Title of Invention

DISPLAY FOR CREATING COLOUR IMAGES AND TEXTS RECOGNISABLE BY INCIDENT LIGHT

Abstract The invention relates to a display for creating coloured images and text that is visible in incident light. The screen of said display is composed of numerous pixels (1) that are arranged in a grid pattern, each pixel (1) having at least three coloured mirrors (3, 3', 3), arranged next to one another or behind one another for the colours red, green and blue or cyan, magenta and yellow. Said mirrors are configured from flat, transparent containers, whose interiors are connected to colour reservoirs so that the contents of the latter can be displaced by control electronics in such a way that transparent coloured liquid is transported from the colour reservoirs to the coloured mirrors or vice versa. To optically highlight individual image sections, light-sources (6), which are assigned to a single pixel (1), are located behind the coloured mirrors (3) of the pixels (1), each individual source being electronically controlled. A white or silver reflective layer (5), which is partially transparent or transparent for periods of time, is positioned behind the coloured mirrors (3, 3', 3)
Full Text Description
Display for Creating Colour Images and Texts Recognisable by Incident Light
Technical Field
[001] The invention pertains to a display for creating colour images and texts
recognisable by incident light, in which the image area consists of numerous
electronically controllable pixels in a raster-like arrangement and in which
each pixel has at least three colour levels arranged beside one another (side by
side) or behind one another (back to back) for the colours red, green, blue or
cyan, magenta, yellow that are formed by flat transparent containers and
whose inner chambers are connected to colour reservoirs whose content can be
moved by electronic control in such a way that transparent colour fluids is fed
from the colour reservoirs into the colour levels or from the colour levels into
the colour reservoirs.
[002] Displays of this type are known from US 6,037,955, US 6,747,777 and EP 1
090 384. With these displays illuminated from outside by sunlight, daylight or
lamps there is also the desire - depending on location and time of day to
illuminated the image formed by the pixels also from the back. Therefore, in
EP 1 090 384 it is already suggested that one or more light sources be arranged
behind the colour levels made of transparent material and in front of the colour
reservoirs, so that the image formed by the pixels is also visible in darkness.
Disclosure of the invention
[003] It is the task of this invention to create a colour display, in which there is the
possibility, with incident light particularly daylight, to optically highlight
and/or colour-wise alter parts of the image formed by the controlled pixels.
[004] This task is fulfilled according to the invention, in that light sources are
arranged behind the colour levels of the pixels, each of the light sources being
allocated to one pixel and being individually electronically controllable.
[005] With the help of these light sources parts of the image illuminated by daylight
can be optically highlighted or altered in their colours. The colour mixing can

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take place as in a colour TV by additive mixing of the three basic colours
red, green blue, or as in the case of colour photography ■-■ by subtractive
mixing of the colours yellow, magenta, and cyan.
[006] The light sources allocated to the pixels could especially be white light
emitting diodes.
[007] The light sources could however also consist of plane illuminating bodies that
illuminate a larger number of pixels from the back and of masks arranged
between the illuminating bodies and the colour levels of the pixels, which can
be controlled for each pixel in such a way that the light passage through the
mask is open for each pixel or more or less closed.
[008] For backlighting of a larger pixel field, particularly illuminating device as
known in flat screens arc suitable, which consist of a rectangular or quadratic
light-conducting illuminating surface covering the pixel field and light
emitting diodes (LEDs) or cathode ray tubes arranged on the side edges of the
illuminating surface.
1009] The masks can be formed by polarisation filters, whose light passage can be
controlled for each pixel with the help of electronic fields. Two polarisation
filters can be arranged and controlled in such a way that they block passage of
all planes of polarisation of the light. The polarisation filters are foil-type and
can be placed directly on the illuminating surface.
[010] So that the colour levels can give an as brilliant image as possible with
incident daylight, a white or silvery but non-reflective reflection layer, that is
partially or temporarily light-permeable, is arranged behind the layer of the
colour level. The reflection layer can be formed by a milky-turbid glass
surface or plastic foil, or by a glass pane or plastic foil that is provided with a
mat, white or silvery structure.
[011] For improving the reflection of incident light and for improving the light-
permeability of the backlighting a reflection layer is suggested that contains

leaf-shaped white or silvery pigments, and the pigments can be aligned
parallel to the layer plane or perpendicular to it by means of an electrical or
magnetic field. The swimming leaf-shaped pigments distributed uniformly in a
fluid form a good reflection layer when they are aligned parallel to the layer
plane, and this layer is largely light-permeable when the leaf structure of the
pigments extends perpendicular to the reflection plane.
[012] However, the reflection layer can also be formed from one flat container made
of transparent material that is filled with a white or silvery colour, when this
layer is not supposed to reflect, and is filled with a clear transparent fluid when
it is supposed to be light-permeable.
[013] The flat containers filled with white or silvery colour fluid or with colourless
fluid can be arranged behind a pixel field or even as fourth colour level for
each pixel. In both cases, the display can be switched over from day operation
to night operation by changing the white or silvery reflection layer to a light-
permeable layer allowing backlighting.
Brief description of drawings
[014] In the following description design embodiments of the invention are
explained in more details on the basis of drawings.
[015] Fig. 1 shows a sectional view of a portion of the display according to the
invention.
[016] Fig. 2 shows a top view on eight pixels of the display shown in Fig. 1.
[017] Fig. 3 shows a sectional view of a pixel field with flat backlighting.
[018] Each pixel 1 of the display has three colour level layers 2, 2', 2" with an
upper colour level 3, a central colour level 3' and a rear colour level 3". The
colour levels 3, 3', 3" are flat containers made of transparent material that are
connected to colour reservoirs through channels 8, 8', 8" and 9, 9\ 9".

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Transparent colour fluids of the colours CYAN, MAGENTA and YELLOW
(CMY) or RED, GREEN, BLUE (RGB) can be moved out of the colour
reservoirs into the colour levels 3, 3\ 3" and back into the colour reservoirs.
The colour fluid can be moved back and forth against an air cushion, or it can
be moved along with a non-mixable colourless fluid in a closed loop or back
and forth. If the colour levels 3, 3', 3", the channels 8, 8', 8" and 9, 9', 9" as
well as the corresponding colour reservoir are partly filled with a colour fluid
and partly with a colourless fluid that is non-mixable with the colour fluid, and
transportation of the colour fluid and the colourless fluid takes place in the
known method by means of electro-wetting (US 6,037,955) or by means of
another micro-pump, then the colour fluids can be fed to the colour levels 3,
3', 3" through the channels 8, 8', 8" and simultaneously the colourless fluid
can be drained from the colour levels 3, 3', 3" through the channels 9, 9'. 9" or
vice-versa. Behind the colour levels 3, 3', 3" of each pixel 1 a light source 6 is
arranged, in particular a white emitting LED. This light source can be
switched on and off independent of the other light sources 6 and, if required,
can also be controlled in light intensity. These light sources are fixed on a
carrier plate 7.
[019] Behind the colour levels and in front of the light sources 6 there is a light-
permeating white or silvery reflection layer 5, which can be formed by a
plastic foil or a thin glass pane and whose light-permeability is at least 40%.
[020] According to Fig. 3 the reflection layer can also be formed by a flat container
5', in which leaf-shaped silvery pigments swim in a fluid, which can be
aligned parallel to the layer or perpendicular to it.
[021] This flat container 5' covering one pixel field can however also be connected
to a system that is filled with two fluids that cannot be mixed with one
another. One fluid is a white or silvery colour fluid and the other fluid is
colourless fluid or a colourless gas. With the help of electro-wetting or a
micro-pump the fluids can be moved in such a way that the transparent flat
container is filled only with white or silvery colour, or only with the colourless
clear transparent fluid, depending on whether this layer is supposed to reflect

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the incident light or is supposed to allow the back-illuminating light to pass
through.
[022] The colour reservoirs (not shown) are arranged behind the reflection layer, so
that the colour fluids can be moved out of the visible range of the person
observing the display.
[023] In Fig. 3 the light sources allocated to the pixels consist of a plane illuminating
device that consists of a light-conducting luminous surface 12, on whose side
edges cathode ray tubes 13 or light emitting diodes are arranged, and two
polarisation filters 14, 15 serving as masks.
[024] The size of the pixels 1 is dependent on the size of the display and the distance
of the observer from this display and lies in the range of 0.5 mm2 to 16 mm2,
that in case of a quadratic pixel conforms to a pixel width of 0.7 to 4 mm.
[025] The channels 8, 9; 8", 9' and 8", 9" leading from the colour reservoirs behind
the reflection layer to the colour levels 3, 3', 3" are worked into the webs 10
that separate the pixels 1 or their colour levels 3, 3', 3" from one another and
that rest with their surface against under face of the cover layer 4 as well as lie
against the front and middle colour level layer 2 and T and are tightly welded
or affixed on to them.
[026] List of reference signs:
1 Pixel
2 first colour level layer
2' second colour level layer
2" third colour level layer
3 front colour level
3' middle colour level
3" rear colour level
4 cover layer
5 reflection layer

6
6 light source LED
7 carrier plate

8 channel
8' channel
8" channel
9 channel
9' channel
9" channel

10 web
11 plane illuminating device
12 Luminous surface
13 cathode ray tubes
14 first polarisation filter
15 second polarisation filter

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Claims
[001] Display for creating colour images and texts recognisable by incident light, in
which the image area consists of numerous electronically controllable pixels
(1) in a raster-like arrangement and in which each pixel (1) has at least three
colour levels (3, 3", 3") arranged beside one another or behind one another for
the colours red, green, blue or cyan, magenta, yellow that are formed by flat
transparent containers and whose inner chambers are connected via channels
(8. 9) to colour reservoirs whose content can be moved by electronic control in
such a way that transparent colour fluids is fed from the colour reservoirs into
the colour levels or from the colour levels into the colour reservoirs,
characterized in that
light sources (6) are arranged behind the colour levels (3) of the pixels (1),
each of the light sources (6) being allocated to one pixel (1) and being
individually electronically controllable.
[002] Display according to claim 1
characterized in that
the controllable light sources (6) are in particular white emitting light emitting
diodes (LED).
[003] Display according to claim 1
characterized in that
the light sources controllable for each pixel consist of at least one plane
illuminating device back-illuminating a larger group of pixels (1) and a mask
arranged between the illuminating devices and the colour levels of the pixels
(1), which can be controlled for each pixel (1) in such a way that the light
passage through the masks is open or more or less shut.
[0041 Display according to claim 3
characterized in that
the masks are formed by polarisation filters, whose light passage or filter
effect can be controlled by means of electric fields for each pixel (1).
[005] Display according to one of the claims 1 to 4
characterized in that
behind the colour levels (3, 3', 3") a white or silvery reflection layer is
arranged that is partly or temporarily light-permeable.

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1006] Display according to claim 5
characterized in that
the reflection layer (5) is formed by plastic foil or thin glass pane provided
with a light-permeable, mat white or silvery layer.
[007] Display according to one of the claims 1 to 4
characterized in that
a layer with silvery or white leaf-shaped pigments is arranged behind the
colour levels (3, 3', 3") and in front of the light sources (6), wherein by means
of an electrical or magnetic field, the pigments can be aligned parallel to the
display plane and thus form a reflection layer or the pigments can be aligned
perpendicular to the display plane and thus form a light-permeating layer.
[008] Display according to one of the claims 1 to 4
characterized in that
between the light sources (6) and the colour levels (3, 3', 3") a reflection layer
(5') is arranged, which is formed by a flat container made of transparent
material that can be filled with a white or silvery colour when the layer is
supposed to reflect the light, and with a clear transparent fluid when the layer
is supposed to be light-permeable.
[009] Display according to one of the claims 1 to 4
characterized in that
behind the three colour levels (3. 3', 3") and in front of the light source (6) of a
pixel a fourth colour level is fixed, which can be filled with an opaque white
or silvery colour or with a clear transparent medium.

The invention relates to a display for creating coloured images and text that is
visible in incident light. The screen of said display is composed of numerous
pixels (1) that are arranged in a grid pattern, each pixel (1) having at least three
coloured mirrors (3, 3', 3), arranged next to one another or behind one another
for the colours red, green and blue or cyan, magenta and yellow. Said mirrors
are configured from flat, transparent containers, whose interiors are connected
to colour reservoirs so that the contents of the latter can be displaced by control
electronics in such a way that transparent coloured liquid is transported from
the colour reservoirs to the coloured mirrors or vice versa. To optically highlight
individual image sections, light-sources (6), which are assigned to a single pixel
(1), are located behind the coloured mirrors (3) of the pixels (1), each individual
source being electronically controlled. A white or silver reflective layer (5), which
is partially transparent or transparent for periods of time, is positioned behind
the coloured mirrors (3, 3', 3)

Documents:

02953-kolnp-2007-abstract.pdf

02953-kolnp-2007-claims.pdf

02953-kolnp-2007-correspondence others.pdf

02953-kolnp-2007-description complete.pdf

02953-kolnp-2007-drawings.pdf

02953-kolnp-2007-form 1.pdf

02953-kolnp-2007-form 2.pdf

02953-kolnp-2007-form 3.pdf

02953-kolnp-2007-form 5.pdf

02953-kolnp-2007-international publication.pdf

02953-kolnp-2007-international search report.pdf

02953-kolnp-2007-priority document.pdf

2953-KOLNP-2007-(05-02-2014)-ABSTRACT.pdf

2953-KOLNP-2007-(05-02-2014)-AMANDED PAGES OF SPECIFICATION.pdf

2953-KOLNP-2007-(05-02-2014)-CLAIMS.pdf

2953-KOLNP-2007-(05-02-2014)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

2953-KOLNP-2007-(05-02-2014)-DESCRIPTION (COMPLETE).pdf

2953-KOLNP-2007-(05-02-2014)-DRAWINGS.pdf

2953-KOLNP-2007-(05-02-2014)-FORM-1.pdf

2953-KOLNP-2007-(05-02-2014)-FORM-2.pdf

2953-KOLNP-2007-(05-02-2014)-FORM-3.pdf

2953-KOLNP-2007-(05-02-2014)-FORM-5.pdf

2953-KOLNP-2007-(05-02-2014)-OTHERS.pdf

2953-KOLNP-2007-(05-02-2014)-PETITION UNDER RULE 137.pdf

2953-KOLNP-2007-(17-02-2014)-ANNEXURE TO FORM 3.pdf

2953-KOLNP-2007-(17-02-2014)-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

2953-KOLNP-2007-CORRESPONDENCE OTHERS 1.1.pdf

2953-KOLNP-2007-PA.pdf

abstract-02953-kolnp-2007.jpg


Patent Number 263117
Indian Patent Application Number 2953/KOLNP/2007
PG Journal Number 41/2014
Publication Date 10-Oct-2014
Grant Date 08-Oct-2014
Date of Filing 13-Aug-2007
Name of Patentee ASPRE AG
Applicant Address WEISSBADSTRASSE 14, CH-9050 APPENZELL
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 SACHER, FRIEDRICH-JOSEF HOCHFELDSTRASSE 35 53842 TROISDORF
PCT International Classification Number G09F 13/24,G09F 9/37
PCT International Application Number PCT/EP2006/050933
PCT International Filing date 2006-02-14
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 10 2005 007 191.0 2005-02-16 Germany
2 10 2005 008 834.1 2005-02-26 Germany