Abstract: A laminate comprising a solid electro-optic medium and an electrically conductive layer is tested by passing it over a pair of electrodes at different potentials, with the electrically conductive layer lying on the opposed side of the electro-optic medium from the electrodes. An article which can be tested by this method, and which is useful in the manufacture of electro-optic displays, comprises a layer of a solid electro-optic medium and a release sheet comprising an electrically conductive layer.

Abstract: An electro-optic display comprises, in order, a backplane comprising a plurality of pixel electrodes; a layer of a solid electro-optic medium; a main adhesive layer; and at least one of a light-transmissive protective layer and a light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer. The electro-optic layer may be in direct contact with the backplane or separated therefrom by a thin auxiliary layer of adhesive. The main adhesive layer may be colored to provide a color filter array. An inverted front plane laminate useful in forming such a display comprises the same layers except that the backplane is replaced by a release sheet. The display combines good low temperature performance and good resolution at higher temperatures.

Abstract: A sub-assembly for use in an electro-optic display comprises, in this order: a release sheet (500 or 510); a backplane (508) or a layer of an electro-optic medium (502); and a layer of lamination adhesive (504 or 512).

Abstract: The image stability of electrophoretic media, comprising a plurality of particles disposed in a fluid and capable of moving through the fluid upon application of an electric field to the medium, can be improved by including in the fluid either a polystyrene or an aggregating diblock copolymer which forms micelle-like structures in the fluid, the diblock copolymer having a first block soluble in the fluid and a second block not swellable by the fluid. In variable transmission electrophoretic media, haze can be reduced by using as the fluid a mixture of a partially hydrogenated aromatic hydrocarbon and a terpene.

Abstract: A flexible electro-optic display comprises a layer of solid electro-optic material; a backplane comprising at least one electrode arranged to apply an electric field to the layer of electro-optic material; and an adhesive layer disposed between the layer of electro-optic material and the backplane and adhesively securing the layer of electro-optic material to the backplane, the adhesive layer having a storage modulus (G?) of at least about 104 Pascals at 10?3 Hz and 70° C.

Abstract: Prior art processes for producing protein-based capsules (for example, capsules for use in electrophoretic media) tend to be wasteful because they produce many capsules outside the desired size range, which is typically about 20 to 50 ?m. Capsule size distribution and yields can be improved by either (a) emulsifying a water-immiscible phase in a preformed coacervate of the protein; or (b) using a limited coalescence process with colloidal alumina as the surface-active particulate material.

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.

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.

Abstract: An electro-optic display comprises a backplane; a layer of electro-optic material disposed adjacent the backplane; a protective layer; and a sealing layer of a metal or a ceramic extending between the backplane and the protective layer, and thus sealing the layer of electro-optic material from the outside environment.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An electro-optic display comprises a backplane; a layer of electro-optic material disposed adjacent the backplane; a protective layer; and a sealing layer of a metal or a ceramic extending between the backplane and the protective layer, and thus sealing the layer of electro-optic material from the outside environment.

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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A sub-assembly for use in an electro-optic display comprises, in this order: a release sheet (500 or 510); a backplane (508) or a layer of an electro-optic medium (502); and a layer of lamination adhesive (504 or 512).

Abstract: An electrophoretic medium consists of a plurality of discrete droplets (104) in a polymeric binder (106?): each droplet (104) itself has a plurality of electrophoretic particles dispersed in a suspending fluid. An encapsulated electrophoretic display is produced by laminating the electrophoretic medium to a backplane (110) having at least one electrode at a temperature such that the polymeric binder (106?) flows and secures the electrophoretic medium to the backplane (110).

Abstract: The performance of electro-wetting displays can be improved by: (a) providing a concealment member (112) which conceals the moving fluid (108) when that fluid (108) is confined to a small area; (b) using the moving fluid to cover one or more sections of a filter or reflector having differently-colored sections; (c) moving the moving fluid between the rear surface and a side surface of a microcell; (d) using as a substrate for a moving fluid a substrate resistant to wetting by the fluid but pierced by multiple conductive vias capped with a material wetted by the fluid; and (e) coloring the moving fluid with pigments or nanoparticles.

Abstract: Polymer-coated pigment particles produced using atom transfer radical polymerization provide electrophoretic media having improved bistability without requiring addition to the electrophoretic fluid of additives which increase switching time.

Abstract: An electrophoretic medium consists of a plurality of discrete droplets (104) in a polymeric binder (106?): each droplet (104) itself has a plurality of electrophoretic particles dispersed in a suspending fluid. An encapsulated electrophoretic display is produced by laminating the electrophoretic medium to a backplane (110) having at least one electrode at a temperature such that the polymeric binder (106?) flows and secures the electrophoretic medium to the backplane (110).

Abstract: The performance of electro-wetting displays can be improved by: (a) providing a concealment member (112) which conceals the moving fluid (108) when that fluid (108) is confined to a small area; (b) using the moving fluid to cover one or more sections of a filter or reflector having differently-colored sections; (c) moving the moving fluid between the rear surface and a side surface of a microcell; (d) using as a substrate for a moving fluid a substrate resistant to wetting by the fluid but pierced by multiple conductive vias capped with a material wetted by the fluid; and (e) coloring the moving fluid with pigments or nanoparticles.

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.