Mechanical non-binary brixel and brixel display

A system comprising:

• a center column:
• comprising a tube;
• and
• defining a column of drive windows arranged along the tube at a vertical pixel pitch distance;
• a set of bearing collars, each bearing collar in the set of bearing collars coupled to the center column adjacent a drive window, in the column of drive windows, and defining a vertical thrust surface;
• a set of brixel units, each brixel unit in the set of brixel units located adjacent a drive window, in the set of drive windows on the center column, and comprising:
• a pixel element comprising:
• a first face defining a first visual characteristic;
• and
• a second face opposite the first face and defining a second visual characteristic different from the first visual characteristic;
• and
• an internal ring gear coupled to the pixel element and defining an axis of rotation of the pixel element;
• a bearing housing:
• coupled to the pixel element;
• configured to carry a vertical load of the pixel element into a vertical thrust surface of a bearing collar, in the set of bearing collars, adjacent the drive window;
• and
• rotationally coupling the pixel element to the center column;
• a motor arranged in the drive window;
• a drive pinion:
• coupled to the output shaft of the motor;
• and
• extending through the drive window to engage the internal ring gear;
• and
• a local controller:
• configured to store an actuation routine in local memory at the brixel unit;
• and
• configured to drive the motor to locate the pixel element over a sequence of angular positions, relative to the center column, defined by the actuation routine;
• and
• a primary controller configured to distribute a set of actuation routines to the set of brixel units.