Electronically addressable microencapsulated ink and display thereof

• US 8,035,886 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2006
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: E Ink Corporation (E Ink Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: E Ink Corporation (E Ink Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Jacobson, Joseph M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Choi; William C
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRA, TUYEN Q
• Application Number:
  US11/555,833
• Publication Number:
  US 20070057908A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,804 Days
• Field of Search: 359/296, 345/105, 345/107, 345/49, 430/32, 430/34, 430/38, 204/450, 204/600
• US Class Current: 359/296
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/01 Ink jet
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/02 generating a continuous 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: C09D 11/50 Sympathetic, colour changing or similar 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 1/1334 based on polymer dispersed liquid crystals, e.g. microencapsulated liquid crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13439 characterised by their electrical, optical, physical properties; materials therefor; method of making
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/167 by electrophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/16757 Microcapsules
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1679 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells; Filling or closing of cells
• 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: G09F 9/372 the positions of the elements being controlled by the application of an electric field
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/04 Electronic labels
• 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: 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

Abstract

A system of electronically active inks is described which may include electronically addressable contrast media, conductors, insulators, resistors, semiconductive materials, magnetic materials, spin materials, piezoelectric materials, optoelectronic, thermoelectric or radio frequency materials. We further describe a printing system capable of laying down said materials in a definite pattern. Such a system may be used for instance to: print a flat panel display complete with onboard drive logic; print a working logic circuit onto any of a large class of substrates; print an electrostatic or piezoelectric motor with onboard logic and feedback or print a working radio transmitter or receiver.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing an electrophoretic display comprising:

providing a substrate having a plurality of cavities therein;

placing in the plurality of cavities a liquid suspension comprising electrophoretic particles having an optical property;

placing in the plurality of cavities a polymerizable species; and

exposing the polymerizable species to a stimulus effective to cause polymerization of the species, thereby forming a solid which seals the plurality of cavities.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the substrate is flexible.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the stimulus comprises a radiation source.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the radiation source comprises an ultraviolet light source or a heat source.

5. A method according to claim 3 wherein the exposure to the radiation source is effected through a photomask.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the stimulus comprises addition of a polymer-building block or a cross-linking agent.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the liquid suspension comprises a first species of electrophoretic particles having a first optical property and a second species of electrophoretic particles having a second optical property different from the first optical property.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the first and second species of electrophoretic particles are oppositely charged.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein the liquid suspension further comprises a dielectric solvent.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein the dielectric solvent is adapted to facilitate bistability of the liquid suspension.