US 7,804,634 B2 · Fluidic multi color display

Abstract

The apparatus claimed by the invention uses as the display medium colors in the form of colored fluids which are transported by means of transport in a system of compartments within a fluidic chain, whereby they are visible from the direction of an observer only through a single one these compartments (image compartment). Depending on the position of the individual colored fluids, a different color impression is received by the observer. The invention thereby teaches the presence of a fluidic chain in a subpixel and the combination of a plurality of these subpixels in a pixel. The display claimed by the invention consists of a plurality of pixels. With the use of eight colors in connection with an optically created color mixing effect, a color space can be displayed which is sufficient at least for the display of the information typically used on advertising signs.

Claims22

Dependent claims

Apparatus for the display of color information (color display) using at least one individual pixel (1), the color of which is variable, in which

(a) the at least one pixel (10) consists of at least one subpixel (20), whereby the subpixel (20) comprises a fluidic chain in the form (i) of a plurality of compartments (21) for the separate storage of certain, specified colors (F) present in fluid form, between which (ii) these colored fluids (F) can be transported in channels (22), and in which (iii) the fluidic chain further comprises an image compartment (23) with an aperture (subpixel image aperture (24), through which exclusively the respective contents of the image compartment (23) is visible to an observer (B),
(b) the at least one pixel (10) comprises a pixel image aperture (11), through which essentially only the respective subpixel image aperture or apertures (24) is/are visible, and
whereby the apparatus also comprises means for the transport (12) of the colored fluids (F);
wherein one of the colors (F) red, green, blue or cyan, magenta, yellow, white and black is contained in each of the compartments (21) of the at least one subpixel (20).

1 more element

Method for the display of color information (color display) using

at least one individual pixel (10), the color of which can be varied, whereby the pixel (10) consists of at least one subpixel (20), and whereby the subpixel (20) comprises a fluidic chain in the form of a plurality of compartments (21) for the separate storage of certain defined colors (F) that are present in the form of colored fluids, between which compartments these colored fluids (F) can be transported in channels (22), (22″), and whereby the fluidic chain of the respective subpixel (20) also comprises a fluid compartment (23) with an aperture (subpixel image aperture) (24), through which exclusively the current contents of the image compartment (23) are visible to an observer (B);
at least one pixel image aperture (11), through which essentially only the respective subpixel image aperture or apertures (24) is/are visible;
at least one means for the transport (12) of the colored fluids (F);
comprising the following steps:
Determination of the position of at least one of the colored fluids (F) in each subpixel (20);
Transport of the desired colored fluid (F) into the sub-pixel image aperture (24) by means for the transport (12) of the colored fluids (F).

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fluidic multi color display

Life of this patent

Fluidic multi color display

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22