurality of predeterminable locations indicative of at least one character to contact said transparent window, thereby displacing said fluid from between said transparent window and said membrane at said predetermined locations, permitting the contrasting color of said membrane and therefore said at least one character to be visible through said window.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The display panel of claim 1 wherein said flexible membrane further includes a plurality of isolated permanent magnet particles at least partially polarized normal to the surface of said membrane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The display panel of claim 2 wherein said means for selectively deflecting said membrane is a plurality of electromagnetic elements systematically arranged with respect to the surface of said membrane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The display panel of claim 3 wherein said plurality of electromagnetic elements are equally spaced along orthogonal axes forming rows and columns of electromagnetic elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The display panel of claim 4 wherein said magnetic elements comprise at least two electrically isolated superimposed electromagnets, one of said two electromagnets being associated with one of said rows, and the second of said two electromagnets being associated with one of said columns.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
56 words
The display panel of claim 5 wherein said means for selectively deflecting said membrane further includes a ferromagnetic member having a planar surface, the planar surface of said ferromagnetic member being located proximate the surface of said flexible membrane opposite said window and said electromagnetic elements being disposed along the planar surface of said ferromagnetic member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The display panel of claim 6 wherein said ferromagnetic member has a square hysteresis loop, and wherein the combined magnetic fields of two of said electromagnets comprising said electromagnetic elements is required to locally change the magnetic polarity of said ferromagnetic member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The display panel of claim 7 wherein said ferromagnetic member is a part of said enclosure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The display panel of claim 3 wherein said electromagnetic elements are arranged in at least seven electrically isolated linear segments forming a block numeral eight.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
The display panel of claim 9 wherein said means for deflecting said membrane further comprises ferromagnetic member having a substantially planar surface, said planar surface located proXimate the surface of said membrane and said electromagnetic elements are disposed along said planar surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The display panel of claim 3 wherein said electromagnetic elements are serially arranged to form a predetermined character.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The display panel of claim 11 wherein a plurality of character forming serially arranged electromagnetic elements are overlayed one on top of the other
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The display panel of claim 12 wherein said means for selectively deflecting said flexible membrane further includes a ferrite member having a substantially planar surface and said electromagnetic elements are disposed along said planar surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
115 words
A magnetically actuated ambient light display panel comprising: an enclosure having at least one transparent window; an opaque colored liquid filling said enclosure; a magnetically responsive flexible membrane having a color contrasting to the color of said fluid and porous to said fluid, said membrane supported in said enclosure a short distance from said transparent window; and means disposed in said enclosure proximate said membrane for generating localized magnetic fields at a plurality of predeterminable locations indicative of at least one character, said localized magnetic field operative to deflect said membrane to contact said transparent window whereby the contrasting color of said membrane and therefore said at least one character becomes visible through said window.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
115 words
A magnetically actuated ambient light display panel comprising: an enclosure having at least one transparent window; an opaque colored liquid filling said enclosure; a magnetically responsive flexible membrane having a color contrasting to the color of said fluid and porous to said fluid, said membrane supported in said enclosure a short distance from said transparent window; and means disposed in said enclosure proximate said membrane for generating localized magnetic fields at a plurality of predeterminable locations indicative of at least one character, said localized magnetic field operative to deflect said membrane to contact said transparent window whereby the contrasting color of said membrane and therefore said at least one character becomes visible through said window.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The display panel of claim 14 wherein said magnetically responsive deflectible membrane includes a plurality of isolated permanent magnetic particles systematically polarized normal to the plane of said membrane.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
123 words
The display panel of claim 14 wherein said means for generating localized magnetic fields comprise: a ferrite member having a square hysteresis loop, and at least one substantially planar surface, said one substantially planar surface located proximate the surface of said membrane; a plurality of equally spaced rows of equally spaced and serially connected electromagnets disposed along the one substantially planar surface of said ferrite member; and a plurality of equally spaced columns of equally spaced and serially connected electromagnets disposed along the one plane surface of said ferrite member, one of said serially connected electromagnets of said equally spaced columns being coincident with one of said serially connected electromagnets of said equally spaced rows at each intersections of said rows and columns.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
56 words
The display panel of claim 16 wherein said rows and said columns of serially connected electromagnets are electrically isolated, and wherein the combined magnetic fields generated by a coincident row electromagnet and a coincident column electromagnet is required to change the magnetic polarity of said ferrite member at the intersection of a row and a column.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-05-20 | 1977-11-19 | 1978-05-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-05-20 | 1981-11-19 | 1982-05-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-05-20 | 1985-11-19 | 1986-05-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |