Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Plural physical display element control system – Physically movable array
Reexamination Certificate
2000-11-24
2003-10-21
Shalwala, Bipin (Department: 2673)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Plural physical display element control system
Physically movable array
C345S107000, C345S055000, C345S111000, C347S055000, C347S112000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06636186
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image display medium, device, and method, and more particularly to an image display medium, device and method using movable particles.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, display technologies such as Twisting Ball Display (rotational display by particles colored separately into two colors), or using electrophoresis, magnetophoresis, thermal rewritable medium, liquid crystals having a memory function and the like have been proposed for a sheet-like image display medium which is repeatedly rewritable. Among the above described display technologies, although thermally rewritable mediums and liquid crystals having memory functions where excellent memory functions for images, display surface color cannot be made as that of white as white paper. Thus, it is difficult to visually discern confirm a distinctions between image parts and non-image parts when certain images are displayed, that is, there has been a problem of poor image quality. Other display technologies using electrophoresis or magnetophoresis are those which, and colored particles having are memory function for image dispersed in a white liquid. Thus, the display technologies using electrophoresis or magnetophoresis are excellent for displaying white colors. However, there has been a problem of poor image quality, since the white liquid enters between colored particles, resulting in black color image parts appearing grayish. Moreover, since white liquid is enclosed inside an image display medium, there is a possibility that the white liquid will leak from the image display medium, if the image display medium is removed from an image display unit and handled roughly, like a paper. Another technology, Twisting Ball Display has memory functions, uses oil. The oil exists substantially in a solid state only in cavities around particles inside an image display medium. Thus it is comparatively easy to construct the image display medium in the form of a sheet. However, even if each hemispherical surface of the particles has been coated in white and perfectly aligned at a side of the display, light entering between the spherical the particles is not reflected and lost inside the display. Thus, in principle, a white display having a coverage of 100% cannot be achieved, resulting in a slightly grayish appearance when the color should be white. Further, since particle size is required to be smaller than pixel size for obtaining high resolution, particles coated with different colors thereon must be made smaller. Hence an advanced manufacturing technique is required.
In order to solve the problems as described above, there has been proposed a similar display technology using toner. Colored conductive toner particles and white particles are enclosed between opposed electrode substrates. When the colored conductive toner particles are charged by contact with the electrode substrates, the charged colored toner particles move toward the substrate at the side of the display surface through non-charged white particles due to an electric field established between the electrode substrates. The colored toner particles are deposited on the inside of the substrate at the display surface side, whereby an image is displayed using difference in contrast between the colored toner particles and white particles. The present display technology is advantageous in that where a whole image display medium is composed of solid materials, the display can be switched between black and white colors with a coverage of 100% from each other, in principle. Furthermore, a technology for displaying a color image by using a laminated display medium in which colored particles forming a chain structure via a electric field are dispersed in an electrically insulating solvent has been disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 101409/1996. By using the technology described above, representing with three colors is possible, but leakage cannot be avoided as there is liquid enclosed in the display medium. In addition, if this technology is used, power must be constantly applied to the display medium for effecting light transmission, which results in poor memory function.
According to the display technology using toner particles, a displayed image can be stored without any power being applied. Moreover, the display medium is easily handled and manufactured, so that there are additional advantages relative to the technology using electrophoresis. However, an image is displayed with two colors by moving a single kind of charged colored particles via an electric field, and hence the image cannot, in principle be display with three or more colors in a single display cell.
Furthermore, in a display unit using toner particles, even when it is intended to use a technology displaying multiple colors in combination with laminated cells, which cells can represent colors different from each other, toner particles having different colors exist on the side of a substrate surface opposed to the display surface, therefore, it is difficult to display a color in a lower layer by transmission through an upper layer having another color. Generally, in a laminated-type display panel, since lamina of each layer is for each different color of the display, a sense of disorientation or vertigo can arise when multiple colors are displayed. Thus, as much as possible, it is preferred that such multiple colors be displayed on a single surface.
In another color display technology, cells each having a different color are arranged adjacent to each other. In this respect, however, there is an inverse relationship between the number of cells that can be combined into a single pixel, and the number of colors that can be displayed, resulting in a limited resolution. Accordingly, it is desirable to display as many colors as possible in a single cell.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in view of the background described above, so that an object of the present invention is to provide an image display unit, an image display medium, and an image display controller, wherein a plurality of colors are allowed to develop selectively with groups of particles enclosed in a space defined between a pair of substrates.
In order to attain the above object, an image display medium comprises a pair of substrates, with one or more of the substrates being at least translucent or substantially transparent, and space defined between them with at least one of a gas disposed in the space, or a partial vacuum formed in the space; and a plurality of types of particle groups enclosed in the space defined between said pair of the substrates, each particle type having a charge of a polarity identical in polarity to all of the other types of particle groups, and the types of particle groups having an adhesiveness with respect to the substrates different from one another.
Preferably, at least one of the pair of the substrates is substantially transparent, with gas enclosed in the space defined between the pair of the substrates, or a partial vacuum formed in the space, or some combination thereof.
The plurality of types of particle groups are enclosed in the space defined between the pair of the substrates. The plurality types of particle groups have different colors from one another, with each type having a charge of a polarity identical to all of the other types of partical groups, and an adhesiveness with respect to the substrates which is allowed to differ from one another. An image display medium comprises the pair of the substrates and the plurality of types of particle groups.
An electric field generator is connected to the substrates for applying an electric field having an intensity according to the average charge amount of a type of particle group for transffering that type of particle group to one of the substrates for displaying a particular color.
In the meantime, the adhesiveness of the particle groups with respect to the substrates indicates the degree of difficulty in separating respective p
Horiuchi Kazunaga
Matsunaga Takeshi
Nakayama Nobuyuki
Oba Shota
Sakamaki Motohiko
Dharia Prabodh
Fuji Xerox Co. Ltd
Shalwala Bipin
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