Display device for providing graticules of various configurations

Claim 2

A display device for providing a changeable graticule superimposed upon a visible image, comprising: a. means for displaying a visual image to the view of an observer; b. means for providing a graticule superimposed on said visual image and visible to an observer, said means including i. an array of transparent electrode pairs and ii. a liquid crystal material between said electrode pairs, and c. connection means for electrically energizing selected ones of said electrode pairs.

Claim 3

A display device for providing a changeable graticule superimposed upon a visible image, comprising: a. means for providing an image; b. a hermetically sealed envelope disposed at said means, said envelope including two oppositely disposed transparent plates of electrically insulating material and being disposed such that provided images are viewable through said plates; c. a plurality of electrode groups disposed at the interior surface of a first one of said plates, each one of said electrode groups being comprised of at least one transparent electrode and all of said electrodes of each one of said electrode groups being electrically interconnected, each one of said electrode groups having substantially the same configuration as one of the desired said graticules and being electrically insulated from the other ones of said electrode groups; d. a transparent electrode structure disposed at the interior surface of the second of said plates, said electrode structure containing areas substantially coextensive with and in substantial registry with each one of said electrode groups; e. a liquid crystal material contained by said envelope, said liquid crystal material having a nematic mesomorphic phase and being in physical contact with said electrode groups and said electrode structure, said liquid crystal material being transparent in an electrically unactivated condition and scattering incident light in an electrically activated condition; and f. energizing means for applying voltage to said electrode groups and said electrode structure.

Claim 4

A display device for providing a changeable graticule superimposed upon a visible image, comprising: a. means for providing an image; b. a hermetically sealed envelope disposed at said means, said envelope including two oppositely disposed transparent plates of electrically insulating material and being disposed such that provided images are viewable through said plates; c. a plurality of electrode groups disposed at the interior surface of a first one of said plates, each one of said electrode groups being comprised of at least one transparent electrode and all of said electrodes of each one of said electrode groups being electrically interconnected, each one of said electrode groups having substantially the same configuration as one of the desired said graticules and being electrically insulated from the other ones of said electrode groups; d. a transparent electrode structure disposed at the interior surface of the second of said plates, said electrode structure containing areas substantially coextensive with and in substantial registry with each one of said electrode groups; e. a liquid crystal material contained by said envelope, said liquid crystal material having a nematic mesomorphic phase and being in physical contact with said electrode groups and said electrode structure, said liquid crystal material being transparent in an electrically unactivated condition and scattering incident light in an electrically activated condition; and f. energizing means for applying voltage to said electrode groups and said electrode structure.

Claim 5

The display device defined in claim 2 wherein a first one of said electrode groups partially overlies another one of said electrode groups and is physically separate therefrom.

Claim 6

The display device defined in claim 3 wherein said first electrode group and said other electrode group are separated at their coincident areas by electrically insulating spacers.

Claim 7

The display device defined in claim 2 wherein each one of said electrode groups is completely disposed directly on said first plate.

Claim 8

The display device defined in claim 2 wherein said nematic liquid crystal material is selected from the group consisting of organic compounds classified as Schiff bases.

Claim 9

The display device defined in claim 6 wherein said organic compound is anisylidene para-aminophenylacetate.

Claim 10

The display device defined in claim 2 wherein said means for providing an image is a cathode ray tube.

Claim 11

The display device defined in claim 2 wherein means are provided thereto for heating said nematic liquid crystal material.

Claim 12

The display device defined in claim 2 wherein external illuminating means are provided thereto.