Electrofluidic display pixels

Abstract

A display pixel includes a first fluid channel, a second fluid channel in flow communication with the first fluid channel, and a third fluid channel in flow communication with the second fluid channel. The first fluid channel includes a first fluid having a first color characteristic. The second fluid channel includes a second fluid having a second color characteristic, and the third fluid channel includes a third fluid having a third color characteristic. A display apparatus includes a plurality of the display pixels.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A display apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of display pixels, each display pixel comprising:   a first fluid channel comprising a first fluid having a first color characteristic;   a second fluid channel in flow communication with said first fluid channel, said second fluid channel comprising a second fluid having a second color characteristic; and   a third fluid channel in flow communication with said second fluid channel, said third fluid channel comprising a third fluid having a third color characteristic.   
     
     
         2 . The display apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first color characteristic causes a first color to be displayed to a viewer and the second color characteristic causes the second fluid to be transparent to the viewer. 
     
     
         3 . The display apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein each said display pixel further comprises a circuit element configured to cause a second color to be displayed to the viewer when said second fluid is in a viewable area of said display pixel. 
     
     
         4 . The display apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each said display pixel comprises at least one circuit element configured to transport said second fluid into said first fluid channel. 
     
     
         5 . The display apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said at least one circuit element comprises at least one electrode or at least one conductive coil. 
     
     
         6 . The display apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first fluid channel, said second fluid channel, and said third fluid channel is formed by a transparent material. 
     
     
         7 . The display apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each said display pixel further comprises a fourth fluid channel in flow communication with said third fluid channel, said fourth fluid channel comprising a fourth fluid having a fourth color characteristic. 
     
     
         8 . A display pixel comprising:
 a first fluid channel comprising a first fluid having a first color characteristic;   a second fluid channel in flow communication with said first fluid channel, said second fluid channel comprising a second fluid having a second color characteristic; and   a third fluid channel in flow communication with said second fluid channel, said third fluid channel comprising a third fluid having a third color characteristic.   
     
     
         9 . The display pixel of  claim 8 , wherein the first color characteristic causes a first color to be displayed to a viewer and the second color characteristic causes the second fluid to be transparent to the viewer. 
     
     
         10 . The display pixel of  claim 9 , further comprising a circuit element configured to cause a second color to be displayed to the viewer when said second fluid is in a viewable area of said display pixel. 
     
     
         11 . The display pixel of  claim 8 , further comprising at least one circuit element configured to transport said second fluid into said first fluid channel. 
     
     
         12 . The display pixel of  claim 11 , wherein said at least one circuit element comprises at least one electrode or at least one conductive coil. 
     
     
         13 . The display pixel of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of said first fluid channel, said second fluid channel, and said third fluid channel is formed by a transparent material. 
     
     
         14 . The display pixel of  claim 8 , further comprising a fourth fluid channel in flow communication with said third fluid channel, said fourth fluid channel comprising a fourth fluid having a fourth color characteristic. 
     
     
         15 . A method of displaying a selected color characteristic within a display pixel, said method comprising:
 providing a display pixel for use in displaying an image, the display pixel including:
 a viewable area; 
 a first fluid channel including a first fluid having a first color characteristic; 
 a second fluid channel in flow communication with the first fluid channel, the second fluid channel including a second fluid having a second color characteristic; and 
 a third fluid channel in flow communication with the second fluid channel, the third fluid channel including a third fluid having a third color characteristic; 
   selecting the first, second, or third color characteristic;   upon a determination that the second color characteristic is selected, generating at least one electrical signal to move the second fluid into the viewable area;   upon a determination that the third color characteristic is selected, generating at least one electrical signal to move the third fluid into the viewable area;   upon a determination that the first color characteristic is selected, generating at least one electrical signal to move the first fluid into the viewable area.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the display pixel includes a circuit element having an associated color that is displayed to a viewer when the second fluid is within the viewable area. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the display pixel includes at least one circuit element configured to transport the second fluid into the first fluid channel when the at least one electrical signal is generated. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the display pixel includes a fourth fluid channel in flow communication with the third fluid channel, the fourth fluid including a fourth fluid having a fourth color characteristic. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein moving the second fluid into the first fluid channel causes the third fluid to move into the second fluid channel. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein moving the second fluid into the first fluid channel causes the fourth fluid to move into the third fluid channel.