Patents by Inventor Robert W. Zehner
Robert W. Zehner 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).
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Patent number: 7532388Abstract: A first electrophoretic medium comprises an electrically charged particle suspended in a suspending fluid, the particle having a polymeric shell having repeating units derived from at least one monomer the homopolymer of which is incompatible with the suspending fluid. A second, similar electrophoretic medium comprises a suspending fluid, and first and second types of electrically charged particle suspended in the suspending fluid, the two types of particle having differing optical characteristics but both having polymeric shells. The polymeric shells are arranged such that homoaggregation of the two types of particles is thermodynamically favored over heteroaggregation.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2007Date of Patent: May 12, 2009Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Thomas H. Whitesides, Qingye Zhou, Robert W. Zehner, Karl R. Amundson, Suzanne Balko, Alberto Goenaga, Peter Valianatos, Charles Howie Honeyman, Elizabeth M. Gates, Matthew A. King, Russell J. Wilcox
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Patent number: 7528822Abstract: An electro-optic display, having at least one pixel capable of achieving any one of at least four different gray levels including two extreme optical states, is driven by displaying a first image on the display, and rewriting the display to display a second image thereon, wherein, during the rewriting of the display, any pixel which has undergone a number of transitions exceeding a predetermined value without touching an extreme optical state, is driven to at least one extreme optical state before driving that pixel to its final optical state in the second image.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2004Date of Patent: May 5, 2009Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Karl R. Amundson, Robert W. Zehner, Ara N. Knaian, Benjamin Zion
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Publication number: 20090034057Abstract: A front plane laminate useful in the manufacture of electro-optic displays comprises, in order, a light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer, a layer of an electro-optic medium in electrical contact with the electrically-conductive layer, an adhesive layer and a release sheet. This front plane laminate can be prepared as a continuous web, cut to size, the release sheet removed and the laminate laminated to a backplane to form a display. Methods for providing conductive vias through the electro-optic medium and for testing the front plane laminate are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2008Publication date: February 5, 2009Applicant: E INK CORPORATIONInventors: Richard D. LeCain, Ara N. Knaian, Steven J. O'Neil, Gregg M. Duthaler, Guy M. Danner, Robert W. Zehner, Alberto Goenaga, Benjamin Max Davis, Randolph W. Chan, Jonathan D. Albert, Glen Crossley
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Patent number: 7443571Abstract: A front plane laminate useful in the manufacture of electro-optic displays comprises, in order, a light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer, a layer of an electro-optic medium in electrical contact with the electrically-conductive layer, an adhesive layer and a release sheet. This front plane laminate can be prepared as a continuous web, cut to size, the release sheet removed and the laminate laminated to a backplane to form a display. Methods for providing conductive vias through the electro-optic medium and for testing the front plane laminate are also described.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2007Date of Patent: October 28, 2008Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Richard D. LeCain, Ara N. Knaian, Steven J. O'Neil, Gregg M. Duthaler, Guy M. Danner, Robert W. Zehner, Alberto Goenaga, Benjamin Max Davis, Randolph W. Chan, Jonathan D. Albert, Glen Crossley
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Publication number: 20080165122Abstract: A backplane for an electro-optic display comprises a pixel electrode (104), a voltage supply line (C) arranged to supply a voltage to the pixel electrode (104), and a micromechanical switch (106, 112) disposed between the voltage supply line (C) and the pixel electrode (104), the micromechanical switch (106, 112) having an open state, in which the voltage supply line (C) is not electrically connected to the pixel electrode (104), and a closed state, in which the voltage supply line (C) is electrically connected to the pixel electrode (104).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2008Publication date: July 10, 2008Applicant: E Ink CorporationInventors: Gregg M. Duthaler, Robert W. Zehner, Charles H. Honeyman, Kevin L. Denis, Matthew A. King, Jianna Wang
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Publication number: 20080129667Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2007Publication date: June 5, 2008Applicant: E Ink CorporationInventors: Robert W. Zehner, Karl R. Amundson, Theodore A. Sjodin, Holly G. Gates
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Patent number: 7365733Abstract: A backplane for an electro-optic display comprises a pixel electrode (104), a voltage supply line (C) arranged to supply a voltage to the pixel electrode (104), and a micromechanical switch (106, 112) disposed between the voltage supply line (C) and the pixel electrode (104), the micromechanical switch (106, 112) having an open state, in which the voltage supply line (C) is not electrically connected to the pixel electrode (104), and a closed state, in which the voltage supply line (C) is electrically connected to the pixel electrode (104).Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2003Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Gregg M. Duthaler, Robert W. Zehner, Charles H. Honeyman, Kevin L. Denis, Matthew A. King, Jianna Wang
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Publication number: 20080024429Abstract: An electrophoretic display comprises a pair of facing substrates, at least one of which is transparent, a plurality of particles and a gas between the substrates, and means for applying an electric field to cause the particles to move and thus change the electro-optic state of the display. The electric field means is arranged to increase the impulse applied to the display with increasing time since a reference time, or with increasing number of images written on the display. In another embodiment, an alternating current pulse is applied to the display, and the duration and/or amplitude of the alternating current pulse is increased with increasing time since a reference time.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2007Publication date: January 31, 2008Applicant: E INK CORPORATIONInventor: Robert W. Zehner
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Patent number: 7312794Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 24, 2005Date of Patent: December 25, 2007Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Robert W. Zehner, Holly G. Gates, Karl R. Amundson, Joanna Au, Ara N. Knaian, Jonathan L. Zalesky, Alexi C. Arango
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Patent number: 7236292Abstract: A front plane laminate useful in the manufacture of electro-optic displays comprises, in order, a light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer, a layer of an electro-optic medium in electrical contact with the electrically-conductive layer, an adhesive layer and a release sheet. This front plane laminate can be prepared as a continuous web, cut to size, the release sheet removed and the laminate laminated to a backplane to form a display. Methods for providing conductive vias through the electro-optic medium and for testing the front plane laminate are also described.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2005Date of Patent: June 26, 2007Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Richard D. LeCain, Ara N. Knaian, Steven J. O'Neil, Gregg M. Duthaler, Guy M. Danner, Robert W. Zehner, Alberto Goenaga, Benjamin Max Davis, Randolph W. Chan, Jonathan D. Albert, Glen Crossley
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Patent number: 7193625Abstract: A method for addressing a bistable electro-optic display having at least one pixel comprises applying an addressing pulse to drive the pixel to a first optical state; leaving the pixel undriven for a period of time, thereby permitting the pixel to assume a second optical state different from the first optical state; and applying to the pixel a refresh pulse which substantially restores the pixel to the first optical state, the refresh pulse being short relative to the addressing pulse.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2003Date of Patent: March 20, 2007Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Guy M. Danner, Karl R. Amundson, Robert W. Zehner, Alexi C. Arango, Jay Britton Ewing
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Patent number: 7119759Abstract: A reflective electro-optic display (200) has a bar code display area (206) arranged to display a bar code readable by a bar code scanner.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2004Date of Patent: October 10, 2006Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Robert W. Zehner, Russell J. Wilcox, Barrett Comiskey
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Patent number: 7119772Abstract: A gray scale bistable electro-optic display is driven by storing a look-up table containing data representing the impulses necessary for transitions, storing data representing at least an initial state of each pixel of the display, storing data representing temporal and gray level prior states of each pixel, 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 for a transition, as determined from the look-up table, dependent upon the temporal and gray level prior states. Other similar methods for driving such displays are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2004Date of Patent: October 10, 2006Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Karl R. Amundson, Robert W. Zehner, Ara N. Knaian, Benjamin Zion
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Patent number: 7012600Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 20, 2002Date of Patent: March 14, 2006Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Robert W. Zehner, Holly G. Gates, Karl R. Amundson, Joanna F. Au, Ara N. Knalan, Jonathan L. Zalesky, Alexi C. Arango
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Patent number: 6987603Abstract: An electrophoretic display (100) comprises a front light-transmissive substrate (112), a rear substrate (116) spaced from the front substrate (112) so as to leave a cavity, and an electrophoretic medium (102) in the cavity, the electrophoretic medium (102) comprising a liquid external phase (120) and a plurality of capsules (104) suspended in the liquid external phase (120), each of the capsules comprising a capsule wall, a suspending fluid (106) held within the capsule wall and at least one electrically charged particle (108, 110) suspended in the suspending fluid (106).Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2004Date of Patent: January 17, 2006Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Richard J. Paolini, Jr., Robert W. Zehner, Karl R. Amundson, Craig A. Herb, Alexi C. Arango, Andrew L. Loxley
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Patent number: 6982178Abstract: A front plane laminate useful in the manufacture of electro-optic displays comprises, in order, a light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer, a layer of an electro-optic medium in electrical contact with the electrically-conductive layer, an adhesive layer and a release sheet. This front plane laminate can be prepared as a continuous web, cut to size, the release sheet removed and the laminate laminated to a backplane to form a display. Methods for providing conductive vias through the electro-optic medium and for testing the front plane laminate are also described.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2003Date of Patent: January 3, 2006Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Richard D. LeCain, Ara N. Knaian, Steven J. O'Neil, Gregg M. Duthaler, Guy M. Danner, Robert W. Zehner, Alberto Goenaga, Benjamin Max Davis, Randolph W. Chan, Jonathan D. Albert, Glen Crossley
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Patent number: 6950220Abstract: The invention relates to electro-optic displays and methods for driving such displays. The invention provides (i) electrochromic displays with solid charge transport layers; (ii) apparatus and methods for improving the contrast and reducing the cost of electrochromic displays; (iii) apparatus and methods for sealing electrochromic displays from the outside environment and preventing ingress of contaminants into such a display; and (iv) methods for adjusting the driving of electro-optic displays to allow for environmental and operating parameters.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2003Date of Patent: September 27, 2005Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Justin Abramson, Karl R. Amundson, Guy M. Danner, Gregg M. Duthaler, Holly G. Gates, Charles H. Honeyman, Ara N. Knaian, Ian D. Morrison, Steven J. O'Neil, Richard J. Paolini, Jr., Anthony Edward Pullen, Jianna Wang, Jonathan L. Zalesky, Robert W. Zehner, John Edward Cronin
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Publication number: 20040257635Abstract: An electrophoretic display (100) comprises a front light-transmissive substrate (112), a rear substrate (116) spaced from the front substrate (112) so as to leave a cavity, and an electrophoretic medium (102) in the cavity, the electrophoretic medium (102) comprising a liquid external phase (120) and a plurality of capsules (104) suspended in the liquid external phase (120), each of the capsules comprising a capsule wall, a suspending fluid (106) held within the capsule wall and at least one electrically charged particle (108, 110) suspended in the suspending fluid (106).Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2004Publication date: December 23, 2004Applicant: E INK CORPORATIONInventors: Richard J. Paolini, Robert W. Zehner, Karl R. Amundson, Craig A. Herb, Alexi C. Arango, Andrew L. Loxley
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Patent number: 6831769Abstract: An electro-optic display comprises first and second substrates and a lamination adhesive layer and a layer of a solid electro-optic material disposed between the first and second substrates, the lamination adhesive layer having a volume resistivity, measured at 10° C., which does not change by a factor of more than about 3 after being held at 25° C. and 45 percent relative humidity for 1000 hours. The electro-optic material is preferably an encapsulated electrophoretic material. Other desirable characteristics of lamination adhesives for use in electro-optic displays are also described.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2002Date of Patent: December 14, 2004Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Mavyn M. Holman, Justin Abramson, Glen Crossley, Katharine Geramita, Robert W. Zehner, Karl R. Amundson, Libing Zhang, Richard M. Webber
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Publication number: 20040196215Abstract: A backplane for an electro-optic display comprises a pixel electrode (104), a voltage supply line (C) arranged to supply a voltage to the pixel electrode (104), and a micromechanical switch (106, 112) disposed between the voltage supply line (C) and the pixel electrode (104), the micromechanical switch (106, 112) having an open state, in which the voltage supply line (C) is not electrically connected to the pixel electrode (104), and a closed state, in which the voltage supply line (C) is electrically connected to the pixel electrode (104).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2003Publication date: October 7, 2004Applicant: E INK CORPORATIONInventors: Gregg M. Duthaler, Robert W. Zehner, Charles H. Honeyman, Kevin L. Denis, Matthew A. King, Jianna Wang