Rotating element sheet material with reversible highlighting

• US 6,545,671 B1
• Filed: 03/02/2000
• Issued: 04/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: E Ink Corporation (E Ink Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Silverman, Alexander E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kevin M.
• Application Number:
  US09/517,522
• Time in Patent Office: 1,132 Days
• Field of Search: 345/84, 345/85, 345/179
• US Class Current: 345/179
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/046 by electromagnetic means

Abstract

A kit comprising rotating element sheet material, a highlighting implement, and an erasing implement, a binder, and a method of use. The rotating element sheet material comprises a plurality of first rotatable elements and a plurality of second rotatable elements disposed in a substrate. Each first rotatable element in the plurality has a first collection of responses to incident electromagnetic radiation of interest. One response in the first collection renders the first rotatable element transparent-clear to incident electromagnetic energy of interest, and a second response renders the first rotatable element opaque to incident electromagnetic energy of interest. The first rotatable element also exhibits a first work function. Likewise, each second rotatable element has a second collection of responses to incident electromagnetic radiation of interest. A first response in the second collection renders the second rotatable element transparent-clear to the incident electromagnetic energy of interest. A second response renders the second rotatable element transparent-colored to the incident electromagnetic energy of interest. The second rotatable elements also exhibit a second work function that is less than the first work function. The addressing implement introduces a vector field in a first direction in the substrate where the vector field has a magnitude greater than the second work function and less than the first work function. In addition, the erasing implement introduces a vector field in a second direction in the substrate where the vector field has a magnitude greater than the second work function and less than the first work function. The binder is configured to accommodate the rotating element sheet material, the highlighting implement, and the erasing implement.

Claims

1. A system comprising

rotating element sheet material with reversible highlighting;

and

a highlighting implement;

wherein said rotating element sheet material with reversible highlighting comprises;

a conducting layer; and

a plurality of first rotatable elements and a plurality of second rotatable elements disposed in a substrate and in contact with an enabling fluid;

wherein said substrate is adjacent to said conducting layer;

wherein each said first rotatable element in said plurality has;

a first collection of responses to incident electromagnetic radiation of interest, where a first response in said first collection of responses renders said first rotatable element transparent-clear to said incident electromagnetic energy of interest, and wherein a second response in said first collection of responses renders said first rotatable element opaque to said incident electromagnetic energy of interest; and

a first work function; and

wherein each said second rotatable element in said plurality has;

a second collection of responses to incident electromagnetic radiation of interest, where a first response in said second collection renders said second rotatable element transparent-clear to said incident electromagnetic energy of interest, and a second response in said second collection renders said second rotatable element transparent-colored to said incident electromagnetic energy of interest; and

a second work function; and

wherein said second work function is less than said first work function; and

wherein said highlighting implement and said conducting layer are configured to introduce a first vector field in a first direction in said substrate where said first vector field has a magnitude greater than said second work function and less than said first work function.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an erasing implement,

wherein said erasing implement introduces a second vector field in a second direction in said substrate where said second vector field has a magnitude greater than said second work function and less than said first work function.

3. A kit comprising:

said system of claim 2; and

a binder;

wherein said rotating element sheet material with reversible highlighting, said highlighting implement, said erasing implement, and said binder are configured such that said binder holds said rotating element sheet material with reversible highlighting, and accommodates said highlighting implement, and said erasing implement.

15. The system of claims 1 or 2,

wherein said incident electromagnetic energy of interest comprises the wavelengths of visible light.

4. A system comprising

rotating element sheet material with reversible highlighting;

and

a highlighting implement;

wherein said rotating element sheet material with reversible highlighting comprises;

a conducting layer; and

a plurality of first rotatable elements, a plurality of second rotatable elements, and a plurality of third rotatable elements disposed in a substrate and in contact with an enabling fluid;

wherein said substrate is adjacent to said conducting layer;

wherein each said first rotatable elements in said plurality has;

a first collection of responses to incident electromagnetic radiation of interest, where a first response in said first collection of responses renders said first rotatable element transparent-clear to said incident electromagnetic energy of interest, and wherein a second response in said first collection of responses renders said first rotatable element opaque to said incident electromagnetic energy of interest; and

a first work function; and

wherein each said second rotatable elements in said plurality has;

a second collection of responses to incident electromagnetic radiation of interest, where a first response in said second collection renders said second rotatable element transparent-clear to said incident electromagnetic energy of interest, and a second response in said second collection renders said second rotatable element a first transparent-color to said incident electromagnetic energy of interest; and

a second work function; and

wherein said second work function is less than said first work function; and

wherein each said third rotatable elements in said plurality has;

a third collection of responses to incident electromagnetic radiation of interest, where a first response in said third collection renders said third rotatable element transparent-clear to said incident electromagnetic energy of interest, and a second response in said third collection renders said third rotatable element a second transparent-color to said incident electromagnetic energy of interest; and

a third work function; and

wherein said third work function is less than said first work function and said second work function; and

wherein said second transparent-color is different from said first transparent-color; and

wherein said highlighting implement and said conducting layer are configured to introduce a first vector field in a first direction in said substrate and a second vector field in a first direction in said substrate, where said first vector field in said first direction has a magnitude greater than said second work function and less than said first work function, and said second vector field in said first direction has a magnitude greater than said third work function and less than said second work function.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising an erasing implement,

wherein said erasing implement introduces said first vector field in a second direction in said substrate and said second vector field in a second direction in said substrate where said first vector field in said second direction has a magnitude greater than said second work function and less than said first work function, and said second vector field in said second direction has a magnitude greater than said third work function and less than said second work function.

6. A kit comprising:

the system of claim 5; and

a binder;

wherein said rotating element sheet material with reversible highlighting, said highlighting implement, said erasing implement, and said binder are configured such that said binder holds said rotating element sheet material with reversible highlighting, and accommodates said highlighting implement, and said erasing implement.

7. A method of reversible highlighting comprising:

providing rotating element sheet material with reversible highlighting;

wherein said rotating element sheet material with reversible highlighting comprises;

a conducting layer; and

a plurality of first rotatable elements and a plurality of second rotatable elements disposed in a substrate and in contact with an enabling fluid;

wherein said substrate is adjacent to said conducting layer;

wherein each said first rotatable element in said plurality has;

a first collection of responses to incident electromagnetic radiation of interest, where a first response in said first collection of responses renders said first rotatable element transparent-clear to said incident electromagnetic energy of interest, and wherein a second response in said first collection of responses renders said first rotatable element opaque to said incident electromagnetic energy of interest; and

a first work function; and

wherein each said second rotatable element in said plurality has;

a second collection of responses to incident electromagnetic radiation of interest, where a first response in said second collection renders said second rotatable element transparent-clear to said incident electromagnetic energy of interest, and a second response in said second collection renders said second rotatable element transparent-colored to said incident electromagnetic energy of interest; and

a second work function; and

wherein said second work function is less than said first work function;

applying a highlighting implement to a first region of said rotating element sheet material with reversible highlighting so as to introduce a first vector field in a first direction in said substrate where said first vector field has a magnitude greater than said second work function and less than said first work function; and

applying an erasing implement to a portion of said first region of said rotating element sheet material with reversible highlighting so as to introduce a second vector field in a second direction in said substrate where said second vector field has a magnitude greater than said second work function and less than said first work function.

17. The method of claim 7,

wherein said incident electromagnetic energy of interest comprises the wavelengths of visible light.

8. A method of reversible highlighting comprising:

providing rotating element sheet material with reversible highlighting;

wherein said rotating element sheet material with reversible highlighting comprises;

a conducting layer; and

a plurality of first rotatable elements, a plurality of second rotatable elements, and a plurality of third rotatable elements disposed in a substrate and in contact with an enabling fluid;

wherein said substrate is adjacent to said conducting layer;

wherein each said first rotatable elements in said plurality has;

a first collection of responses to incident electromagnetic radiation of interest, where a first response in said first collection of responses renders said first rotatable element transparent-clear to said incident electromagnetic energy of interest, and wherein a second response in said first collection of responses renders said first rotatable element opaque to said incident electromagnetic energy of interest; and

a first work function; and

wherein each said second rotatable elements in said plurality has;

a second collection of responses to incident electromagnetic radiation of interest, where a first response in said second collection renders said second rotatable element transparent-clear to said incident electromagnetic energy of interest, and a second response in said second collection renders said second rotatable element a first transparent-color to said incident electromagnetic energy of interest; and

a second work function; and

wherein said second work function is less than said first work function; and

wherein each said third rotatable elements in said plurality has;

a third collection of responses to incident electromagnetic radiation of interest, where a first response in said third collection renders said third rotatable element transparent-clear to said incident electromagnetic energy of interest, and a second response in said third collection renders said third rotatable element a second transparent-color to said incident electromagnetic energy of interest; and

a third work function; and

wherein said third work function is less than said first work function and said second work function; and

wherein said second transparent-color is different from said first transparent-color;

applying a highlighting implement to a first region of said rotating element sheet material with reversible highlighting so as to introduce a first applied vector field selected from the group of;

a first vector field in a first direction in said substrate; and

a second vector field in said first direction in said substrate;

where said first vector field in said first direction has a magnitude greater than said second work function and less than said first work function, and said second vector field in said first direction has a magnitude greater than said third work function and less than said second work function; and

applying an erasing implement to a portion of said first region of said rotating element sheet material with reversible highlighting so as to introduce a second applied vector field selected from the group of;

a first vector field in a second direction in said substrate; and

a second vector field in said second direction in said substrate;

where said first vector field in said second direction has a magnitude greater than said second work function and less than said first work function, and said second vector field in said second direction has a magnitude greater than said third work function and less than said second work function.

9. A system comprising

two-sided rotating element sheet material with reversible highlighting;

and

a highlighting implement;

wherein said two-sided rotating element sheet material with reversible highlighting comprises;

a conducting layer; and

a plurality of first rotatable elements, and a plurality of second rotatable elements disposed in a first substrate and a second substrate and in contact with an enabling fluid;

wherein said first substrate and said second substrate are separated by said conducting layer;

wherein each said first rotatable element in said plurality has;

a first collection of responses to incident electromagnetic radiation of interest, where a first response in said first collection of responses renders said first rotatable element transparent-clear to said incident electromagnetic energy of interest, and wherein a second response in said first collection of responses renders said first rotatable element opaque to said incident electromagnetic energy of interest; and

a first work function; and

wherein each said second rotatable element in said plurality has;

a second collection of responses to incident electromagnetic radiation of interest, where a first response in said second collection renders said second rotatable element transparent-clear to said incident electromagnetic energy of interest, and a second response in said second collection renders said second rotatable element transparent-colored to said incident electromagnetic energy of interest; and

a second work function; and

wherein said second work function is less than said first work function; and

wherein said highlighting implement and said conducting layer are configured to introduce a first vector field in a first direction in one of said first substrate and said second substrate, where said first vector field has a magnitude greater than said second work function and less than said first work function.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising an erasing implement,

wherein said erasing implement introduces a second vector field in a second direction in one of said first substrate and second substrate, where said second vector field has a magnitude greater than said second work function and less than said first work function.

11. A kit comprising:

said system of claim 10; and

a binder;

wherein said two-sided rotating element sheet material with reversible highlighting, said highlighting implement, said erasing implement, and said binder are configured such that said binder holds said two-sided rotating element sheet material with reversible highlighting, and accommodates said highlighting implement, and said erasing implement.

16. The kit of claims 3, 6, 11, or 14,

wherein said incident electromagnetic energy of interest comprises the wavelengths of visible light.

12. A system comprising

two-sided rotating element sheet material with reversible highlighting;

and

a highlighting implement;

wherein said two-sided rotating element sheet material with reversible highlighting comprises;

a conducting layer; and

a plurality of first rotatable elements, a plurality of second rotatable elements, and a plurality of third rotatable elements disposed in a first substrate and a second substrate and in contact with an enabling fluid;

wherein said first substrate and said second substrate are separated by said conducting layer;

wherein each said first rotatable elements in said plurality has;

a first collection of responses to incident electromagnetic radiation of interest, where a first response in said first collection of responses renders said first rotatable element transparent-clear to said incident electromagnetic energy of interest, and wherein a second response in said first collection of responses renders said first rotatable element opaque to said incident electromagnetic energy of interest; and

a first work function; and

wherein each said second rotatable elements in said plurality has;

a second collection of responses to incident electromagnetic radiation of interest, where a first response in said second collection renders said second rotatable element transparent-clear to said incident electromagnetic energy of interest, and a second response in said second collection renders said second rotatable element a first transparent-color to said incident electromagnetic energy of interest; and

a second work function; and

wherein said second work function is less than said first work function; and

wherein each said third rotatable elements in said plurality has;

a third collection of responses to incident electromagnetic radiation of interest, where a first response in said third collection renders said third rotatable element transparent-clear to said incident electromagnetic energy of interest, and a second response in said third collection renders said third rotatable element a second transparent-color to said incident electromagnetic energy of interest; and

a third work function; and

wherein said third work function is less than said first work function and said second work function; and

wherein said second transparent-color is different from said first transparent-color; and

wherein said highlighting implement and said conducting layer are configured to introduce a first vector field in a first direction in one of said first substrate and second substrate, and a second vector field in a first direction in one of said first substrate and second substrate, where said first vector field in said first direction has a magnitude greater than said second work function and less than said first work function, and said second vector field in said first direction has a magnitude greater than said third work function and less than said second work function.

13. The system of claim 12, farther comprising an erasing implement,

wherein said erasing implement introduces said first vector field in a second direction in one of said first substrate and second substrate, and said second vector field in a second direction in one of said first substrate and second substrate, where said first vector field in said second direction has a magnitude greater than said second work function and less than said first work function, and said second vector field in said second direction has a magnitude greater than said third work function and less than said second work function.

14. A kit comprising:

the system of claim 13; and

a binder;

wherein said two-sided rotating element sheet material with reversible highlighting, said highlighting implement, said erasing implement, and said binder are configured such that said binder holds said two-sided rotating element sheet material with reversible highlighting, and accommodates said highlighting implement, and said erasing implement.