Segmented alphanumeric display using electromagnetic microactuators

A segmented alphanumeric display with electromagnetic microactuators, comprising:

• a display panel including an outer surface and defining a plurality of orifices;
• at least one linearly actuated platform;
• a Sarrus linkage configured to constrain the linearly actuated platform to a single-degree-of-freedom motion;
• a plurality of display elements positioned for selective displacement by the linearly actuated platform, each display element configured and positioned to pass through a respective orifice from among the plurality of orifices and to extend beyond the outer surface of the display panel and retract into the display panel through its respective orifice through which it is positioned to pass and to generate protruded and segmented alphanumeric characters in combination with other extended display elements;
• and
• a microactuator array displaceable by the linearly actuated platform, the microactuator array comprising:
• (a) a plurality of electromagnets;
• and
• (b) a plurality of rotors, each rotor mounted for rotation in a rotational plane and in at least one direction between an active state and an inactive state by at least one associated electromagnet from among the plurality of electromagnets when the at least one associated electromagnet generates a magnetic field,
• wherein each display element is positioned to be displaced through its respective orifice by actuation of the linearly actuated platform via a respective rotor from among the plurality of rotors along an axis orthogonal to a rotational plane of its respective rotor when the respective rotor is rotated into its active state and to evade displacement by the rotor when the rotor is rotated into its inactive state.

A segmented alphanumeric display with electromagnetic microactuators, comprising:

• a display panel including an outer surface and defining a plurality of orifices;
• at least one linearly actuated platform;
• a plurality of display elements positioned for selective displacement by the linearly actuated platform, each display element configured and positioned to pass through a respective orifice from among the plurality of orifices and to extend beyond the outer surface of the display panel and retract into the display panel through its respective orifice through which it is positioned to pass and to generate protruded and segmented alphanumeric characters in combination with other extended display elements;
• and
• a microactuator array displaceable by the linearly actuated platform, the microactuator array comprising:
• (a) a plurality of electromagnets;
• (b) a plurality of rotors, each rotor mounted for rotation in a rotational plane and in at least one direction between an active state and an inactive state by at least one associated electromagnet from among the plurality of electromagnets when the at least one associated electromagnet generates a magnetic field;
• and
• (c) at least three pins associated with each rotor, wherein the pins include a central pin on and about which the rotor rotates and outer pins on opposite sides of the central pin, wherein the outer pins are positioned to displace the rotor when the rotor is in the active state and to avoid displacing the rotor when the rotor is in the inactive state,
• wherein each display element is positioned to be displaced through its respective orifice by actuation of the linearly actuated platform via a respective rotor from among the plurality of rotors along an axis orthogonal to a rotational plane of its respective rotor when the respective rotor is rotated into its active state and to evade displacement by the rotor when the rotor is rotated into its inactive state.