Rear electrode structures for electrophoretic displays

• US 7,304,634 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2003
• Issued: 12/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: E Ink Corporation (E Ink Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: E Ink Corporation (E Ink Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Albert, Jonathan D., Jacobson, Joseph M., Comiskey, Barrett
• Primary Examiner(s): LEWIS, DAVID LEE
• Application Number:
  US10/701,880
• Publication Number:
  US 20040090415A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,490 Days
• Field of Search: 345/49, 345/107, 359/296
• US Class Current: 345/107
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 13/461 with concentric driving and driven member
• CPC Class Codes: B25G 3/30 comprising screwed sockets or tangs
• 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 1/13336 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 1/134363 for applying an electric field parallel to the substrate, i.e. in-plane switching [IPS]
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1345 Conductors connecting electrodes to cell terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/167 by electrophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/16761 Side-by-side arrangement of working electrodes and counter-electrodes
• 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: 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 2300/0426 : Layout of electrodes and connections
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0434 : Flat panel display in which a field is applied parallel to the display plane
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/2003 : Display of colours specific for liquid crystal displays G09G3/3607
• 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 3/3446 : with more than two electrodes controlling the modulating element
• 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 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

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 electrophoretic display comprising:

a substrate;

an electrophoretic display medium disposed adjacent said substrate, said display medium comprising a plurality of cavities dispersed in a polymeric matrix, wherein at least one of said plurality of cavities contains an electrophoretic contrast media phase that includes a suspending fluid and at least one charged particle, said charged particle having an optical property; and

two electrodes disposed on said substrate adjacent said at least one of said plurality of cavities and positioned in a spaced apart relationship to one another, wherein a potential difference between said electrodes causes said at least one charged particle to migrate toward at least one of said two electrodes, thereby effecting a change in a visual state of said display.

2. The display of claim 1, wherein said suspending fluid is substantially transparent.

3. The display of claim 1, wherein said at least one charged particle has a black color.

4. The display of claim 1, wherein said at least one charged particle has a white color.

5. The display of claim 1, wherein one of said two electrodes is substantially transparent.

6. The display of claim 1, wherein both of said two electrodes are substantially transparent.

7. The display of claim 1, wherein said two electrodes differ in an optical property.

8. The display of claim 7, wherein one of the electrodes is black and the other electrode is white.

9. The display of claim 8, wherein said at least one charged particle is black and wherein application of a first voltage potential to said black electrode causes said black particles to migrate within said at least one of said plurality of cavities to a location adjacent said black electrode, causing said at least one of said plurality of cavities to appear substantially white, and wherein application of a second voltage potential to said black electrode causes said black particles to migrate within said at least one of said plurality of cavities to a location adjacent said white electrode causing said at least one of said plurality of cavities to appear substantially black.

10. An electrophoretic display comprising:

an electrophoretic display medium comprising a plurality of cavities dispersed in a polymeric matrix, wherein at least one of said plurality of cavities contains an electrophoretic contrast media phase that includes a suspending fluid and at least one particle having a first optical property;

two electrodes adjacent said electrophoretic display medium, each electrode having a second optical property; and

at least one electrode having said first optical property adjacent said electrophoretic display medium, wherein application of a voltage potential to said two electrodes causes the at least one of said plurality of cavities to change visual state.

11. The electrophoretic display of claim 10, wherein said two electrodes differ in an optical property.

12. The electrophoretic display of claim 10, wherein said suspending fluid is dyed.

13. The electrophoretic display of claim 10, wherein said suspending fluid is substantially transparent.

14. The electrophoretic display of claim 10 wherein said at least one particle has a black color.

15. The electrophoretic display of claim 10 wherein said at least one electrode is substantially transparent.