Abstract:
An electrostatically actuated character generating display panel is disclosed. The display panel embodies one or more flexible membrane sections disposed in a predetermined pattern in an electric field generated between a transparent window and a closely spaced parallel support substrate. By electrically charging the individual membrane sections, electrostatic forces are generated which displace the charged sections either to or away from the window. The space between the window and the substrate is filled with a contrasting colored, high dielectric opaque fluid which normally occludes the membrane sections when they are displaced towards the substrate. When the electrostatic forces displace the membrane sections against the window, the membrane displaces the opaque fluid and the contacting portion of the membrane section becomes visible through the window. Selectively charging individual membrane sections in the pattern, indicative of the character to be formed, selectively displaces the charged membrane sections against the window and the desired character is visually formed. Alternatively, a message imprinted upon a single segment can similarly be made to appear or disappear.