Thermoelectric display device
US3936817A · kind A · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 6, 1974 |
| Grant date | Feb 3, 1976 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 6, 1994 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH10N10/00
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A thermoelectric display device is described which includes a thermoelectric element having a surface which exhibits a reversible temperature which is a function of the magnitude and direction of a current passing through the element. The thermoelectric element includes two dissimilar conductors joined in overlapping relation over a predetermined area to form a junction. The junction is advantageously formed by overlapping a p-type semi-conductive layer and an n-type semi-conductive layer, which may or may not be separated in the region of overlap by an electrically conductive layer of material. A cholesteric crystal material is disposed on the surface of the thermoelectric element in the region of the junction thereof in thermally conductive relation therewith, the liquid crystal material being variable between different optical states as a function of the temperature to which the same is exposed. In this manner, the optical state which the display device exhibits is a function of the direction and magnitude of a current passing through the junction of the thermoelectric element and the resulting temperature which manifests itself at the thermoelectric element surface.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.