Display apparatus using thermochromic material
First Claim
1. A visual display apparatus comprising:
- a substrate having a visible display area;
means for controlling the temperature of the visible display area of the substrate;
a first thermochromic material covering a first portion of the visible display area, the first thermochromic material changing, as a result of a first temperature change, from a first colored state to a second generally transparent state; and
a second thermochromic material covering a second portion of the visible display area, the second thermochromic material changing as a result of a second temperature change, from a first colored state to a second generally transparent state,wherein the first and second thermochromic materials combine to form a substantially single thermochromic layer on the visible display area of the substrate,wherein one of the first and second portions defines, at least in part, a positive representation of a desired display image and the other one of the first and second portions defines, at least in part, a negative representation of the same desired display image at the same place on the visible display area, andwherein the first and second thermochromic materials have the same color when in their respective first colored states.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A visual display dependent upon the use of thermochromic materials is formed as a thin structure on a substrate sheet with a vapor deposited conductive film heater applied thereto. The current is applied to the heater through parallel opposed buss bars so that the heater heats uniformly. A non-thermochromic image layer is mounted on the substrate, with one or more thermochromic image layers thereover. One thermochromic image layer covers a first portion of a visible display area of the substrate, while a second thermochromic layer covers a second portion of the visible display area, with the first and second portions overlapping slightly along contiguous edges thereof. As the display is heated and cooled, the thermochromic materials of the thermochromic image layers reach their respective transition temperatures to change state from opaque to colorless or vice-versa, or from one color to another. The visual display is mounted within an enclosure to protect the display from environmental interference and thereby insure the desired control of heating of the display, as well as cooling thereof.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A visual display apparatus comprising:
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a substrate having a visible display area; means for controlling the temperature of the visible display area of the substrate; a first thermochromic material covering a first portion of the visible display area, the first thermochromic material changing, as a result of a first temperature change, from a first colored state to a second generally transparent state; and a second thermochromic material covering a second portion of the visible display area, the second thermochromic material changing as a result of a second temperature change, from a first colored state to a second generally transparent state, wherein the first and second thermochromic materials combine to form a substantially single thermochromic layer on the visible display area of the substrate, wherein one of the first and second portions defines, at least in part, a positive representation of a desired display image and the other one of the first and second portions defines, at least in part, a negative representation of the same desired display image at the same place on the visible display area, and wherein the first and second thermochromic materials have the same color when in their respective first colored states. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A visual display apparatus comprising:
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a substrate having a visible display area; means for controlling the temperature of the visible display area of the substrate; a first thermochromic material covering a first portion of the visible display area, the first thermochromic material changing, as a result of a first temperature change, from a first colored state to a second generally transparent state; and a second thermochromic material covering a second portion of the visible display area, the second thermochromic material changing as a result of a second temperature change, from a first colored state to a second generally transparent state, wherein the first and second thermochromic materials combine to form a substantially single thermochromic layer on the visible display area of the substrate, wherein one of the first and second portions defines, at least in part, a positive representation of a desired display image and the other one of the first and second portions defines, at least in part, a negative representation of the same desired display image at the same place on the visible display area, and wherein the first and second thermochromic materials both have the same general opaque visual density when in their respective first wavelength transmission states and both are generally colorless when in their respective second wavelength transmission states. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification