Display device with moving pixel members

• US 6,603,457 B1
• Filed: 06/21/2000
• Issued: 08/05/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Nakanishi, Masahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Saras, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): AWAD, AMR A
• Application Number:
  US09/598,408
• Time in Patent Office: 1,140 Days
• Field of Search: 345/30, 345/31, 345/33, 345/84, 345/85, 345/86, 345/108-109, 345/107, 345/110, 345/111, 359/296, 340/815.62, 340/815.64, 340/815.86, 340/815.87, 404/47, 404/71--80
• US Class Current: 345/107
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/094 based on magnetophoretic effect
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133348 Charged particles addressed liquid crystal cells, e.g. controlled by an electron beam
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/167 by electrophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/16757 Microcapsules
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1685 Operation of cells; Circuit arrangements affecting the entire cell
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/00 Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/035 for flexible display surfaces

Abstract

A display device having much fewer drive electrodes than expected by the number of pixels is formed by including a plurality of pixel members, an endless guide holding the plurality of pixel members movably therein, a pixel member mover disposed at a part of the guide for moving the pixel members along the guide, and a pixel member color changer disposed at a part of the guide for causing a color change of individual pixel members. The colors of respective pixel members are changed by the pixel member color changer while the respective pixel members are moved by the pixel member mover to effect a display.

Claims

1. A display device, comprising:

a plurality of pixel members disposed in succession,

an endless guide means holding the plurality of pixel members movably therein;

a pixel member-moving means disposed at a part of said guide means for circulating said pixel members along said guide means; and

a pixel member color-changing means disposed at a part of said guide means for causing a color change of individual pixel members, wherein

the colors of respective pixel members are changed by said pixel member color-changing means while being circulated by said pixel member-moving means to effect a display, and

each of said pixel members has at least two surface portions having mutually different permittivities and colors, and said pixel member color-changing means comprises electrodes disposed to face said guide means for controlling a rotation of said pixel members depending on a polarity of voltage applied therebetween.

2. A display device according to claim 1, wherein said pixel member-moving means comprises a plurality of electrodes disposed to face said guide means for receiving voltages of varying phases to generate an electrostatic attraction force or repulsion force between said pixel members and said electrodes.

3. A display device according to claim 1, wherein said pixel member-moving means comprises a plurality of electrodes disposed to face said guide means for receiving voltages of varying phases to generate a magnetic attraction force or repulsion force between said pixel members and said electrodes.

4. A display device according to claim 1, wherein said pixel member-moving means comprises a piezoelectric film disposed along said guide means for causing a surface elastic wave for moving said pixel members along said guide means.

5. A display device according to claim 1, wherein said guide means contains a lubricant in addition to said pixel members.

6. A display device according to claim 1, wherein said guide means has a shape of a groove or a tube.

7. A display device, comprising:

a plurality of pixel members disposed in succession,

an endless guide means holding the plurality of pixel members movably therein;

a pixel member-moving means disposed at a part of said guide means for circulating said pixel members along said guide means; and

a pixel member color-changing means disposed at a part of said guide means for causing a color change of individual pixel members, wherein

the colors of respective pixel members are changed by said pixel member color-changing means while being circulated by said pixel member-moving means to effect a display, and

each of said pixel members comprises a microcapsule in which a colored dispersion medium and electrophoretic particles are enclosed, and said pixel member color-changing means comprises electrodes disposed to face said guide means for controlling a place of accumulation of the electrophoretic particles within the microcapsule depending on a polarity of voltage applied therebetween.

8. A display device, comprising:

a plurality of pixel members disposed in succession,

an endless guide means holding the plurality of pixel members movably therein;

a pixel member-moving means disposed at a part of said guide means for circulating said pixel members along said guide means; and

a pixel member color-changing means disposed at a part of said guide means for causing a color change of individual pixel members, wherein

the colors of respective pixel members are changed by said pixel member color-changing means while being circulated by said pixel member-moving means to effect a display, and

each of said pixel members comprises a microcapsule in which a colored dispersion medium and magnetophoretic particles are enclosed, and said pixel member color-changing means comprises electrodes disposed to face said guide means for controlling a place of accumulation of the magnetophoretic particles within the microcapsule depending on a polarity of voltage applied therebetween.

9. A display device, comprising:

a plurality of pixel members disposed in succession,

an endless guide means holding the plurality of pixel members movably therein;

a pixel member-moving means disposed at a part of said guide means for circulating said pixel members along said guide means; and

a pixel member color-changing means disposed at a part of said guide means for causing a color change of individual pixel members, wherein

the colors of respective pixel members are changed by said pixel member color-changing means while being circulated by said pixel member-moving means to effect a display, and

each of said pixel members comprises a coating of a photochromic material, and said pixel member color-changing means comprises a light source disposed to face said guide means for causing photochromism of said pixel members.

10. A display device, comprising:

a plurality of pixel members disposed in succession,

an endless guide means holding the plurality of pixel members movably therein;

a pixel member-moving means disposed at a part of said guide means for circulating said pixel members along said guide means; and

a pixel member color-changing means disposed at a part of said guide means for causing a color change of individual pixel members, wherein

the colors of respective pixel members are changed by said pixel member color-changing means while being circulated by said pixel member-moving means to effect a display, and

each of said pixel members comprises a coating of a thermochromic material, and said pixel member color-changing means comprises a heater disposed to face said guide means for causing thermochromism of said pixel members.

11. A display device, comprising:

a plurality of pixel members disposed in succession,

an endless guide means holding the plurality of pixel members movably therein;

a pixel member-moving means disposed at a part of said guide means for circulating said pixel members along said guide means; and

a pixel member color-changing means disposed at a part of said guide means for causing a color change of individual pixel members, wherein

the colors of respective pixel members are changed by said pixel member color-changing means while being circulated by said pixel member-moving means to effect a display, and

each of said pixel members comprises an electrochromic cell including an electrochromic material, and said pixel member color-changing means comprises electrodes disposed to face said guide means for causing electrochromism of the electrochromic material.