Coloured Fluid Display Device for High-Contrast Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing display devices for information, such as traffic signs and commercials, face challenges in low-light environments due to low contrast and visibility issues, particularly with LED and LCD displays, and previous solutions like liquid-filled signs have been impractical due to flexibility and leakage problems, as well as power consumption concerns.
Innovation Solution
A display device featuring a closed fluid circuit with a coloured fluid and a pump system, where the display body is at least partly transparent, using ambient light and non-wetting surfaces to improve visibility, and comprising a fluid reservoir and supply/return lines, allowing for the formation of symbols that become visible when filled with fluid, eliminating the need for backlighting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If LED or LCD displays are used for changeable information, then the display can be updated dynamically, but visibility and contrast are insufficient in bright sunlight environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a liquid-filled cavity system where transparent liquid fills cavities to form visible symbols. The liquid provides high contrast visibility in bright sunlight without requiring backlighting, resolving the visibility issue while maintaining dynamic update capability through pump-controlled fluid circulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs colored transparent liquids that provide high contrast against the display background. The color of the liquid enhances visibility in bright sunlight conditions, allowing symbols to be clearly seen without additional illumination while still enabling dynamic information changes.
2Illumination intensity
If liquid-filled signs with pumps and sealings are used to change information, then visibility is improved, but leakage and reliability problems occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes complex sealing mechanisms and multiple pumps from the system. Instead, it uses a simplified design with a single pump and integrated fluid circuit where the liquid is contained within the display structure itself, eliminating leakage-prone sealings while maintaining visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent integrates the fluid containment directly into the display structure, merging the cavity system with the liquid reservoir. This integration eliminates the need for separate sealing components and reduces the number of potential leakage points, improving reliability while preserving visibility.
3Loss of information
If electro magnets and continuous power supply are used to fill and empty cavities, then information can be displayed, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic pump operation to circulate liquid only when information needs to be changed or updated. The pump runs intermittently rather than continuously, filling cavities to display symbols and allowing them to empty when not needed, significantly reducing energy consumption while maintaining information display capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs gravity-assisted liquid return to the reservoir, eliminating the need for continuous powered operation. The liquid naturally flows back to the reservoir when cavities are emptied, reducing the energy required for the display system to maintain its function.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple pumps and sealings are used in liquid-filled signs, then information can be changed, but device complexity and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a single pump that serves multiple functions: filling different cavities, emptying cavities, and circulating liquid throughout the system. This universal pump replaces multiple specialized pumps and complex sealing arrangements, reducing device complexity while maintaining the ability to change displayed information.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a flexible, energy-efficient, and durable display that maintains visibility in various lighting conditions and temperature ranges without the need for continuous power, ensuring prolonged operation without fluid contamination or refilling.
Implementation Method 1
the display body is at least partly transparent... the coloured fluid will be visible as the information
Implementation Method 2
a pump for circulating coloured fluid in the fluid circuit
Data Source
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AI summary
A display device for displaying information comprises a display body having a front side and rear side and comprising at least one cavity between them. The cavity is connected in a closed fluid circuit comprising supply fluid lines, return fluid lines and a fluid reservoir and the circuit is suitable to contain a coloured fluid. There is also arranged a pump for circulating coloured fluid in the fluid circuit. The cavity is shaped to form symbols representing the information to be displayed when filled with coloured fluid.