Importance

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Abstract

A stationary matrix panel has magnetic display elements arranged in vertical and horizontal rows, each element having two stable states of contrasting appearance. Electromagnetic actuator heads are mechanically coupled together by resilient couplings so as to move in unison and actuate selected display elements. The couplings are arranged to allow limited movement in a direction normal to that of the travel of the actuator heads across the matrix panel, thereby allowing for slight misalignment in the panel. Each actuator head contains a number of individual electromagnets and is responsive to a respective indexing track which provides signals indicative of the actual position of the actuation of the electromagnets in the head. The matrix panel has a plurality of guide rails arranged to provide accurate vertical registration of the heads, each guide rail being slotted to provide the indexing. In one embodiment the matrix panel is made of a two-dimensional array of matrix units each having a two-dimensional array of display elements and each providing as an integral part thereof a portion of a guide track and a portion of an indexing track.

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First Claim