Patents by Inventor Thomas H. Whitesides

Thomas H. Whitesides 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: 11740530
    Abstract: A variable transmission electro-optic medium includes an encapsulated bistable dispersion containing a plurality of electrically charged particles and a fluid, the charged particles being movable by application of an electric field and capable of being switched between an open state and a closed state. The plurality of electrically charged particles may include a first set of charged particles and a second set of charged particles, such that a color of the first set of charged particles is the same as a color of the second set of charged particles, and the first set of charged particles has a polarity that is opposite to a polarity of the second set of charged particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen J. Telfer, Thomas H. Whitesides
  • Patent number: 11250794
    Abstract: A dielectrophoretic display is shifted from a low frequency closed state to a high frequency open state via at least one, and preferably several, intermediate frequency states; the use of such multiple frequency steps reduces flicker during the transition. A second type of dielectrophoretic display has a light-transmissive electrode through which the dielectrophoretic medium can be viewed and a conductor connected to the light-transmissive electrode at several points to reduce voltage variations within the light-transmissive electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: George G. Harris, Richard J. Paolini, Jr., Thomas H. Whitesides, Michael D. McCreary, Charles Howie Honeyman
  • Publication number: 20210149267
    Abstract: A variable transmission electro-optic medium includes an encapsulated bistable dispersion containing a plurality of electrically charged particles and a fluid, the charged particles being movable by application of an electric field and capable of being switched between an open state and a closed state. The plurality of electrically charged particles may include a first set of charged particles and a second set of charged particles, such that a color of the first set of charged particles is the same as a color of the second set of charged particles, and the first set of charged particles has a polarity that is opposite to a polarity of the second set of charged particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Stephen J. TELFER, Thomas H. WHITESIDES
  • Patent number: 10036930
    Abstract: An electro-optic assembly comprises an adhesive layer and a layer of electro-optic material. The adhesive layer comprises a polymeric adhesive material and an ionic material having either its cation or its anion fixed to the polymeric adhesive material. The ionic material reduces the volume resistivity of the polymeric adhesive material and is not removed upon heating to 50° C. In a similar electro-optic assembly comprising an adhesive layer and a layer of electro-optic material, the adhesive layer comprises a polymeric adhesive material which has been subjected to dialysis or diafiltration to remove organic species having a molecular weight less than about 3,500, so that the adhesive material has a content of N-methylpyrrolidone not exceeding 500 ppm based upon the total weight of the adhesive layer and layer of electro-optic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas H. Whitesides, Lan Cao
  • Patent number: 9964831
    Abstract: An electro-optic assembly comprises an adhesive layer and a layer of electro-optic material. The adhesive layer comprises a polymeric adhesive material and an ionic material having either its cation or its anion fixed to the polymeric adhesive material. The ionic material reduces the volume resistivity of the polymeric adhesive material and is not removed upon heating to 50° C. In a similar electro-optic assembly comprising an adhesive layer and a layer of electro-optic material, the adhesive layer comprises a polymeric adhesive material which has been subjected to dialysis or diafiltration to remove organic species having a molecular weight less than about 3,500, so that the adhesive material has a content of N-methylpyrrolidone not exceeding 500 ppm based upon the total weight of the adhesive layer and layer of electro-optic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas H. Whitesides
  • Patent number: 9921422
    Abstract: Various types of edge seals for protecting electro-optic displays against environmental contaminants are described. In one type of seal, the electro-optic layer is sandwiched between a backplane and a protective sheet and a sealing material extends between the backplane and the protective sheet. In other seals, the protective sheet is secured to the backplane or to a second protective sheet adjacent the backplane. The electro-optic layer can also be sealed between two layers of adhesive or between one layer of adhesive and the backplane. Other seals make use of flexible tapes extending around the periphery of the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Guy M. Danner, Shamus Ford Patry, Charles Howie Honeyman, Thomas H. Whitesides, Michael D. McCreary, Gregg M. Duthaler
  • Patent number: 9881564
    Abstract: The invention provides materials and methods (including driving methods) for reducing the effects of remnant voltages in electro-optic displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Russell J. Wilcox, Thomas H. Whitesides, Karl Raymond Amundson, Guy M. Danner, Richard M. Webber, Charles Howie Honeyman, Lan Cao, Richard J. Paolini, Jr., Rajesh Chebiyam
  • Patent number: 9726959
    Abstract: A color filter array is provided in an electro-optic display by ink jet printing a plurality of colored areas (22R, 22G, 22B) on one surface of a layer of electro-optic material (12), an adhesive layer or a protective layer. Alternatively, the ink jet printing may be effected on the same layers in various sub-assemblies used to produce electro-optic displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas H. Whitesides, Andrew Y. Oleson, Guy M. Danner, Richard J. Paolini, Jr., Charles Howie Honeyman
  • Publication number: 20170168370
    Abstract: A dielectrophoretic display has a substrate having walls defining a cavity, the cavity having a viewing surface and a side wall inclined to the viewing surface. A fluid is contained within the cavity; and a plurality of particles are present in the fluid. There is applied to the substrate an electric field effective to cause dielectrophoretic movement of the particles so that the particles occupy only a minor proportion of the viewing surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Karl R. Amundson, Alexandros Cosmos Arango, Joseph M. Jacobson, Thomas H. Whitesides, Michael D. McCreary, Richard J. Paolini, JR.
  • Publication number: 20170097525
    Abstract: Various types of edge seals for protecting electro-optic displays against environmental contaminants are described. In one type of seal, the electro-optic layer is sandwiched between a backplane and a protective sheet and a sealing material extends between the backplane and the protective sheet. In other seals, the protective sheet is secured to the backplane or to a second protective sheet adjacent the backplane. The electro-optic layer can also be sealed between two layers of adhesive or between one layer of adhesive and the backplane. Other seals make use of flexible tapes extending around the periphery of the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventors: Guy M. DANNER, Shamus Ford PATRY, Charles Howie HONEYMAN, Thomas H. WHITESIDES, Michael D. MCCREARY, Gregg M. DUTHALER
  • Patent number: 9612502
    Abstract: Various types of edge seals for protecting electro-optic displays against environmental contaminants are described. In one type of seal, the electro-optic layer is sandwiched between a backplane and a protective sheet and a sealing material extends between the backplane and the protective sheet. In other seals, the protective sheet is secured to the backplane or to a second protective sheet adjacent the backplane. The electro-optic layer can also be sealed between two layers of adhesive or between one layer of adhesive and the backplane. Other seals make use of flexible tapes extending around the periphery of the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: E INK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Guy M. Danner, Shamus Ford Patry, Charles Howie Honeyman, Thomas H. Whitesides, Michael D. McCreary, Gregg M. Duthaler
  • Patent number: 9564088
    Abstract: The invention provides materials and methods (including driving methods) for reducing the effects of remnant voltages in electro-optic displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Russell J. Wilcox, Thomas H. Whitesides, Karl R. Amundson, Guy M. Danner, Richard M. Webber, Charles H. Honeyman, Lan Cao, Richard J. Paolini, Jr., Rajesh Chebiyam
  • Publication number: 20160377952
    Abstract: An electro-optic assembly comprises an adhesive layer and a layer of electro-optic material. The adhesive layer comprises a polymeric adhesive material and an ionic material having either its cation or its anion fixed to the polymeric adhesive material. The ionic material reduces the volume resistivity of the polymeric adhesive material and is not removed upon heating to 50° C. In a similar electro-optic assembly comprising an adhesive layer and a layer of electro-optic material, the adhesive layer comprises a polymeric adhesive material which has been subjected to dialysis or diafiltration to remove organic species having a molecular weight less than about 3,500, so that the adhesive material has a content of N-methylpyrrolidone not exceeding 500 ppm based upon the total weight of the adhesive layer and layer of electro-optic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas H. Whitesides, Lan Cao
  • Publication number: 20160314750
    Abstract: A dielectrophoretic display is shifted from a low frequency closed state to a high frequency open state via at least one, and preferably several, intermediate frequency states; the use of such multiple frequency steps reduces flicker during the transition. A second type of dielectrophoretic display has a light-transmissive electrode through which the dielectrophoretic medium can be viewed and a conductor connected to the light-transmissive electrode at several points to reduce voltage variations within the light-transmissive electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Applicant: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: George G. Harris, Richard J. Paolini, JR., Thomas H. Whitesides, Michael D. McCreary, Charles Howie Honeyman
  • Publication number: 20160189632
    Abstract: The invention provides materials and methods (including driving methods) for reducing the effects of remnant voltages in electro-optic displays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: Russell J. Wilcox, Thomas H. Whitesides, Karl Raymond Amundson, Guy M. Danner, Richard M. Webber, Charles Howie Honeyman, Lan Cao, Richard J. Paolini, JR., Rajesh Chebiyam
  • Publication number: 20160170282
    Abstract: An electro-optic assembly comprises an adhesive layer and a layer of electro-optic material. The adhesive layer comprises a polymeric adhesive material and an ionic material having either its cation or its anion fixed to the polymeric adhesive material. The ionic material reduces the volume resistivity of the polymeric adhesive material and is not removed upon heating to 50° C. In a similar electro-optic assembly comprising an adhesive layer and a layer of electro-optic material, the adhesive layer comprises a polymeric adhesive material which has been subjected to dialysis or diafiltration to remove organic species having a molecular weight less than about 3,500, so that the adhesive material has a content of N-methylpyrrolidone not exceeding 500 ppm based upon the total weight of the adhesive layer and layer of electro-optic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventor: Thomas H. Whitesides
  • Publication number: 20160011485
    Abstract: A color filter array is provided in an electro-optic display by ink jet printing a plurality of colored areas (22R, 22G, 22B) on one surface of a layer of electro-optic material (12), an adhesive layer or a protective layer. Alternatively, the ink jet printing may be effected on the same layers in various sub-assemblies used to produce electro-optic displays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas H. Whitesides, Andrew Y. Oleson, Guy M. Danner, Richard J. Paolini, JR., Charles Howie Honeyman
  • Publication number: 20150346578
    Abstract: A dielectrophoretic display has a substrate having walls defining a cavity, the cavity having a viewing surface and a side wall inclined to the viewing surface. A fluid is contained within the cavity; and a plurality of particles are present in the fluid. There is applied to the substrate an electric field effective to cause dielectrophoretic movement of the particles so that the particles occupy only a minor proportion of the viewing surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Inventors: Karl R. Amundson, Jr., Alexandros Cosmos Arango, Joseph M. Jacobson, Thomas H. Whitesides, Michael D. McCreary, Richard J. Paolini, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9170467
    Abstract: A color filter array is provided in an electro-optic display by ink jet printing a plurality of colored areas (22R, 22G, 22B) on one surface of a layer of electro-optic material (12), an adhesive layer or a protective layer. Alternatively, the ink jet printing may be effected on the same layers in various sub-assemblies used to produce electro-optic displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas H. Whitesides, Andrew Y. Oleson, Guy M. Danner, Richard J. Paolini, Jr., Charles Howie Honeyman
  • Patent number: 9158174
    Abstract: In electrophoretic media, it is advantageous to use pigment particles having a polymer chemically bonded to, or cross-linked around, the pigment particles, the polymer comprising repeating units derived from a fluorinated acrylate or fluorinated methacrylate monomer. The polymer desirably has a branched chain structure with side chains extending from a main chain. Desirably, the fluorinated acrylate or fluorinated methacrylate monomer comprises from 1 to 5 mole percent of the polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Michael D. Walls, Jason D. Feick, Thomas H. Whitesides