Electrostatic device and terminal therefor

摘要

An electrostatic display device of electrically variable reflectivity has a fixed electrode with an insulated face and a conductive resilient sheet. One portion of the sheet is held against the insulated face so that when a voltage is applied between the fixed and the variable electrodes, the free end of the variable electrode is drawn to the insulated fixed electrode. An ancillary extension of the variable electrode is sandwiched and compressed between an elastomeric pad and a metal terminal to provide reliable electrical contact to the delicate variable electrode. The terminal is preferably one of an elongated and acutely curved contacting surface such as the surface of a small wire contacting the variable electrode at right angles to the direction of flexure when activated by appliction of voltage. Alternatively the terminal may consist of a plurality of elongated and convexly curved contacting surfaces, i.e. a corduroy-like metal surface. It is also preferred to include a thin layer of graphite particles compressed between the variable electrode and the terminal.