Electromagnetic-wave modulating, movable electrode, capacitor elements

A display pixel capable of displaying a selected one of at least three visually distinct color states, each said color state being selected from chromatic and achromatic colors, said display pixel having a plurality of light-modulating capacitive elements each said light-modulating capacitive element comprising:

• a) a laminar translucent dielectric member having opposed first and second surfaces;
• b) a fixed electrode engaged with said first dielectric member surface;
• and
• c) a movable light-modulating electrode having a conductive electrode surface to contact said second dielectric member surface;
• wherein each said movable light-modulating eletrode is selectively movable into engagement with said second surface of said dielectric member in response to a potential difference between said movable electrode and said respective fixed electrode and is retracted in the absence of said potential difference, each said element being adapted to modulate light striking said element and wherein each said light-modulating capacitive element further comprises:
• d) a further light-modulating element cooperative with said movable light-modulating element and capable of modulating light transmitted through said dielectric member;
• each said light-modulating capacitive element displaying one of said visually distinct states.

A generally flat, electronically driven, full-color moving video screen comprising a matrix of reflective display pixels, each said display pixel being capable of displaying a selected one of at least three visually distinct color states, each said color state being selected from chromatic and achromatic colors, said display pixel having a plurality of light-modulating capacitive elements each said light-modulating capacitive element comprising:

• a) a laminar translucent dielectric member having opposed first and second surfaces;
• b) a fixed electrode engaged with said first dielectric member surface;
• and
• c) a movable light-modulating electrode having a conductive electrode surface to contact said second dielectric member surface;
• wherein each said movable light-modulating eletrode is selectively movable into engagement with said second surface of said dielectric member in response to a potential difference between said movable electrode and said respective fixed electrode and is retracted in the absence of said potential difference, each said element being adapted to modulate light striking said element and wherein each said light-modulating capacitive element further comprises:
• d) a further light-modulating element cooperative with said movable light-modulating element and capable of modulating light transmitted through said dielectric member;
• each said light-modulating capacitive element displaying one of said visually distinct states.

A generally flat, electronically driven, monochrome moving video screen comprising a matrix of reflective display pixels, each said pixel comprising:

• i) a reflectance-controlled pixel area extending across a light path to a viewer;
• ii) a light-modulating capacitor comprising:
• a) a transparent dielectric member having opposed faces and extending across and throughout said pixel area;
• b) a transparent electrode extending across one face of said dielectric member throughout said display area, said transparent electrode having a light transmissivity of at least 80 percent and a conductivity expressed as a resistivity of not more than 100 ohms per square;
• c) an active, light-modulating electrode movable to and from a position extending into said pixel area on the other face of said dielectric member said light-modulating electrode having a conductive electrode surface to contact said other face of said dielectric member;
• said active, light-modulating electrode being movable in response to changes in an electric potential difference applied between said active movable electrode and said transparent electrode to extend across said light path and modulate light traveling therealong;
• and
• iii) reflectance means extending across said light path in said pixel area on an opposite side of said light-modulating capacitor remote from said viewer said reflectance means being visually related to said light-modulating active movable electrode for reflectance control of said pixel area;
• wherein the appearance of said pixel area to said viewer can be selectively comprised by said light-modulating electrode in combination with said reflectance means, and wherein light reflected from said reflectance means traverses said transparent electrode two times, traveling therethrough on both an incident and a reflected path.

A low-cost, sensitive, reliable accelerometer for sensing acceleration and providing an electrical output, said accelerometer comprising a variable capacitance element having:

• a) a laminar dielectric member having opposed first and second surfaces;
• b) a control electrode engaged with said first dielectric member surface in activated condition of said capacitative element;
• and
• c) an active, movable, electrode having a conductor surface engageable with said second dielectric member surface in response to an activation potential difference applied between said electrodes;
• said accelerometer being disposed in a movable or moving system to sense acceleration of said system, and being coupled in electric circuit to provide a control output responsive to a sensed acceleration.

A variable capacitative element comprising:

• a) a laminar dielectric member having opposed first and second surfaces;
• b) a control electrode capacitatively engaged with said first dielectric member surface in activated condition of said capacitative element;
• and
• c) an active, movable, electrode, having a conductor surface capacitatively engageable with said second dielectric member surface in response to an activation potential difference applied between said electrodes;
• said active, movable electrode being selectively movable between an extended position for electromagnetic wave modulation and a retracted position and being formed of a flexible plastic material having a thin, metallized conductor surface, being said surface capacitatively engageable with said dielectric member, said active movable electrode being prestressed to adopt said retracted position in a relaxed state, and having a thickness not exceeding about 2 microns.

A method of manufacturing a video display matrixed from a plurality of light-modulating, capacitative pixels each having a light-modulating, movable active electrode, said method comprising:

• a) assembling a plurality of sheet-like layered materials into a laminated structure, said sheet-like layered materials including:
• i) a fixed electrode layer;
• ii) a dielectric layer capacitatively engaging said dielectric layer;
• and
• iii) an active, light-modulating, movable electrode layer having a plurality of adjacent, active electrodes each said active, movable electrode being prestressed to adopt a retracted, inactive configuration, said active movable electrodes being advanceable from said retracted position by application of a potential difference between said fixed electrode and said metallization;
• and:
• b) forming said active, light-modulating, movable electrode layer from a sheet of metallized plastic material supported on said laminated structure with said metallization toward said structure and said plastic material exposed outwardly, by:
• iv) cutting partial outlines of said movable electrodes in said metallized plastic sheet in a pattern providing a movable portion and a fixed portion of each said active, movable electrode, said cutting being only a partial incision along the cut outline, whereby the movable electrode portions of said sheet remains in place during said cutting step, and said cut outlines including a common outline between adjacent movable electrode portions,;
• and
• v) curing said laminated structure with said metallized plastic sheet bearing said cut electrode outlines exposed outwardly to be heated, in an oven to cause said plastic material in said movable electrode portions to shrink and break away along said outlines;
• whereby, on cooling, said movable electrodes adopt said retracted configuration.