Patent US1828763A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4380373A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4380373A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Conformable proximity coupled electro-optic devices
Assignee: Xerox Corp
•
Filing: 1980-10-06
•
Granted: 1983-04-19
•
Expires: 2000-10-06
Abstract
Abstract The electrodes of a electro-optic device having a flexible electrode bearing member, such as a silicon integrated circuit, are re-contoured as required to generally conform to the mating surface of the electro-optic element by resiliently biasing the electrode bearing member against that surface. The bias is suitably supplied by a compressed elastomeric pressure pad which underlies the flexible electrode bearing member. The pressure pad is substantially coextensive with the electrode bearing portion of the flexible member so that a more or less uniform bias is applied throughout that area.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert A. Sprague
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 15:45
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/29; G02F1/31; G02F1/315; G02F1/01; G02F1/03; G02F1/0305; G02F1/0316
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
In an electro-optic device including an electro-optic element, a flexible member, and a plurality of electrodes supported in spaced apart relationship on said flexible member, said electrodes facing a surface of said electro-optic element and being intimately coupled thereto to proximity couple electric fields into said electro-optic element; the improvement comprising a rigid base plate, and resilient means compressed between said flexible member and said base plate for applying a distributed bias to said flexible member, said bias urging said flexible member toward said surface, thereby causing said electrodes to generally conform to said surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
95 words
In an electro-optic device including an electro-optic element, a flexible member, and a plurality of electrodes supported in spaced apart relationship on said flexible member, said electrodes facing a surface of said electro-optic element and being intimately coupled thereto to proximity couple electric fields into said electro-optic element; the improvement comprising a rigid base plate, and resilient means compressed between said flexible member and said base plate for applying a distributed bias to said flexible member, said bias urging said flexible member toward said surface, thereby causing said electrodes to generally conform to said surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said flexible member is an integrated circuit having an electrically conductive layer patterned to define said electrodes, and said resilient means is an elastomeric pressure pad, whereby said bias is generally uniformly distributed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
The improvement of claim 2 wherein said base plate is electrically conductive and is referenced to a predetermined ground potential, and said pressure pad is in electrical contact with said integrated circuit and with said base plate and is composed of an electrically conductive elastomer, whereby a ground return path for said integrated circuit is completed through said pressure pad.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
110 words
The improvement of claim 1 wherein said electro-optic element is optically transmissive and has a predetermined optical axis, said surface of said electro-optic element is a reflective surface extending generally parallel to said optical axis, said electro-optic device further includes means for applying a sheet-like, collimated light beam to said electro-optic element at a grazing angle of incidence relative to said reflective surface, whereby said light beam is totally internally reflected from said reflective surface, and said electrodes are spaced apart orthogonally relative to said optical axis to provide electric fringe fields for spatially modulating said light beam as said light beam approaches toward and recedes from said reflective surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
The improvement of claim 4 wherein at least every other one of said electrodes is individually addressable, and further including means for applying data samples representing respective picture elements of an image to said individually addressable electrodes, whereby said fringe fields modulate said light beam in accordance with said picture element representing data samples.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
The improvement of claim 5 wherein said flexible member is an integrated circuit having an electrically conductive layer patterned to define said electrodes, and said resilient means is an elastomeric pressure pad underlying and generally coextensive with the electrode defining portion of said integrated circuit, whereby said bias is generally uniformly distributed over said portion of said integrated circuit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
The improvement of claim 6 wherein said base plate is electrically conductive and is referenced to a predetermined ground potential, and said pressure pad is in electrical contact with said integrated circuit and with said base plate and is composed of an electrically conductive elastomer, whereby a ground return path for said integrated circuit is completed through said pressure pad.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The improvement of claim 6 wherein said electro-optic element is an electro-optic crystal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-04-18 | 1986-10-18 | 1987-04-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-04-18 | 1990-10-18 | 1991-04-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-04-18 | 1994-10-18 | 1995-04-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |