The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 09, 1978
Filed:
Jun. 30, 1976
Kenneth S Sachar, White Plains, NY (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
A visual display panel wherein a beam of light is internally reflected within an elastomer film and guided across the panel, and an electric field is applied at selected areas of the elastomer film by applying a voltage between at least one pair of upper and lower conducting lines deposited in parallel rows on opposite sides of the elastomer film causing deformation of the elastomer film at the cross-over regions of the upper and lower lines and diversion of the light. More particularly, a source of light is provided at the edge of the elastomer film and directs the light into the elastomer film at an angle which permits complete internal reflection across the elastomer film, except at the locations where the film is deformed. The upper set of parallel conducting lines extend in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the lower set of parallel conducting lines on the other side of the elastomer film. The elastomer film is elastic, transparent and electrically insulating and may be several mils thick. The edge-lighted panel provides an inexpensive, low power, compact display with matrix addressable electrodes.