Electrocapillary color display sheet

• US 5,808,593 A
• Filed: 06/03/1996
• Issued: 09/15/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Sheridon, Nicholas K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Liang, Regina
• Application Number:
  US08/656,822
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: 345/84, 345/85, 345/86, 345/30, 345/48, 345/55, 345/60, 345/105, 345/106, 345/107, 359/290, 359/291, 359/228
• US Class Current: 345/84
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/004 based on a displacement or a deformation of a fluid

Abstract

An electrocapillary color display sheet is disclosed which utilizes three spaced apart and parallel sheets in which the medial sheet has a plurality of sets of at least two reservoirs. The space between the medial sheet and one of the other sheets create a first sealed passage and the second space between the medial sheet and the other one the two other sheets create a second sealed passage. Each reservoir in each set holds a conductive clear liquid and a portion of a pigmented liquid while the rest of the pigmented liquid is located in the second passage. Each clear liquid in each reservoir has an individual electrical connection. By selectively activating each clear liquid in each reservoir of each set of reservoirs, the activated liquid of the set of reservoirs will flow into the first passage and the pigmented liquid will retract into the reservoir. Deactivating the clear liquid will cause the clear liquid to retreat back into its reservoir and cause the pigmented liquid to flow back into the second passage.

Claims

1. A color display device comprising:

a first non-conductive sheet;

a second non-conductive sheet;

a medial non-conductive sheet being located between said first and said second sheets;

a first sealed passage means between said first sheet and said medial sheet;

a second sealed passage means between said medial sheet and said second sheet;

said medial sheet having a thickness and at least two storage means extending through said thickness and opening into each of said passage means;

said first sheet having an electrode means;

said medial sheet having electrode means each associated with said at least two storage means;

a conductive clear liquid;

a liquid means of first color;

a liquid means of second color;

said liquid means of first color and said liquid means of second color both being non-conductive;

one of said at least two storage means holding said clear liquid and a portion of said liquid means of first color while the rest of said liquid means of first color being located in said second sealed passage means and the other one of said at least two storage means holding said clear liquid and a portion of said liquid means of second color while the rest of said liquid means of second color being located in said second sealed passage means;

a first conductive means for providing electrical connection to said clear liquid in said one of said at least two storage means;

means for activating said first conductive means;

a second conductive means for providing electrical connection to said clear liquid in said other one of said at least two storage means;

means for activating said second conductive means;

means for activating said first sheet electrode means and said medial sheet electrode means; and

said electrode means of said first sheet, said electrode means of said medial sheet, said first conductive means and said second conductive means being so constructed and arranged relative to each other and to said storage means that when said electrode means of said first sheet, said electrode means of said second sheet and said first conductive means are activated, said clear liquid in said one of said at least two storage means will flow into said first sealed passage means and said liquid means of first color will contract form said second sealed passage means into said one of said at least two storage means, when said electrode means of said first sheet, said electrode means of said medial sheet and said second conductive means are activated, said clear liquid in said other one of said at least two storage means will flow into said first sealed passage means and said liquid means of said second color will contract form said second sealed passage means into said other one of said at least two storage means and when said electrode means of first sheet, said electrode means of said medial sheet, said first conductive means and said second conductive means are activated, said clear liquid in said one of said at least two storage means and said other one of said at least two storage means both will flow into said first sealed passage means and said liquid means of first color will contract form said second sealed passage means into said one of said at least two storage means and said liquid means of said second color will contract form said second sealed passage means into said other one of said at least two storage means.

2. A color display device comprising:

a first non-conductive sheet;

a second non-conductive sheet;

a medial non-conductive sheet being located between said first and said second sheets;

a first sealed passage means between said first sheet and said medial sheet;

a second sealed passage means between said medial sheet and said second sheet;

said medial sheet having a thickness and a plurality of sets of at least two holes extending through said thickness and opening into each of said passage means;

said first sheet having a plurality of electrodes;

said medial sheet having a plurality of electrodes each associated with a corresponding one of said plurality of sets of at least two holes;

each one of said plurality of electrodes of said medial sheet facing a corresponding one of said plurality of electrodes of said first sheet and being aligned with said corresponding electrode;

a conductive clear liquid;

a liquid means of first color;

a liquid means of second color;

said liquid means of first color and said liquid means of second color both being non-conductive;

one of said holes of each set of said plurality of sets of at least two holes holding said clear liquid and a portion of said liquid means of first color while the rest of said liquid means of first color being located in said second sealed passage means and the other hole of each set of said plurality of sets of at least two holes holding said clear liquid and a portion of said liquid means of second color while the rest of said liquid means of second color being located in said second sealed passage means;

a plurality of first conductive means for providing electrical connection to said clear liquid in one hole of each set of said plurality of sets of at least two holes;

means for selectively activating said plurality of first conductive means;

a plurality of second conductive means for providing electrical connection to said clear liquid in the other hole of each set of said plurality of sets of at least two holes;

means for selectively activating said plurality of second conductive means;

means for activating said first sheet electrodes and said medial sheet electrodes; and

said plurality of electrodes of said first sheet, said plurality of electrodes of said medial sheet, said plurality of first conductive means and said plurality of second conductive means being so constructed and arranged relative to each other and said plurality of at least two holes that when each one of said plurality of electrodes of said first sheet, a corresponding one of said plurality of electrodes of said second sheet and a corresponding one of said plurality of first conductive means are activated, said clear liquid in a corresponding hole of a set of said plurality of sets of at least two holes will flow into said first sealed passage means and a corresponding one of said liquid means of first color will contract form said second sealed passage means into said corresponding hole of said set of said plurality of sets of at least two holes, when one of said plurality of electrodes of said first sheet, a corresponding one of said electrodes of said medial sheet and a corresponding one of said plurality of said second conductive means are activated, said clear liquid in a corresponding other hole of said set of said plurality of sets of at least two holes will flow into said first sealed passage means and a corresponding one of said liquid means of said second color will contract form said second sealed passage means into said corresponding other hole of said set of said plurality of sets of at least two holes and when one of said plurality of electrodes of first sheet, a corresponding one of said plurality of electrodes of said medial sheet, a corresponding one of said plurality of first conductive means and a corresponding one of said plurality of said second conductive means are activated, said clear liquid in a corresponding hole of a set of said plurality of sets of at least two holes and a corresponding other hole of said set of said plurality of sets of at least two holes both will flow into said first sealed passage means and said liquid means of first color will contract form said second sealed passage means into said corresponding hole of said set of said plurality of at least two holes and said liquid means of said second color will contract form said second sealed passage means into said corresponding other hole of said set of said plurality of at least two holes.