Abstract: An improved electric paper which allows it to form an image from a light image rather than from an applied electric field. The prior art embodiment had a number of rotatable balls imbedded in a plastic substrate. Each ball had hemispheres that had different electrical characteristics, and were colored differently. Under the influence of an image in the form of an electrical field, the balls would selectively rotate to form a permanent visible image, whereupon the field could be removed. This invention has two conductive surfaces to provide a uniform electric field across the substrate, and then exposes the substrate to light which selectively changes the electrical characteristics of one of the two hemispheres, resulting in the rotation of the selected balls to form the image.

Abstract: A method of making rotating element sheet material utilizing magnetic latching is provided. The first step is providing a sheet of sheet material comprising a substrate with a surface and rotatable elements disposed therein. The elements each have an optical and electrical anisotropy, and comprise at least two portions. One of the portions is magnetizable. After the magnetizable portions have been oriented in a common direction, they are magnetized substantially uniformly. The elements can be oriented such that the magnetized portions are disposed towards the surface of the substrate. A layer of hardenable mixture containing a plurality of magnetic particles is then applied to the surface of the substrate. The hardenable liquid is kept liquid for a period of time to allow the migration magnetic particles to the area of the layer in the vicinity of the magnetized portions of the rotatable elements.

Abstract: A method of forming magnetized rotating elements for a rotating element display where all the elements are magnetized in the same orientation is provided. First, at least two planar streams of hardenable liquids flowing in substantially the same direction are provided. Each stream has an associated optical modulation characteristic and at least one stream has an associated optical modulation characteristic different from at least one other stream. At least one stream includes a magnetic pigment. The streams are then merged to form a reservoir containing side-by-side amounts of each liquid from each stream. A free jet is then formed containing side-by-side amounts of each liquid from the reservoir. Then a portion of the free jet is passed through a magnetic field which is oriented transverse to the direction of the free jet to magnetize the magnetic pigment. The rotating elements formed can be either spherical in shape or cylindrical in shape.

Abstract: A gyricon or twisting-particle display based on nonspheroidal (e.g., substantially cylindrical) optically anisotropic particles disposed in a substrate. The particles can be bichromal cylinders, preferably aligned parallel to one another and packed close together in a monolayer. A rotatable disposition of each particle is achievable while the particle is thus disposed in the substrate; for example, the particles can already be rotatable in the substrate, or can be rendered rotatable in the substrate by a nondestructive operation performed on the substrate. In particular, the substrate can be made up of an elastomer that is expanded by application of a fluid thereto so as to render the particles rotatable therein. A particle, when in its rotatable disposition, is not attached to the substrate. The close-packed monolayer configuration of particles provides excellent brightness characteristics and relative ease of manufacture as compared with certain other high-brightness gyricon displays.

Abstract: A method of making a substrate in which sets of optically anisotropic spheroidal balls are disposed, as for use in an electrical twisting ball display. First and second sets of spheroidal balls, are deposited on a receiving surface composed of an elastomer substrate material in an adhesive state, the spheroidal balls thus deposited adhering to the receiving surface. Balls of the first and second sets are physically distinguishable from one another. Balls of the first set can be deposited in a first arrangement, and balls of the second set, in a second arrangement. Each ball of each set has an optical anisotropy and an anisotropy for providing an electrical dipole moment, the electrical dipole moment rendering the ball electrically responsive such that when the ball is rotatably disposed in an electric field while the electrical dipole moment of the ball is provided, the ball tends to rotate to an orientation in which the electrical dipole moment aligns with the field.

Abstract: There is disclosed an electrocapillary display sheet which utilizes three transparent sheets being spaced from each other and placed parallel to each other. The medial sheet has a plurality of reservoirs which are filled with a dyed or pigmented ink. Each of the reservoirs has an individually addressable voltage source to create an individual electric field. By activating each electric field, the ink from the corresponding reservoir flows out into the space between the medial sheet and one of the other two sheets in order to create a pixel. By removing the electric filed, the liquid which had created a pixel will retreat back into the reservoir.

Abstract: An electric type paper display having memory properties, rapid response times and multi-optical property display with an image of high quality is made. Each display element is wholly in contact with liquid in a cavity and the surface of each display element has a portion with a most positive charge. When an electrical field is applied from the outside, each display element is turned correspondingly to the direction of the electric field and, then electrically migrated through the liquid and attached to the inner surface of the cavity. Among multiple display surfaces of each display element an optical property is selected according to an image signal and is visible through a transparent support to an observer. Afterwards, the attached state of each display element, i.e.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a multisegmented ball for an electrical twisting ball display device, which is made up of spheroidal balls rotatably disposed in an elastomer substrate. The ball is composed of segments arrayed substantially parallel to one another, each segment being adjacent to at least one other segment and to no more than two other segments, adjacent segments being adjoined to one another at substantially planar interfaces. The method for fabricating the multisegmented spheroidal balls comprises the steps of first providing a multiplicity of liquid flows, each liquid flow having an associated flow rate, each liquid flow being a flow of a hardenable liquid material associated with an optical modulation characteristic. The multiplicity of flows are then merged into a combined liquid flow where each one of the plurality of liquid flows is joined to at least one other of the plurality of liquid flows at a planar interface.

Abstract: A combination of an optically transmissive dielectric fluid having a first refractive index and an optically anisotropic particle rotatably disposed in the fluid is provided. The particle has at least one optically transmissive region having a second refractive index. The particle provides a first optical modulation characteristic when disposed in the fluid in a first orientation with respect to a flux of optical energy, and further provides a second optical modulation characteristic when disposed in the fluid in a second orientation with respect to a flux of optical energy. The particle has an anisotropy for providing an electrical dipole moment, the electrical dipole moment rendering the particle electrically responsive such that when the particle is rotatably disposed in an electric field while the electrical dipole moment of the particle is provided, the particle tends to rotate to an orientation in which the electrical dipole moment aligns with the field.

Abstract: An electric type paper display having memory properties, rapid response times and multi-optical property display with an image of high quality is made. Each display element is wholly in contact with liquid in a cavity and the surface of each display element has a portion with a most positive charge. When an electrical field is applied from the outside, each display element is turned correspondingly to the direction of the electric field and, then electrically migrated through the liquid and attached to the inner surface of the cavity. Among multiple display surfaces of each display element an optical property is selected according to an image signal and is visible through a transparent support to an observer. Afterwards, the attached state of each display element, i.e.

Abstract: An electric type paper display having memory properties, rapid response times and multi-optical optical property display with an image of high quality is made. Each display element is wholly in contact with liquid in a cavity and the surface of each display element has a portion with a most positive charge. When an electrical field is applied from the outside, each display element is turned correspondingly to the direction of the electric field and, then electrically migrated through the liquid and attached to the inner surface of the cavity. Among multiple display surfaces of each display element an optical property is selected according to an image signal and is visible through a transparent support to an observer. Afterwards, the attached state of each display element, i.e.

Abstract: A apparatus of fabricating a multisegmented ball for an electrical twisting ball display device, which is made up of spheroidal balls rotatably disposed in an elastomer substrate. The ball is composed of segments arrayed substantially parallel to one another, each segment being adjacent to at least one other segment and to no more than two other segments, adjacent segments being adjoined to one another at substantially planar interfaces. The apparatus has a plurality of separator members, each separator member having two opposed surfaces and an edge region in contact with both of said surfaces. A liquid flow is associated with each separator member and one of the surfaces on the separator member. Each one of the liquid flows is provided across its associated separator members toward the edge region of the separator member. Each of the liquid flows is of a hardenable liquid material and has an optical modulation characteristic and a flow rate.

Abstract: A gyricon or rotating-particle display having an "eggcrate" substrate. The display includes a substrate having a cavity-containing matrix whose cavities are disposed substantially in a single layer and are arranged within the matrix substantially in a geometrically regular pattern, and a plurality of optically anisotropic particles disposed in the cavities in the substrate, with each cavity containing at most one of the optically anistropic particles. A rotatable disposition of each particle is achievable while the particle is thus disposed in the substrate; the particle, when in its rotatable disposition, is not attached to the substrate.

Abstract: An electrocapillary color display sheet is disclosed which utilizes three spaced apart and parallel sheets in which the medial sheet has a plurality of sets of at least two reservoirs. The space between the medial sheet and one of the other sheets create a first sealed passage and the second space between the medial sheet and the other one the two other sheets create a second sealed passage. Each reservoir in each set holds a conductive clear liquid and a portion of a pigmented liquid while the rest of the pigmented liquid is located in the second passage. Each clear liquid in each reservoir has an individual electrical connection. By selectively activating each clear liquid in each reservoir of each set of reservoirs, the activated liquid of the set of reservoirs will flow into the first passage and the pigmented liquid will retract into the reservoir.

Abstract: A gyricon or rotating-particle display having an auxiliary optical structure. The display includes a substrate with an optically transmissive window, a plurality of particles disposed in the substrate, and an optical focusing element optically coupled to the window. Each particle has an anisotropy for providing an electrical dipole moment, the electrical dipole moment rendering the particle electrically responsive such that when the particle is rotatably disposed in an electric field while the electrical dipole moment of the particle is provided, the particle tends to rotate to an orientation in which the electrical dipole moment aligns with the field. A rotatable disposition of each particle is achievable while the particle is thus disposed in the substrate; when the particle is in this rotatable disposition, it is not attached to the substrate. Each particle, when rotatably disposed in the substrate, is disposable in first and second rotational orientations with respect to the optically transmissive window.

Abstract: A multilayer substrate material for a subtractive-color electrical twisting ball display. The material is composed of a layered substrate including first, second, and third layers, each layer of the substrate being a nearest neighboring layer with respect to at least one other layer and no more than two other layers. Spheroidal balls are disposed in each of the first, second, and third layers. In the first layer, each ball has at least two component regions including a component region having a first chromatic color, such as transparent cyan. In the second layer, each ball has at least two component regions including a component region having a second chromatic color, such as transparent magenta. In the third layer, each ball has at least two component regions including a component region having a third chromatic color, such as transparent yellow.

Abstract: A multisegmented, highlight color ball for an electrical twisting ball display device made up of spheroidal balls rotatably disposed in an elastomer substrate. The ball is composed of segments arrayed substantially parallel to one another, each segment being adjacent to at least one other segment and to no more than two other segments, adjacent segments being adjoined to one another at substantially planar interfaces. Each segment has an optical modulation characteristic, the optical modulation characteristics of adjacent segments being different from one another. The segments include: a central segment having a thickness; a first interior segment, situated adjacent to the central segment and having a thickness less than the central segment thickness; a second interior segment, situated opposite the first interior segment with respect to the central segment and having a thickness less than the central segment thickness; a first exterior segment; and a second exterior segment.

Abstract: An electrocapillary color display sheet is disclosed which utilizes a plurality of sets of different color droplets between two sheets in which each set of droplets will create a pixel of an image. Each set of droplets has at least two droplets in which each droplet has a different color. Each droplet of each set is immiscible with the rest of the droplets of the set. There is an electrode on each sheet which corresponds to each set of droplets. There is also an addressable electrical connection to each droplet. By selectively activating droplets of each set of droplets and its corresponding electrodes on the two sheets, at least one of the droplets of the set will expand in a space commonly shared by the droplets of each set to create a colored pixel.

Abstract: A seven-segment ball for an electrical twisting ball display device made up of spheroidal balls rotatably disposed in an elastomer substrate. The device built with the seven-segment balls can provide, for example, two fully saturated colors, two partially saturated colors, and a background color, such as white. The ball is composed of seven segments arrayed substantially parallel to one another, each segment being adjacent to at least one other segment and to no more than two other segments, adjacent segments being adjoined to one another at substantially planar interfaces. The seven segments include a transparent central segment, transparent first and second exterior segments, and four colored interior segments, two on each side of the central segment. For example, the first, second, third, and fourth interior segments can each have different colors such as red, black, blue, and green.

Abstract: A multithreshold electrical twisting ball display device. The device is composed of electrically and optically anisotropic spheroidal balls of at least two different rotation thresholds, disposed in an elastomer substrate, together with an addressing electrode assembly. The addressing electrode assembly allows a preferred region of the substrate to be selected in which at least one ball of the first set and at least one ball of the second set are disposed, and first and second electric field to be applied to the preferred region thus selected, each of the first and second electric fields extending throughout the preferred region. The first field facilitates a contemporaneous rotation of balls of both the first and second sets rotatably disposed in the preferred region. The second electric field facilitates a rotation of balls of the second set rotatably disposed in the preferred region, without facilitating a rotation of any ball of the first set rotatably disposed in the preferred region.