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:
Apr. 13, 1993
Filed:
Jan. 31, 1991
Robert Parker, Alamo, CA (US);
Stephen Phillips, Walnut Creek, CA (US);
Crystal Images, Inc., Boca Raton, FL (US);
Abstract
A visual display dependent upon the use of thermochromic materials is formed as a thin structure on a substrate sheet with a vapor deposited conductive film heater applied thereto. The current is applied to the heater through parallel opposed buss bars so that the heater heats uniformly. A non-thermochromic image layer is mounted on the substrate, with one or more thermochromic image layers thereover. One thermochromic image layer covers a first portion of a visible display area of the substrate, while a second thermochromic layer covers a second portion of the visible display area, with the first and second portions overlapping slightly along contiguous edges thereof. As the display is heated and cooled, the thermochromic materials of the thermochromic image layers reach their respective transition temperatures to change state from opaque to colorless or vice-versa, or from one color to another. The visual display is mounted within an enclosure to protect the display from environmental interference and thereby insure the desired control of heating of the display, as well as cooling thereof.