Transducers and indicators having printed displays

• US 6,118,426 A
• Filed: 08/27/1998
• Issued: 09/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: E Ink Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: E Ink Holdings Incorporated
• Inventors: Albert, Jonathan D., Jacobson, Joseph M., Comiskey, Barrett
• Primary Examiner(s): Breene, John E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEWIS, CHERYL RENEA
• Application Number:
  US09/140,856
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• Field of Search: 345/107, 345/108, 429/93, 359/296, 340/825.31, 340/825.56, 324/96, 315/150, 40/455, 40/124.03, 430/37
• US Class Current: 345/107
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/01 Ink jet
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/407 for marking on special material
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/4076 printing on rewritable, bistable "electronic paper" by a focused electric or magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 20/00 Nanooptics, e.g. quantum optics or photonic crystals
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 11/30 Inkjet printing inks
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/026 based on the rotation of particles under the influence of an external field, e.g. gyricons, twisting ball displays based on orientable dipolar particles G02F1/172; based on electrophoresis G02F1/167
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133305 Flexible substrates, e.g. plastics, organic film
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13336 Combining plural substrates to produce large-area displays, e.g. tiled displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1334 based on polymer dispersed liquid crystals, e.g. microencapsulated liquid crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1345 Conductors connecting electrodes to cell terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/167 by electrophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/16757 Microcapsules
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1685 Operation of cells; Circuit arrangements affecting the entire cell
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2202/12 photoconductor
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2202/28 Adhesive materials or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 47/00 Time-pieces combined with other articles which do not interfere with the running or the time-keeping of the time-piece clockwork cases for special purposes G04B37/12; clocks with magnifying glass built in the face G04B39/00; time-pieces in which parts or cases produce special effects, e.g. aesthetic effects, G04B45/00, particularly with inscriptions or pictures moved by hand G04B45/003, with specially shaped cases or parts G04B45/0069; combination of writing or drawing implements with devices for indicating time B43K29/087; combined with cameras, projectors, or photographic printing apparatus G03B29/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0283 for data storage and retrieval
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1446 display composed of modules, e.g. video walls
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07703 the interface being visual
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/302 : characterised by the form or geometrical disposition of the individual elements
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/372 : the positions of the elements being controlled by the application of an electric field
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/0267 : Details of drivers for scan electrodes, other than drivers for liquid crystal, plasma or OLED displays
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/0275 : Details of drivers for data electrodes, other than drivers for liquid crystal, plasma or OLED displays, not related to handling digital grey scale data or to communication of data to the pixels by means of a current
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/04 : Electronic labels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/20 : for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/30 : using electroluminescent panels
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3611 : Control of matrices with row and column drivers
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3674 : Details of drivers for scan electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3685 : Details of drivers for data electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/38 : using electrochromic devices
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/097 : Inks comprising nanoparticles and specially adapted for being sintered at low temperature H05K1/095 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/105 : by conversion of non-conductive material on or in the support into conductive material, e.g. by using an energy beam
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/1241 : by ink-jet printing or drawing by dispensing
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 10/46 : Field-effect transistors, e.g. organic thin-film transistors [OTFT] H10K10/43 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 10/462 : Insulated gate field-effect transistors [IGFETs]
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 19/00 : Integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, comprising at least one organic element specially adapted for rectifying, amplifying, oscillating or switching, covered by group H10K10/00
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 2102/311 : Flexible OLED
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 59/17 : Passive-matrix OLED displays
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/30 : Coordination compounds
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/60 : Organic compounds having low molecular weight H10K85/10 - H10K85/50 take precedence

Abstract

A process for creating an electronically addressable display includes multiple printing operations, similar to a multi-color process in conventional screen printing. In some of the process steps, electrically non-active inks are printed onto areas of the receiving substrate, and in other steps, electrically active inks are printed onto different areas of the substrate. The printed display can be used in a variety of applications. This display can be used as an indicator by changing state of the display after a certain time has elapsed, or when a certain pressure, thermal, radiative, moisture, acoustic, inclination, pH, or other threshold is passed. In one embodiment, the display is incorporated into a battery indicator. A sticker display is described. The sticker is adhesive backed and may then be applied to a surface to create a functional information display unit. This invention also features a display that is both powered and controlled using radio frequencies. It describes a complete system for controlling, addressing, and powering a display. The system includes an antenna or antennae, passive charging circuitry, and active control system, a display, and an energy storage unit. There is also a separate transmitter that provides the remote power for the display. The system is meant to be used anywhere it is useful to provide intermittent updates of information such as in a store, on a highway, or in an airport. A tile-based display allowing a modular system for large area display is created using a printable display material.

Claims

1. An indicator comprising:

a substrate;

a transducer disposed on the substrate the transducer producing signals in response to a stimulus; and

an encapsulated electrophoretic display printed on the substrate in electrical communication with the transducer, the display displaying a visible optical state indicative of the presence of the stimulus in response to the signals from the transducer.

2. The indicator of claim 1, wherein the transducer comprises an electrical junction having a current-voltage characteristic that changes as a function of time.

3. The indicator of claim 1, wherein the transducer comprises a mechanical system responsive to a change in pressure.

4. The indicator of claim 1, wherein the transducer comprises a thermally responsive structure.

5. The indicator of claim 1, wherein the transducer comprises a photosensitive structure.

6. The indicator of claim 1, wherein the transducer comprises a structure responsive to moisture.

7. The indicator of claim 1, wherein the transducer comprises an acoustically responsive structure.

8. The indicator of claim 1, wherein the transducer comprises a structure responsive to the orientation of the substrate.

9. The indicator of claim 1, wherein the transducer comprises a pH sensor.

10. The indicator of claim 1, wherein the transducer comprises a chemically sensitive structure.

11. The indicator of claim 1, wherein the transducer comprises a printed structure.

12. A battery indicator for use on a battery comprising:

an electrically addressable display printed on a substrate in electrical communication with the battery, wherein the display displays a first optical state in response to a voltage of the battery indicative of the voltage of the battery.

13. The battery indicator of claim 12, wherein the display displays a second optical state when the voltage applied by the battery falls below a predetermined threshold.

14. A battery indicator comprising:

an electrophoretic display comprising an encapsulated display media;

a first electrode and a second electrode disposed adjacent the electrophoretic display,

a nonlinear electrical element in electrical communication with a battery and the first electrode, the nonlinear electrical element conducting a battery voltage to the first electrode when the battery voltage exceeds a predetermined threshold;

a voltage divider in electrical communication with the battery and second electrode, the voltage divider providing a voltage to the second electrode that is less than the battery voltage; and

a resistor in communication with the nonlinear electrical element and voltage divider, wherein the display displays a first optical state in response to the voltage of the battery that is indicative of the voltage of the battery.

15. The battery indicator of claim 14, wherein the display comprises a capsule including at least one electrophoretic particle and a dye.

16. The battery indicator of claim 14, wherein the display comprises a capsule including a first plurality of electrophoretic particles having a first optical property and first electrophoretic mobility distribution and a second plurality of electrophoretic particles having a second optical property and a second electrophoretic mobility distribution.

17. The battery indicator of claim 14, wherein the display comprises an encapsulated, bistable display media.

18. The battery indicator of claim 14, wherein the voltage divider comprises two high-impedance resistors.

19. The battery indicator of claim 14, wherein the nonlinear element comprises a diode.

20. The battery indicator of claim 14 further comprising a resistor in electrical communication with the nonlinear device and the second electrode.