Raised display apparatus

1. A display assembly for displaying raised images comprising:

a plate that moves along at least one axis of motion, the movement of the plate being operative to adjust respective positions associated with a plurality of pins along the axis of motion; and

a clutch mechanism comprising a plurality of rigid row bars and a plurality of rigid column bars, a given rigid row bar being operative to restrain a row of pins when the given rigid row bar is positioned in an associated first position and to release the row of pins when the rigid row bar is positioned in an associated second position and a given rigid column bar being operative to restrain a column of pins when the rigid column bar is positioned in an associated first position and to release the column of pins when the rigid column bar is in an associated second position, the clutch mechanism operating in conjunction with the plate to position each of the plurality of pins at a desired position along the axis of motion as to deform a display surface defined by the plurality of pins.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , the clutch mechanism further comprising at least one bank of solenoids, a given solenoid being operative to move one of a rigid row bar and a rigid column bar from its associated first position to its associated second position.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a display control that coordinates the movement of the plate and the operation of the clutch mechanism.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a membrane that covers the plurality of pins, such that the membrane is distorted by the movement of the pins.

5. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a projector that projects an image onto the display surface.

6. The assembly of claim 1 , the plate being a first plate and the assembly further comprising a second, stationary plate.

7. The assembly of claim 6 , a first portion of the clutch mechanism being located on the first plate, the first portion of the clutch mechanism being operative to fix at least one pin to the first plate, and a second portion of the clutch mechanism being located on the second plate, the second portion of clutch mechanism being operative to hold the at least one pin stationary with respect to the second plate.

8. The assembly of claim 1 , the plate being operative to oscillate between a first position and a second position, the clutch mechanism being operative to fix at least one pin to the plate when the plate is at a first position and hold the at least one pin stationary when the plate is in a second position.

9. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of rigid row bars and the plurality of rigid column bars each comprises a plurality of apertures, a given pin passing through one aperture in the given rigid row bar and one aperture in the given rigid column bar.

10. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of pins comprises a plurality of circumferential grooves that define a resolution of the display, wherein a first circumferential groove of the given pin engages the one aperture of the given rigid row bar when the given rigid row bar is in the associated first position, and a second circumferential groove of the given pin engages the one aperture of the given rigid column bar when the given rigid column bar is in the associated first position.

11. The assembly of claim 1 , the plurality of rigid column bars having a substantially serpentine pattern.

12. A method of selectively shifting the positions of at least one of a plurality of pins in a raised display comprising:

selecting at least one pin that is not at a desired level;

releasing a clutch mechanism on a stationary plate while a moving plate is at a first position to allow the at least one pin to move freely;

engaging a clutch mechanism on the moving plate while the moving plate is at a first position such that the at least one pin is fixed to the moving plate;

moving the moving plate from the first position to a second position;

releasing the clutch mechanism on the moving plate while the moving plate is at the second position; and

engaging a clutch mechanism on the stationary plate while the moving plate is at the second position such that the at least one pin is restrained by the stationary plate.

13. The method of claim 12 , engaging a clutch mechanism on the stationary plate comprising providing an electrical current to at least one restraining wire having shape memory properties.

14. The method of claim 12 , engaging a clutch mechanism on the stationary plate comprising deactivating a heating element as to cause a restraining material to assume a solid state.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein at least a portion of the at least one pin is submerged in the restraining material.

16. A raised display apparatus comprising:

means for moving a plurality of pins along an axis of motion;

means for restraining at least one of a row and a column of the plurality of pins at a plurality of locations along the axis of motion;

means, associated with each of the plurality of pins, for engaging the means for restraining at predetermined intervals along the axis of motion;

means for selecting a row and column of at least one selected pin; and

means for releasing the means for restraining of the selected row and column of the at least one selected pin;

wherein the means for moving comprises a means for engaging at least one pin as to fix the engaged pins to the means for moving.