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US 7,071,686 B1Granted
Magnetic liquid crystal display
AssigneeMLHO, Inc.
InventorAlan Alexander Burns
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A magneto-optical liquid crystal display responds to the direction of a provided magnetic field. Display alternatives include a compass-like dial indication of direction, numeric values, and complex pixilated images. By providing a variable magnetic field, the display may be used as a non-contact remote analog gauge or digital indicator.
Claims17
A method for displaying a magnetic field direction comprising:
- a. providing a magnetic field having a particular direction;
- b. locating a magneto-optical cell within the provided magnetic field;
- c. providing a source of light for transmission through the magneto-optical cell;
- d. measuring light transmission properties of the magneto-optical cell in relation to changes in the direction the provided magnetic field relative to the orientation of the magneto-optical cell.
1 more element
A method or displaying a magnetic field direction comprising:
- a. providing a magnetic field having a particular direction;
- b. locating a magneto-optical cell containing a magneto-optical material within the provided magnetic field;
- c. providing a source of light for transmission through the magneto-optical cell;
- d. measuring light transmission properties of the magneto-optical cell in relation to changes in the direction the provided magnetic field relative to the orientation of the magneto-optical cell;
- e. polarizing light entering the magneto-optical material in a first direction with a first polarizer;
- and
- f. polarizing light transmitted by the magneto-optical material in a second direction with a second polarizer, wherein light transmitted by the second polarizer provides an observable bright field.
4 more elements
A method for displaying a magnetic field direction comprising:
- a. providing a magnetic field having a particular direction;
- b. locating a magneto-optical cell containing a magneto-optical material within the provided magnetic field;
- c. providing a source of light for transmission through the magneto-optical cell;
- d. measuring light transmission properties of the magneto-optical cell in relation to changes in the direction the provided magnetic field relative to the orientation of the magneto-optical cell;
- e. polarizing light entering the magneto-optical material in a first direction with a first polarizer;
- and
- f. reflecting light transmitted by the magneto-optical material back through the magneto-optical material and first polarizer wherein reflected light transmitted provides an observable bright field.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.