GB1365911A - Information display devices - Google Patents

Abstract

1365911 Matrix displays UNIVERSAL TELEWRITERS (PTY) Ltd 14 April 1972 [14 April 1971] 9406/71 Heading G5C A display device comprises an opaque apertured sheet 2, a shutter 11, 16, mounted on a magnetic member 21 ... 26, associated each aperture 4, 5, 6 and a plurality of selectively energized magnetic field producing means which move each member and to shutter between two stable positions. Conductor loops 31, 32, 33, 41, 42 extend along each row and column of pivot axes of the magnets. A current pulse in any vertical loop produces a horizontal field which moves adjacent shutters unless they are held down by a vertical field produced by a horizontal loop. Alternatively a combined horizontal and vertical field may be required to move the shutters. The shutter and magnetic member may form a single component. The movement of the shutters is limited by stop members which may be permanent magnets to increase stability. In another embodiment the magnetic member is of soft iron. The two arms of the horizontal loops are in a vertical plane producing a field which magnetises the member which can then be moved by current in vertical loops. Alternatively the shutters are mounted in square apertures and comprise cylindrical members 70 with opaque and transparent areas. The cylinders are pivoted about their axes 72 and the mangetic members 73 are radially mounted. A spherical shutter may be mounted in a circular aperture.