Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm David J. Cole
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Patent number: 7545358Abstract: An electro-optic display comprises a bistable electro-optic medium, a plurality of pixel electrodes, with associated non-linear elements, and a common electrode, disposed on opposed sides of the electro-optic medium. The display has a writing mode, in which at least two different voltages are applied to different pixel electrodes, and a non-writing mode in which the voltages applied to the pixel electrodes are controlled so that any image previously written on the electro-optic medium is substantially maintained. The display is arranged to apply to the common electrode a first voltage when the display is in its writing mode and a second voltage, different from the first voltage, when the display is in its non-writing mode.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2006Date of Patent: June 9, 2009Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Holly G. Gates, Karl R. Amundson
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Patent number: 7535624Abstract: An electro-optic display comprises a layer (130) of a solid electro-optic material, at least one electrode disposed adjacent the layer (130) of electro-optic material, and a layer (180) of a lamination adhesive interposed between the layer (130) of electro-optic material and the electrode, the lamination adhesive (180) having a higher electrical conductivity in a direction perpendicular to the layer of lamination adhesive than in the plane of the layer.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2006Date of Patent: May 19, 2009Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Karl R. Amundson, Robert W. Zehner, Richard M. Webber, Katherine Geramita, Libing Zhang, Andrew L. Loxley, Gregg M. Duthaler, John E. Ritter, Michael L. Steiner, Mavyn M. Holman, Justin J. Abramson, Glen Crossley
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Patent number: 7532388Abstract: A first electrophoretic medium comprises an electrically charged particle suspended in a suspending fluid, the particle having a polymeric shell having repeating units derived from at least one monomer the homopolymer of which is incompatible with the suspending fluid. A second, similar electrophoretic medium comprises a suspending fluid, and first and second types of electrically charged particle suspended in the suspending fluid, the two types of particle having differing optical characteristics but both having polymeric shells. The polymeric shells are arranged such that homoaggregation of the two types of particles is thermodynamically favored over heteroaggregation.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2007Date of Patent: May 12, 2009Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Thomas H. Whitesides, Qingye Zhou, Robert W. Zehner, Karl R. Amundson, Suzanne Balko, Alberto Goenaga, Peter Valianatos, Charles Howie Honeyman, Elizabeth M. Gates, Matthew A. King, Russell J. Wilcox
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Patent number: 7528822Abstract: An electro-optic display, having at least one pixel capable of achieving any one of at least four different gray levels including two extreme optical states, is driven by displaying a first image on the display, and rewriting the display to display a second image thereon, wherein, during the rewriting of the display, any pixel which has undergone a number of transitions exceeding a predetermined value without touching an extreme optical state, is driven to at least one extreme optical state before driving that pixel to its final optical state in the second image.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2004Date of Patent: May 5, 2009Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Karl R. Amundson, Robert W. Zehner, Ara N. Knaian, Benjamin Zion
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Patent number: 7513813Abstract: An electrophoretic medium consists of a plurality of discrete droplets (104) in a polymeric binder (106?): each droplet (104) itself has a plurality of electrophoretic particles dispersed in a suspending fluid. An encapsulated electrophoretic display is produced by laminating the electrophoretic medium to a backplane (110) having at least one electrode at a temperature such that the polymeric binder (106?) flows and secures the electrophoretic medium to the backplane (110).Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2006Date of Patent: April 7, 2009Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Richard J. Paolini, Jr., Thomas H. Whitesides, Steven J. O'Neil, Gregg M. Duthaler
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Patent number: 7492497Abstract: A light modulator comprises a plurality of discrete variable transmission electro-optic layers arranged so that light will pass successively through the plurality of layers; the light modulator has a higher transmission range than any of the individual electro-optic layers separately.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2007Date of Patent: February 17, 2009Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Richard J. Paolini, Jr., Shamus Ford Patry
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Patent number: 7492339Abstract: A bistable electro-optic display having at least one pixel is driven using a waveform V(t) such that: J = ? 0 T ? V ? ( t ) ? M ? ( T - t ) ? ? t (where T is the length of the waveform, the integral is over the duration of the waveform, V(t) is the waveform voltage as a function of time t, and M(t) is a memory function that characterizes the reduction in efficacy of the remnant voltage to induce dwell-time-dependence arising from a short pulse at time zero) is less than about 1 volt sec.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2005Date of Patent: February 17, 2009Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventor: Karl R. Amundson
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Patent number: 7477444Abstract: A polyurethane is formed from an isocyanate and a polyester diol having a molecular weight less than about 2000, or a polyester diol comprising two polyester diol segments connected by a steric hindrance group, each of the polyester diol segments having a molecular weight less than about 2000. The polyurethane is useful as a binder in electro-optic displays, and in components used to form such displays.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2006Date of Patent: January 13, 2009Assignee: E Ink Corporation & Air Products and Chemical, Inc.Inventors: Lan Cao, David Miller, Eric H. Klingenberg, Shafiq N. Fazel, Jared Bender
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Patent number: 7453445Abstract: An electro-optic display is driven using a plurality of different drive schemes. The waveforms of the drive schemes are chosen such that the absolute value of the net impulse applied to a pixel for all homogeneous and heterogeneous irreducible loops divided by the number of transitions in the loop is less than about 20 percent of the characteristic impulse (i.e., the average of the absolute values of the impulses required to drive a pixel between its two extreme optical states).Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2006Date of Patent: November 18, 2008Assignee: E Ink CorproationInventor: Karl R. Amundson
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Patent number: 7442587Abstract: A non-linear element is formed on a flexible substrate by securing the substrate to a rigid carrier, forming the non-linear element, and then separating the flexible substrate from the carrier. The process allows flexible substrates to be processed in a conventional fab intended to process rigid substrates. In a second method, a transistor is formed on a insulating substrate by forming gate electrodes, depositing a dielectric layer, a semiconductor layer and a conductive layer, patterning the conductive layer to form source, drain and pixel electrodes, covering the channel region of the resultant transistor with an etch-resistant material and etching using the etch-resistant material and the conductive layer as a mask, the etching extending substantially through the semiconductor layer between adjacent transistors.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2006Date of Patent: October 28, 2008Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Karl R. Amundson, Guy M. Danner, Gregg M. Duthaler, Peter T. Kazlas, Yu Chen, Kevin L. Denis, Nathan R. Kane, Andrew P. Ritenour
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Patent number: 7443571Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2007Date of Patent: October 28, 2008Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Richard D. LeCain, Ara N. Knaian, Steven J. O'Neil, Gregg M. Duthaler, Guy M. Danner, Robert W. Zehner, Alberto Goenaga, Benjamin Max Davis, Randolph W. Chan, Jonathan D. Albert, Glen Crossley
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Patent number: 7420549Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2004Date of Patent: September 2, 2008Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Joseph M. Jacobson, Thomas H. Whitesides, Michael D. McCreary, Richard J. Paolini, Jr.
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Patent number: 7411719Abstract: A two-phase electrophoretic medium comprises a continuous phase and a discontinuous phase. The discontinuous phase comprises a plurality of droplets, each of which comprises a suspending fluid and at least one particle disposed within the suspending fluid and capable of moving through the fluid upon application of an electric field to the electrophoretic medium. The continuous phase surrounds and encapsulates the discontinuous phase. To reduce the humidity sensitivity of the medium, a non-ionizable or crystalline polymer may be used as the continuous phase.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2005Date of Patent: August 12, 2008Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Richard J. Paolini, Jr., David Miller, Barrett Comiskey, Joseph M. Jacobson, Bin Wu, Charles Howie Honeyman, Jian Lin
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Patent number: 7411720Abstract: In electrophoretic media, it is advantageous to use pigment particles having about 1 to 15 per cent by weight of a polymer chemically bonded to, or cross-linked around, the pigment particles. The polymer desirably has a branched chain structure with side chains extending from a main chain. Charged or chargeable groups can be incorporated into the polymer or can be bonded to the particles separately from the polymer. The polymer-coated particles can be prepared by first attaching a polymerizable or polymerization-initiating group to the particle and then reacting the particle with one or more polymerizable monomers or oligomers.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2007Date of Patent: August 12, 2008Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Charles Howie Honeyman, Elizabeth Moran Gates, Libing Zhang, Anthony Edward Pullen, Emily J. Pratt, Kimberly L. Houde, Matthew A. King, Craig A. Herb, Richard J. Paolini, Jr.
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Patent number: 7391555Abstract: Disclosed herein are novel electrophoretic displays and materials useful in fabricating such displays. In particular, novel encapsulated displays are disclosed. Particles encapsulated therein are dispersed within a suspending, or electrophoretic, fluid. This fluid may be a mixture of two or more fluids or may be a single fluid. The displays may further comprise particles dispersed in a suspending fluid, wherein the particles contain a liquid. In either case, the suspending fluid may have a density or refractive index substantially matched to that of the particles dispersed therein. Finally, also disclosed herein are electro-osmotic displays. These displays comprise at least one capsule containing either a cellulosic or gel-like internal phase and a liquid phase, or containing two or more immiscible fluids. Application of electric fields to any of the electrophoretic displays described herein affects an optical property of the display.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2006Date of Patent: June 24, 2008Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Jonathan D. Albert, Barrett Comiskey
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Patent number: 7388572Abstract: A backplane for an electro-optic display comprises a plurality of pixel electrodes, and an adhesive layer disposed adjacent the backplane, the adhesive layer comprising a plurality of pixel regions disposed adjacent the pixel electrodes of the backplane, and at least one inter-pixel region disposed between two pixels of the backplane, the at least one inter-pixel region having at least one of a lower dielectric constant and a higher volume resistivity than the pixel regions of the adhesive layer.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2005Date of Patent: June 17, 2008Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Gregg M. Duthaler, Guy M. Danner, Jason C. Pinto, Justin J. Abramson, David Miller, John Atkinson, Alain Bouchard
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Patent number: 7382363Abstract: A mounted display assembly comprises a flexible substrate that supports both display elements and control circuits. The display assembly generally comprises: an electrical connection formed on the flexible substrate, the electrical connection having first and second contact pads; a display element in electrical communication with the first contact pad; and a control circuit mounted on the flexible substrate and in electrical communication with the second contact pad. In a preferred embodiment, the display element comprises a microencapsulated electrophoretic display medium. In another preferred embodiment, printing processes are employed in manufacturing methods for the display assembly.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2005Date of Patent: June 3, 2008Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Jonathan D. Albert, Holly G. Gates
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Patent number: 7375875Abstract: A first electrophoretic medium comprises an electrically charged particle suspended in a suspending fluid, the particle having a polymeric shell having repeating units derived from at least one monomer the homopolymer of which is incompatible with the suspending fluid. A second, similar electrophoretic medium comprises a suspending fluid, and first and second types of electrically charged particle suspended in the suspending fluid, the two types of particle having differing optical characteristics but both having polymeric shells. The polymeric shells are arranged such that homoaggregation of the two types of particles is thermodynamically favored over heteroaggregation.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2007Date of Patent: May 20, 2008Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Thomas H. Whitesides, Qingye Zhou, Russell J. Wilcox
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Patent number: 7365733Abstract: 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).Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2003Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Gregg M. Duthaler, Robert W. Zehner, Charles H. Honeyman, Kevin L. Denis, Matthew A. King, Jianna Wang
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Patent number: 7365394Abstract: Transistors are formed by depositing at least one layer of semiconductor material on a substrate comprising a polyphenylene polyimide. The substrate permits the use of processing temperatures in excess of 300° C. during the processes used to form the transistors, thus allowing the formation of high quality silicon semiconductor layers. The substrate also has a low coefficient of thermal expansion, which closely matches that of silicon, thus reducing any tendency for a silicon layer to crack or delaminate.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2004Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Kevin L Denis, Yu Chen, Paul S Drzaic, Joseph M Jacobson, Peter T Kazlas