Transmission system

Claim 2

In a system for trAnsmitting perceptible signals: a. first resistive conductor means; b. second conductor means; c. electric power supply means connected to said first and second conductor means; d. signal transmitting means defined by a plurality of separate parallel paths electrically connected between said first and second conductor means, said paths connected to said first conductor means at electrically spaced locations and each comprised of electrically responsive means rendered effective to transmit information in response to the application of substantially zero voltage differential across such path; and, e. selector means cooperatively related with said power supply means and at least one of said conductor means for selectively applying substantially zero voltage differentials across selected ones of said paths.

Claim 3

A system as claimed in claim 1 further including signal means defining a source of information for tranmission by individual ones of said path when such paths are rendered conductive.

Claim 4

A system as claimed in claim 2 further including a plurality of control means each associated with a respective parallel path, each of said control means governing the ability of its respective path to transmit a signal from said signal means when said path is rendered effective.

Claim 5

The system claimed in claim 2 wherein said signal means comprises second electrical power supply means connected in a circuit across said paths, said circuit for said second power supply means being completable only through those paths which are rendered effective to transmit signals, and output means for detecting completion of a circuit across said second power supply means.

Claim 6

The system claimed in claim 4 further comprising conditioning means associated with respective ones of said paths for controlling the conduction of a respective path which is rendered effective to transmit signals, said conditioning means having a first condition wherein a circuit through said respective path is interrupted when said path is rendered effective and a second condition wherein said respective path is conductive when rendered effective.

Claim 7

The system claimed in claim 4 wherein said second power supply means comprises an alternating current source and said output means comprises at least an element for detecting alternating current power in a circuit connected across said second power supply means.

Claim 8

A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said power supply means comprises a D.C. power supply, and said selector means comprises an impedance element connected in circuit with said D.C. power supply means and said first conductor means, and mechanism for varying the impedance of said element.

Claim 9

The system claimed in claim 1 wherein said first and second conductors comprise transparent sheets and said signal transmitting means comprises a body of liquid crystal material, said sheets disposed on opposite sides of said body of liquid crystal material to define a radiation transmitting assembly wherein signals in the form of radiation are passed through the assembly along paths extending through said conductors and said liquid crystal material, said power supply means providing a substantially steady state voltage across each of said sheets.

Claim 10

The system claimed in claim 8 wherein the voltage across said sheets provides a transparent band extending across said sheets and through said liquid crystal material to enable electromagnetic radiation to pass through said sheets and crystal material along said band.

Claim 11

The system claimed in claim 9 wherein said selector means is effective to shift the location of said band relative to said sheets and crystal material.

Claim 12

The system claimed in claim 10 wherein said power supply means includes structure for providing a variable voltage output for adjustably controlling the width of the band.

Claim 13

The system claimed in claim 8 further comprising a second radiation transmitting assembly juxtaposed with said first assembly, said seCond assembly comprising first and second transparent sheet-like conductors having a body of liquid crystal material interposed between them, power supply means for producing a substantially steady state voltage across each of said conductors of said second assembly, said first and second assemblies oriented with respect to each other so that the radiation transparent bands extend in directions transverse to each other to produce a radiation transparent aperture through said first and second assemblies.

Claim 14

The system claimed in claim 12 further comprising second selector means associated with said second assembly, said first and second selector means operable to shift the positions of the respective radiation transmitting bands relative to said assemblies to adjustably change the location of said aperture relative to said assemblies.

Claim 15

In a system for selectively transmitting information: a. means defining an electric power supply; b. first resistive conductor means connected across said power supply means; c. second conductor means connected across said power supply means; d. means defining a plurality of parallel information transmitting paths electrically connected between said first and second conductor means, said paths connected to said first conductor means at electrically spaced locations; e. each of said paths individually rendered effective to transmit information only when the power supply voltage applied across such path between said first and second conductors is substantially zero; and, f. selector means cooperatively related with said power supply means and at least one of said first and second conductor means for changing the power supply voltages applied across said paths so that said paths are selectively and individually rendered effective to transmit information.

Claim 16

In a system for selectively transmitting information: a. means defining an electric power supply; b. first resistive conductor means connected across said power supply means; c. second conductor means connected across said power supply means; d. means defining a plurality of parallel information transmitting paths electrically connected between said first and second conductor means, said paths connected to said first conductor means at electrically spaced locations; e. each of said paths individually rendered effective to transmit information only when the power supply voltage applied across such path between said first and second conductors is substantially zero; and, f. selector means cooperatively related with said power supply means and at least one of said first and second conductor means for changing the power supply voltages applied across said paths so that said paths are selectively and individually rendered effective to transmit information.

Claim 17

The system claimed in claim 14 further comprising means for transmitting information between said conductors via only said paths which are rendered effective.

Claim 18

The system claimed in claim 15 wherein said means for transmitting information provides for the passage of electromagnetic energy through said paths which are rendered effective.

Claim 19

The system claimed in claim 14 wherein said power supply means comprises a D.C. power supply and said paths each comprise at least a circuit element having a variable impedance to the passage of electromagnetic energy via said path, said circuit element having a first impedance when substantially zero power supply potential is applied across said path and a substantially different impedance when a power supply voltage differential is applied across said path.

Claim 20

The system claimed in claim 17 wherein said at least one circuit element comprises first and second oppositely poled diodes for preventing the flow of direct current through said path when a D.C. voltage is applied across said path.

Claim 21

The system claimed in claim 18 further comprising A.C. power supply means connected in a circuit across said paths, said diodes having their anode electrodes connected to said conductors respectively and their cathode electrodes connected to ground, said diodes ineffective to prevent transmission of A.C. power through a path having a substantially zero D.C. power supply voltage applied thereacross.

Claim 22

In a system for selectively transmitting information: a. first and second conductor means; b. source means providing a source of operating medium flow potential to said conductors; c. a plurality of information transmitting paths connected in parallel across said conductors; said paths each comprising at least an element rendered effective to enable medium flow through the path in response to the establishment of substantially zero source means flow potential across said path between said conductors; d. one of said conductors having a finite extent, said paths connected to said one conductor at spaced locations along said extent and said one conductor constructed to provide impeDance between said locations; e. means for changing the potential along said one conductor whereby substantially zero potential is selectively established across said paths; f. second source means effective to enable transmission of information via a path in which said element is rendered effective; and, g. output means operated in response to transmission of information via a path in which said element is rendered effective.

Claim 23

In a system for selectively transmitting information: a. first and second conductor means; b. source means providing a source of operating medium flow potential to said conductors; c. a plurality of information transmitting paths connected in parallel across said conductors; said paths each comprising at least an element rendered effective to enable medium flow through the path in response to the establishment of substantially zero source means flow potential across said path between said conductors; d. one of said conductors having a finite extent, said paths connected to said one conductor at spaced locations along said extent and said one conductor constructed to provide impeDance between said locations; e. means for changing the potential along said one conductor whereby substantially zero potential is selectively established across said paths; f. second source means effective to enable transmission of information via a path in which said element is rendered effective; and, g. output means operated in response to transmission of information via a path in which said element is rendered effective.