Abstract: A digital microfluidic device including a substrate and a controller. The substrate includes: a first high-resolution area and a second low-resolution area, and a hydrophobic layer. The first area includes a first plurality of electrodes having a first density D1, and a first set of thin-film-transistors coupled to the first plurality of electrodes. The second area includes a second plurality of electrodes having a second density D2, where D2<D1, and a second set of thin-film-transistors coupled to the second plurality of electrodes. The hydrophobic layer covers both the first and second pluralities of electrodes and the first and second sets of thin-film-transistors. The controller is operatively coupled to the first set and second set of thin-film-transistors and configured to provide a propulsion voltage to at least a portion of the first plurality of electrodes and at least a portion of the second plurality of electrodes.

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: An electro-optic display comprising, in order: a light-transmissive layer of conductive material; a layer of bistable electro-optic medium; a layer of light-shielding material; a plurality of pixel electrodes; a layer of photoconductive material; and one or more light emitters. In one exemplary embodiment, the layer of photoconductive material is adapted to bridge a gap between an address line and at least one of the pixel electrodes when the photoconductive material is in a low impedance state. In another, non-exclusive embodiment, the electro-optic display further comprises a second electrode layer between the layer of photoconductive material and the one or more light emitters and a driver adapted to apply voltage between the light-transmissive layer of conductive material and the second electrode layer.

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: An electrical connection between the backplane and the light-transmissive front electrode of an electro-optic display is provided by forming an aperture through the top front electrode coupled and a substrate coupled thereto and subsequently introducing a flowable, electrically-conductive material into the aperture. The flowable, electrically-conductive material provides an electrical contact between the light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer and the backplane.

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: Electro-optic, especially electrophoretic, displays are used in variety of architectural and furniture applications, including a tile (100) comprising an electro-optic layer (110) capable of changing the color of the file, front and multiple rear electrodes and a light-transmissive polymeric layer (102), the exposed surface of which is textured to provide a plurality of facets inclined to the plane of the tile (100), the rear electrodes being aligned with the facets. A variable color writable board is also provided.

Abstract: A color-changing flexible fiber that can be incorporated into fabrics and other woven materials. The color changing flexible fibers are hollow and include at least two wire electrodes integrated into the wall of the hollow fiber that provide an electrical potential across an electro-optic medium disposed inside the hollow fiber. The electro-optic medium includes a non-polar solvent and at least one set of charged particles.

Abstract: A stylus for interacting with a magnetic writing medium, such as a magneto-electrophoretic media containing magnetic particles that can be switched electrically in the same way as a conventional electrophoretic display: e.g., between white and black states with the capability of also attaining stable intermediate states of gray. The stylus includes a magnetic sphere and a metal cylinder aligned in the tip.

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: A first display comprises a layer of electro-optic material with first and second electrodes on opposed sides thereof, at least one electrode. One or both electrodes having at least two spaced contacts, and voltage control means are arranged to vary the potential difference between the two spaced contacts attached to the same electrode. A second display comprises a layer of electro-optic material with a sequence of at least three electrodes adjacent thereto. Voltage control means vary the potential difference between the first and last electrodes of the sequence. The electrodes of the sequence alternate between the two surfaces of the layer of electro-optic material, and have edges which overlap with or lie adjacent the preceding and following electrodes of the sequence. The electrodes, other than the first and last, are electrically isolated such that the potential thereof is controlled by passage of current through the layer of electro-optic material. Methods for driving these displays are also provided.

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 display (100) primarily intended for use on an external surface of a building comprises a weatherproof housing (310, 340); a bistable electro-optic medium (326) enclosed within and visible through the housing; an electrode (324, 330) enclosed within the weatherproof housing and arranged to drive the electro-optic medium; a power source (504) enclosed within the weatherproof housing; data receiving means (508) enclosed within the weatherproof housing and arranged to receive data wirelessly from a source outside the weatherproof housing; and display drive means (510) arranged to receive data from the data receiving means and power from the power source, and to control the potential of the electrode.

Abstract: A variable light transmission device has at least one layer of electrophoretic medium comprising charged particles. Application of a an electric field having a waveform formed by a superposition of a carrier and a modulator waveform enables the switching of the device from a closed state to an open state, wherein the open state has higher light transmission than the closed state. As a result, the device enables the selection of the desired optical state by the user.

Abstract: A microfluidic device including: (a) top plate, including: a top substrate; a first layer of hydrophobic material coupled to a surface of the top substrate; a continuous electrode between the first layer of hydrophobic material and the top substrate; (b) a bottom plate, comprising: a bottom substrate; a plurality of electrodes coupled to the bottom substrate; a second layer of hydrophobic material coupled to the second substrate and atop the plurality of electrodes. The top plate and the bottom plate are placed in a spaced relationship, thereby defining a gap between the first and second layers of hydrophobic material to permit droplet motion within the gap under application of propulsion voltages. At least one of the top substrate, the first layer of hydrophobic material, the second layer of hydrophobic material, the bottom substrate, and the plurality of electrodes have a non-uniform thickness, and the gap has a plurality of heights.

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 method of making a two-phase light-transmissive electrode layer comprising a first phase made of a highly electronically-conductive matrix and a second phase made of a polymeric material composition having a controlled volume resistivity.

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. The medium may be used in, for example, privacy glass for a conference room.