Abstract: A light influencing display including a pair of substrates between which at least one pixel having a pixel capacitance and an auxiliary pixel capacitance in parallel with said pixel capacitance is formed. At least one via is etched through at least one of said substrates so aso to facilitate electrical communication between electrical components of the pixel disposed on the spacedly disposed substrates.

Abstract: There are disclosed liquid crystal displays each having at least one pixel element formed on an insulative substrate including at least two conductive electrodes and liquid crystal display material disposed between the electrodes. The pixel elements further include at least a pair of isolation devices formed from a deposited semiconductor material which facilitates selective excitation of the pixel elements and applied potential reversal across the electrodes during alternate display frames. The isolation devices can include a plurality of series connected diodes. The isolation devices can be formed as diode rings. A method of making the displays is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for dry etching an etchable material from a substrate, are disclosed. The system includes an etching chamber including means for establishing a dry etching process therein, a substrate chamber for storing the substrate, and transport means for advancing the substrate from the substrate chamber to the etching chamber. First coupling means couple the interior of the substrate chamber to the interior of the etching chamber to provide an opened passageway therebetween during the etching process. The transport means preferably continuously advances the substrate from the substrate chamber to the etching chamber. Also disclosed are means for maintaining unidirectional gas flow from the substrate chamber to the etching chamber to isolate the etching process from the substrate chamber.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system, display, and method for providing a full color image from a plurality of primary colors. A liquid crystal display including a plurality of pixels arranged in rows is addressed by addressing means for addressing the rows of pixels continuously and sequentially. Data input means applies operating potentials to selected ones of the pixels as the pixels are addressed to cause the display to provide continuously progressing sequential image fields with each one of the image fields corresponding to a respective one of the primary colors. A light projecting means projects light fields of the primary colors onto the liquid crystal display in sequence with and in substantially following progression with the image fields.

Abstract: A solid state, touch sensitive position sensor, which sensor includes a conductive surface along the boundaries of which are disposed at least two sets of two elongated current distribution and collection means. The touch sensitive position sensor further includes resistance means operatively disposed so as to interconnect said current distribution and collection means with said conductive surface. The current distribution and collection means and resistance means are configured, so as to (1) provide a substantially linear electric field distribution of equipotential lines and (2) sequentially turn one set of said current distribution and collection means on while turning the other sets off. In an important embodiment, the conductive surface is formed immediately atop a copyboard and by utilizing erasable, felt tip markers having metallic inserts therein, visual images as well as electrical signals, indicative of X-Y coordinate location, may be simultaneously generated.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image data input and display means, and a voice and data electronic teleconferencing system incorporating the image data input and display means. The image data input and display means includes sensor means for inputting image data integrally with means for displaying both the local input image data and remotely inputted image data.

Abstract: Digitizing apparatus for reproducing information from an image-bearing member, said apparatus including a wand removably mounted on a base station. The wand is adapted for independent operation to manually scan said image-bearing member or the wand can be secured to the base station for automatically scanning said image-bearing member.

Abstract: A method of reading detectable conditions of a non-planar, image bearing surface by utilizing an array of discrete thin film photosensitive elements which are formed on a flexible substrate.

Abstract: A photosensitive pixel adapted for use in an image sensing array includes a photogenerative element and a blocking element. The shapes and sizes of the elements are chosen so as to cooperate in defining an overall pixel configuration having a geometry which maximizes the packing density capabilities thereof and insures that both elements sense only incident radiation emanating from a corresponding portion of an image.

Abstract: By maintaining the first electrodes of a photogenerative element and a current blocking element at a common potential while electrically interconnecting the second electrodes thereof, the blocking element need not be masked from incident radiation because the stored electrical signal generated by the photogenerative element will not be dissipated by photogenerated carrier pairs contributed by the current blocking element.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing electronic signals which are representative of a detectable condition on an image-bearing surface. The apparatus includes an elongated array of distinct thin film photosensitive elements formed on a common flexible large area substrate. The elongated array of photosensitive elements are fabricated as a large area, photovoltaic structure formed of a plurality of thin film layers, including a first layer of thin film conductive material. The discrete photosensitive elements are defined by patterning of the conductive layer into shaped regions which determine the overall configuration and dimensions of each element.

Abstract: An electronic matrix system and method for rapidly storing and efficiently retaining electric charge in selected ones of a plurality of storage elements are disclosed. Each storage element is addressable through a pair of parallel row select address lines and a column address line. A pair of threshold devices are coupled in nonopposing relation between the row select address lines and the storage element is coupled between the common node of the threshold devices and the column address line to which charging potential is applied. During the charging of the storage element, operating potentials which are substantially equal and opposite in polarity are applied to the row select line pair to forward bias both threshold devices and thereafter operating potentials which are also substantially equal and opposite in polarity are applied to the row select line pair to back bias both threshold devices to provide retention of the charge in the storage element.

Abstract: A photosensitive pixel includes a photogenerative element interconnected with a group of at least two series connected blocking elements, at a nodal point between the blocking elements. In a preferred embodiment, the capacitances of the individual blocking elements are substantially equal thereby enabling capacitive kick during the reading of the pixel to be reduced. The invention may be readily adapted to provide both linear and two dimensional pixel arrays having high accuracy, fast read times and high resolution. A method of operating the pixel using balanced driving signals is also disclosed.

Abstract: A light influencing display including at least one pixel having a pixel capacitance and an auxiliary capacitance in parallel with the pixel capacitance is disclosed. The pixel includes electrodes located in at least three spaced apart layers, namely a first electrode including first and second spaced apart electrode portions in a first layer, and a second electrode spaced from and facing the first electrode portions in substantially parallel relations thereto in a second layer. The second electrode is electrically insulated from all external circuit connections and from all other pixel electrodes and liquid crystal display material is disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The auxiliary capacitance is provided by at least a first auxiliary electrode in a third layer spaced and insulated from and facing at least the first electrode portion of the first electrode on the side of the first electrode opposite the liquid crystal material.

Abstract: Novel line imaging apparatus utilizing a large area linear array of amorphous silicon alloy photosensitive elements, said apparatus adapted to provide automatic adjustment for sensor and circuit variables as well as for changes in the intensity of image illumination.

Abstract: An imaging system including at least one array of discrete photosensitive elements is formed on a flexible substrate so as to read detectable conditions of a non-planar, image bearing surface.

Abstract: Line imaging apparatus for generating signals representative of detectable conditions of a surface. The apparatus includes an arm adapted to move over at least a portion of the surface, the arm hving an elongated array of discrete photosensitive elements mounted thereupon.

Abstract: By maintaining the first electrodes of a photogenerative element and a current blocking element at a common potential while electrically interconnecting the second electrodes thereof, the blocking element need not be masked from incident radiation because the stored electrical signal generated by the photogenerative element will not be dissipated by photogenerated carrier pairs contributed by the current blocking element.

Abstract: Thin film semiconductor devices such as amorphous silicon alloy p-i-n diodes and the like which utilize mesa-like semiconductor structures having vertical sidewalls are formed by a process which eliminates overhangs and neutralizes contaminants on the sidewalls that can result in short circuits or degradation of device performance. Smooth vertical sidewalls free of overhangs and voids are created by: successively depositing the desired semiconductor layers on a substrate, then depositing and patterning a top metal contact mask on the semiconductor layers, followed by removing the unwanted portions of the semiconductor layers by reactive ion etching. The disclosed reactive ion etching provides controlled vertical etching with virtually no lateral etching, thereby providing smooth sidewalls.

Abstract: A light influencing display is provided which has a plurality of pixel group, each pixel of which includes a first electrode formed on a first surface and an opposing, second electrode formed on a second surface. A separate three terminal control device of deposited semiconductor material is formed on the first surface in association with each pixel. Each control device has a control terminal and two current path terminals, a first of which is connected to the first electrode of the control device's associated pixel. A voltage supply lead is formed on the first surface in association with each pixel group, and is connected to the second current path terminals associated with its pixel group. Similarly, a control lead is formed on the first surface in association with each pixel group, and is connected to the control terminals associated with its pixel group.