Patent US4126854A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4126854A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Twisting ball panel display
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 1976-05-05
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Granted: 1978-11-21
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Expires: 1996-05-05
Abstract
Abstract A display system in which the display panel is comprised of a plurality of particles which have an electrical anisotropy due to hemispherical surface coatings of different Zeta potential and their distribution in a volume of a dielectric liquid, and which also have an optical anisotropy due to the hemispherical surface coatings having different optical characteristics which may be due to the color or other optical properties of the hemispherical coatings. Under the action of an external electric field, the particles will rotate in accordance with their electrical anisotropy to provide a display in accordance with their optical anisotropy. The display has switching threshold and memory capabilities.
Inventors
- 👤 Nicholas K. Sheridon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 12:33
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09F; G09F9/00; G09F9/30; G09F9/37; G09F9/372; G02; G02B; G02B26/00; G02B26/02; G02B26/026; H; H01; H01H; H01H2219/00; H01H2219/002; H01H2219/0023
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
An addressable display device comprising: a light transparent body having a plurality of optically anisotropic particles contained within dielectric liquid-filled cavities thereof, each of said particles having at least two dissimilar surfaces of contrasting optical characteristics and different Zeta potentials, the dissimilar surfaces of said particles and the distribution of said particles in said dielectric liquid causing said particles to have an electrical anisotropy, and addressing means for applying an electric field across selected portions of said body whereby the particles contained within said selected portions of said body will rotate in accordance with their electrical anisotropy to provide a display in accordance with their optical anisotropy.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
107 words
An addressable display device comprising: a light transparent body having a plurality of optically anisotropic particles contained within dielectric liquid-filled cavities thereof, each of said particles having at least two dissimilar surfaces of contrasting optical characteristics and different Zeta potentials, the dissimilar surfaces of said particles and the distribution of said particles in said dielectric liquid causing said particles to have an electrical anisotropy, and addressing means for applying an electric field across selected portions of said body whereby the particles contained within said selected portions of said body will rotate in accordance with their electrical anisotropy to provide a display in accordance with their optical anisotropy.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The display of claim 1 wherein each of said optically anisotropic particles has a surface portion which has a light absorbancy greater than the light absorbancy of another surface portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The display of claim 1 wherein each of said optically anisotropic particles has one surface portion of one color and another surface portion of a different color.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The display of claim 1 wherein said particles are spherical and said particles have at least one hemispherical coating that provides their optical anisotropy.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
10 words
The display of claim 1 wherein said body is elastomeric.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The display of claim 1 wherein said cavities have an asymmetrical shape whereby said display has a threshold behavior.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The display of claim 6 wherein the asymmetrical shape of said cavities is produced by a piezoelectric device coupled to said body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The display of claim 1 wherein said particles are of elliptical shape.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The display of claim 4 wherein said particles are rough in one hemisphere and smooth in the other hemisphere.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The display of claim 1 wherein threshold and memory capabilities are provided by additional means for preventing rotation of said particles within selected portions of said body until the field across said selected portions of said body exceeds a threshold value.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The display of claim 10 wherein said addressing means is comprised of a matrix of electrodes on opposite sides of said body and means for accessing the matrix crossover points.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
The display of claim 11 wherein said additional means is an additional electrode on said opposite sides of said body and electrically isolated from said matrix electrodes, said additional electrodes having a higher resistance per unit length than said matrix electrodes, said additional electrodes being biased oppositely to the bias applied to said matrix electrodes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The display of claim 10 wherein said particles are of a ferromagnetic material and said additional means is a sheet of a ferromagnetic material positioned adjacent one side of said body.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The display of claim 1 wherein said addressing means includes a photoconductive layer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The display of claim 1 wherein said addressing means includes means for applying AC and DC fields across said body.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
115 words
An addressable display device comprising: a plurality of optically anisotropic particles contained within cavities of a light transparent body, said cavities being slightly larger than said particles such that said particles can have rotational movement but substantially no translational movement, said cavities also containing a liquid dielectric, each of said particles having at least two dissimilar surfaces of contrasting optical characteristics and different Zeta potentials, the dissimilar surfaces of said particles and the liquid dielectric being responsible for imparting an electrical anisotropy to said particles, and addressing means for electrically addressing selected portions of said body to provide rotation of the particles within said cavities within said portions of said body to provide a display.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
115 words
An addressable display device comprising: a plurality of optically anisotropic particles contained within cavities of a light transparent body, said cavities being slightly larger than said particles such that said particles can have rotational movement but substantially no translational movement, said cavities also containing a liquid dielectric, each of said particles having at least two dissimilar surfaces of contrasting optical characteristics and different Zeta potentials, the dissimilar surfaces of said particles and the liquid dielectric being responsible for imparting an electrical anisotropy to said particles, and addressing means for electrically addressing selected portions of said body to provide rotation of the particles within said cavities within said portions of said body to provide a display.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
108 words
An addressable display device comprising: a light transparent body having a plurality of cavities therein, at least some of said cavities each containing a single optically anisotropic particle and a dielectric liquid, each optically anisotropic particle having at least two dissimilar surfaces of contrasting optical characteristics and different Zeta potentials so that each particle further exhibits an electrical anisotropy when distributed in said dielectric liquid, and addressing means for applying an electric field across selected portions of said body whereby the particles contained within said selected portions of said body will rotate in accordance with their electrical anisotropy to provide a display in accordance with their optical anisotropy.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
108 words
An addressable display device comprising: a light transparent body having a plurality of cavities therein, at least some of said cavities each containing a single optically anisotropic particle and a dielectric liquid, each optically anisotropic particle having at least two dissimilar surfaces of contrasting optical characteristics and different Zeta potentials so that each particle further exhibits an electrical anisotropy when distributed in said dielectric liquid, and addressing means for applying an electric field across selected portions of said body whereby the particles contained within said selected portions of said body will rotate in accordance with their electrical anisotropy to provide a display in accordance with their optical anisotropy.
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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) | 1981-11-20 | 1982-05-22 | 1982-11-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-11-20 | 1986-05-22 | 1986-11-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-11-20 | 1990-05-22 | 1990-11-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |