Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm David J. Cole
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Patent number: 7075703Abstract: An electro-optic display (100) comprising a backplane (102), a layer (112) of electro-optic material and a protective layer (128) capable of absorbing ultra-violet radiation and disposed on the opposed side of the layer (112) of electro-optic material from the backplane (102), is provided with an edge seal (130). The protective layer (128) extends beyond the layer (112) of electro-optic material, thus leaving a peripheral gap between the protective layer (128) and the backplane (102). To form the edge seal (130) an uncured edge sealing material curable by radiation transmitted by the protective layer (128) is placed in the gap and cured by transmitting radiation through the protective layer (128).Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2005Date of Patent: July 11, 2006Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Steven J. O'Neil, Gregg M. Duthaler
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Patent number: 7071913Abstract: 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 29, 2001Date of Patent: July 4, 2006Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Jonathan D. Albert, Barrett Comiskey, Joseph M. Jacobson, Libing Zhang, Andrew Loxley, Robert Feeney, Paul Drzaic, Ian Morrison
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Patent number: 7061663Abstract: An encapsulation material, intended for use in encapsulated electrophoretic displays, comprises the coacervation product of a polyanionic polymer having a vinyl main chain and a plurality of anionic groups bonded to the main chain, with a cationic or zwitterionic water-soluble polymer capable of forming an immiscible second phase on contact with the polyanionic polymer.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2005Date of Patent: June 13, 2006Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Lan Cao, Libing Zhang, Charles H. Honeyman, Kimberly L. Houde, Andrew L. Loxley, David D. Miller, Richard J. Paolini, Jr., Tibyron Quinn, Michael L. Steiner, Thomas H. Whitesides
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Patent number: 7038655Abstract: An electrophoretic display has a viewing surface, and includes an image pixel. The image pixel includes a first plurality of particles having a first mobility, and a second plurality of particles having a second mobility. At a first addressing voltage, the first mobility is greater than the second mobility. At a second addressing voltage, the second mobility is greater than the first mobility. At least one of the first and second mobilities is a variable function of voltage, i.e., a function of an applied electric field. Application of the first addressing voltage produces a first optical state, which is determined by a motion of the first plurality of particles. Application of the second addressing voltage produces a second optical state determined by a motion of the second plurality of particles.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2002Date of Patent: May 2, 2006Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Craig A. Herb, Libing Zhang
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Patent number: 7034783Abstract: 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: August 19, 2004Date of Patent: April 25, 2006Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Holly G. Gates, Karl R. Amundson
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Patent number: 7030412Abstract: A thin-film transistor array comprises at least first and second transistors. Each transistor comprises a source electrode, a drain electrode a semiconductor electrode, a gate electrode, and a semiconductor layer. The semiconductor layer is continuous between the first and second transistors. The semiconductor layer is preferably unpatterned. In various display applications, the geometry of the transistors is selected to provide acceptable leakage currents. In a preferred embodiment, the transistor array is employed in an encapsulated electrophoretic display.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2000Date of Patent: April 18, 2006Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Paul S. Drzaic, Karl R. Amundson, Gregg M. Duthaler, Peter T. Kazlas, Yu Chen
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Patent number: 7030854Abstract: A first apparatus for displaying drawings comprises a housing having an aperture, a drawing sheet comprising electro-optic material movable through the aperture between closed and open positions, and a writing device for writing on the sheet as it moved between its closed and open positions. A second apparatus comprises a display member having a viewing surface, support means for supporting this display member above a floor, an electro-optic medium disposed on the display member, and a movable writing head for writing on the electro-optic medium. Another display comprise an optic medium with two display states visible through a viewing surface. A touch screen is disposed on the opposed side of the optic medium from the viewing surface, and the optic medium is deformable such that pressure applied to the viewing surface will be transmitted to the touch screen.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2002Date of Patent: April 18, 2006Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Allan Scott Baucom, Ara N. Knaian, Heather A. Linden, Timothy J. O'Malley, Russell J. Wilcox
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Patent number: 7023420Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2001Date of Patent: April 4, 2006Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Barrett Comiskey, Russell J. Wilcox
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Patent number: 7012600Abstract: A bistable electro-optic display has a plurality of pixels, each of which is capable of displaying at least three gray levels. The display is driven by a method comprising: storing a look-up table containing data representing the impulses necessary to convert an initial gray level to a final gray level; storing data representing at least an initial state of each pixel of the display; receiving an input signal representing a desired final state of at least one pixel of the display; and generating an output signal representing the impulse necessary to convert the initial state of said one pixel to the desired final state thereof, as determined from said look-up table. The invention also provides a method for reducing the remnant voltage of an electro-optic display.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2002Date of Patent: March 14, 2006Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Robert W. Zehner, Holly G. Gates, Karl R. Amundson, Joanna F. Au, Ara N. Knalan, Jonathan L. Zalesky, Alexi C. Arango
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Patent number: 7012735Abstract: An electro-optic display comprises first and second substrates, and an adhesive layer and a layer of electro-optic material disposed between these substrates, the adhesive layer comprising a mixture of a polymeric adhesive material and an additive selected from a salt, a polyelectrolyte, a polymer electrolyte, a solid electrolyte, a conductive metal powder, a ferrofluid, a non-reactive solvent, a conductive organic compound, and combinations thereof. The additive enables the volume resistivity of the adhesive layer to be controlled. Also, in an encapsulated electrophoretic medium comprising capsules in a polymeric binder, the volume resistivity of the binder can be controlled in a similar manner.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2004Date of Patent: March 14, 2006Assignee: E Ink CorporaitonInventors: Charles H. Honeyman, Eva Chen, Eric Howard Klingenberg, Shafiq N. Fazel
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Patent number: 7002728Abstract: Copper chromite particles can advantageously be used as black particles in electrophoretic media and displays. Preferably, the copper chromite particles are coated with a silica coating and a polymer coating.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2004Date of Patent: February 21, 2006Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Anthony Edward Pullen, Thomas H. Whitesides, Charles H. Honeyman, Barrett Comiskey, Jonathan D. Albert
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Patent number: 6995550Abstract: A method for sensing the state of an electrophoretic display includes the steps of applying an electrical signal to a display element, measuring an electrical response for the display element, and deducing the state of the display element from the measured electrical response. Also, the parameters of the display materials are determined using the encapsulated electrophoretic display media as a sensor, either alone or in conjunction with other sensors.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2003Date of Patent: February 7, 2006Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Joseph M. Jacobson, Paul Drzaic, Steven J. O'Neil, Holly G. Gates, Justin Abramson
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Patent number: 6987603Abstract: An electrophoretic display (100) comprises a front light-transmissive substrate (112), a rear substrate (116) spaced from the front substrate (112) so as to leave a cavity, and an electrophoretic medium (102) in the cavity, the electrophoretic medium (102) comprising a liquid external phase (120) and a plurality of capsules (104) suspended in the liquid external phase (120), each of the capsules comprising a capsule wall, a suspending fluid (106) held within the capsule wall and at least one electrically charged particle (108, 110) suspended in the suspending fluid (106).Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2004Date of Patent: January 17, 2006Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Richard J. Paolini, Jr., Robert W. Zehner, Karl R. Amundson, Craig A. Herb, Alexi C. Arango, Andrew L. Loxley
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Patent number: 6982178Abstract: 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 22, 2003Date of Patent: January 3, 2006Assignee: 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: 6958848Abstract: An encapsulation material, intended for use in encapsulated electrophoretic displays, comprises the coacervation product of a polyanionic polymer having a vinyl main chain and a plurality of anionic groups bonded to the main chain, with a cationic or zwitterionic water-soluble polymer capable of forming an immiscible second phase on contact with the polyanionic polymer.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2003Date of Patent: October 25, 2005Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Lan Cao, Charles Howie Honeyman, Kimberly L. Houde, Andrew L. Loxley, David D. Miller, Richard J. Paolini, Jr., Tibyron Quinn, Michael L. Steiner, Thomas H. Whitesides, Libing Zhang
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Patent number: 6950220Abstract: The invention relates to electro-optic displays and methods for driving such displays. The invention provides (i) electrochromic displays with solid charge transport layers; (ii) apparatus and methods for improving the contrast and reducing the cost of electrochromic displays; (iii) apparatus and methods for sealing electrochromic displays from the outside environment and preventing ingress of contaminants into such a display; and (iv) methods for adjusting the driving of electro-optic displays to allow for environmental and operating parameters.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2003Date of Patent: September 27, 2005Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Justin Abramson, Karl R. Amundson, Guy M. Danner, Gregg M. Duthaler, Holly G. Gates, Charles H. Honeyman, Ara N. Knaian, Ian D. Morrison, Steven J. O'Neil, Richard J. Paolini, Jr., Anthony Edward Pullen, Jianna Wang, Jonathan L. Zalesky, Robert W. Zehner, John Edward Cronin
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Patent number: 6922276Abstract: An encapsulated electrophoretic medium comprises a plurality of capsules dispersed in a polymeric binder, each of the capsules comprising a capsule wall, a suspending fluid contained within the capsule wall, and a plurality of electrically charged particles suspended in the suspending fluid and capable of moving therethrough upon application of an electric field to the medium, the polymeric binder having a shear modulus of at least about 10 mPa at 20° C., and preferably over the range of 10-50° C.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2003Date of Patent: July 26, 2005Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Libing Zhang, Mavyn M. Holman, Russell J. Wilcox, Alberto Goenaga, Michael L. Steiner
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Patent number: 6870661Abstract: An electrophoretic medium comprises a plurality of one or more types of particles suspended in a suspending fluid. The particles include at least one electrically charged, electrophoretically mobile particle capable of translating through the suspending fluid upon application of an electric field to the medium and at least one magnetic particle. A magnet is disposed adjacent the electrophoretic medium to introduce a threshold resistance to magnetic particle movement.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2002Date of Patent: March 22, 2005Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Anthony Edward Pullen, Ian D. Morrison, Emily J. Pratt
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Patent number: 6866760Abstract: 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. The discontinuous phase comprises at least about 40 percent by volume of the electrophoretic medium.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2002Date of Patent: March 15, 2005Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Richard J. Paolini Jr., David D. Miller, Barrett Comiskey
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Patent number: 6831769Abstract: An electro-optic display comprises first and second substrates and a lamination adhesive layer and a layer of a solid electro-optic material disposed between the first and second substrates, the lamination adhesive layer having a volume resistivity, measured at 10° C., which does not change by a factor of more than about 3 after being held at 25° C. and 45 percent relative humidity for 1000 hours. The electro-optic material is preferably an encapsulated electrophoretic material. Other desirable characteristics of lamination adhesives for use in electro-optic displays are also described.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2002Date of Patent: December 14, 2004Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Mavyn M. Holman, Justin Abramson, Glen Crossley, Katharine Geramita, Robert W. Zehner, Karl R. Amundson, Libing Zhang, Richard M. Webber