Abstract: A capsule comprising a capsule wall and an electrophoretic fluid encapsulated by the capsule wall. The capsule wall comprises a cross-linked nonionic, water-soluble or water-dispersible polymer. The electrophoretic fluid comprises a suspending fluid, first pigment particles, second pigment particles, and third pigment particles. In some embodiments, the electrophoretic fluid includes a fourth electrophoretic particle. The first, second, and third particles are electrically charged, suspended in the suspending fluid, and capable of moving through the suspending fluid upon application of an electric field to the capsule.

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.

Abstract: A variable opacity material is provided that may be in the form of a mixture, such as an emulsion that contains a discontinuous aqueous polymeric solution having an LCST of 0 to 100° C. and a continuous phase containing a hydrophobic polymer, such as a polysiloxane. One or more salts, such as lithium bromide and sodium chloride, may be added to the aqueous solution to lower the LCST of the aqueous solution and to raise the refractive index of the aqueous polymeric solution to substantially match the refractive index of the hydrophobic polymer. The variable opacity materials may be applied in the form of a film to various substrates, such as glass.

Abstract: A backplane for an electro-optic display including an electrode and a substrate. The substrate may be porous to liquids, e.g., water, and may formed, from cellulose or a similar hydrophilic polymer. The electrode is desirably also porous to the same liquid as the substrate, so that the electrodes do not form liquid-impervious areas on the substrate. For example, when the liquid is water (or an aqueous solution) the electrodes may be formed of a hydrophilic carbon black, which may be coated or screen-printed on to the substrate.

Abstract: An electro-optic medium exhibiting reduced haze and having other improved properties may be obtained by including a binder containing fish gelatin and acacia. The electro-optic medium may include a plurality of capsules in a binder, each capsule containing a plurality of electrically charged particles and a fluid, the charged particles being movable by application of an electric field.

Abstract: An electro-optic device comprises in order, an electrically-conductive light-transmissive layer, an electro-optic material layer, an adhesive layer, and a backplane substrate comprising a plurality of pixel electrodes configured to apply an electrical potential between the electrically-conductive light-transmissive layer and the pixel electrodes. An activation region, comprising an identification marker, is located in a layer of the electro-optic device and it emits radiation of a characteristic wavelength upon activation by a stimulus, enabling the identification of the manufacturing source and the manufacturing lot of the electro-optic device and its components. The technology is also relevant for a front plane laminate and a double release sheet, which are useful components for the manufacture of electro-optic devices.

Abstract: A fiber capable of switching optical states is provided. The fiber includes a laminate having a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, and an electro-optic material between the first and second electrode layers, at least one of the first and second electrode layers being light-transmissive and a sheath surrounding the laminate. The fiber may have a ribbon-like structure, i.e. a width that is substantially greater than its thickness. The electro-optic medium may be an encapsulated electrophoretic medium.

Abstract: Light-transmissive conductors including oriented conductors disposed in a light-transmissive polymer having a volume resistivity between 1×1010 ohm-cm and 1×104 ohm-cm. The oriented conductors typically have very high conductivity along their length. Light-transmissive conductors described herein are well-suited for front electrodes for electro-optic displays, especially elongated displays in the shape of ribbons, stripes, or rulers.

Abstract: A variable transmission film may include an electrophoretic medium having a plurality of capsules and a binder, each capsule containing a plurality of electrically charged particles and a fluid, the charged particles being movable by application of an electric field and being capable of being switched between an open state and a closed state. The film may include at least one of a binder containing fish gelatin and a polyanion; a binder containing one or more tinting agents; capsules containing charge control agents, such as an oligoamine-terminated polyolefin and a branched chain fatty acid comprising at least 8 carbon atoms; a selection of capsules in which at least 60% have a diameter between 50 ?m and 90 ?m and at least 15% have a diameter between 20 ?m and 49 ?m; a tinted adhesive layer; and a fluid selected from one or more nonconjugated olefinic hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A polymeric film includes a plurality of tapered microcells containing a dispersion of a first group and a second group of charged particles. The first group and second group of charged particles having opposite charge polarities. The tapered microcells include a wall and at least a portion of the wall is configured to repel the first group of charged particles. Also provided is a method of making a laminate for an electrophoretic display comprising embossing a plurality of tapered microcells through a layer of polymeric film and into a release sheet to form an embossed film; laminating the embossed film to a layer of conductive material on a protective sheet to form a laminated film; removing the release sheet from the polymeric film to form an opening to an interior of each microcell of the laminated film; filling the microcells with a dispersion fluid; and sealing the microcells.

Abstract: Liquid detergent compositions are disclosed which comprise one or more shell-core capsules types. The core comprises one or more enzymes, wherein the material that forms the shell is able to be degraded by at least one of the enzymes. The capsules preserve the activity properties of the enzymes during the storage of the liquid detergent composition and they release the ingredients upon the application of shear during the use of the liquid detergent composition in a washing process. The methodology also enables the presence of incompatible benefit agents in the same product, and the reduction of undesirable residue on the articles that are being washed.

Abstract: A variable transmission film may include an electrophoretic medium having a plurality of capsules and a binder, each capsule containing a plurality of electrically charged particles and a fluid, the charged particles being movable by application of an electric field and being capable of being switched between an open state and a closed state. The film may include at least one of a binder containing fish gelatin and a polyanion; a binder containing one or more tinting agents; capsules containing charge control agents, such as an oligoamine-terminated polyolefin and a branched chain fatty acid comprising at least 8 carbon atoms; a selection of capsules in which at least 60% have a diameter between 50 ?m and 90 ?m and at least 15% have a diameter between 20 ?m and 49 ?m; a tinted adhesive layer; and a fluid selected from one or more nonconjugated olefinic hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A polymeric film includes a plurality of tapered microcells containing a dispersion of a first group and a second group of charged particles. The first group and second group of charged particles having opposite charge polarities. The tapered microcells include a wall and at least a portion of the wall is configured to repel the first group of charged particles. Also provided is a method of making a laminate for an electrophoretic display comprising embossing a plurality of tapered microcells through a layer of polymeric film and into a release sheet to form an embossed film; laminating the embossed film to a layer of conductive material on a protective sheet to form a laminated film; removing the release sheet from the polymeric film to form an opening to an interior of each microcell of the laminated film; filling the microcells with a dispersion fluid; and sealing the microcells.

Abstract: An electro-optic media includes either a plurality of microcapsules in a binder, a polymeric sheet containing sealed microcells, or droplets in a continuous polymeric phase. Each of the microcapsules, microcells, or droplets contain a dispersion that includes a plurality of charged composite particles and a suspending fluid, and the charged particles move through the suspending fluid under the influence of an electric field. The composite particles include one or more types of pigment particles that are at least partially coated with a polymeric material. Each of the binder, polymeric sheet, continuous polymeric phase, the charged composite particles, and the suspending fluid have an index of refraction, and a difference between the index of refraction of the composite particles and at least one of the binder, polymeric sheet, continuous polymeric phase, and solvent is less than or equal to 0.05 at 550 nm.

Abstract: A method of forming a color-changing fiber that can be incorporated into fabrics and other woven materials. The color changing fibers include an annular wall and a conductive wire axially extending through the annular wall, a core strand surrounded by the annular wall and extending axially through a central portion of the fiber, and an encapsulated electro-optic medium disposed on a surface of the core strand.

Abstract: A temperature regulation system includes a laminate material that has a first light transmissive electrode layer, a rear electrode layer, and a bistable electrophoretic medium disposed between the first and second electrode layer. The electrophoretic medium includes two types of particles that have different charges and color. The amount of incident radiation (visible light, infrared, etc.) that is absorbed by the laminate can be modified by providing a voltage between the electrode layers.

Abstract: An electro-optic fiber including a conductive fiber, a layer of electro-optic medium on the conductive fiber, and a conductor on the layer of electro-optic medium. A method of making the electro-optic fiber including the steps of coating a conductive fiber with an electro-optic medium and applying a conductor to the electro-optic medium. The resulting fibers can be woven to create a color-changing material, such as a fabric.

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.

Abstract: A backplane for an electro-optic display including an electrode and a substrate. The substrate may be porous to liquids, e.g., water, and may formed, from cellulose or a similar hydrophilic polymer. The electrode is desirably also porous to the same liquid as the substrate, so that the electrodes do not form liquid-impervious areas on the substrate. For example, when the liquid is water (or an aqueous solution) the electrodes may be formed of a hydrophilic carbon black, which may be coated or screen-printed on to the substrate.

Abstract: A backplane for an electro-optic display including an electrode and a substrate. The substrate may be porous to liquids, e.g., water, and may formed, from cellulose or a similar hydrophilic polymer. The electrode is desirably also porous to the same liquid as the substrate, so that the electrodes do not form liquid-impervious areas on the substrate. For example, when the liquid is water (or an aqueous solution) the electrodes may be formed of a hydrophilic carbon black, which may be coated or screen-printed on to the substrate.