Patents Assigned to E Ink Corporation
  • Polymer formulations for use with electro-optic media
    Patent number: 10150899
    Abstract: Polymer formulations including urethane acrylates, adhesion promoters, and conductive monomers. By selecting suitable conductive monomers, it is possible to achieve formulations having a volume resistivity from 106 to 1010 Ohm·cm after being conditioned for one week at 25° C. and 50% relative humidity. Such formulations are suitable for incorporation into electro-optic materials, such as electro-optic displays or variable transmission films, e.g., for architectural applications. In other embodiments, the formulations additionally include metal oxide nanoparticles to alter the refractive index and/or conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Carsten Bailey Widger, Lynne A. McCullough, Russell J. Dewitte, Richard J. Paolini, Jr., Thomas Fauvell, Jonathan Kim Nguyen, Eugene Bzowej
  • Wearable apparatus having a flexible electrophoretic display
    Patent number: 10146261
    Abstract: A flexible, wearable apparatus comprising a flexible display, a support member and a retainer. In some embodiments, the flexible, wearable apparatus can be used in a flat or rounded configuration. In some embodiments, the flexible support member is formed to provide a substantially planar viewing surface for the electrophoretic display when the flexible, wearable apparatus is in a rounded state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Keisuke Hashimoto, Kenji Nakazawa
  • Electrophoretic particle, method of manufacturing electrophoretic particle, electrophoresis dispersion liquid, electrophoresis sheet, electrophoresis device, and electronic apparatus
    Patent number: 10113072
    Abstract: An electrophoretic particle includes a base particle (particle), a first compound, a second compound, and a third compound bonded to the base particle. The first compound is a polymer having a dispersion portion derived from a first monomer, and a bonding portion derived from a second monomer, and is connected to the base particle at the bonding portion. The second compound includes a non-polar group and a second functional group and is connected to the base particle at the second functional group. The third compound includes a charging group and a second functional group and is connected to the base particle at the second functional group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Keiichi Inoue, Shinobu Yokokawa, Kiyoshi Nakamura, Tomoyuki Ushiyama, Masahiko Nakazawa
  • Methods for sealing microcell containers with phenethylamine mixtures
    Patent number: 10087344
    Abstract: A method for sealing a container having an opening by contacting the opening with a mixture including a phenethylamine and a first polymer, adding a fluid to be contained to the container, and then adding a second mixture, comprising a second polymer, whereupon an interaction between the first and second polymer mixtures result in a seal being formed over the opening, thereby containing the fluid. The first polymer is typically a water-swellable polymer and the second polymer is typically a hydrophilic polymer that will form an interpenetrating network with the swellable polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventor: Isaac W. Moran
  • Electro-optic displays, and materials for use therein
    Patent number: 10048563
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Richard J. Paolini, Jr., Michael D. McCreary, Charles Howie Honeyman, Bin Wu
  • Electro-optic displays, and materials for use therein
    Patent number: 10048564
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Richard J. Paolini, Jr., Michael D. McCreary, Charles Howie Honeyman, Bin Wu
  • Electro-optic assemblies, and adhesives and binders for use therein
    Patent number: 10036930
    Abstract: An electro-optic assembly comprises an adhesive layer and a layer of electro-optic material. The adhesive layer comprises a polymeric adhesive material and an ionic material having either its cation or its anion fixed to the polymeric adhesive material. The ionic material reduces the volume resistivity of the polymeric adhesive material and is not removed upon heating to 50° C. In a similar electro-optic assembly comprising an adhesive layer and a layer of electro-optic material, the adhesive layer comprises a polymeric adhesive material which has been subjected to dialysis or diafiltration to remove organic species having a molecular weight less than about 3,500, so that the adhesive material has a content of N-methylpyrrolidone not exceeding 500 ppm based upon the total weight of the adhesive layer and layer of electro-optic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas H. Whitesides, Lan Cao
  • Active matrix display with dual driving modes
    Patent number: 10037735
    Abstract: An active matrix electro-optic display (100) includes capacitor electrodes (110, 112) associated with the pixel electrodes (106, 108) so that the pixel electrode and its associated capacitor electrode form a capacitor. The display (100) also includes switching means (120) having one position in which each capacitor electrode (110, 112) is electrically connected to the light-transmissive front electrode (102) of the display (100) and a second position in which each capacitor electrode (110, 112) is electrically connected to a voltage source having a voltage independent of the voltage on the light-transmissive electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventor: Karl R. Amundson
  • Electromagnetic writing apparatus for electro-optic displays
    Patent number: 10037089
    Abstract: Particle-based electro-optic displays are described that are both electrically and magnetically controllable. Global and local addressing may be provided. The global addressing may be providing by one or more electrodes of the display, and may be electrically activated. The local addressing may be provided by a writing implement, especially one capable of producing rotating electric fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Seth J. Bishop, Sunil Krishna Sainis, George G. Harris, William Vetterling
  • Electrophoretic particle, electrophoretic particle dispersion liquid, display medium, and display device
    Patent number: 10031394
    Abstract: There is provided an electrophoretic particle which contains a core material particle formed of a composition containing a resin, a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound having any one of an imino group, a methylol group and an alkoxymethyl group in the molecule and a heterocyclic ring having a nitrogen atom, and a coloring agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Nakayama, Yasuo Yamamoto, Naoki Hiji, Mieko Seki, Ryota Mizutani, Chikara Manabe, Cao Jun, Toshihide Aoshima
  • Line segment update method for electro-optic displays
    Patent number: 9996195
    Abstract: A touch screen electro-optic display is arranged such that upon a touch being detected on the display surface, the display surface surrounding the touch “blinks” by being driven to a different optical state, then back to its original state. A second method uses a display having a pen or stylus which can draw lines upon the display. A first line segment is detected and its area updated using a first drive scheme having short waveforms. The area of a second line segment is updated using the first drive scheme. Thereafter, the areas of both line segments are updated using a second drive scheme different from the first drive scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Theodore A. Sjodin, Yuval Ben-Dov, Kenneth R. Crounse, Jason Lin, Karl Raymond Amundson, Michael Patrick Almon, Hugh M. Enxing, Timothy J. O'Malley
  • Composite particles and method for making the same
    Patent number: 9995987
    Abstract: A composite particle is provided that includes a base particle and a plurality of hydrophilic oligomeric groups extending from an exterior portion of the base particle, the base particle including a cross-linked polyurea and at least one of a pigment and a dye. The cross-linked polyurea may form a network throughout the base particle. A method of making the composite particle includes providing either a solution containing a dye or a dispersion containing a pigment in a water-dispersible polyfunctional isocyanate dissolved in a water-miscible solvent, forming an emulsion of the solution/dispersion in water, agitating the emulsion while the polyfunctional isocyanate is converted into a cross-linked polyurea, and separating the composite particle containing the cross-linked polyurea and the dye/pigment from the emulsion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen J. Telfer, Craig A. Herb, Lee Yezek
  • Multi-color electro-optic displays
    Patent number: 9989829
    Abstract: An electro-optic display comprising at least two separate layers of electro-optic material, with one of these layers being capable of displaying at least one optical state which cannot be displayed by the other layer. The display is driven by a single set of electrodes between which both layers are sandwiched, the two layers being controllable at least partially independently of one another. Another form of the invention uses three different types of particles within a single electrophoretic layer, with the three types of particles being arranged to shutter independently of one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen J. Telfer, Richard J. Paolini, Sunil Krishna Sainis, Randal M. Hill, Isaac W. Moran, Lee Yezek, Alain Bouchard, William Vetterling, George G. Harris, Hywel Morgan, Luke Slominski, Jay William Anseth, Jennifer M. Morrison, Craig A. Herb
  • Methods for driving electro-optic displays
    Patent number: 9966018
    Abstract: Methods are provided for of driving a bistable electro-optic display having at least first and second pixels separated by an inter-pixel gap. In one method, there is applied to the first pixel a drive pulse which drives the pixel to one extreme optical state, and there is applied to the second pixel, which is in this extreme optical state, a reinforcing pulse of the same polarity as the drive pulse. In a second method, a drive pulse applied to the first pixel drives that pixel away from one extreme optical state, and an inverse reinforcing pulse applied to the second pixel is of opposite polarity to the drive pulse. The drive methods reduce edge ghosting or blooming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Elizabeth Moran Gates, Karl R. Amundson
  • Electro-optic assemblies, and adhesives and binders for use therein
    Patent number: 9964831
    Abstract: An electro-optic assembly comprises an adhesive layer and a layer of electro-optic material. The adhesive layer comprises a polymeric adhesive material and an ionic material having either its cation or its anion fixed to the polymeric adhesive material. The ionic material reduces the volume resistivity of the polymeric adhesive material and is not removed upon heating to 50° C. In a similar electro-optic assembly comprising an adhesive layer and a layer of electro-optic material, the adhesive layer comprises a polymeric adhesive material which has been subjected to dialysis or diafiltration to remove organic species having a molecular weight less than about 3,500, so that the adhesive material has a content of N-methylpyrrolidone not exceeding 500 ppm based upon the total weight of the adhesive layer and layer of electro-optic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas H. Whitesides
  • Nano-particle based variable transmission devices
    Patent number: 9953588
    Abstract: A variable transmission medium comprises a fluid and a plurality of nanoparticles dispersed in the fluid, wherein addition of acid to the fluid causes the nanoparticles to flocculate and form aggregates of particles that scatter light. The nanoparticles may comprise at least one metal oxide, such as titanium dioxide, zinc oxide or zirconium dioxide. The fluid may have a dielectric constant less than about 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen J. Telfer, Richard J. Paolini, Jr., Stephen Bull, Joshua A. Ritchey, Kosta Ladavac, Lee Yezek, Craig A. Herb, Peter Carsten Bailey Widger
  • Font control for electro-optic displays and related apparatus and methods
    Patent number: 9928810
    Abstract: Methods are described for sequentially rendering fonts at multiple bit depths while reducing differences in visual appearance between the fonts rendered at different bit depths. The same hinting may be used for rendering the font at two different bit depths. Methods for reducing artifacts including edge artifacts also are described, including the use of font masks for updating electro-optic displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Demetrious Mark Harrington, Alain Bouchard, Matthew J. Aprea, Kenneth R. Crounse
  • Colored electrophoretic displays
    Patent number: 9921451
    Abstract: An electrophoretic medium comprises a fluid, a first, light scattering particle (typically white) and second, third and fourth particles having three subtractive primary colors (typically magenta, cyan and yellow); at least two of these colored particles being non-light scattering. The first and second particles bear polymer coatings such that the electric field required to separate an aggregate formed by the third and the fourth particles is greater than that required to separate an aggregate formed from any other two types of particles. Methods for driving the medium to produce white, black, magenta, cyan, yellow, red, green and blue colors are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen J. Telfer, Stephen Bull, Jennifer M. Morrison, Luke M. Slominski, David Darrell Miller, Olga Vladimirovna Barykina-Tassa, Lee Yezek, Brandon MaCDonald, Kosta Ladavac, Craig A. Herb
  • Electro-optic display with edge seal
    Patent number: 9921422
    Abstract: Various types of edge seals for protecting electro-optic displays against environmental contaminants are described. In one type of seal, the electro-optic layer is sandwiched between a backplane and a protective sheet and a sealing material extends between the backplane and the protective sheet. In other seals, the protective sheet is secured to the backplane or to a second protective sheet adjacent the backplane. The electro-optic layer can also be sealed between two layers of adhesive or between one layer of adhesive and the backplane. Other seals make use of flexible tapes extending around the periphery of the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Guy M. Danner, Shamus Ford Patry, Charles Howie Honeyman, Thomas H. Whitesides, Michael D. McCreary, Gregg M. Duthaler
  • Electro-optic media produced using ink jet printing
    Patent number: 9910337
    Abstract: Ink jet printing can be used in the production of electro-optic displays for (a) forming a layer of a polymer-dispersed electrophoretic medium on a substrate; (b) forming a color electro-optic layer; (c) forming a color filter; and (d) printing electrodes and/or associated conductors on a layer of electro-optic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Howie Honeyman, Guy M. Danner