Patents Assigned to E Ink Corporation
  • ELECTRO-WETTING DISPLAYS
    Publication number: 20050151709
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2004
    Publication date: July 14, 2005
    Applicant: E INK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joseph Jacobson, Thomas Whitesides, Michael McCreary, Richard Paolini
  • Electro-optic displays, and method for driving same
    Publication number: 20050152022
    Abstract: Electro-optic media are disclosed containing a plurality of types of electro-optic media within a single layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Publication date: July 14, 2005
    Applicant: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Honeyman, Richard Paolini, Michael Steiner, Thomas Whitesides, Andrew Oleson
  • COMPONENTS AND METHODS FOR USE IN ELECTRO-OPTIC DISPLAYS
    Publication number: 20050146774
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Publication date: July 7, 2005
    Applicant: E INK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard LeCain, Ara Knaian, Steven O'Neil, Gregg Duthaler, Guy Danner, Robert Zehner, Alberto Goenaga, Benjamin Davis, Randolph Chan, Jonathan Albert, Glen Crossley
  • MICROENCAPSULATED ELECTROPHORETIC DISPLAY WITH INTEGRATED DRIVER
    Publication number: 20050134554
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Publication date: June 23, 2005
    Applicant: E INK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jonathan Albert, Holly Gates
  • MACHINE-READABLE DISPLAYS
    Publication number: 20050122564
    Abstract: A reflective electro-optic display (200) has a bar code display area (206) arranged to display a bar code readable by a bar code scanner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Publication date: June 9, 2005
    Applicant: E INK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert Zehner, Russell Wilcox, Barrett Comiskey
  • Electro-optic displays with single edge addressing and removable driver circuitry
    Publication number: 20050122306
    Abstract: An edge-addressable electronic display is provided including a row electrode in electric communication with a first termination and a column electrode in electric communication with a second termination. The row and column electrodes intersect at a pixel. Both the first and second terminations are disposed proximate to a first edge of the display, and as a result, the pixel may be addressed along the first edge of the display. The display may further include a removable driver circuitry for addressing the pixel in electric communication with at least one of the first and second terminations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Publication date: June 9, 2005
    Applicant: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Russell Wilcox, Jonathan Albert, Holly Gates
  • ELECTRO-OPTIC DISPLAYS, AND MATERIALS FOR USE THEREIN
    Publication number: 20050122565
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2004
    Publication date: June 9, 2005
    Applicant: E INK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Harit Doshi, Charles Honeyman, Seungman Sohn, Simon Pang, Lan Cao, Bin Wu, David Miller, Gregg Duthaler, James Araujo
  • Electro-optic displays
    Publication number: 20050122563
    Abstract: An electro-optic display comprises first and second substrates and a lamination adhesive layer and a layer of an electro-optic material disposed between the first and second substrates, the lamination adhesive layer having a thickness of from about 14 to about 25 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2004
    Publication date: June 9, 2005
    Applicant: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Honeyman, Harit Doshi, Seungman Sohn, Eva Chen, Richard LeCain, Simon Pang, Gregg Duthaler
  • ELECTRO-OPTIC DISPLAYS, AND METHODS FOR DRIVING SAME
    Publication number: 20050122284
    Abstract: An electro-optic display includes an electro-optic medium, a pixel electrode for applying an electric field to the medium and a column electrode associated with the pixel electrode. To reduce power consumption, when it is necessary to change the voltage on the column electrode from a first value to a second value to change the optical state of the electro-optic medium, the column electrode voltage is first changed to a third value intermediate the first and second values to permit charge to flow to or from the column electrode, and thereafter the column electrode voltage is changed from the third voltage to the second voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Publication date: June 9, 2005
    Applicant: E INK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Holly Gates, Robert Zehner, Jonathan Albert
  • Electro-optic displays and optical systems for addressing such displays
    Patent number: 6900851
    Abstract: The invention features a photoconductively addressed display and a method of photoconductive addressing in a display. The method includes providing an electro-optic imaging layer that extends in an X direction and a Y direction and comprises an array of image elements. A column electrode layer is provided adjacent to one side of the electro-optic imaging layer. The column electrode layer includes a plurality of column electrodes that each extend in the Y direction and are spaced from one another in the X direction. A photoconductive layer disposed between the electro-optic imaging layer and the column electrode layer is provided. An elongate portion of the photoconductive layer is illuminated in the X direction while scanning the illumination in the Y direction to translate a location of the illuminated elongate portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Ian D. Morrison, Rachael A. Forgit, Peter J. Valianatos, Craig A. Herb, Guy M. Danner
  • ELECTRO-OPTIC DISPLAYS, AND PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION THEREOF
    Publication number: 20050105159
    Abstract: An encapsulated electrophoretic display is produced by laminating an electrophoretic medium, comprising a plurality of discrete droplets (104) in a polymeric binder (106?), each droplet (104) comprising a plurality of electrophoretic particles dispersed in a suspending fluid, 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: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Publication date: May 19, 2005
    Applicant: E INK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard Paolini, Thomas Whitesides, Steven O'Neil, Gregg Duthaler
  • Method and apparatus for determining properties of an electrophoretic display
    Publication number: 20050099672
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Publication date: May 12, 2005
    Applicant: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Jacobson, Paul Drzaic, Steven O'Neil, Holly Gates, Justin Abramson
  • ELECTRO-OPTIC DISPLAYS, AND COMPONENTS FOR USE THEREIN
    Publication number: 20050078099
    Abstract: An electro-optic display comprises a substrate (100), non-linear devices (102) disposed substantially in one plane on the substrate (100), pixel electrodes (106) connected to the non-linear devices (102), an electro-optic medium (110) and a common electrode (112) on the opposed side of the electro-optic medium (110) from the pixel electrodes (106). The moduli of the various parts of the display are arranged so that, when the display is curved, the neutral axis or neutral plane lies substantially in the plane of the non-linear devices (102).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2004
    Publication date: April 14, 2005
    Applicant: E INK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Karl Amundson, Andrew Ritenour, Gregg Duthaler, Paul Drzaic, Yu Chen, Peter Kazlas
  • Process for fabricating thin film transistors
    Publication number: 20050067656
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2004
    Publication date: March 31, 2005
    Applicant: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin Denis, Yu Chen, Paul Drzaic, Joseph Jacobson, Peter Kazlas
  • METHODS FOR REDUCING EDGE EFFECTS IN ELECTRO-OPTIC DISPLAYS
    Publication number: 20050062714
    Abstract: Edge effects in electro-optic displays are reduced by (a) ensuring that during rewriting of the display, the last period of non-zero voltage applied all pixels terminates at substantially the same time; and (b) scanning the display at a scan rate of at least 50 Hz.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Publication date: March 24, 2005
    Applicant: E INK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert Zehner, Karl Amundson
  • Electrophoretic displays containing magnetic particles
    Patent number: 6870661
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony Edward Pullen, Ian D. Morrison, Emily J. Pratt
  • Electrophoretic medium and process for the production thereof
    Patent number: 6866760
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Richard J. Paolini Jr., David D. Miller, Barrett Comiskey
  • Electrophoretic electronic displays with low-index films
    Patent number: 6865010
    Abstract: The invention features a reflective display device and a method of making a reflective display device that has reduced light loss and/or pixel cross talk due to internal reflection. The device includes a window layer, a plurality of reflective particles, a material portion disposed between the window layer and the plurality of reflective particles, and a refractive layer disposed between the window and the material portion. The plurality of reflective particles scatters light received from the ambient environment. The window layer has an index of refraction that is greater than an index of refraction of the ambient environment. The refractive layer has an index of refraction that is less than the index of refraction of the window layer and less than an index of refraction of the material portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Gregg Duthaler, Anthony Pullen
  • Full color reflective display with multichromatic sub-pixels
    Patent number: 6864875
    Abstract: A full color, reflective display having superior saturation and brightness is achieved with a novel display element comprising multichromatic elements. In one embodiment a capsule includes more than three species of particles which differ visually. One embodiment of the display employs three sub-pixels, each sub-pixel comprising a capsule including three species of particles which differ visually. Another embodiment of the display employs color filters to provide different visual states to the user. The display element presents a visual display in response to the application of an electrical signal to at least one of the capsules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Drzaic, Russell J. Wilcox
  • Method for controlling electro-optic display
    Publication number: 20050041004
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2004
    Publication date: February 24, 2005
    Applicant: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Holly Gates, Karl Amundson