Particles for use in electrophoretic displays

• US 8,018,640 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2007
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: E Ink Corporation (E Ink Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: E Ink Corporation (E Ink Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Oleson, Andrew Y., Whitesides, Thomas H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Choi; William C
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRA, TUYEN Q
• Application Number:
  US11/776,633
• Publication Number:
  US 20080013156A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,524 Days
• Field of Search: 359/296, 359265-275, 345/107, 345/105, 252/582, 252/586, 136/263
• US Class Current: 359/296
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/167 by electrophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2982 Particulate matter [e.g., sphere, flake, etc.]

Abstract

A particle for use in an electrophoretic display comprises a light-scattering inorganic core and a light-transmissive colored shell of an organic pigment. In preferred particles, the core is titania and the shell is formed of particles having an average particle size less than 700 nm. The particles are produced by treating a light-scattering inorganic pigment with a polymer which adsorbs on both the inorganic pigment and an organic pigment; and adding the organic pigment and allowing the organic pigment to mix with the polymer-coated inorganic pigment.

Claims

1. A particle for use in an electrophoretic display, the particle comprising a light-scattering inorganic core and a light-transmissive colored shell of an organic pigment;

wherein the light-scattering inorganic core comprises titania.

2. A particle according to claim 1 wherein the organic pigment has an average particle size less than about 700 nm.

3. A particle according to claim 1 wherein the organic pigment has an average particle size less than about 250 nm.

4. A particle according to claim 1 wherein the organic pigment has an average particle size less than about 100 nm.

5. An electrophoretic medium comprising a fluid and at least one electrically charged particle disposed in the fluid and capable of moving therethrough on application of an electric field to the fluid, wherein the at least one electrically charged particle is a particle according to claim 1.

6. An electrophoretic medium according to claim 5 wherein the organic pigment has an average particle size less than about 700 nm.

7. An electrophoretic medium according to claim 6 wherein the organic pigment has an average particle size less than about 250 nm.

8. An electrophoretic medium according to claim 5 wherein the fluid and the at least one electrically charged particle are confined with one or more capsules or microcells.

9. An electrophoretic medium according to claim 5 wherein the fluid and the at least one electrically charged particle are present as a plurality of discrete droplets surrounded by a continuous phase comprising a polymeric material.

10. An electrophoretic medium according to claim 5 comprising two different types of electrically charged particles bearing charges of opposing polarity.

11. An electrophoretic display comprising an electrophoretic medium according to claim 5 and at least one electrode arranged to apply an electric field to the electrophoretic medium.

12. An electronic book reader, portable computer, tablet computer, cellular telephone, smart card, sign, watch, shelf label or flash drive comprising a display according to claim 11.