Electrokinetic display system

Claim 3

The method set forth in claim 1 which includes controlling gas evolved at the electrodes so as to control mixing of the electrolyte thereby.

Claim 4

The method set forth in claim 1 in which said reversible method is accompanied by a reversible change in pH.

Claim 5

The method set forth in claim 3 in which said reagents include a pH indicator.

Claim 6

The method set forth in claim 1 in which said ratio is at least about 10 to 1.

Claim 9

The method set forth in claim 7 which includes moving said magnetic field relative to the electrolyte while maintaining it substantially transverse to the cell current.

Claim 10

The method set forth in claim 8 in which the direction of the current between the cell electrodes is reversed long enough to reverse said induced acceleration of said electrolysis reaction products.

Claim 11

The method set forth in claim 8 which includes interrupting the current between the electrodes long enough to affect the flows in the electrolyte.

Claim 12

The method set forth in claim 9 which includes interrupting the current between the electrodes long enough to affect the flows in the electrolyte.

Claim 13

The method set forth in claim 6 in which a gas is introduced into the electrolyte to accelerate flows therein.

Claim 14

The method set forth in claim 6 which includes pumping the electrolyte to accelerate flows therein.

Claim 15

The method set forth in claim 6 which includes heating the electrolyte to induce convection therein.

Claim 16

The method set forth in claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 in which alternating current is then passed between the cell electrodes.

Claim 17

The method set forth in claim 15 in which the current reversing rate is varied from about 1 cycle per minute to about 60 cycles per minute.

Claim 18

The method set forth in claim 1 in which said indicator is substantially excluded from the region of said cell adjacent to the cell electrodes.

Claim 19

The method set forth in claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 in which the current is thereafter interrupted long enough for said flow to form a substantially stationary pattern.

Claim 20

The method set forth in claim 18 in which said electrodes are arranged to predetermined relation to form a plurality of substantially stationary patterns corresponding to which electrodes are energized by passing current therebetween, and energizing selected electrodes to form a predetermined subtantially stationary pattern.

Claim 21

An electrokinetic display apparatus for displaying chemical concentrations and gradients associated therewith, comprising means forming an electrochemical cell adapted for containing a starting electrolyte made up of at least one reagent which during electrolysis forms reaction product species that react chemically substantially reversibly, said cell having front and back wall members extending in spaced relation with at least part of said front wall member being substantially transparent and forming a viewing plane, said cell having at least two electrodes in predetermined spaced relation to each other and defining a current path in said electrolyte along which said viewing plane extends, the distance between said front and back wall members in the direction normal to said viewing plane and across said current path being no greater than about 3 inches and the ratio of the interelectrode distance to the interwall distance being at least about 5 to 1, said reagent being selected from the group consisting of (a) self-indicating reagents the reaction products of which provide one or more indications of the chemical concentration thereof, (b) reagents which include an indicator reagent that provides one or more indications of the presence of electrolysis reaction products, and (c) mixtures of (a) and (b), and means for passing at least enough current in one direction between the cell electrodes to establish at least one visible flow of electrolysis reaction-products in said electrolyte along said path accompanied by a chemical concentration gradient, said visible flow being visible at said viewing plane.

Claim 22

An electrokinetic display apparatus for displaying chemical concentrations and gradients associated therewith, comprising means forming an electrochemical cell adapted for containing a starting electrolyte made up of at least one reagent which during electrolysis forms reaction product species that react chemically substantially reversibly, said cell having front and back wall members extending in spaced relation with at least part of said front wall member being substantially transparent and forming a viewing plane, said cell having at least two electrodes in predetermined spaced relation to each other and defining a current path in said electrolyte along which said viewing plane extends, the distance between said front and back wall members in the direction normal to said viewing plane and across said current path being no greater than about 3 inches and the ratio of the interelectrode distance to the interwall distance being at least about 5 to 1, said reagent being selected from the group consisting of (a) self-indicating reagents the reaction products of which provide one or more indications of the chemical concentration thereof, (b) reagents which include an indicator reagent that provides one or more indications of the presence of electrolysis reaction products, and (c) mixtures of (a) and (b), and means for passing at least enough current in one direction between the cell electrodes to establish at least one visible flow of electrolysis reaction-products in said electrolyte along said path accompanied by a chemical concentration gradient, said visible flow being visible at said viewing plane.

Claim 23

The apparatus set forth in claim 20 which comprises means for controlling gas evolved at the cell electrodes.

Claim 24

The apparatus set forth in claim 20 which comprises means for accelerating the electrolysis reaction products.

Claim 25

The apparatus set forth in claim 21 which comprises means for accelerating the electrolysis reaction products.

Claim 26

The apparatus set forth in claim 20 which comprises means for reversing the direction of the current between the cell electrodes.

Claim 27

The apparatus set forth in claim 21 which comprises means for reversing the direction of the current between the cell electrodes.

Claim 28

The apparatus set forth in claim 20 in which said ratio of the interelectrode distance to the interwall distance is at least about 10 to 1.

Claim 29

The apparatus set forth in claim 20, 21, 24, 25 or 26 which includes magnetic means for inducing a magnetic field in said cell transverse to said current.

Claim 30

The apparatus set forth in claim 27 in which said magnetic means includes a permanent magnet.

Claim 31

The apparatus set forth in claim 28 which includes means for moving said magnet substantially parallel to said viewing plane.

Claim 32

The apparatus set forth in claim 29 which includes means for varying the rate at which said magnet is moved.

Claim 33

The apparatus set forth in claim 20 or 26 which comprises means for automatically reversing the direction of the current between the cell electrodes in accordance with a predetermined program.

Claim 34

The apparatus set forth in claim 31 which includes means for generating a magnetic field transverse to said current and movable along a path substantially parallel to said viewing plane, and means for moving said magnetic field.

Claim 35

The apparatus set forth in claim 32 which includes means for varying the rate at which said magnetic field is moved.

Claim 36

The apparatus set forth in claim 20, 21, 25 or 26 which includes electromagnetic means for inducing a magnetic field in said cell transverse to said current.

Claim 37

The apparatus set forth in claim 34 which includes means for moving said electromagnetic means along a path substantially parallel to said viewing plane.

Claim 39

The apparatus set forth in claim 36 in which at least part of said back member is transparent, and illuminating means for transilluminating through said back wall member said space between said wall members.

Claim 40

The apparatus set forth in claim 21 in which said front and back wall members extend in spaced substantially parallel relation, said gas controlling means including a tubular member enclosing each of said electrodes, each of said tubular members being porous to said electrolyte and nonporous to gas bubbles evolved at said electrodes.

Claim 41

The apparatus set forth in claim 38 which comprises support means movably positioned adjacent to the outer surface of said back wall member, magnetic means on said support means for inducing a magnetic field in said cell transverse to said current, and motive means connected to said support means for actuating the same to move said magnetic means and the magnetic field associated therewith along a path substantially parallel to said wall members.

Claim 42

The apparatus set forth in claim 39 which includes means for adjusting the rate at which said motive means actuates said support means.

Claim 43

The apparatus set forth in claim 40 which includes means for reversing the direction of the current between said electrodes.

Claim 44

The apparatus set forth in claim 41 which includes means for varying the amount of said current.

Claim 45

The apparatus set forth in claim 40 which includes preprogrammed means for automatically reversing the direction and varying the quantity of current between said electrodes according to a predetermined program.

Claim 46

The apparatus set forth in claim 43 in which said preprogrammed means includes switch means, a shaft, means for rotating said shaft, cam means rotatably mounted on said shaft and positioned to actuate said switch means.

Claim 47

The apparatus set forth in claim 21 in which said wall members extend in spaced substantially horizontal relation, said gas controlling means comprising vertically extending portions of said cell adjacent to the ends of said wall members, said vertically extending portions extending above said wall members and communicating with the space therebetween, and said electrodes extending horizontally in said vertically extending portions of said cell above the space between said wall members.

Claim 48

The apparatus set forth in claim 45 which comprises a plurality of pairs of electrodes, and means for passing current between selected electrodes.

Claim 49

The apparatus set forth in claim 46 which comprises magnetic means and means movably supporting the same adjacent to the outer surface of one of said wall members, and means for moving said magnetic means along a substantially horizontal path.

Claim 50

The apparatus set forth in claim 20 which comprises a plurality of indicia electrodes and at least one counter electrode, and means for passing current between (a) selected ones of said indicia electrodes and (b) said counter electrode for displaying a predetermined pattern.

Claim 51

The apparatus set forth in claim 48 in which said predetermined pattern is substantially stationary.

Claim 54

The method set forth in claim 50 which includes controlling gas evolved at the electrodes so as to control mixing of the electrolyte thereby.

Claim 55

The method set forth in claim 50 in which said electrolyte contains a buffering agent.

Claim 56

The method set forth in claim 50 in which said reversible reaction is a redox reaction.

Claim 57

The method set forth in claim 53 in which said reagents include a redox indicator.

Claim 58

The method set forth in claim 50 in which said reversible reaction is accompanied by a reversible change in pH.

Claim 59

The method set forth in claim 55 in which said reagents include a pH indicator.

Claim 61

The method set forth in claim 57 which includes moving said magnetic field relative to the electrolyte while maintaining it substantially transverse to the cell current.

Claim 62

The method set forth in claim 58 in which the direction of the current between the cell electrodes is reversed long enough to reverse said induced acceleration of said electrolysis reaction products.

Claim 63

The method set forth in claim 58 which includes interrupting the current between the electrodes long enough to affect the flows in the electrolyte.

Claim 64

The method set forth in claim 59 which includes interrupting the current between the electrodes long enough to affect the flows in the electrolyte.

Claim 65

The method set forth in claim 50 in which a gas is introduced into the electrolyte to accelerate flows therein.

Claim 66

The method set forth in claim 50 which includes pumping the electrolyte to accelerate flows therein.

Claim 67

The method set forth in claim 50 which includes heating the electolyte to induce convection therein.

Claim 68

The method set forth in claim 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55 or 56 in which alternating current is then passed between the cell electrodes.

Claim 69

The method set forth in claim 65 in which the current is alternated at a frequency ranging from about 1 to 60 cycles per minute.

Claim 70

The method set forth in claim 65 in which the current reversing rate is varied from about 1 cycle per minute to about 60 cycles per minute.

Claim 71

The method set forth in claim 54 or 56 in which said indicator is substantially excluded from the region of said cell adjacent to the cell electrodes.

Claim 72

The method set forth in claim 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55 or 56 in which the current is thereafter interrupted long enough for said flow to form a substantially stationary pattern.

Claim 73

The method set forth in claim 69 in which said electrodes are arranged in predetermined relation to form a plurality of substantially stationary patterns corresponding to which electrodes are energized by passing current therebetween, and energizing selected electrodes to form a predetermined substantially stationary pattern.