Patent · US Active

Multiple color writing tablet

US8228301B2 · kind B2 · utility

25Cited by
29References
35Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMay 16, 2008
Grant dateJul 24, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 21, 2031

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F3/0412
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

One aspect of the invention is a bistable cholesteric writing tablet on which an image is formed by applying a suitable voltage while applying writing pressure, which results in a focal conic texture in a reduced gap region of the active layer while not changing the texture of the unreduced gap region of the active layer (e.g., a written portion being in a focal conic texture on a background in the planar texture). Another aspect of the invention is a multi-color stacked writing tablet in which a color of an image is selected by applying a suitable voltage while applying writing pressure using an instrument such as an untethered stylus on the surface of the tablet. The writing tablet includes at least two or three stacked layers of bistable cholesteric liquid crystal material. Selected colors can be additively mixed to achieve intermediate colors as desired. The image can be erased and new images written on the tablet. Gray scale achieved by varying the applied voltage during writing or the writing pressure in some cases, enables the writing tablet to produce a broad range of colors. The writing device is suitable for many applications such as a toy, sketch pad, erasable signage, t…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.