Displays combining active and non-active inks

• US 6,459,418 B1
• Filed: 08/27/1998
• Issued: 10/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: E Ink Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: E Ink Holdings Incorporated
• Inventors: Jacobson, Joseph M., Comiskey, Barrett
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEWIS, DAVID LEE
• Application Number:
  US09/141,041
• Time in Patent Office: 1,496 Days
• Field of Search: 345/107, 345/901, 345/87, 359/298, 349/86, 349/187
• US Class Current: 345/107
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/01 Ink jet
• 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 1/133348 Charged particles addressed liquid crystal cells, e.g. controlled by an electron beam
• 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 1/135 Liquid crystal cells structurally associated with a photoconducting or a ferro-electric layer, the properties of which can be optically or electrically varied G02F1/133348 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/167 by electrophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1679 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells; Filling or closing of cells
• 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 2380/02 : Flexible displays
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/04 : Electronic labels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/035 : for flexible display surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/16 : by control of light from an independent source
• 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 3/344 : 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 3/3453 : based on rotating particles or microelements
• 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 59/18 : Tiled 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 345/901 : Electronic book with display

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. A process for creating an electrically addressable display comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a substrate; and

(b) printing an electrically active ink onto a first area of a receiving substrate, the electrically active ink comprising at least on capsule containing an electrophoretic contrast phase, wherein the at least one capsule is dispersed in a binder phase;

whereby optical qualities of said electrically active ink are modulated responsive to received electromagnetic signals.

2. The process of claim 1 further comprising the step of printing an electrically inactive ink onto a second area of the substrate.

3. The process of claim 1 further comprising the step of printing an electrically inactive ink onto a second area of the substrate, wherein the electrically inactive ink has an optical property closely matching a corresponding optical property of the electrically active ink.

7. The process of claim 3, further comprising the step of providing an electrode adjacent the electrically active ink.

4. (Twice Amended) A process for printing an electrically addressable display, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a substrate; and

(b) printing an electrically active ink onto a first area of a receiving substrate, the electrically active ink comprising at least on capsule containing an electrophoretic contrast phase, wherein the at least one capsule is dispersed in a binder phase; and

(c) printing an electrically inactive ink onto a second area of the substrate.

5. The process of claim 4, wherein step (b) comprises printing an electrically active ink onto a first area of a receiving substrate, the electrically active ink comprising at least on capsule containing an electrophoretic media phase, wherein the at least one capsule is dispersed in a polymeric binder phase.

6. The process of claim 4, wherein step (b) comprises printing an electrically active ink onto a first area of a receiving substrate, the electrically active ink comprising at least on capsule containing an electrophoretic contrast phase, wherein the at least one capsule is dispersed in a cross linked polymeric binder phase.

8. A process for creating an electrically addressable display comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a first substrate; and

(b) printing an electrically inactive ink onto the first substrate;

(c) providing a second substrate;

(d) printing an electrically active ink onto the second substrate, the electrically active ink comprising at least on capsule containing an electrophoretic contrast phase, wherein the at least one capsule is dispersed in a binder phase; and

(e) laminating the second substrate and the first substrate to form an electrically addressable display.

9. The process of claim 8 wherein step (a) comprises providing a first, substantially clear substrate.

10. The process of claim 9 wherein step (b) comprises printing an electrically inactive ink onto the first substrate to form substantially clear apertures in the first substrate.

11. The process of claim 10 wherein step (e) comprises laminating the second substrate and the first substrate such that the electrically active ink on the second substrate aligns with the substantially clear apertures formed by the electrically inactive ink.

12. The process of claim 8 wherein step (d) comprises printing an electrically active ink onto the second substrate using a four-color process, the electrically active ink comprising at least on a capsule containing an electrophoretic contrast phase, wherein the at least one capsule is dispersed in a binder phase.