Display device comprising a light guide
First Claim
1. A display device comprising a light guide, a second plate facing the light guide and the second plate, and selection means to locally bring the movable element into contact with the light guide, the selection means comprising a common electrode and row and column electrodes and means for applying voltages to the row and column electrodes and the common electrode, characterized in that the second plate is provided with the common electrode;
- wherein the selection means comprises means for applying voltages to the row and column electrodes in dependence on a voltage or voltages previously applied to the row and column electrodes;
wherein the light guide comprises the column electrodes, and the second plate is provided with the common electrode and the movable element is provided with row electrodes; and
wherein the means for applying voltages apply, in operation, a first set of voltages having a lower and an upper value to column electrodes, and a second set of voltages having a lower, a middle and an upper value to a row electrode crossing the column electrodes at crossing areas, the device being arranged in such a way that only simultaneous application of the upper value to the row electrode and of the lower value to the column electrodes changes the positions of the movable elements at the crossing areas.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A display device comprises row (5) and column (6) electrodes and a movable element (3) and means (17) for supplying voltages to the electrodes, wherein the row electrodes are situated on the movable element. The means supply, in operation, such voltages to the electrodes that use is made of the memory effect of the movable element. More in particular, the row electrodes are, in operation, supplied with “on”, “off” and “hold” voltages and the column electrodes are supplied with “hold” and ‘off’-voltages. Application of “on” voltages turns on the pixels in a row, simultaneous application of “off” voltages turns a pixel off. Application of a “hold” voltage to either one of the electrodes preserves the status of the pixel.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. A display device comprising a light guide, a second plate facing the light guide and the second plate, and selection means to locally bring the movable element into contact with the light guide, the selection means comprising a common electrode and row and column electrodes and means for applying voltages to the row and column electrodes and the common electrode, characterized in that the second plate is provided with the common electrode;
- wherein the selection means comprises means for applying voltages to the row and column electrodes in dependence on a voltage or voltages previously applied to the row and column electrodes;
wherein the light guide comprises the column electrodes, and the second plate is provided with the common electrode and the movable element is provided with row electrodes; and
wherein the means for applying voltages apply, in operation, a first set of voltages having a lower and an upper value to column electrodes, and a second set of voltages having a lower, a middle and an upper value to a row electrode crossing the column electrodes at crossing areas, the device being arranged in such a way that only simultaneous application of the upper value to the row electrode and of the lower value to the column electrodes changes the positions of the movable elements at the crossing areas. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5, 6)
- wherein the selection means comprises means for applying voltages to the row and column electrodes in dependence on a voltage or voltages previously applied to the row and column electrodes;
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3. A display device comprising:
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a light guide provided with column electrodes;
a second plate facing the light guide and provided with a common electrode;
a movable element provided with row electrodes between the light guide and the second plate; and
means for applying voltages to the common, row, and column electrodes to locally bring the movable element into contact with the light guide by applying voltages to the row and column electrodes in dependence on a voltage or voltages previously applied to the row and column electrodes, wherein the means for applying voltages apply, in operation, a first set of voltages having a lower and an upper value to a column electrode, and a second set of voltages having a lower, a middle and an upper value to a row electrode crossing the row electrode at a crossing area, the device being arranged in such a way that only simultaneous application of the lower value to the row electrode and of the upper value to the column electrode changes the position of the movable element at the crossing area.
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Specification