Abstract: Methods of making a top-plane connection in an electro-optic device and devices including such connections. A through hole is created through a rear substrate to provide a connection between a conductor coupled to the rear substrate and a light-transmissive conductive layer coupled to a top transparent substrate. The hole is subsequently filled with a top-plane connection material that provides an electrical connection between the conductor and the light-transmissive conductive layer, but does not provide an electrical connection between a separate rear conductive layer and the light-transmissive conductor.

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 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: 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 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: 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 recording layer is described that comprises a magnetizable material configured to store an image represented by magnetized regions of the magnetizable material. The magnetizable material may be brought into proximity with a magnetically responsive display layer, which may cause a change in an optical state of the display layer such that a facsimile of the image represented by the magnetized regions is produced within the display layer.

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 reflective color display that can be addressed from the front (viewing surface side) of the display with a light source, such as a projector, LED, or laser. The display comprises (in order) a color filter array, a transparent electrode, an electro-optic medium, a photoconductive material, and a rear electrode. The color displays of the invention are useful for large format color signage, such as billboards and wayfinding.

Abstract: A method of driving a variable transmission film is provided and a variable transmission device including the film and a controller configured to drive the film. The film may include a layer of electrophoretic material and at least one electrode, the electrophoretic material including a fluid containing a plurality of charged particles capable of moving through the fluid upon application of an electric field by the at least one electrode. The method may include applying a first voltage waveform to the film at an initial optical state and applying a second voltage waveform having a lower frequency and shorter pulse duration than the first voltage waveform to switch the film to a final optical state, wherein the film has a higher percent transmission at the initial optical state than the final optical state.

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: 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 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: The present invention provides for an electro-optic display having a backplane assembly with at least two electrode layers, a first electrode layer of a first dimension electrically connected to and driving a second electrode layer of a second dimension that is larger than the first dimension. The second electrode layer overlies the first electrode layer, such that the entire viewing area of an electro-optic display may be optically-active. The backplane assembly may have at least one interposer layer disposed between the two electrode layers to electrically connect the first and second electrode layers.

Abstract: Devices and techniques for electronically erasing an externally addressed electrophoretic drawing device are described. An electronically-erasable drawing device comprises an electro-optic display medium and interdigitated electrodes disposed adjacent one surface of the medium and configured to drive the medium to an intermediate (gray) optical state. A mobile electronic drawing implement may include electrodes configured to apply a fringing electric field to an electro-optic display medium from one side of the medium, the fringing electric field being arranged to drive a portion of the display medium adjacent the implement to an intermediate optical state, the electrodes being movable relative to the medium.

Abstract: A wavelength selective reflection display (10) comprises a wavelength selective reflection medium (20) and a backing member (30) having a first, non-reflective optical state, and a second, reflective optical state. Both the wavelength selective reflection medium (20) and the backing member (30) are divided into pixels (40, 50, 60), and the backing member (30) is switchable between its first and second optical states on a pixel-by-pixel basis. The pixels of the backing member (30) are substantially aligned with those of the wavelength selective reflection medium (20).

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 generating means (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 generating means, and to control the potential of the electrode.

Abstract: An image is formed on an architectural surface by applying to the surface, in order: a rear electrode layer; a light-transmissive front electrode layer; a photoconductive layer disposed between the front and rear electrode layers; and an electro-optic layer disposed between the front and rear electrode layers. A potential difference is applied between the front and rear electrode layers and the front electrode layer is imagewise exposed to radiation which causes a change in the conductivity of the photoconductive layer, thereby causing an imagewise change in the optical state of the electro-optic layer. Films for application to architectural surfaces are also provided.

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 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.