Patents by Inventor Robert Sprague

Robert Sprague 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).

  • Patent number: 9140952
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrophoretic display with enhanced contrast. The invention is directed to an electrophoretic display comprising: a first layer comprising a common electrode, a second layer comprising at least one collecting pixel electrode, a plurality of display cells which are sandwiched between the first layer and the second layer and are filled with an electrophoretic fluid comprising charged pigment particles dispersed in a solvent or solvent mixture; and a background layer. More specifically, the invention provides an electrophoretic display having the dark color state darker while maintaining the same intensity of the lighter color state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: E Ink California, LLC
    Inventors: Robert A. Sprague, Craig Lin
  • Publication number: 20150248045
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrophoretic dispersion, in particular, an electrophoretic dispersion comprising uncharged or lightly charged additive particles for improving bistability of an electrophoretic display. The average diameter of the additive particles is about 1% to about 25% of the average hydrodynamic diameter of the charged pigment particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Inventors: Robert A. SPRAGUE, Bo-Ru Yang, Peter B. Laxton
  • Patent number: 9052564
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrophoretic dispersion, in particular, an electrophoretic dispersion comprising uncharged or lightly charged additive particles for improving bistability of an electrophoretic display. The average diameter of the additive particles is about 1% to about 25% of the average hydrodynamic diameter of the charged pigment particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: E Ink California, LLC
    Inventors: Robert A. Sprague, Bo-Ru Yang, Peter Laxton
  • Patent number: 9030374
    Abstract: The present invention provides composite display modules which have reduced visible dead space between display modules. This is of particular interest for the price rail, where it is desirable to achieve a long (about 3-4 ft) section of an active module. The present invention is directed to a composite display module comprising: (a) more than one single display module, wherein said single display modules are not edge-sealed and they are mounted on a single back support structure and are kept tightly close to each other right up to their edges; and (b) said composite display module is edge sealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: E Ink California, LLC
    Inventors: Robert A. Sprague, Bryan Hans Chan
  • Patent number: 9019318
    Abstract: This application is directed to driving methods for electrophoretic displays. The driving methods comprise grey level waveforms which greatly enhance the pictorial quality of images displayed. The driving method comprises: (a) applying waveform to drive each pixel to the full first color then to a color state of a desired level; or (b) applying waveform to drive each pixel to the full second color then to a color state of a desired level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: E Ink California, LLC
    Inventors: Robert A. Sprague, Craig Lin, Tin Pham, Manasa Peri
  • Patent number: 9013783
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a color display device wherein each of the display cells is filled with an electrophoretic fluid comprising two types of charged pigment particles dispersed in a colored medium. Multiple colors of high quality may be achieved by the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: E Ink California, LLC
    Inventor: Robert A. Sprague
  • Patent number: 8976444
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a color display comprising an electrophoretic fluid comprising two types of pigment particles of contrasting colors and carrying opposite charge polarities dispersed in a clear and colorless solvent, wherein said electrophoretic fluid is sandwiched between a common electrode and a plurality of colored sub-pixel electrodes or colored pixel electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: E Ink California, LLC
    Inventors: Xiaojia Zhang, Craig Lin, Robert A. Sprague
  • Publication number: 20150062690
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrophoretic fluid which comprises uncharged or lightly charged neutral buoyancy particles. The resulting fluid can improve not only image stability but also contrast ratio of a display device, without significantly affecting the switching speed. The present invention is also directed to an electrophoretic display comprising display cells filled with the electrophoretic fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Ming Wang, Yu Li, Hui Du, Xiaojia Zhang, Haiyan Gu, Roman Ivanov, Robert Sprague
  • Patent number: 8917439
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a color display comprising an electrophoretic fluid which comprises one or two types of pigment particles dispersed in a clear and colorless or clear and colored solvent, wherein said electrophoretic fluid is sandwiched between a common electrode and a plurality of driving electrodes. The driving electrodes are kept at a certain distance in order to expose a background layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: E Ink California, LLC
    Inventors: Ming Wang, Craig Lin, Roman Ivanov, Xiaojia Zhang, Robert A. Sprague
  • Patent number: 8902491
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrophoretic fluid comprising uncharged or lightly charged neutral buoyancy particles. The resulting fluid can improve not only image stability but also contrast ratio of a display device, without significantly affecting the switching speed. The present invention is also directed to an electrophoretic display comprising display cells filled with the electrophoretic fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: E Ink California, LLC
    Inventors: Ming Wang, Yu Li, Hui Du, Xiaojia Wang, Haiyan Gu, Roman Ivanov, Robert Sprague
  • Publication number: 20140340737
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a color display device wherein each of the display cells is filled with an electrophoretic fluid comprising two types of charged pigment particles dispersed in a colored medium. Multiple colors of high quality may be achieved by the present invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventor: Robert A. Sprague
  • Publication number: 20140300651
    Abstract: The invention relates to waveforms, circuits and methods for driving bistable displays. The invention is directed to a method, comprising in combination: applying, across a bistable display device, a shaking signal comprising a plurality of positive and negative pulses each driven for a first time to disperse partially packed particles; applying, across the device, one or more first driving signals to first pixels of the device for second times that are sufficient to drive the first pixels to one or more reference states; and concurrently with the first driving signals, applying, across the device, one or more second driving signals to second pixels of the device for third times that are shorter than necessary to drive the second pixels to any of the one or more reference states.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: SiPix Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. SPRAGUE, Wanheng Wang, Yajuan Chen, Andrew Ho, Bryan Hans Chan, Jialock Wong, HongMei Zang
  • Patent number: 8810525
    Abstract: The present invention offers an electronic information display which can be updated at a very low cost. This is accomplished by an electronic display device and a separate writer device. The writer device may comprise an electronic backplane, a mechanical fixture which can be easily be pressed against the electronic information display, and a wireless network and computational infrastructure which connect the writer device to a data base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: E Ink California, LLC
    Inventor: Robert A. Sprague
  • Patent number: 8810899
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to color display devices which are capable of displaying multiple color states. The display device comprises a plurality of display cells, wherein each of said display cells is (a) sandwiched between a first layer comprising a common electrode and a second layer comprising a plurality of driving electrodes, wherein at least one of the driving electrodes is a designated electrode, (b) filled with an electrophoretic fluid comprising at least two types of pigment particles dispersed in a solvent or solvent mixture, and (c) capable of displaying at least four color states. The display device may also comprise hiding layers or a brightness enhancement structure on the viewing side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: E Ink California, LLC
    Inventors: Robert A. Sprague, Craig Lin
  • Patent number: 8797258
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a highlight color display. One of the key features of the invention is the dark color of the display fluid filled in the microcups, which allows the dark state to appear black. There is no alignment required between the pixel electrodes and the microcups. In practice, a standard active matrix array may be used to drive the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: SiPix Imaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A. Sprague
  • Patent number: 8797633
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a display device assembly which comprises a display device and a luminance enhancement structure. The luminance enhancement structure is directly laminated onto an ITO layer with an adhesive. The assembly of the present invention provides improved performance of the luminance enhancement structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: SiPix Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Sprague, Bryan Hans Chan, Craig Lin
  • Patent number: 8786935
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a color display device wherein each of the display cells is filled with an electrophoretic fluid comprising two types of charged pigment particles dispersed in a colored medium. Multiple colors of high quality may be achieved by the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: SiPix Imaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Sprague
  • Patent number: 8743077
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a front light system which can be built with thin film light emitting diodes (LEDs), such as organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) or electro-luminescent light emitting diodes. The front light system may be built on a thin and flexible substrate and can generate lighting of satisfactory uniformity and with high efficiency. The system also can potentially be inexpensive. The front light system of the present invention is particularly suitable for keymat applications wherein a flexible reflective display on top of a touch sensitive surface or device, is used as an output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: SiPix Imaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A. Sprague
  • Patent number: 8730153
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to waveforms, circuits and methods for driving bistable displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: SiPix Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Sprague, Wanheng Wang, Yajuan Chen, Andrew Ho, Bryan Hans Chan, Jialock Wong, Hong-Mei Zang
  • Patent number: 8714780
    Abstract: Display devices with a grooved luminance enhancement film on its viewing side and at least an auxiliary layer and/or edge sealing. The luminance enhancement film comprises columns and grooves in alternating order and each of the grooves has a cross-section comprising an apex angle and two edge lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: SiPix Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Ho, Bryan Chan, Craig Lin, Robert A. Sprague