Patents by Inventor Karl R. Amundson

Karl R. Amundson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20150213765
    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: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Inventors: Elizabeth Moran Gates, Karl R. Amundson
  • Patent number: 8969886
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventor: Karl R. Amundson
  • Publication number: 20140139501
    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: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Inventor: Karl R. Amundson
  • Publication number: 20140009817
    Abstract: The invention provides materials and methods (including driving methods) for reducing the effects of remnant voltages in electro-optic displays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: E INK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Russell J. Wilcox, Thomas H. Whitesides, Karl R. Amundson, Guy M. Danner, Richard M. Webber, Charles H. Honeyman, Lan Cao, Richard J. Paolini, Jr., Rajesh Chebiyam
  • Patent number: 8593396
    Abstract: Waveforms for driving electro-optic displays, especially bistable electro-optic displays, are modified by one or more of insertion of at least one balanced pulse pair into a base waveform; excision of at least one balanced pulse pair from the base waveform; and insertion of at least one period of zero voltage into the base waveform. Such modifications permit fine control of gray levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Karl R. Amundson, Robert W. Zehner, Theodore A. Sjodin
  • Patent number: 8558785
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Robert W. Zehner, Holly G. Gates, Karl R. Amundson, Joanna F. Au, Ara N. Knaian, Alexi C. Arango, Jonathan L. Zalesky
  • Patent number: 8558783
    Abstract: The invention provides materials and methods (including driving methods) for reducing the effects of remnant voltages in electro-optic displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Russell J. Wilcox, Thomas H. Whitesides, Karl R. Amundson, Guy M. Danner, Richard M. Webber, Charles H. Honeyman, Lan Cao, Richard J. Paolini, Jr., Rajesh Chebiyam
  • Publication number: 20130161663
    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: February 11, 2013
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: E INK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Karl R. Amundson, Andrew P. Ritenour, Gregg M. Duthaler, Paul S. Drzaic, Yu Chen, Peter T. Kazlas
  • Patent number: 8389381
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Karl R. Amundson, Guy M. Danner, Gregg M. Duthaler, Peter T. Kazlas, Yu Chen, Kevin L. Denis, Nathan R. Kane, Andrew P. Ritenour
  • Patent number: 8373211
    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: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Karl R. Amundson, Andrew P. Ritenour, Gregg M. Duthaler, Paul S. Drzaic, Yu Chen, Peter T. Kazlas
  • Patent number: 8305341
    Abstract: A dielectrophoretic display comprises a substrate having walls defining at least one cavity, the cavity having a viewing surface and a side wall inclined to the viewing surface; a suspending fluid contained within the cavity; a plurality of at least one type of particle suspended within the suspending fluid; and means for applying to the fluid an electric field effective to cause dielectrophoretic movement of the particles to the side wall of the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Alexi C. Arango, Joseph M. Jacobson, Karl R. Amundson
  • Patent number: 8289250
    Abstract: A bistable electro-optic display is updated by writing an image on the display using a first drive scheme capable of driving pixels to multiple gray levels, and thereafter varied using a second drive scheme using only two gray levels, at least one of which is not an extreme optical state of the pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: E INK Corporation
    Inventors: Robert W. Zehner, Karl R. Amundson, Theodore A. Sjodin, Holly G. Gates
  • Patent number: 8174490
    Abstract: A pixel of an electrophoretic display is driven from one extreme optical state to a second optical state different from the one extreme optical state by applying to the pixel a first drive pulse of one polarity; and thereafter applying to the pixel a second drive pulse of the opposite polarity, the second drive pulse being effective to drive the pixel to the second optical state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas H. Whitesides, Joanna F. Au, Karl R. Amundson, Robert W. Zehner, Ara N. Knaian, Benjamin Zion
  • Patent number: 8125501
    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. The invention also provides a method of driving an electro-optic display which uses an intermediate image of reduced bit depth, and a method of driving an electro-optic display which uses a limited number of differing drive voltages, with higher voltage pulses being used before lower voltage pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Karl R. Amundson, Theodore A. Sjodin, Chia-Chen Su, Demetrious Mark Harrington, Holly G. Gates
  • Patent number: 8115729
    Abstract: The invention relates to methods and materials for controlling stability and color intensity in an electrophoretic display element. Filler particles in the electrophoretic display element, serves as a medium that the electrophoretic particles must travel through during switching between optical states of the display. The filler particles provide improved control over the color intensity of the electrophoretic display element. In addition, the filler particles create resistance to the migration of the electrophoretic particles, thereby improving the bistability of the electrophoretic displays and inhibiting settling of the electrophoretic particles. Also, migration resistance provided by the filler particles can enable threshold addressing of an electrophoretic display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Guy M. Danner, Karl R. Amundson, Craig Herb, Libing Zhang
  • Publication number: 20110199671
    Abstract: A dielectrophoretic display has a substrate having walls defining a cavity, the cavity having a viewing surface and a side wall inclined to the viewing surface. A fluid is contained within the cavity; and a plurality of particles are present in the fluid. There is applied to the substrate an electric field effective to cause dielectrophoretic movement of the particles so that the particles occupy only a minor proportion of the viewing surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Applicant: E INK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Karl R. Amundson, Alexi C. Arango, Joseph M. Jacobson, Thomas H. Whitesides, Michael M. McCreary, Richard J. Paolini, JR.
  • Patent number: 7999787
    Abstract: A dielectrophoretic display has a substrate having walls defining a cavity, the cavity having a viewing surface and a side wall inclined to the viewing surface. A fluid is contained within the cavity; and a plurality of particles are present in the fluid. There is applied to the substrate an electric field effective to cause dielectrophoretic movement of the particles so that the particles occupy only a minor proportion of the viewing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Karl R. Amundson, Alexi C. Arango, Joseph M. Jacobson, Thomas H. Whitesides, Michael D. McCreary, Richard J. Paolini, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20110193841
    Abstract: A dielectrophoretic display has a substrate having walls defining a cavity, the cavity having a viewing surface and a side wall inclined to the viewing surface. A fluid is contained within the cavity; and a plurality of particles are present in the fluid. There is applied to the substrate an electric field effective to cause dielectrophoretic movement of the particles so that the particles occupy only a minor proportion of the viewing surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: E INK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Karl R. Amundson, Alexi C. Arango, Joseph M. Jacobson, Thomas H. Whitesides, Michael D. McCreary, Richard J. Paolini, JR.
  • Publication number: 20110193840
    Abstract: A dielectrophoretic display has a substrate having walls defining a cavity, the cavity having a viewing surface and a side wall inclined to the viewing surface. A fluid is contained within the cavity; and a plurality of particles are present in the fluid. There is applied to the substrate an electric field effective to cause dielectrophoretic movement of the particles so that the particles occupy only a minor proportion of the viewing surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: E INK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Karl R. Amundson, Alexi C. Arango, Joseph M. Jacobson, Thomas H. Whitesides, Michael D. McCreary, Richard J. Paolini, JR.
  • Publication number: 20110194045
    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: April 19, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: E INK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Karl R. Amundson, Andrew P. Ritenour, Gregg M. Duthaler, Paul S. Drzaic, Yu Chen, Peter T. Kazlas