Method and apparatus for determining properties of an electrophoretic display
First Claim
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1. A method for determining properties of encapsulated electrophoretic display media, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing encapsulated electrophoretic display media comprising a plurality of capsules dispersed in a binder phase, wherein at least one of said plurality of capsules contains an electrophoretic contrast media phase that includes at least one particle and a suspending fluid;
(b) providing a first electrode and a second electrode, said first and second electrodes adjacent to said plurality of capsules;
(c) applying a first electrical signal to said first electrode;
(d) applying a second electrical signal to said second electrode; and
(e) measuring a first electrical characteristic of said encapsulated electrophoretic display media, said first electrical characteristic generated in response to said applied first and second electrical signals.
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Abstract
A method for sensing the state of an electrophoretic display includes the steps of applying an electrical signal to a display element, measuring an electrical response for the display element, and deducing the state of the display element from the measured electrical response. Also, the parameters of the display materials are determined using the encapsulated electrophoretic display media as a sensor, either alone or in conjunction with other sensors.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. A method for determining properties of encapsulated electrophoretic display media, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing encapsulated electrophoretic display media comprising a plurality of capsules dispersed in a binder phase, wherein at least one of said plurality of capsules contains an electrophoretic contrast media phase that includes at least one particle and a suspending fluid;
(b) providing a first electrode and a second electrode, said first and second electrodes adjacent to said plurality of capsules;
(c) applying a first electrical signal to said first electrode;
(d) applying a second electrical signal to said second electrode; and
(e) measuring a first electrical characteristic of said encapsulated electrophoretic display media, said first electrical characteristic generated in response to said applied first and second electrical signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for determining properties of encapsulated electrophoretic display media, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing encapsulated electrophoretic display media comprising a plurality of pixels, each pixel comprising at least one capsule dispersed in a binder phase, wherein said at least one capsule contains an electrophoretic contrast media phase that includes at least one particle and a suspending fluid;
(b) providing a first electrode, said first electrode common and adjacent to each of said plurality of pixels;
(c) providing at least one measurement pixel of said plurality of pixels, said at least one measurement pixel having a measurement electrode adjacent thereto;
(d) applying a first electrical signal to said first electrode;
(e) applying a second electrical signal to said measurement electrode; and
(f) measuring a first electrical characteristic of said at least one measuring pixel, said first electrical characteristic generated in response to said applied first and second electrical signals. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for detecting a change in an electrical characteristic of encapsulated electrophoretic display media, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing encapsulated electrophoretic display media comprising a plurality of pixels, each pixel comprising at least one capsule dispersed in a binder phase, wherein said at least one capsule contains an electrophoretic contrast media phase that includes at least one particle and a suspending fluid;
(b) providing a first electrode, said first electrode common and adjacent to each of said plurality of pixels;
(c) providing at least one measurement pixel of said plurality of pixels, said at least one measurement pixel having a measurement electrode adjacent thereto;
(d) applying a first electrical signal to said first electrode;
(e) applying a second electrical signal to said measurement electrode;
(f) measuring a first electrical characteristic of said at least one measuring pixel, thereby obtaining a first value of said electrical characteristic;
said first electrical characteristic generated in response to said applied first and second electrical signals;
(g) repeating steps (d)-(f), thereby obtaining a second value of said electrical characteristic; and
(h) comparing said first and second values of said electrical characteristic thereby detecting a change therein.
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24. An apparatus for determining properties of encapsulated electrophoretic display media, said encapsulated electrophoretic display media comprising a plurality of capsules dispersed in a binder phase, wherein at least one of said plurality of capsules contains an electrophoretic contrast media phase that includes at least one particle and a suspending fluid, and two electrodes adjacent to said plurality of capsules;
- said apparatus comprising;
(a) a signal generator for applying electrical signals to said two electrodes; and
(b) a detection circuit for measuring a first electrical characteristic of said encapsulated electrophoretic display media generated in response to said electrical signals. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
- said apparatus comprising;
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34. An electrophoretic display comprising encapsulated electrophoretic display media comprising a plurality of pixels, each pixel comprising at least one capsule dispersed in a binder phase, wherein said at least one capsule contains an electrophoretic contrast media phase that includes at least one particle and a suspending fluid, and capable of determining properties of individual pixels, said electrophoretic display comprising:
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(a) a first electrode, said first electrode common and adjacent to each of said plurality of pixels;
(b) at least one measurement pixel of said plurality of pixels, said at least one measurement pixel having a measurement electrode adjacent thereto;
(c) a signal generator for applying electrical signals to said first electrode and said measurement electrode; and
(d) a detection circuit for measuring a first electrical characteristic of said at least one measurement pixel, said first electrical characteristic generated in response to said applied electrical signals. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. An input device, comprising
(a) encapsulated electrophoretic display media, said encapsulated electrophoretic display media comprising a plurality of pixels, each pixel comprising at least one capsule dispersed in a binder phase, wherein said at least one capsule contains an electrophoretic contrast media phase that includes at least one particle and a suspending fluid, each pixel having a pixel electrode adjacent thereto; -
(b) a first electrode, said first electrode common and adjacent to each of said plurality of pixels;
(c) a signal generator for applying electrical signals to said first electrode and each of said pixel electrodes;
(d) a detection circuit for measuring a first electrical characteristic of each of said plurality of pixels, said first electrical characteristic generated in response to said applied electrical signals;
(e) a discriminator circuit for detecting a change in said first electrical characteristic of at least one pixel of said plurality of pixels; and
(f) a response generator for generating a response to said change and identifying said at least one pixel. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47)
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Specification