Tiled displays

• US 6,252,564 B1
• Filed: 08/27/1998
• Issued: 06/26/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: E Ink Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: E Ink Holdings Incorporated
• Inventors: Albert, Jonathan D., Comiskey, Barrett
• Primary Examiner(s): WU, XIAO MIN
• Application Number:
  US09/140,790
• Time in Patent Office: 1,034 Days
• Field of Search: 345/1, 345/2, 345/3, 345/87, 345/105, 345/107, 345/108, 345/903, 345/84, 345/85, 345/86, 345/103, 345/204, 345/205, 345/206, 345/211
• US Class Current: 345/1.3
• 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 1/1345 Conductors connecting electrodes to cell terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/167 by electrophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/16755 Substrates
• 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: 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 2380/04 Electronic labels
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 10/462 Insulated gate field-effect transistors [IGFETs]
• 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 electrically active flexible display tile comprising:

a flexible substrate;

a flexible display comprising a flexible, encapsulated electrically addressable display media disposed on the flexible substrate;

a controller disposed on the flexible substrate in electrical communication with the flexible display; and

a connector disposed on the flexible substrate for electrically connecting the flexible display tile to another flexible display tile.

2. The flexible display tile of claim 1 further comprising a receiver for receiving radio signals, the controller changing the flexible display responsive to received radio signals.

3. The flexible display tile of claim 1 further comprising a memory element storing data, the controller changing the flexible display responsive to data stored in the memory element.

4. The flexible display tile of claim 1 wherein the flexible substrate has areas of conductivity and areas of nonconductivity.

5. The flexible display tile of claim 4 wherein the flexible substrate comprises a printed circuit board.

6. The flexible display tile of claim 1 further comprising a substantially transparent electrode dispersed adjacent the flexible display.

7. The flexible display tile of claim 6 wherein said substantially transparent electrode is printed onto a substantially clear substrate, said substantially clear substrate subsequently laminated onto said flexible display.

8. The flexible display tile of claim 4 wherein the flexible substrate comprises copper-clad polyimide.

9. The flexible display tile of claim 1 wherein the flexible display further comprises a clear conductive coating disposed on a first surface of the flexible display.

10. The flexible display tile of claim 9 wherein the conductive coating comprises a colloidal dispersion.

11. The flexible display tile of claim 9 wherein the conductive coating comprises indium tin oxide.

12. The flexible display tile of claim 1 wherein the connector also physically connects the flexible display tile to another flexible display tile.

13. The flexible display tile of claim 1 further comprising an antenna.

14. The flexible display tile of claim 13 further comprising a passive rectifier in communication with the antenna.

15. The flexible display tile of claim 14 further comprising an energy storage device in communication with the rectifier.

16. The flexible display tile of claim 15 further comprising a storage sensor that activates the controller when the energy stored in the energy storage device exceeds a predetermined threshold.