Method and apparatus for providing a dielectrophoretic display of visual information
First Claim
1. A dielectrophoretic display comprising:
- a housing formed, at least in part, from a light transmissive material;
a first electrically neutral material within said housing having a first dielectric constant;
a second electrically neutral material within said housing having a second dielectric constant different from that of said first material, said second material being visually distinguishable from said first material; and
means for selectively applying a non-uniform electrical field within said housing to cause relative movement of said first and second materials, including translational movement, as a result of dielectrophoretic forces resulting from said electrical field;
said means for applying said non-uniform field including at least one electrode and means for selectively varying the charge on said at least one electrode for applying a non-uniform field to said first and second materials;
said first and second materials being electrically neutral both before and during the application of said non-uniform electrical field thereto;
whereby the relative positions of said first and second materials may be established by said electrical field to present visually identifiable information.
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Abstract
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for selectively displaying visual information using dielectrophoretic forces resulting from the application of a non-uniform electrical field to a dielectric material. Specifically, first and second visually distinguishable materials having different dielectric constants are provided within an enclosure that is formed, at least in part, from a transparent material. A non-uniform electrical field is applied to the materials causing relative translational movement thereof as a result of dielectrophoretic forces generated by the non-uniform field. Because the first and second materials are visually distinguishable and their relative positions are determined by the dielectrophoretic forces of the electrical field, adjustment of the magnitude of those forces adjusts the arrangement of the two materials. Thus, the apparatus provides a selectively adjustable display for visual information.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A dielectrophoretic display comprising:
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a housing formed, at least in part, from a light transmissive material; a first electrically neutral material within said housing having a first dielectric constant; a second electrically neutral material within said housing having a second dielectric constant different from that of said first material, said second material being visually distinguishable from said first material; and means for selectively applying a non-uniform electrical field within said housing to cause relative movement of said first and second materials, including translational movement, as a result of dielectrophoretic forces resulting from said electrical field; said means for applying said non-uniform field including at least one electrode and means for selectively varying the charge on said at least one electrode for applying a non-uniform field to said first and second materials; said first and second materials being electrically neutral both before and during the application of said non-uniform electrical field thereto; whereby the relative positions of said first and second materials may be established by said electrical field to present visually identifiable information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of visually displaying information including the steps of:
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providing a first electrically neutral material having a first dielectric constant; providing a second electrically neutral material having a second dielectric constant different from that of said first material, said second material being visually distinguishable from said first material; providing at least one electrode and means for selectively varying the charge on said electrode for applying a non-uniform field to said first and second materials; varying the charge on said electrode for creating dielectrophoretic forces to cause relative movement of said first and second materials, including translational movement, resultant from said non-uniform field applied thereto; said first and second materials being electrically neutral both before and during the application of said non-uniform field applied thereto; whereby the relative positions of said first and second materials present a visual display of information. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification