Display system utilizing a selectively deformable light-reflecting element

Abstract

Abstract A LARGE SCALE DISPLAY SYSTEM UTILIZING A DEFORMABLE METAL FILM LIGHT-REFLECTING SURFACE OR LIGHT VALVE IS DISCLOSED. A LIGHT VALVE IS ASSEMBLED CONSISTING OF A VERY THIN METAL FILM MOUNTED ON A SUPPORT GRID. AN AREA OF DIELECTRIC MATERIAL IS PLACED ON THE LOWER SURFACE OF THE FILM WITHIN EACH GRID OPENING. THIS ASSEMBLY IS PLACED IN A CATHODE RAY TUBE SO THAT AN ELECTRON BEAM MAY BE CAUSED TO IMPINGE UPON THE DIELECTRIC AREAS. IN ONE EMBODIMENT, A CONVENTIONAL OPTICAL SYSTEM IS USED TO DIRECT COLLIMATED LIGHT AGAINST THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE METAL FILM. LIGHT REFLECTED FROM DISTORTED PORTIONS OF THE METAL FILM IS TRANSMITTED TO A DISPLAY SCREEN, WHILE LIGHT REFLECTED FROM UNDISTORTED PORTIONS OF THE METAL FILM DOES NOT REACH THE SCREEN. WHEN THE ELECTRON BEAM IMPINGES UPON THE DIELECTRIC AREAS, THE AREAS ARE ATTRACTED BY ELECTROSTATC ATTRACTION FORCES TOWARD THE ADJACENT GRID MEMBERS. THIS CAUSES SUFACE DISTORTIONS OR DMPLES IN THE METAL FILM. A SPOT OF LIGHT APPEARS ON THE DISPLAY SCREEN AT LOCATIONS CORRESPONDING TO THE DIMPLE LOCATIONS. WHERE THE DIELECTRIC AREAS ARE VERY SMALL AND CLOSELY SPACED, AN IMAGE CORRESPONDING TO THE AREAS SCANNED BY THE ELECTRON BEAM WILL APPEAR TO THE DISPLAY SCREEN.

Inventors

• 👤 Edmund H Rottmiller

Bibliographic Details