US4493531A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Field sensitive optical displays, generation of fields therefor and scanning thereof
Assignee: Control Interface Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1983-04-01
•
Granted: 1985-01-15
•
Expires: 2003-04-01
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed are field sensitive optical displays, and arrangements and methods for inducing fields in the displays and for scanning the displays. In the disclosed embodiments, liquid crystal, optoceramic and electroluminescent materials are utilized. Methods and arrangements for improving the response time of twisted nematic liquid crystal material and for generating color displays are also disclosed. Methods and arrangements are also disclosed for superimposing varying and a dc fields in field sensitive material. Various display patterns such as a movable dot, intersecting lines and a pivoting line can be obtained.
Inventors
- 👤 William Bohmer
- 👤 Walter J. Betancourt
- 👤 Louis S. Hoffman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 22:52
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1343; G02F1/134309; G02F1/134336; G02F1/1345; G02F1/1347
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
A field sensitive display device for forming a display when subjected to visible light comprising a field sensitive material, spaced electrodes for inducing a field, means for containing the field sensitive material with the spaced electrodes and the field sensitive material being relatively disposed so that a field induced by the spaced electrodes is capable of affecting the field sensitive material, a first of the spaced electrodes including an impedance portion and a plurality of conductive, substantially low impedance portions connected to different electrical locations of the impedance portion and extending therefrom, first terminal means connected to the impedance portion for applying an electrical signal thereto, a first capacitance electrically coupled with each of the conductive substantially low impedance portions, a second of the spaced electrodes including a conductive substantially low impedance portion, second terminal means connected to the second electrode for applying an electrical signal thereto, a second capacitance electrically coupled with the conductive substantially low impedance portion of the second electrode, and additional terminal means connected to the first and second capacitances for applying at least one electrical signal thereto.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
182 words
A field sensitive display device for forming a display when subjected to visible light comprising a field sensitive material, spaced electrodes for inducing a field, means for containing the field sensitive material with the spaced electrodes and the field sensitive material being relatively disposed so that a field induced by the spaced electrodes is capable of affecting the field sensitive material, a first of the spaced electrodes including an impedance portion and a plurality of conductive, substantially low impedance portions connected to different electrical locations of the impedance portion and extending therefrom, first terminal means connected to the impedance portion for applying an electrical signal thereto, a first capacitance electrically coupled with each of the conductive substantially low impedance portions, a second of the spaced electrodes including a conductive substantially low impedance portion, second terminal means connected to the second electrode for applying an electrical signal thereto, a second capacitance electrically coupled with the conductive substantially low impedance portion of the second electrode, and additional terminal means connected to the first and second capacitances for applying at least one electrical signal thereto.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the containing means comprise spaced plates, the field sensitive material being disposed between the plates and the electrodes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
A device according to claim 2, wherein the plates are transparent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device according to claim 2, wherein one of the plates is transparent and the other is reflective.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the impedance portion of the first electrode is a linearly-extending resistance which is disposed parallel to one side of a first plate and the conductive, substantially low impedance portions are conductive, substantially non-resistive strips extending transversely from the linearly-extending resistance.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device according to claim 5, wherein the conductive, substantially low impedance portion of the second electrode extends uniformly parallel to and substantially coextensive with a second plate opposed to the conductive, substantially low impedance portions of the first electrode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
85 words
A device according to claim 5, wherein the second electrode comprises a linearly-extending resistive portion disposed adjacent one side of a second plate and a plurality of conductive, substantially non-resistive strips electrically connected to different resistive locations of the resistive portion and extending parallel to the second plate and transversely to the resistive portion, the conductive strips of the two electrodes extending transversely to one another generally in a grid pattern with the field sensitive material being disposed between the conductive strips of the electrodes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
83 words
A device according to claim 5, wherein the second electrode comprises a linearly-extending resistive portion disposed adjacent one side of a second plate and a plurality of conductive, substantially non-resistive strips electrically connected to different resistive locations of the resistive portion and extending parallel to the second plate and transversely to the resistive portion, the conductive strips of the two electrodes extending parallel to and coextensively with one another with the field sensitive material being disposed between the conductive strips of the electrodes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
100 words
A device according to claim 15, wherein the second electrode comprises a linearly-extending resistive portion and a plurality of conductive, substantially non-resistive strips electrically connected to different resistive locations of the resistive portion and extending transversely from the resistive portion, the first and second electrodes being disposed substantially coplanar, the resistive portions of the first and second electrode being spaced and the conductive strips being interleaved with the conductive strips of the first electrode extending towards the resistive portion of the second electrode and the conductive strips of the second electrode extending towards the resistive portion of the first electrode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second capacitances comprise an insulating layer contacting the low impedance portions of each of the electrodes and a conductive, substantially low impedance layer contacting and superposed on the insulating layer, the additional terminal means comprising a respective terminal connected to each of the low impedance layers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second capacitances are strip-like, the first strip-like capacitance extending transversely to the low impedance portions of the first electrode.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second capacitances extend substantially coextensively with the low impedance portions of the first and second electrodes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the field sensitive material comprises a liquid crystal material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device according to claim 13, wherein the liquid crystal material is a nematic liquid crystal material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device according to claim 14, wherein the nematic liquid crystal material is a dynamic scattering material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device according to claim 14, wherein the nematic liquid crystal material is a quiescent scattering material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
A device according to claim 14, wherein the nematic liquid crystal material is a twisted material and further comprising means for aligning the twisted material to cause rotation of the plane of polarization of plane polarized light passing through the material in the absence of a field.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device according to claim 12, wherein the liquid crystal material comprises a mixture of a nematic liquid crystal material and a cholesteric liquid crystal material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device according to claim 11, wherein the field sensitive material comprises an optoceramic material.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device according to claim 19, wherein the optoceramic material is in the form of a wafer, the device including a means disposed between the plates for supporting the wafer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the field sensitive material comprises a field-excited material.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device according to claim 21, wherein the field-excited material is an electroluminescent material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
76 words
A device according to claim 1, wherein the low impedance portions of the first electrode have a predetermined width and are spaced apart to define intervals of predetermined width between adjacent low impedance portions, and wherein the field sensitive material comprises a twisted nematic liquid crystal material, the device including means for aligning the material to cause rotation of the plane of polarization plane polarized light passing through the material in the absence of a field.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device according to claim 23, wherein the width of the low impedance portions and the width of the intervals are approximately equal.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
115 words
The device according to claim 1, wherein the field sensitive material is a liquid crystal material, and further comprising another said field sensitive display device in which the field sensitive material is a twisted nematic liquid crystal material and two plane polarizer means for passing light polarized in one predetermined plane and blocking light polarized a plane disposed at an angle to the predetermined plane, said other device being disposed between said plane polarizer means which are arranged to pass light polarized in planes disposed at an angle to one another, said other device selectively producing colored light when light is applied thereto and being aligned with said device to selectively transmit colored light therethrough.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2991394A
Cited
US3322485A
Cited
US3551026A
Cited
US3627408A
Cited
US3454325A
Cited
US3540796A
Cited
US3499112A
Cited
US3503673A
Cited
US3499702A
Cited
US3650603A
Cited
US3597044A
Cited
US3575491A
Cited
US3675988A
Cited
US3703329A
Cited
US3588225A
Cited
US3701121A
Cited
US3705310A
Cited
US3667039A
Cited
US3718723A
Cited
US3655269A
Cited
US3960749A
Cited
US3918796A
Cited
US3731986A
Cited
US3744195A
Cited
US3655270A
Cited
US3695747A
Cited
US3756694A
Cited
US3741629A
Cited
US3851318A
Cited
US3703331A
Cited
US3895866A
Cited
US3881809A
Cited
US3834792A
Cited
US3820875A
Cited
US3963324A
Cited
US3807831A
Cited
US4116544A
Cited
US3914019A
Cited
US3834794A
Cited
US4035060A
Cited
US3979743A
Cited
US3947722A
Cited
US3977767A
Cited
US3934241A
Cited
US3981559A
Cited
US4136932A
Cited
DE2526496A1
Cited
US4106858A
Cited
US4039254A
Cited
US4191955A
Cited
US4193669A
Cited
US4188094A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-01-15 | 1988-07-16 | 1989-01-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-01-15 | 1992-07-16 | 1993-01-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-01-15 | 1996-07-16 | 1997-01-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |