Patent ID: 6497942
Filing Date: 2002-12-24
Classification: G02B,G09F,Y10T

Abstract:
A display particle comprising:a substantially cylindrical optically anisotropic particle comprised of two cylinder segments and at least one cylinder slice interposed therebetween, wherein each cylinder segment is joined by a substantially planar interface to one of the at least one cylinder slices, the substantially planar interface being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the particle; wherein the particle has an anisotropy for providing an electrical dipole moment, the electrical dipole moment rendering the particle electrically responsive such that when the particle is rotatably disposed in an electric field while the electrical dipole moment is provided, the particle tends to rotate to an orientation in which the electrical dipole moment aligns with the electric field, and wherein the rotatable disposition achievable for each particle is a rotatable disposition that facilitates rotation about the longitudinal axis of the particle.