Adhesive backed displays

• US 6,825,829 B1
• Filed: 08/27/1998
• Issued: 11/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: E Ink Corporation (E Ink Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: E Ink Corporation (E Ink Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Albert, Jonathan D., Comiskey, Barrett, Wilcox, Russell J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Liang, Regina
• Application Number:
  US09/141,126
• Time in Patent Office: 2,287 Days
• Field of Search: 345/107, 345/108, 345/84, 345/47, 345/105, 345/204, 345/205, 345/206, 345/211, 345/1.1, 345/903, 345/85, 345/87, 359/296, 204/547, 204/549
• 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 1/133348 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 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 2310/0221 with use of split matrices G09G3/3644 and G09G3/3666 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/04 Electronic labels
• 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: 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 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 sticker display comprising:

an encapsulated display media having a first surface and a second surface; and

an adhesive layer disposed on the first surface of the encapsulated display media, the encapsulated display media comprising;

an electrophoretic contrast media phase comprising at least one species of electrophoretic particles dispersed in a fluid medium; and

a binder phase, wherein the electrophoretic contrast media phase is encapsulated in the binder phase such that the electrophoretic particles may move in response to the application of an electrical field to the encapsulated display media.

2. The sticker display of claim 1 wherein a transparent layer is disposed adjacent the second surface of the display media.

3. The sticker display of claim 2 wherein the transparent layer includes an electrode.

4. The sticker display of claim 2 wherein the transparent layer is conductive.

5. The sticker display of claim 2 further comprising a via which extends from the transparent layer to the adhesive layer.

6. The sticker display of claim 1 wherein the adhesive layer is conductive.

7. The sticker display of claim 1 wherein the electrophoretic contrast media phase is encapsulated in one or more capsules, the capsules having a capsule wall comprised of a material different than that of the binder phase.

8. The sticker display of claim 1 wherein the electrophoretic contrast media phase is encapsulated in one or more voids in the binder phase.

9. An electrically active sticker display comprising:

a substrate having first and second surfaces;

an encapsulated display media disposed on the first surface of the substrate and having a first surface proximate the first surface of the substrate and a second surface distal the first surface of the substrate; and

an adhesive layer disposed on the second surface of the encapsulated display media, the encapsulated display media comprising;

an electrophoretic contrast media phase comprising at least one species of electrophoretic particles dispersed in a fluid medium; and

a binder phase, wherein the electrophoretic contrast media phase is encapsulated in the binder phase such that the electrophoretic particles may move in response to the application of an electrical field to the encapsulated display media.

10. The sticker display of claim 9 wherein the substrate comprises a polymeric material.

11. The sticker display of claim 9 wherein the substrate includes an optically transmissive coating.

12. The sticker display of claim 9 wherein the display media comprises a microencapsulated optoelectrically active material dispersed in a binder.

13. The sticker display of claim 9 wherein the substrate includes at least one electrode for addressing the display media.

14. The sticker display of claim 9 wherein the electrophoretic contrast media phase is encapsulated in one or more capsules, the capsules having a capsule wall comprised of a material different than that of the binder phase.

15. The sticker display of claim 9 wherein the electrophoretic contrast media phase is encapsulated in one or more voids in the binder phase.