A Solid-State Display Device

A solid-state display device based on a new principle is described. The device consists of a thin, flat panel of piezoelectric material supporting an electroluminescent layer. Voltage pulses, applied to a few electrodes on the periphery of the panel, introduce traveling elastic waves into the piezoelectric material. Electric fields which accompany the waves interact with the electroluminescent layer to produce a localized "spot" of illumination. The position of the spot is controlled by varying the relative timing of the pulses to produce either a raster or an oscilloscope pattern. Means for continuously modulating the light intensity of the spot are also described.