Display element

A display element for display of a visible image, said element comprising a light-transmissive liquid layer and a heat generating element disposed behind said liquid layer to produce bubbles in said liquid layer in accordance with selective heating of different portions of said heat generating element;

• wherein the contrast between the image and non-image sections of the display element is based on the difference between light reflected from points behind each bubble and from points behind light-transmissive liquid.

A display device for display of a visible image, said device comprising a display element consisting essentially of a non-light-transmissive liquid layer and a heat generating element disposed behind said liquid layer to produce bubbles in said liquid layer in accordance with selective heating of different portions of said heat generating element and a liquid circulation conduit communicatively connected with said liquid;

• wherein the contrast between the image and non-image sections of the display element is based on the difference between the light reflected from behind said liquid layer and the light reflected from said liquid layer.

A display device for display of a visible image, said device comprising a display element consisting essentially of a light-transmissive liquid layer and a heat generating element disposed behind said liquid layer to produce bubbles in said liquid layer in accordance with selective heating of different portions of said heat generating element and a liquid circulation conduit communicatively connected with said liquid layer;

• wherein the contrast between the image and non-image sections of the display element is based on the difference between light reflected from points behind each bubble and from points behind light-transmissive liquid.

An image display method which comprises producing bubbles in a non-light transmissive liquid layer with a heating element disposed behind said liquid layer and forming a visible image utilizing said bubbles as picture elements such that the image contrast is based on the difference between the light reflected from behind said liquid layer and the light reflected from said liquid layer.

An image display method which comprises producing bubbles in a light-transmissive liquid layer with a heating element disposed behind said liquid layer and forming a visible image utilizing said bubbles as picture elements such that the image contrast is based on the difference between light reflected from points behind each bubble and from points behind light-transmissive liquid.