Flat electro optic display panel and method of using same

摘要

A flat PLZT plate is utilized to form erasable images thereon which images may be projected or viewed directly. One embodiment includes electrically conductive islands on one side of the PLZT plate which are surrounded by and electrically isolated from an electrically conductive grid pattern. The portion of the PLZT plate located between an island and the surrounding portion of the grid pattern constitutes a pixel or image forming element. By grounding the grid pattern and applying an electrical charge to selected ones of the islands, an image can be formed on the PLZT plate which can be viewed directly or projected by means of polarized light. In order to form the erasable images on the PLZT plate by optical means, the grid pattern and islands are coated with a layer of photoconductive material upon which a layer of a transparent conductor is coated. By applying a potential to the transparent conductor and exposing the coated PLZT plate to an optical image, those islands subjected to the light radiation receive an electrical charge thereby forming a birefringence image in the PLZT plate.