Patent ID: 8154485

Claim:
A display element comprising: a) a conductive layer; b) a dielectric layer provided over the conductive layer; c) a porous material layer provided over the dielectric layer and spaced from the conductive layer, the porous material layer including a plurality of conductive particles covered with a lyophobic and electrically insulating covering; d) a discrete drop of a conductive liquid provided over the porous material layer, but substantially not in the porous layer; e) an electrode provided over the porous material layer such that the electrode is in contact with and contains the drop of conductive liquid; and f) wherein the conductive liquid reversibly moves into the porous material layer upon application of a voltage between the conductive layer and the electrode, and wherein the conductive liquid moves back out of the porous material layer upon removal of the voltage, the movement of the liquid effecting an optical change when viewed from above the porous material layer.