Microencapsulated electrophoretic display with integrated driver

• US 6,967,640 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2001
• Issued: 11/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: E Ink Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: E Ink Holdings Incorporated
• Inventors: Gates, Holly G., Albert, Jonathan D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisen, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US09/917,325
• Publication Number:
  US 20030020844A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,579 Days
• Field of Search: 345/107, 359/296
• US Class Current: 345/107
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/167 by electrophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/16753 Structures for supporting or mounting cells, e.g. frames or bezels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/16 by control of light from an independent source
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/16 incorporating printed electric components, e.g. printed resistor, capacitor, inductor
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/189 characterised by the use of a flexible or folded printed circuit H05K3/326 takes precedence

Abstract

A mounted display assembly comprises a flexible substrate that supports both display elements and control circuits. The display assembly generally comprises: an electrical connection formed on the flexible substrate, the electrical connection having first and second contact pads; a display element in electrical communication with the first contact pad; and a control circuit mounted on the flexible substrate and in electrical communication with the second contact pad. In a preferred embodiment, the display element comprises a microencapsulated electrophoretic display medium. In another preferred embodiment, printing processes are employed in manufacturing methods for the display assembly.

Claims

1. A mounted electrophoretic display assembly, comprising:

a flexible substrate;

an electrical connection formed on said flexible substrate and having first and second contact pads spaced from one another;

an electrophoretic display element capable of flexing without substantial detriment to its optical performance, said display element being in electrical communication with said first contact pad; and

a control circuit in electrical communication with said second contact pad for controlling how said display element is addressed through said electrical connection, said control circuit being co-located with and spaced away from said display element on said flexible substrate such that said display assembly is capable of flexing without substantial detriment to its optical performance.

2. The display assembly of claim 1, wherein said control circuit is connected to said second contact pad with a curable, electrically conductive thermoset.

3. The display assembly of claim 1, wherein said control circuit is connected to said second contact pad with an electrically conductive ink.

4. The display assembly of claim 1, wherein said control circuit is connected to said second contact pad with an electrically conductive paint.

5. The display assembly of claim 1, wherein said control circuit is connected to said second contact pad by being removably mounted in a control circuit carrier that is in electrical communication with said second contact pad.

6. The display assembly of claim 1 wherein said control circuit comprises an electrophoretic display driver chip.

7. The display assembly of claim 1, wherein said electrical connection comprises a conductive material selected from the group consisting of an electrically conductive ink, a carbon ink, and a silver ink.

8. The display assembly of claim 1, wherein said electrical connection is coated with a dielectric.

9. The display assembly of claim 1, wherein said electrophoretic display element comprises a first electrode, an electrophoretic display medium, and a second electrode.

10. The display assembly of claim 9 further comprising a plurality of electrophoretic display elements, wherein said second electrode is shared across said plurality of electrophoretic display elements.

11. The display assembly of claim 1, wherein said control circuit comprises an integrated circuit.

12. The display assembly of claim 1, wherein said control circuit comprises a driver chip.

13. The display assembly of claim 1, wherein said control circuit comprises an interface chip.

14. The display assembly of claim 1, wherein said control circuit comprises a control chip.