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: An electrophoretic display comprising a fluid including a first species of particles and a charge control agent disposed between first and second electrodes. When a first addressing impulse have an electrical polarity is applied to the medium, the first species of particles move in one direction relative to the electric field, but when a second addressing impulse, larger than the first addressing impulse but having the same electrical polarity, is applied to the medium, the first species of particles move in the opposed direction relative to the electric field.

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 first display includes a layer of electro-optic material with first and second electrodes on opposed sides thereof. One or both electrodes have at least two spaced contacts. Voltage control means are arranged to vary the potential difference between the two spaced contacts attached to the same electrode. A second display includes 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 two surfaces of the layer of electro-optic material, and have edges that overlap 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: 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 fiber that can be incorporated into fabrics and other woven materials. The color changing fibers are hollow and include at least two wire electrodes that provide an electrical potential across an electro-optic medium including a non-polar solvent and at least one set of charged particles.

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: 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: Polymer formulations including urethane acrylates, adhesion promoters, and conductive monomers. By selecting suitable conductive monomers, it is possible to achieve formulations having a volume resistivity from 106 to 1010 Ohm·cm after being conditioned for one week at 25° C. and 50% relative humidity. Such formulations are suitable for incorporation into electro-optic materials, such as electro-optic displays or variable transmission films, e.g., for architectural applications. In other embodiments, the formulations additionally include metal oxide nanoparticles to alter the refractive index and/or conductivity.

Abstract: An electro-optic assembly including a first and second substrate and a layer of electro-optic material disposed between the substrates. Each substrate includes a two-phase, light-transmissive, electrically-conductive 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 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 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.

Abstract: A writeable display medium incorporating light-sensitive semiconductors into the thin film transistors (TFTs), and incorporating a long-pass optical filter to provide a narrow window of wavelengths that can be used to cause the TFTs to switch states when suitably biased. As a light-emitting stylus is moved over the display, the light will change the state of the TFTs, resulting in a nearly instantaneous state change in the display (i.e., white to black). Accordingly, writeable display media of the invention do not suffer from the writing latency that is experienced with many writeable tablet systems.

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 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. A third electro-optic display, intended for writing with a stylus or similar instrument, is produced by forming a layer of an electro-optic material on an electrode; depositing a substantially solvent-free polymerizable liquid material over the electro-optic material; and polymerizing the polymerizable liquid material.

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. A third electro-optic display, intended for writing with a stylus or similar instrument, is produced by forming a layer of an electro-optic material on an electrode; depositing a substantially solvent-free polymerizable liquid material over the electro-optic material; and polymerizing the polymerizable liquid material.

Abstract: The subject matter presented herein relates to a method for producing a backplane for electro-optic displays. The method may include providing a substrate coated with a first conductive material on a first side and a second conductive material on a second side, the second side being positioned opposite from the first side, patterning the first conductive material by cutting through the first conductive material, wherein the patterning of the first conductive material creates electrical isolated conductive segments to be controlled by a driver circuit and creating a plurality of vias on the substrate, the plurality of vias extending through the substrate and providing electrical conductivity between the first and second sides. The method may further include creating a plurality of conductive traces on the second side of the substrate by patterning the second conductive material by locally align the vias to the driver circuit.

Abstract: A method of forming an electrophoretic display is provided that includes forming a front plane laminate having a first substrate, a first conductive layer, a layer of electrophoretic media, and an adhesive, as well as coating an insulating layer and a second conductive layer onto a second substrate to provide a backplane. The first substrate and first conductive layer may be transparent, and the second substrate may include a plurality of conductors. The method may further include scoring the second substrate to provide a removable portion, laminating the front plane laminate to the backplane, removing the portion from the second substrate to provide an opening in the backplane, and filling the opening with a conductive material to provide an electrical connection between the first conductive layer and one of the plurality of conductors. Electrophoretic displays made according to the various methods are also provided.

Abstract: A first display includes a layer of electro-optic material with first and second electrodes on opposed sides thereof. One or both electrodes have at least two spaced contacts. Voltage control means are arranged to vary the potential difference between the two spaced contacts attached to the same electrode. A second display includes 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 two surfaces of the layer of electro-optic material, and have edges that overlap 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: 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.