Patent ID: 6064784
Filing Date: 2000-05-16
Classification: G02B,G02F,Y10S

Abstract:
An image display device, comprising:(a) a plurality of generally parallel, longitudinally extending solid dielectric light fibres, each of said fibres having a first end, a second end and a side wall extending between said first and second ends;(b) an electrophoretic medium surrounding said fibre side walls, between said first and second ends;(c) a plurality of particles suspended in said medium;(d) a reflector positioned perpendicular to said fibre first ends;(e) means for applying a voltage across said medium to electrophoretically move said particles within about 0.25 micron of an interface between said medium and said fibre side walls to frustrate total internal reflection at said interface of light rays passing into said fibres through said fibre second ends;wherein:(i) said fibres are formed of a material having a first index of refraction;(ii) said electrophoretic medium has a second index of refraction; and,(iii) said first index of refraction is sufficiently larger than said second index of refraction that most of said light rays passing into said fibres undergo total internal reflection at said interface in the absence of said applied voltage.