Methods for achieving improved color in microencapsulated electrophoretic devices

• US 9,293,511 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2009
• Issued: 03/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: E Ink Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: E Ink Holdings Incorporated
• Inventors: Jacobson, Joseph M., Morrison, Ian D., Wilcox, Russell J., Drzaic, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Talbot, Brian K
• Application Number:
  US12/609,158
• Publication Number:
  US 20100103502A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,335 Days
• Field of Search: 427/58, 427/64, 345/107, 359/296
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 5/06 to obtain multicolour or other optical effects B05D5/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/2117 Ejecting white liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/4073 Printing on three-dimensional objects not being in sheet or web form, e.g. spherical or cubic objects B41J3/283, B41J3/286 take precedence; building up a 3D object using individual droplets from jetting heads B29C64/112
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/4076 printing on rewritable, bistable "electronic paper" by a focused electric or magnetic field
• 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 1/1334 based on polymer dispersed liquid crystals, e.g. microencapsulated liquid crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/167 by electrophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/16757 Microcapsules
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2202/28 Adhesive materials or arrangements
• 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: 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

A method for manufacturing a full color, reflective display includes the steps of depositing a first plurality of electrophoretic display elements in substantial registration with a first electrode and a second plurality of electrophoretic display elements in substantial registration with a second electrode. The electrophoretic display elements include a capsule containing a species of particles dispersed in a suspending fluid. The selective deposition of the display elements can be achieved by ink-jet printing methods, screen printing methods or other printing methods. In some embodiments the electrodes are printed onto the substrate before selective deposition of the display elements, while in other embodiments the substrate is provided having the electrodes already disposed on it. In still other embodiments, the sequence of printing of electrodes and electrophoretic display elements can be varied.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a color electrophoretic display comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a substrate having at least two electrodes disposed thereon;

(b) selectively depositing a first plurality of electrophoretic display elements in substantial registration with a first electrode, each of said first plurality of display elements comprising a capsule containing a plurality of a first species of particles, said first species of particles responsive to a first applied electric field and having a first optical property; and

(c) selectively depositing a second plurality of electrophoretic display elements in substantial registration with a second electrode, each of said second plurality of display elements comprising a capsule containing a plurality of a second species of particles, said second species of particles responsive to a second applied electric field and having a second optical property.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) comprises the step of:

providing a substrate having at least two electrodes disposed thereon, at least one of said at least two electrodes having a pre-determined pattern.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises:

(b-a) providing a carrier bearing a first plurality of electrophoretic display elements, each of said first plurality of display elements comprising a capsule containing a plurality of a first species of particles, said first species of particles responsive to a first applied electric field and having a first optical property;

(b-b) disposing said carrier adjacent said substrate; and

(b-c) applying an electrical signal to said at least one electrode to transfer at least some of said first plurality of electrophoretic display elements from said carrier to said substrate in substantial registration with said at least one electrode.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein step (b-a) comprises providing a carrier bearing a first plurality of electrophoretic display elements, each of said first plurality of display elements comprising a capsule containing a plurality of a first species of particles and a dyed fluid, said first species of particles responsive to a first applied electric field and having a first optical property.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said first plurality of electrophoretic display elements is held upon said carrier by an applied electric field.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein said first plurality of electrophoretic display elements is held upon said carrier by electrostatic forces.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein said first plurality of electrophoretic display elements is held upon said carrier by chemical bonding forces.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein said first plurality of electrophoretic display elements is held upon said carrier by surface tension.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein step (b-a) comprises providing a carrier having a substantially flat surface, and bearing a first plurality of electrophoretic display elements, each of said first plurality of display elements comprising a capsule containing a plurality of a first species of particles, said first species of particles responsive to a first applied electric field and having a first optical property.

10. The method of claim 3, wherein step (b-a) comprises providing a carrier having a substantially cylindrical surface, and bearing a first plurality of display electrophoretic elements, each of said first plurality of display elements comprising a capsule containing a plurality of a first species of particles, said first species of particles responsive to a first applied electric field and having a first optical property.

11. The method of claim 3, wherein step (b-a) comprises providing a carrier that is a fluid, bearing a first plurality of electrophoretic display elements, each of said first plurality of display elements comprising a capsule containing a plurality of a first species of particles, said first species of particles responsive to a first applied electric field and having a first optical property.

12. A method of manufacturing an electrophoretic display comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a substrate;

(b) selectively depositing upon said substrate at least two electrodes;

(c) selectively depositing a first plurality of electrophoretic display elements in substantial registration with a first electrode, each of said first plurality of display elements comprising a capsule containing a plurality of a first species of particles, said first species of particles responsive to a first applied electric field and having a first optical property; and

(d) selectively depositing a second plurality of electrophoretic display elements in substantial registration with a second electrode, each of said second plurality of display elements comprising a capsule containing a plurality of a second species of particles, said second species of particles responsive to a second applied electric field and having a second optical property.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein step (b) comprises selectively depositing in a pre-determined pattern upon said substrate at least two electrodes.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein step (c) comprises selectively depositing upon, and in substantial registration with, a first electrode a first plurality of electrophoretic display elements, each of said first plurality of display elements comprising a capsule containing a plurality of a first species of particles, said first species of particles responsive to a first applied electric field and having a first optical property.