Variable image-displaying member

• US 6,557,279 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2001
• Issued: 05/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Araki, Yoshinori, Shigeyuki, Takiguchi
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, William L.
• Application Number:
  US09/870,183
• Publication Number:
  US 20020002783A1
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 404/47, 404/52, 405/82, 405/83, 345/84, 340/815.62
• US Class Current: 40/447
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/375 the position of the elements being controlled by the application of a magnetic field

Abstract

A variable image-display having an opaque substrate having a front surface which is observed by an observer, and a back surface opposing the front surface, and a plurality of pixel elements which are arranged on the front surface of the substrate in rows and columns. Each pixel element comprises a fixed part having the first fixed face which is fixed to the front surface of the substrate, the second fixed face adjacent to the first fixed surface, and a border line between the first fixed face and the second fixed face. An opaque shutter which is rotatable around an axis is in parallel with the border line between the fixed faces such that in a first static state, the second fixed face of the fixed part and the second observable face of the shutter are juxtaposed to form a first visible pixel, in a second static state, the first fixed surface of the fixed part and the first observable face of the shutter are juxtaposed to form a second visible pixel. The static states of the pixel elements can be determined independently of each other or synchronously with each other, thereby variable imaged may be displayed.

Claims

1. A variable image-display comprising:

(A) an opaque substrate having a front observable surface and a back surface opposing said front surface, and

(B) a plurality of pixel elements arranged on said front surface of the substrate in rows columns, wherein each pixel element comprises

a (a) a first fixed face and a second fixed face, adjacent to said first fixed face, the first and second fixed face having a reflective surface, and a border line between said first fixed face and said second fixed face, and

(b) an opaque shutter that is rotatable around an axis, that is in parallel with said border line between said fixed faces, said shutter having a first and second observable face each having a reflective surface;

wherein in a first static state, said second fixed face and said second observable face of the shutter are juxtaposed forming a first visible pixel, and

in a second static state, said first fixed surface and said first observable face of the shutter are juxtaposed forming a second visible pixel.

2. The variable image-display according to claim 1, wherein said first fixed face and said first observable face are both colored white or a first color, while said second fixed face and said second observable face are both colored with a second color.

3. The variable image-display according to claim 1, wherein the static states of said pixel elements are determined independently of each other to display 3 or more different images.

4. The variable image-display according to claim 1, wherein the static states of said pixel elements are determined synchronously with each other to display a first image comprised of the plurality of visible pixels observed in the first static state and a second image comprised of the plurality of visible pixels observed in the second static state.

5. The variable image-display according to claim 1, wherein said first fixed face and said second fixed face are continuously arranged along said borderline.

6. The variable image-display of claim 1 wherein the observable surfaces are illuminated with an external light source.

7. The variable image-display of claim 1 wherein the substrate is substantially free of openings that utilize transmitted light from the back surface of the substrate in order to increase the visibility of the pixels.

8. The variable image-display of claim 1 wherein the reflective surface comprises reflective sheets.

9. The variable image-display of claim 1 wherein the reflective surface comprises retroreflective sheets.

10. The variable image-display of claim 1 wherein the pixel has a length at a side of 20 mm or less.

11. The variable image-display of claim 1 wherein the pixel has a length at a side at least 5 mm.

12. The variable image-display of claim 1 wherein the back surface of the substrate further comprises an electromagnet.

13. The variable image-display of claim 1 wherein the shutter further comprises a magnet.

14. The variable image display of claim 1 wherein movement of the shutter changes the first static state to another.

15. The variable image-display of claim 1 wherein the display does not have an internal light source.

16. A variable image-display comprising:

(A) a substrate having a front observable surface and a back surface opposing said front surface, and

(B) a plurality of pixel elements arranged on said front surface of the substrate in rows columns, wherein each pixel element comprises

(a) a first fixed face and a second fixed face, adjacent to said first fixed face, the first and second fixed face having a reflective opaque surface, and a border line between said first fixed face and said second fixed face, and

(b) a shutter that is rotatable around an axis, that is in parallel with said border line between said fixed faces, said shutter having a first and second observable face each having a reflective opaque surface;

wherein in a first static state, said second fixed face and said second observable face of the shutter are juxtaposed forming a first visible pixel, and

in a second static state, said first fixed surface and said first observable face of the shutter are juxtaposed forming a second visible pixel.