Abstract: A display includes an encapsulated display media, a rear electrode, and a movable electrode. The encapsulated display media comprises a plurality of capsules, each capsule comprising a plurality of particles dispersed in a fluid. The display media has a first surface and a second surface. The rear electrode is disposed adjacent the second surface of the display media. The movable electrode and the rear electrode apply an electric field across the display media.

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: 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.

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.

Abstract: An electrophoretic display having a protective electrode that reduces the degradation of the display caused by mechanical or electrochemical action. The electrode can include a protective layer that reduces the mechanical or electrochemical damage to a transparent conductive electrode. The protective electrode can be a vapor permeable electrode that is a reticulated electrically conductive structure, such as a metal screen or wire mesh, or a reticulated structure coated or impregnated with a conductive material. The protective electrode can include a layer that protects the display media from physical abrasion or removal by mechanical action, while allowing the application of an electric field to cause the display to be addressed.

Abstract: An electrophoretic display comprises a fluid and a plurality of nanoparticles having diameters substantially less the wavelengths of visible light such that, when the nanoparticles are in a dispersed state and uniformly dispersed throughout the fluid, the fluid presents a first optical characteristic, but when the nanoparticles are in an aggregated state in which they are gathered into aggregates substantially larger than the individual nanoparticles, the fluid presents a second optical characteristic different from the first optical characteristic. The electrophoretic display further comprises at least one electrode arranged to apply an electric field to the nanoparticle-containing fluid and thereby move the nanoparticles between their dispersed and aggregated states. Various compound particles comprising multiple nanoparticles, alone or in combination with larger objects, and processes for the preparation of such compound particles, are also described.

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: We describe a system of electronically active inks which may include electronically addressable contrast media, conductors, insulators, resistors, semiconductive materials, magnetic materials, spin materials, piezoelectric materials, optoelectronic, thermoelectric or radio frequency materials. We further describe a printing system capable of laying down said materials in a definite pattern. Such a system may be used for instance to: print a flat panel display complete with onboard drive logic; print a working logic circuit onto any of a large class of substrates; print an electrostatic or piezoelectric motor with onboard logic and feedback or print a working radio transmitter or receiver.

Abstract: A display overlay includes a contrast media layer and a photoconductive layer disposed between two electrodes. Light from an emissive display strikes the photoconductive layer and lowers the impedance of the photoconductive layer at the point at which the light is incident. Voltage applied to the electrodes creates an electric field that addresses the contrast media layer in locations of reduced impedance.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for an electrophoretic display in which the particle motion is a controlled, non-linear function of the applied electric field. Threshold addressing allows simple, inexpensive passive addressing techniques to be employed. The inverse electrorheological gating techniques allow the construction of a full color, passively addressed display without the need to address individual capsules. A mixture of capsules is coated randomly onto a substrate enabling the creation of inexpensive displays. All the techniques allow a significant threshold to be realized. Rapid movement of the pigment particles above the threshold allows rapid switching times for the display. Since diffusion and gravity are extremely weak forces compared to the yield stresses created, the structured or gelled medium approach provides a great improvement in the bistability of the displays.

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 thin-film transistor array comprises at least first and second transistors. Each of the first and second transistors include a shared silicon layer, i.e., an active layer. The shared semiconductor layer extends continuously between the first and second transistors, and includes a concentration of dopant that increases a resistivity of the semiconductor layer and reduces a leakage current through the semiconductor layer while permitting functioning of the transistor array.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An electronic book comprising multiple, electronically addressable, page displays is described. Said page displays may be formed on flexible, thin substrates. Said book may additionally encompass memory, power, control functions and communications.

Abstract: A frontlighting illumination system for selectively illuminating a nonemissive electronic display includes display elements in communication with at least one light source. The electronic display includes a nonemissive electro-optic medium; and a light transmissive element. Light transmitted through the light transmissive element illuminates the display medium. The propagation of light that is directed through the light transmissive element towards the microencapsulated electrophoretic display medium is substantially undeflected at the interface between the surface of the light transmissive element and the microencapsulated electrophoretic display medium. A reflector is included for directing light from the light source through the light transmissive element.

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 thin-film transistor includes a gate electrode having a first gate electrode edge and a second gate electrode edge opposite the first gate electrode edge. The TFT also includes a drain electrode having a first drain electrode edge that overlaps the first gate electrode edge, and a second drain electrode edge that overlaps the second gate electrode edge. A method for fabricating a diode array for use in a display includes deposition of a conductive layer adjacent to a substrate, deposition of a doped semiconductor layer adjacent to the substrate, and deposition of an undoped semiconductor layer adjacent to the substrate. A display pixel unit provides reduced capacitative coupling between a pixel electrode and a source line. The unit includes a transistor, the pixel electrode, and the source line. The source line includes an extension that provides a source for the transistor. A patterned conductive portion is disposed adjacent to the source line.

Abstract: An 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 has a volume resistivity in the range of about 109 to about 1011 ohm cm and comprises a mixture of an adhesive material having a volume resistivity of at least about 5×1011 ohm cm and a filler having a volume resistivity not less than about 107 ohm cm, the filler being present in the mixture in a proportion above its percolation threshold in the adhesive material.