Method and apparatus for a dry particle totally internally reflective image display

• US 10,386,691 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2016
• Issued: 08/20/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WUXI Clearink Limited
• Original Assignee: Clearink Displays, Inc.
• Inventors: Zhang, Xiaojia
• Primary Examiner(s): Ben, Loha
• Application Number:
  US15/190,420
• Publication Number:
  US 20160377950A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,153 Days
• Field of Search: 359296, 3592221, 345107
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/0121 Operation of devices; Circuit arrangements, not otherwise provided for in this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/0123 Circuits for the control or stabilisation of the bias voltage, e.g. automatic bias control [ABC] feedback loops
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133526 Lenses, e.g. microlenses or Fresnel lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1671 involving dry toners
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1677 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1679 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells; Filling or closing of cells
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1681 having two or more microcells partitioned by walls, e.g. of microcup type
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2203/023 total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/34 by control of light from an independent source
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3433 using light modulating elements actuated by an electric field and being other than liquid crystal devices and electrochromic devices using liquid crystal devices G09G3/36; using electrochromic devices G09G3/38
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/344 based on particles moving in a fluid or in a gas, e.g. electrophoretic devices electrophoretic devices per se G02F1/167

Abstract

A total internal reflection image display comprised of dry electrostatically mobile particles composed of a solid material stably floating as a dispersant in a gas and exhibiting a high fluidity in an aerosol state may be sealed between the transparent sheet capable of total internal reflection such as comprising a plurality of transparent convex or hemi-spherical protrusions and the rear support, partition walls and the dry particles may be moved by application of a voltage bias. A method of manufacture is described comprising of the steps of forming partition walls, filling with dry particles, sealing the particles into cells or compartments.

Claims

1. A total internal-reflection (TIR) display, comprising:

a transparent front sheet having a flat distal surface and a proximal surface with an array of convex protrusions which form a hemispherical-shaped array;

a front electrode supported by the proximal surface of the transparent front sheet, the front electrode conforming to the hemispherical-shaped array;

a rear electrode facing the front electrode, the rear electrode and the front electrode forming a sealed cavity therebetween;

a gaseous medium stored in the sealed cavity; and

a plurality of dry light-absorbing electrostatically mobile particles positioned in the sealed cavity, the electrostatically mobile particles configured to move within the sealed cavity in response to an electromagnetic bias imposed between the front electrode and the rear electrode.

2. The display of claim 1, wherein the gaseous medium comprises air having a relative humidity of 60% or less at about 25°

C.

3. The display of claim 1, wherein the plurality of electrostatically mobile particles includes organic particles or inorganic particles or a combination of organic and inorganic particles and wherein each particle has a diameter in the range of about 0.02-20 μ

m.

4. The display of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of walls positioned between the rear electrode and the front electrode to form a plurality of cells, wherein each cell contains the gaseous medium.

5. The display of claim 4, wherein each cell is biased independently.

6. The display of claim 4, wherein at least a pair of the plurality of walls are parallel or non-parallel with each other.

7. The display of claim 1, further comprising a color filter layer.

8. The display of claim 1, further comprising a directional front light.

9. A total internal-reflection (TIR) display, comprising:

a transparent front sheet having a flat distal surface and a proximal surface with an array of convex protrusions;

a front electrode supported by the proximal surface of the transparent front sheet, the front electrode conforming to the array of convex protrusions;

a rear electrode facing the front electrode, the rear electrode and the front electrode forming a sealed cavity therebetween;

a plurality of dry light-absorbing electrostatically mobile particles positioned in the sealed cavity, the electrostatically mobile particles configured to move within the sealed cavity in response to an electromagnetic bias imposed between the front electrode and the rear electrode; and

wherein the sealed cavity includes vacuum.

10. The display of claim 9, wherein the cavity includes a substantially absolute vacuum.

11. The display of claim 9, wherein the electrostatically mobile particles further comprise inorganic or organic material or a combination of inorganic and organic material and wherein each particle has a diameter in the range of about 0.02-20 μ

m.

12. The display of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of walls positioned between the rear electrode and the front electrode to form a plurality of cells and wherein at least one cell contains a relative or an absolute vacuum.

13. The display of claim 12, wherein each cell is biased independently.

14. The display of claim 12, wherein at least a pair of the plurality of walls are parallel or non-parallel with each other.

15. The display of claim 9, further comprising a color filter layer.

16. The display of claim 9, further comprising a directional front light.

17. A total internal-reflection (TIR) display, comprising:

a transparent front sheet having a flat distal surface and a proximal surface with an array of convex protrusions;

a front electrode supported by the proximal surface of the transparent front sheet, the front electrode conforming to the array of convex protrusions;

a rear electrode facing the front electrode, the rear electrode and the front electrode forming a cavity therebetween;

a plurality of walls positioned between the rear electrode and the front electrode in the cavity to form a plurality of cells, each cell defining a sealed cell within the cavity; and

a plurality of dry light-absorbing electrostatically mobile particles positioned in each of the plurality of cells, the electrostatically mobile particles configured to move within each cell in response to an electromagnetic bias imposed between the front electrode and the rear electrode.

18. The display of claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of cells includes one of a relative or an absolute vacuum.

19. The display of claim 17, wherein each of the plurality of cells further comprises a gaseous medium.

20. The display of claim 19, wherein the gaseous medium comprises air having a relative humidity of 60% or less at about 25°

C.

21. The display of claim 17, wherein the plurality of electrostatically mobile particles includes organic particles or inorganic particles or a combination of organic and inorganic particles and wherein each particle has a diameter in the range of about 0.02-20 μ

m.

22. The display of claim 17, wherein the front and the rear electrode associated with at least one of the plurality of cells is biased independently.

23. A process to display a total-internal reflection (TIR) image, the process comprising:

providing a display structure having a transparent front sheet with a front electrode situated opposite a rear electrode to form a gap between the front electrode and the rear electrode, the gap having a plurality of cells defined by a respective plurality of walls extending from the front electrode to the rear electrode, each cell housing a plurality of dry light-absorbing electrostatically mobile particles;

imposing a first bias to one of the front or the rear electrode such that the electrostatically mobile particles move within the gap to aggregate substantially adjacent the front electrode in response to the imposed bias; and

illuminating the transparent front sheet with a directional front light.

24. The process of claim 23, wherein each of the plurality of cells includes one of a relative or an absolute vacuum.

25. The process of claim 23, wherein each of the plurality of cells further comprises a gaseous medium.

26. The process of claim 25, wherein the gaseous medium comprises air having a relative humidity of 60% or less at about 25°

C.

27. The process of claim 23, wherein the plurality of electrostatically mobile particles includes organic particles or inorganic particles or a combination of organic and inorganic particles and wherein each particle has a diameter in the range of about 0.02-20 μ

m.

28. The process of claim 23, wherein the front and the rear electrode associated with at least one of the plurality of cells is biased independently.

29. The process of claim 23, further comprising imposing a second bias to one of the front or the rear electrode such that the electrostatically mobile particles move within the gap to aggregate substantially adjacent the rear electrode in response to the imposed bias.