Display device

A picture display device comprising a suitable substrate carrying a plurality of colour cells wherein each colour cell is capable of emitting electromagnetic energy at least in the form of visible light, each said colour cell comprising:

• at least one pair of electrodes comprising a lower electrode comprised on said substrate and an upper electrode superposed and distanced from said lower electrode;
• said at least one pair of electrodes capable of being electrically connected to at least one suitable electrical power source capable of providing at least a predetermined voltage and/or current between said upper electrode and said lower electrode of said at least one pair of electrodes;
• at least one dielectric layer comprised of suitable dielectric material disposed intermediate said upper electrode and said lower electrode of said at least one pair of electrodes;
• wherein said dielectric layer comprises at least one luminescent layer of luminescent material substantially parallel to and in electrical contact with at least one of said upper electrode and said lower electrode of said at least one pair of electrodes, said at least one luminescent layer being capable of emitting electromagnetic energy at least in the form of visible light in response to the establishment of said predetermined voltage and/or current between said upper electrode and said lower electrode of said at least one pair of electrodes, wherein said emission of said visible light is such as to be capable of being observed from the exterior of said colour cell.

A picture display device comprising a suitable substrate carrying a plurality of colour cells wherein each colour cell is capable of exhibiting a change in its external colour from a first colour to a second colour, each said colour cell comprising:

• an upper substantially transparent layer comprising an inverted substantially transparent prismatic element protruding from a lower surface thereof, said transparent layer being superposed over said substrate and distanced therefrom by suitable spacing means;
• a substantially transparent movable element comprising an upper concavity complementary to and substantially aligned with said prismatic element, said movable element capable of being displaced a first distance between a first position and a second position, wherein in said first position said concavity is spaced from said prismatic element by a predetermined spacing, and wherein in said second position said concavity is substantial direct optical contact with said prismatic element;
• a colour layer comprising said second colour disposed below said movable element and in optical communication therewith;
• guiding means for enabling said movable element to reciprocate between said first position and said second position;
• at least one actuator element in abutting contact with said movable element comprising at least one suitable electrical input connection means and at least one suitable electrical output connection means capable of connecting said actuator element to a suitable electrical power source, said actuator element characterised in being capable of increasing at least one dimension thereof in the direction of displacement of said movable element by said first distance in response to the supply of a predetermined voltage and/or current thereto, thereby displacing said movable element to said first position;
• whereby said at least one actuator element increases said at least one dimension thereof by said first distance in response to the supply of a predetermined voltage and/or current to said actuator element, thereby propelling said movable element from said first position to said second position and bringing said concavity is substantial direct optical contact with said prismatic element thereby enabling said second colour on said colour layer to be exhibited by said colour cell, and whereby said actuator element returns to its datum dimension when said electrical power source is subsequently disconnected or alternatively when the polarity of the said voltage and/or current supply is reversed, returning said movable element to the said first position and establishing said spacing between said prismatic element and said concavity, said prismatic element having a configuration such as to internally reflect light entering said cell via said upper transparent layer thereby enabling said colour cell to exhibit a first colour as determined by the reflection of external light by said prismatic element.

A picture display device comprising a suitable substrate carrying a plurality of colour cells wherein each colour cell is capable of exhibiting a change in its external colour from a first colour to a second colour, each said colour cell comprising:

• a first, upper, substantially transparent layer comprising an inverted substantially transparent prismatic element protruding from a lower surface thereof;
• said transparent layer being superposed over:
• a second, lower, substantially transparent layer comprising an upper concavity complementary to and substantially aligned with said prismatic element, said second transparent layer being superposed over said substrate;
• said first transparent layer capable of being displaced a first distance between a first position and a second position, wherein in said first position said concavity is substantial direct optical contact with said prismatic element, and wherein in said second position said concavity is spaced from said prismatic element by a predetermined spacing;
• a colour layer comprising said first colour disposed below said second transparent layer and in optical communication therewith;
• at least one actuator element in abutting contact with first transparent layer comprising at least one suitable electrical input connection means and at least one suitable electrical output connection means capable of connecting said at least one actuator element to a suitable electrical power source, said at least one actuator element characterised in being capable of increasing at least one dimension thereof in the direction of displacement of said first transparent layer by said first distance in response to the supply of a predetermined voltage and/or current thereto, thereby displacing said first transparent layer to said first position;
• whereby said actuator element increases said at least one dimension thereof by said first distance in response to the supply of a predetermined voltage and/or current to said actuator element, thereby propelling said first transparent layer from said first position to said second position and establishing said spacing between said prismatic element and said concavity, said prismatic element having a configuration such as to internally reflect light entering said cell via said upper transparent layer thereby enabling said colour cell to exhibit a second colour as determined by the reflection of external light by said prismatic element, and whereby said actuator element returns to its datum dimension when said electrical power source is subsequently disconnected or alternatively when the polarity of the said voltage and/or current supply is reversed, returning said first transparent layer to the said first position and bringing said concavity is substantial direct optical contact with said prismatic element thereby enabling said first colour on said colour layer to be exhibited by said colour cell.

A first switch for electrically connecting between at least one pair of electrical conductors comprising:

• a suitable substantially non-electrically-conducting fluid medium in the form of a closed loop and having a free upper surface;
• said closed loop bounded by at least an inner wall and an outer wall, said inner and outer walls being concentric one to the other and comprising an upper inner wall portion and an inner wall portion, respectively, protruding from the mean level of the said fluid free surface;
• at least one said pair of conductors, one said conductor of said pair comprising a suitable first electrical contact on said upper inner wall portion, and the other said conductor comprising a suitable second electrical contact on said upper outer wall portion;
• at least one electrically actuable oscillating element immersed in said fluid medium capable of providing at least one travelling wave on said free surface in response to suitable vibrations thereof;
• an electrically-conductive dynamic contact element, substantially on said free surface and capable of being carried by said wave, said contact element extending at least between said first electrical contact and said second electrical contact;
• whereby when said oscillating element is suitably vibrated, at least one travelling wave is provided on said free surface carrying the said dynamic element along said free surface element alternately to a position providing electrical contact between said first contact and said second contact and to a position in which said first contact and said second contact are electrically disconnected.

A second switch for electrically connecting between at least one pair of electrical conductors comprising:

• an inner substantially non-electrically-conducting ring and an outer concentric substantially non-electrically-conducting ring;
• at least one said pair of conductors, one said conductor of said pair comprising a suitable first electrical contact on said inner ring, and the other said conductor comprising a suitable second electrical contact on said outer ring;
• an electrically-conductive dynamic contact element, substantially extending at least between said first electrical contact and said second electrical contact;
• a suitable motor suitably operatively connected to at least one of said inner ring, said outer ring and said contact element such as to provide relative rotational motion between said contact element and at least one of said inner ring and said outer ring;
• whereby when said motor provides suitable relative rotational motion between said contact element and at least one of said inner ring and said outer ring, the said dynamic element is brought alternately to a position providing electrical contact between said first contact and said second contact and to a position in which said first contact and said second contact are electrically disconnected.

A third switch for electrically connecting between a first electrical conductor and a plurality of electrical output conductors comprising:

• a base;
• a plurality of suitable bimetallic strips, each said bimetallic strip being suitably attached at a first end thereof to said base, said bimetallic strips being reversibly deformable from a first configuration to a second configuration in response to at least a predetermined change in temperature of said bimetallic strip, such that the second end of each said bimetallic strip is correspondingly displaced from a first position to a second position, respectively;
• a first electrical conductor electrically connected at least to each said first ends of said bimetallic strips;
• a second electrical conductor spaced from said base, said second end of each said bimetallic strip being substantially free to reciprocate between said first position and said second position, respectively capable of establishing and breaking electrical contact between said bimetallic strip and said second electrical conductor;
• said first electrical conductor and said second electrical conductor being operatively connectable to a suitable electrical power source;
• said bimetallic strips being electrically heatable to at least to said predetermined change in temperature when said second ends thereof are in electrical contact with said second conductor;
• a plurality of electrical output conductors, wherein each said output conductor is suitably disposed with respect to said second end of a corresponding said bimetallic strip such that said output conductor may be brought into common electrical contact with said corresponding bimetallic strip and said second conductor only when said corresponding bimetallic strip is in electrical contact with said second conductor;
• characterised in that the heating and/or cooling rates of at least one of the said plurality of bimetallic strips may be different from the heating and/or cooling rates, respectively, of at least one other bimetallic strip, wherein said difference in heating and/or cooling rates enables at least one said output conductor to be electrically connected to a corresponding bimetallic strip and said second conductor while at least another said output conductor is concurrently electrically disconnected from its corresponding bimetallic strip and said electrical conductor.

A fourth switch for electrically connecting between a first electrical conductor and a plurality of electrical output conductors comprising:

• a base;
• a plurality of suitable piezoelectric elements, each said piezoelectric element being suitably attached at a first end thereof to said base, each said piezoelectric element being vibratory between a first amplitude and a second amplitude in response to the supply of a suitable electrical current and/or voltage to said piezoelectric element, such that the second end of each said piezoelectric elements is correspondingly displaced from a first position to a second position, respectively;
• a first electrical conductor electrically connected at least to each said first ends of said piezoelectric elements;
• a second electrical conductor spaced from said base, said second end of each said piezoelectric elements being substantially free to reciprocate between said first position and said second position, respectively capable of establishing and breaking electrical contact between said piezoelectric elements and said second electrical conductor;
• said first electrical conductor and said second electrical conductor being operatively connectable to a suitable electrical power source;
• said piezoelectric elements being vibratory when said second ends thereof are in electrical contact with said second conductor;
• a plurality of electrical output conductors, wherein each said output conductor is suitably disposed with respect to said second end of a corresponding said piezoelectric element such that said output conductor may be brought into common electrical contact with said corresponding piezoelectric element and said second conductor only when said corresponding piezoelectric element is in electrical contact with said second conductor;
• characterised in that the phase of vibration of at least one of the said plurality of piezoelectric elements may be different from the phase of vibration of at least one other piezoelectric element, wherein said phase difference enables at least one said output conductor to be electrically connected to a corresponding piezoelectric element and said second conductor while at least another said output conductor is concurrently electrically disconnected from its corresponding piezoelectric element and said electrical conductor.