Printable electrode structures for displays

• US 6,177,921 B1
• Filed: 08/27/1998
• Issued: 01/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: E Ink Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: E Ink Holdings Incorporated
• Inventors: Comiskey, Barrett, Drzaic, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Blackman, Anthony J
• Application Number:
  US09/141,103
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: 345/107, 359/296, 359/297
• US Class Current: 345/107
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/4076 printing on rewritable, bistable "electronic paper" by a focused electric or magnetic field
• 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 1/1343 Electrodes reflective electrodes G02F1/133553
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1345 Conductors connecting electrodes to cell terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1365 in which the switching element is a two-electrode device G02F1/136277 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/167 by electrophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2202/12 photoconductor
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2202/28 Adhesive materials or arrangements
• 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 3/2074 using sub-pixels
• 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: H01L 27/12 the substrate being other than a semiconductor body, e.g. an insulating body
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 10/462 Insulated gate field-effect transistors [IGFETs]

Abstract

Novel addressing schemes for controlling electronically addressable displays include a scheme for rear-addressing displays, which allows for in-plane switching of the display material. Other schemes include a rear-addressing scheme which uses a retroreflecting surface to enable greater viewing angle and contrast. Another scheme includes an electrode structure that facilitates manufacture and control of a color display. Another electrode structure facilitates addressing a display using an electrostatic stylus. Methods of using the disclosed electrode structures are also disclosed. Another scheme includes devices combining display materials with silicon transistor addressing structures.

Claims

1. An electrostatically addressable encapsulated electrophoretic image display comprising:

a film including at least one capsule containing an electrophoretic suspension, said at least one capsule dispersed in a binder, one side of said film providing a viewing surface through which said display can be viewed; and

at least one pair of electrodes, each of said at least one pair of electrodes disposed adjacent said film, said electrodes comprising printable conductive ink, both of said pair of electrodes disposed on the opposed side of said film from said viewing surface;

wherein application of electrostatic charge to said film modulates the optical qualities of said electrophoretic systems.

2. The display of claim 1 wherein both of said pair of electrodes are opaque.

3. The display of claim 2 wherein at least one of said pair of electrodes comprises a material selected from the group consisting of metallic ink and graphite ink.

4. An electrostatically addressable encapsulated electrophoretic image display comprising:

a film including at least one capsule containing an electrophoretic suspension, said at least one capsule dispersed in a binder, one side of said film providing a viewing surface through which said display can be viewed; and

at least one pair of electrodes, said electrodes comprising printable conductive ink, one of said at least one pair of electrodes comprising a clear electrode disposed adjacent said viewing surface of said film, said clear electrode comprising a material selected from the group consisting of semiconducting colloids, organic conductors and electroconductive powders, and a second of said at least one pair of electrodes disposed adjacent the opposed side of said film from said viewing surface;

wherein application of electrostatic charge to said film modulates the optical qualities of said electrophoretic systems.

5. The display of claim 4, wherein said clear electrode comprises a material selected from the group consisting of indium tin oxide, antimony-doped tin oxide, polyanilines, polythiophenes, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), polypyrroles, polyphenylenevinylenes, and conductive derivatives of naphthalene, phthalocyanine and pentacene.

6. An electrostatically addressable encapsulated electrophoretic image display comprising:

a film including at least one capsule containing an electrophoretic suspension, said at least one capsule dispersed in a binder, one side of said film providing a viewing surface through which said display can be viewed; and

at least one pair of electrodes, said electrodes comprising printable conductive ink, one of said at least one pair of electrodes comprising a clear electrode disposed adjacent said viewing surface of said film, and a second of said at least one pair of electrodes disposed adjacent the opposed side of said film from said viewing surface, wherein said second electrode is opaque and comprises a material selected from the group consisting of metallic ink and graphite ink;

wherein application of electrostatic charge to said film modulates the optical qualities of said electrophoretic systems.

13. The display of claim 6, wherein said metallic ink comprises a silver-bearing ink.

7. An electrostatically addressable encapsulated electrophoretic image display comprising:

a film including at least one capsule containing an electrophoretic suspension, said at least one capsule dispersed in a binder, wherein one side of said film provides a viewing surface through which said display can be viewed; and

at least one pair of electrodes, each of said at least one pair of electrodes disposed adjacent said film, said electrodes comprising printable conductive ink, wherein both said pair of electrodes are clear and are disposed adjacent said viewing surface;

wherein application of electrostatic charge to said film modulates the optical qualities of said electrophoretic systems.

8. The display of claim 7 wherein said clear electrodes comprise a material selected from the group consisting of semiconducting colloids, organic conductors and electroconductive powders.

9. The display of claim 8 wherein said clear electrodes comprise a material selected from the group consisting of indium tin oxide, antimony-doped tin oxide, polyanilines, polythiophenes, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), polypyrroles, polyphenylenevinylenes, and conductive derivatives of naphthalene, phthalocyanine and pentacene.

10. An electrostatically addressable, encapsulated electrophoretic image display comprising:

a film including at least one capsule containing an electrophoretic suspension, said at least one capsule dispersed in a binder; and

a clear electrode disposed adjacent a first side of said film, said electrode comprising a printable substance, said clear electrode comprising a material selected from the group consisting of semiconducting colloids, organic conductors and electroconductive powders;

wherein an electrostatic charge applied to a second side of said film modulates the optical qualities of said electrophoretic suspension.

11. The display of claim 10 wherein said clear electrode comprises a material selected from the group consisting of indium tin oxide, antimony-doped tin oxide, polyanilines, polythiophenes, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), polypyrroles, polyphenylenevinylenes, and conductive derivatives of naphthalene, phthalocyanine and pentacene.

12. An electrostatically addressable, encapsulated electrophoretic image display comprising:

a film including at least one capsule containing an electrophoretic suspension, said at least one capsule dispersed in a binder;

a clear electrode disposed adjacent a first side of said film, said electrode comprising a printable substance; and

an opaque electrode adjacent the opposed side of said film from said clear electrode, said opaque electrode comprising a material selected from the group consisting of metallic ink and graphite ink;

wherein an electrostatic charge applied to a second side of said film modulates the optical qualities of said electrophoretic suspension.

14. The display of claim 12, wherein said metallic ink comprises a silver-bearing ink.

15. The display of claim 12, wherein said clear electrode comprising a printable substance comprises a material selected from the group consisting of indium tin oxide, antimony-doped tin oxide, polyanilines, polythiophenes, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), polypyrroles, polyphenylenevinylenes, and conductive derivatives of naphthalene, phthalocyanine and pentacene.