Miniature display device
US4383255A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 10, 1981 |
| Grant date | May 10, 1983 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 10, 2001 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG09F9/372
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Each segment of a display device, e.g., a seven-segment display comprises at least one shutter normally obturating a cavity in a carrier on a base plate. Each shutter is suspended by two resilient attachments and can turn about a torsion axis established by these attachments under the influence of an electric field applied between a common electrode on a transparent cover plate and an electrode, individual to the shutter at the bottom of its cavity. An optical contrast is provided by light reflection or absorbance caused by a shutter remaining in a rest obturating position or rotating to an open position to allow light absorption in an absorbing layer backing the base plate which is transparent. A selective light transmission (light valve) construction is equally possible. The shutters themselves may be used as one electrode of each pair, with the torsion axis along a shutter edge. The shutters may be immersed in a liquid dielectric so that a smaller opening angle is required and the attachments can be shaped to provide the required degree of resilience.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.