Abstract: The performance of electro-wetting displays can be improved by: (a) providing a concealment member (112) which conceals the moving fluid (108) when that fluid (108) is confined to a small area; (b) using the moving fluid to cover one or more sections of a filter or reflector having differently-colored sections; (c) moving the moving fluid between the rear surface and a side surface of a microcell; (d) using as a substrate for a moving fluid a substrate resistant to wetting by the fluid but pierced by multiple conductive vias capped with a material wetted by the fluid; and (e) coloring the moving fluid with pigments or nanoparticles.

Abstract: A data structure for use in controlling a bistable electro-optic display having a plurality of pixels comprises a pixel data storage area storing, for each pixel of the display, data representing initial and desired final states of the pixel, and a drive scheme index number representing the drive scheme to be applied; and a drive scheme storage area storing data representing at least all the drive schemes denoted by the drive scheme index numbers stored in the pixel data storage area. A corresponding method of driving a bistable electro-optic display using such a data structure is also provided.

Abstract: A dielectrophoretic display comprises a substrate having walls defining at least one cavity, the cavity having a viewing surface and a side wall inclined to the viewing surface; a suspending fluid contained within the cavity; a plurality of at least one type of particle suspended within the suspending fluid; and means for applying to the fluid an electric field effective to cause dielectrophoretic movement of the particles to the side wall of the cavity.

Abstract: Electrophoretic display units (1) comprising pixels (11) situated between common electrodes (6) and pixel electrodes (5) need, for shortening the total image update times, increased driving voltages across the pixels (11) which endanger transistors (12) coupled to the pixel electrodes (5). These increased driving voltage (V6) to the common electrode (6). To protect the transistors (12) against these increased driving voltages, a setting signal (S1, S2) is supplied to the pixel electrode (5) via the transistor (12) for reducing a voltage across the pixel (11) resulting from a transition in the alternating voltage signal (V6). During driving frame periods (Fd) data pulses (D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, D6) are supplied, and during setting frame periods (Fs), the setting signals (S1, S2) are supplied.

Abstract: A bistable electro-optic display is updated by writing an image on the display using a first drive scheme capable of driving pixels to multiple gray levels, and thereafter varied using a second drive scheme using only two gray levels, at least one of which is not an extreme optical state of the pixel.

Abstract: An electrophoretic medium comprises at least one electrically charged particle dispersed posed in a fluid. The electrically charged particle comprises an inorganic black pigment having a surface area of at least about 7 m2/g. Preferred pigments are magnetite and mixed metal oxides containing two or more of iron, chromium, nickel, manganese, copper and cobalt, for example copper iron manganese oxide spinel and copper chromium manganese oxide spinel. The inorganic black pigment may bear a polymer coating.

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.

Abstract: An electro-optic display comprises a backplane; a layer of electro-optic material disposed adjacent the backplane; a protective layer; and a sealing layer of a metal or a ceramic extending between the backplane and the protective layer, and thus sealing the layer of electro-optic material from the outside environment.

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. The core may be titania and the shell may be 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. The particles may have a polymer coating.

Abstract: A first electro-optic display comprises first and second substrates, and an adhesive layer and a layer of electro-optic material disposed between the first and second substrates, the adhesive layer comprising a mixture of a polymeric adhesive material and a hydroxyl containing polymer having a number average molecular weight not greater than about 5000. A second electro-optic display is similar to the first but has an adhesive layer comprising a thermally-activated cross-linking agent to reduce void growth when the display is subjected to temperature changes. A third electro-optic display, intended for writing with a stylus or similar instrument, is produced by forming a layer of an electro-optic material on an electrode; depositing a substantially solvent-free polymerizable liquid material over the electro-optic material; and polymerizing the polymerizable liquid material.

Abstract: A pixel of an electrophoretic display is driven from one extreme optical state to a second optical state different from the one extreme optical state by applying to the pixel a first drive pulse of one polarity; and thereafter applying to the pixel a second drive pulse of the opposite polarity, the second drive pulse being effective to drive the pixel to the second optical state.

Abstract: An electronic display comprises an electro-optic material (preferably an electrophoretic medium) having a plurality of pixels, and separate first, second and third sets of addressing means for addressing these pixels. Each of the pixels is associated with one addressing means in each of the three sets, such that addressing of any specific pixel requires application of signals within predetermined ranges to each of the three addressing means associated with the specific pixel being addressed. The display may be in the form of a multi-page electronic book.

Abstract: An electrophoretic medium (102) comprises a plurality of capsules (104), each capsule comprising an internal phase comprising a plurality of electrophoretically mobile particles (106, 108) in a gaseous suspending medium, and a capsule wall surrounding the internal phase. Various processes for producing such an electrophoretic medium are also described.

Abstract: A method and system for applying addressing voltages to pixels of a display involves receiving input data. The input data includes an indication of an addressing voltage impulse to be applied to a pixel via an electrode. One or more voltage sources are selected, to provide the addressing voltage impulse. The one or more voltage sources each have a pre-selected voltage, The selected one or more voltage sources are electrically connected to an electrode to apply the addressing voltage impulse to the pixel. The invention also provides a method of driving an electro-optic display which uses an intermediate image of reduced bit depth, and a method of driving an electro-optic display which uses a limited number of differing drive voltages, with higher voltage pulses being used before lower voltage pulses.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and materials for controlling stability and color intensity in an electrophoretic display element. Filler particles in the electrophoretic display element, serves as a medium that the electrophoretic particles must travel through during switching between optical states of the display. The filler particles provide improved control over the color intensity of the electrophoretic display element. In addition, the filler particles create resistance to the migration of the electrophoretic particles, thereby improving the bistability of the electrophoretic displays and inhibiting settling of the electrophoretic particles. Also, migration resistance provided by the filler particles can enable threshold addressing of an electrophoretic display.

Abstract: A process for producing a color electro-optic display uses an electro-optic sub-assembly comprising an electro-optic layer and a light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer. This sub-assembly is laminated to a backplane comprising a plurality of electrodes with the electro-optic layer disposed between the backplane and the electrically-conductive layer. A flowable material is placed over the sub-assembly and a color filter array is placed over the electrically-conductive layer and aligned with the electrodes of the backplane to form the color electro-optic display.

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.

Abstract: A backplane for an electro-optic display comprises a pixel electrode (104), a voltage supply line (C) arranged to supply a voltage to the pixel electrode (104), and a micromechanical switch (106, 112) disposed between the voltage supply line (C) and the pixel electrode (104), the micromechanical switch (106, 112) having an open state, in which the voltage supply line (C) is not electrically connected to the pixel electrode (104), and a closed state, in which the voltage supply line (C) is electrically connected to the pixel electrode (104).

Abstract: A front plane laminate useful in the manufacture of electro-optic displays comprises, in order, a light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer, a layer of an electro-optic medium in electrical contact with the electrically-conductive layer, an adhesive layer and a release sheet. This front plane laminate can be prepared as a continuous web, cut to size, the release sheet removed and the laminate laminated to a backplane to form a display. Methods for providing conductive vias through the electro-optic medium and for testing the front plane laminate are also described.

Abstract: A front plane laminate useful in the manufacture of electro-optic displays comprises, in order, a light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer, a layer of an electro-optic medium in electrical contact with the electrically-conductive layer, an adhesive layer and a release sheet. This front plane laminate can be prepared as a continuous web, cut to size, the release sheet removed and the laminate laminated to a backplane to form a display. Methods for providing conductive vias through the electro-optic medium and for testing the front plane laminate are also described.