Compartmentalized micromagnet display device

Abstract

Abstract A device adapted to provide a visual display under the influence of an exterior magnetic field which comprises a plurality of rotatable, multi-colored, non-magnetically interactive, permanently magnetized micromagnets disposed in a cavity within a body having a transparent surface and a plurality of relatively small compartments within the cavity. The device is illustrated by a sheet containing such micromagnets between the thin cavity of the front and rear surfaces of the sheet where the relatively even dispersion of the micromagnets in the sheet is maintained by such compartments whose barriers minimize displacement so that physical pressure exerted on the sheet, such as by a twist or flex, does not substantially alter the even dispersion of the micromagnets. In an embodiment, the visual display device is a sheet, preferably a substantially transparent or invisible polymer sheet, containing relatively small compartments therein which have cellular and/or structural barriers which prevent substantial displacement therefrom by holding in such compartments rotatable micromagnets which are surrounded with a suspension or carrier fluid which allows such rotation. In the preferred embodiment the suspension or carried fluid is thixotropic. In another embodiment, the sheet is prepared by dispersing fluid-surrounded micromagnets in a film former, such as a polymer, which is capable of hardening into a solid sheet where the rotatable, fluid-surrounded micromagnets are included as cells. In another embodiment, a sheet is prepared by sealing a plurality of relatively small areas of fluid-surrounded micromagnets into a series of cells or compartments by coating such areas once or sequentially with a film former which on hardening seals the areas as cells or compartments. In another embodiment, relatively small compartments, created by barriers in a fixed or random pattern, are pre-constructed in a sheet, the fluid-surrounded micromagnets are positioned therein, and the sheet sealed.

Inventors

• 👤 Clarence R. Tate

Bibliographic Details