Electro-optic displays, and processes for their production

• US 8,902,153 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2011
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: E Ink Corporation (E Ink Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: E Ink Corporation (E Ink Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bouchard, Alain, Whitesides, Thomas H., Walls, Michael D., Dudek, Steven P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lester, Evelyn A.
• Application Number:
  US13/032,914
• Publication Number:
  US 20110310461A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,378 Days
• Field of Search: 345/22, 345/589, 345/592, 345/593, 345/597, 345/600, 345/605, 345/695, 345/72, 345/83, 345/88, 345/107, 348/196, 348/223.1, 348/225.1, 348/256, 348/259, 348/266, 348/268, 348/269, 348/271, 348/273, 348/274, 348277-279, 348/335, 348/336, 348/742, 348/743, 348/816, 348/817, 382/162, 382/164, 382/167, 382/260, 359/296
• US Class Current: 345/107
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/167 by electrophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/52 RGB geometrical arrangements

Abstract

A color display has continuous areas of a single color covering a plurality of sub-pixel electrodes. Each sub-pixel of a given color has sub-pixels of the same given color disposed along at least two of its adjacent edges. Each area of a single color may cover a 2×2 array of sub-pixel electrodes. The colors used may be red/green/blue/white (RGBW), red/green/blue/yellow (RGBY), or orange/lime/purple/white.

Claims

1. A color display having areas of at least three different colors, the areas of different colors forming continuous areas of a single color each covering a plurality of sub-pixel electrodes, the continuous areas of a single color and the sub-pixel electrodes being arranged such that the sub-pixels are rectangular and each sub-pixel of a given color has sub-pixels of the same given color disposed along at least two of its adjacent edges;

the color display having continuous areas of three different colors, the continuous areas of a first color having the form of a series of spaced parallel stripes and the continuous areas of the second and third colors having the form of alternating rectangles of the second and third colors disposed in the spaces between the spaced parallel stripes of the first color.

2. A color display according to claim 1 having continuous areas of four different colors, each continuous area of a single color covering a 2×

2 array of sub-pixel electrodes.

3. A color display according to claim 1 having red, green and blue colored areas.

4. A color display according to claim 1 having orange, lime and purple colored areas.

5. A color display according to claim 1 comprising a color filter array superposed on an electro-optic medium having light and dark optical states.

6. A color display according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of colored areas are provided by a plurality of differing electrophoretic media, whereby each of the differing electrophoretic media is capable of displaying at least one of white and black, and a color other than black or white.

7. A color display according to claim 1 comprising an electrophoretic material comprising a plurality of electrically charged particles disposed in a fluid and capable of moving through the fluid under the influence of an electric field.

8. A color display according to claim 7 wherein the electrically charged particles and the fluid are confined within a plurality of capsules or micro cells.

9. A color display according to claim 7 wherein the electrically charged particles and the fluid are present as a plurality of discrete droplets surrounded by a continuous phase comprising a polymeric material.

10. A color display according to claim 7 wherein the fluid is gaseous.

11. 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 1.