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).
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Publication number: 20080130092Abstract: Various improvements in electrophoretic media and displays intended for use in light modulators are described. These improvements include index matching of the suspending fluid to a continuous phase surrounding the fluid, index matching of a capsule wall to a binder, planarization of a layer containing electrophoretic capsules before application of adhesive thereto, methods for concentrating electrophoretic particles into limited areas of sidewalls of electrophoretic capsules or microcells in the light-transmissive state of the display, and, in the case of light modulators comprising an electrophoretic layer sandwiched between two transparent plates, forming at least one of the plates so as to absorb electromagnetic radiation which adversely affects the electrophoretic layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2008Publication date: June 5, 2008Applicant: E INK CORPORATIONInventors: Thomas H. Whitesides, Michael McCreary, Richard J. Paolini
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Patent number: 7375875Abstract: 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 20, 2008Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Thomas H. Whitesides, Qingye Zhou, Russell J. Wilcox
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Patent number: 7339715Abstract: A coating of an encapsulated electrophoretic medium is formed on a substrate (106) by dispersing in a fluid (104) a plurality of electrophoretic capsules (102), contacting at least a portion of a substrate (106) with the fluid (104); and applying a potential difference between at least a part of the portion of the substrate (106) contacting the fluid (104) and a counter-electrode (110) in electrical contact with the fluid (104), thereby causing capsules (102) to be deposited upon at least part of the portion of the substrate (106) contacting the fluid (102). Patterned coatings of capsules containing different colors may be deposited in registration with electrodes using multiple capsule deposition steps. Alternatively, a patterned coating may be deposited upon a substrate containing a conductive layer by varying the conductivity of the conductive layer by radiation exposure or by coating portions of the conductive layer with an insulating layer, typically a photoresist.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2004Date of Patent: March 4, 2008Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Richard M. Webber, Thomas H. Whitesides, Guy M. Danner, Craig A. Herb, Charles H. Honeyman, Michael McCreary
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Patent number: 7327511Abstract: Various improvements in electrophoretic media and displays intended for use in light modulators are described. These improvements include index matching of the suspending fluid to a continuous phase surrounding the fluid, index matching of a capsule wall to a binder, planarization of a layer containing electrophoretic capsules before application of adhesive thereto, methods for concentrating electrophoretic particles into limited areas of sidewalls of electrophoretic capsules or microcells in the light-transmissive state of the display, and, in the case of light modulators comprising an electrophoretic layer sandwiched between two transparent plates, forming at least one of the plates so as to absorb electromagnetic radiation which adversely affects the electrophoretic layer.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2005Date of Patent: February 5, 2008Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Thomas H. Whitesides, Michael M. McCreary, Richard J. Paolini, Jr.
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Publication number: 20080013156Abstract: A particle for use in an electrophoretic display comprises a light-scattering inorganic core and a light-transmissive colored shell of an organic pigment. The core may be titania and the shell may be formed of particles having an average particle size less than 700 nm. The particles are produced by treating a light-scattering inorganic pigment with a polymer which adsorbs on both the inorganic pigment and an organic pigment; and adding the organic pigment and allowing the organic pigment to mix with the polymer-coated inorganic pigment. The particles may have a polymer coating.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2007Publication date: January 17, 2008Applicant: E INK CORPORATIONInventors: Thomas H. Whitesides, Andrew Y. Oleson
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Publication number: 20080013155Abstract: An electrophoretic medium comprises a fluid and a plurality of electrically charged particles disposed in the fluid and capable of moving therethrough on application of an electrical field to the medium. Each of the charged particles has a polymer coating comprising a first group. A polymer is dispersed in the fluid, this polymer having a plurality of second groups capable of attracting the first groups on the particles so that the polymer in the fluid forms a complex with the electrophoretic particles.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2007Publication date: January 17, 2008Applicant: E INK CORPORATIONInventors: Charles Howie Honeyman, Thomas H. Whitesides, Michael D. Walls
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Patent number: 7304787Abstract: An electrophoretic display comprises an electrophoretic medium having a plurality of charged particles suspended in a suspending fluid, and two electrodes disposed on opposed sides of the electrophoretic medium. At least one of the electrodes is light-transmissive and forming a viewing surface. The display has a closed optical state in which the charged particles are spread over substantially the entire viewing surface so that light cannot pass through the medium, and an open optical state in which the electrophoretic particles form chains extending between the electrodes so that light can pass through the electrophoretic medium. Insulating layers are disposed between the electrodes and the electrophoretic medium. Similarly electrophoretic displays are provided equipped with color filter arrays or reflectors.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2006Date of Patent: December 4, 2007Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Thomas H. Whitesides, Michael D. McCreary, Richard J. Paolini, Jr., Charles H. Honeyman
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Patent number: 7247379Abstract: Copper chromite particles can advantageously be used as black particles in electrophoretic media and displays. Preferably, the copper chromite particles are coated with a silica coating and a polymer coating.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2005Date of Patent: July 24, 2007Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Anthony Edward Pullen, Thomas H. Whitesides, Charles H. Honeyman, Barrett Comiskey, Jonathan D. Albert
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Patent number: 7241562Abstract: This invention relates to a color silver halide photographic element comprising gelatin, a support bearing at least one dye image forming unit selected from a dye image forming unit comprising at least one red sensitive silver halide emulsion layer having associated therewith a dye-forming coupler, a dye image forming unit comprising at least one green sensitive silver halide emulsion layer having associated therewith a dye-forming coupler, and a dye image forming unit comprising at least one blue sensitive silver halide emulsion layer having associated therewith a dye-forming coupler; and a polymer represented by Formula 1.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2004Date of Patent: July 10, 2007Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Sidney J. Bertucci, David M. Teegarden, David E. Decker, Thomas H. Whitesides, Larry D. Edwards
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Patent number: 7230751Abstract: Various improvements are provided in gas-based electrophoretic displays, including (a) the use of water getters to remove water from the gas; (b) the use of electron accepting or donating gases; (c) the use of electrophoretic polymer particles having high glass transition temperatures; (d) lateral movement of electrophoretic particles within the display; and (e) the use of variable thickness coatings on electrodes to provide for gray scale.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2006Date of Patent: June 12, 2007Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Thomas H. Whitesides, Guy M. Danner, Karl R. Amundson, Charles Howie Honeyman, Russell J. Wilcox, Michael D. McCreary
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Patent number: 7230750Abstract: 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: October 7, 2004Date of Patent: June 12, 2007Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Thomas H. Whitesides, Qingye Zhou, Russell J. Wilcox
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Patent number: 7206119Abstract: Electro-optic displays contain a plurality of types of electro-optic media within a single layer. One form of display has separate areas which undergo different color changes so that the display can blink the same image in different colors. A second form of display has areas which switch at different rates so that images can appear transiently. A third form of display has a medium comprising multiple types of electro-optic elements having differing color states and switching speeds to allow display of a wide color gamut.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2004Date of Patent: April 17, 2007Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Charles Howie Honeyman, Richard J. Paolini, Jr., Michael L. Steiner, Thomas H. Whitesides, Andrew Y. Oleson, Richard M. Webber
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Patent number: 7116466Abstract: An electrophoretic display comprises an electrophoretic medium having a plurality of charged particles suspended in a suspending fluid, and two electrodes disposed on opposed sides of the electrophoretic medium. At least one of the electrodes is light-transmissive and forming a viewing surface. The display has a closed optical state in which the charged particles are spread over substantially the entire viewing surface so that light cannot pass through the medium, and an open optical state in which the electrophoretic particles form chains extending between the electrodes so that light can pass through the electrophoretic medium. Insulating layers are disposed between the electrodes and the electrophoretic medium. Similarly electrophoretic displays are provided equipped with color filter arrays or reflectors.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2005Date of Patent: October 3, 2006Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Thomas H. Whitesides, Michael M. McCreary, Richard J. Paolini, Jr., Charles Howie Honeyman
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Patent number: 7110164Abstract: An encapsulated electrophoretic display is produced by laminating an electrophoretic medium, comprising a plurality of discrete droplets (104) in a polymeric binder (106?), each droplet (104) comprising a plurality of electrophoretic particles dispersed in a suspending fluid, 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).Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2004Date of Patent: September 19, 2006Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Richard J. Paolini, Jr., Thomas H. Whitesides, Steven J. O'Neil, Gregg M. Duthaler
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Patent number: 7061663Abstract: An encapsulation material, intended for use in encapsulated electrophoretic displays, comprises the coacervation product of a polyanionic polymer having a vinyl main chain and a plurality of anionic groups bonded to the main chain, with a cationic or zwitterionic water-soluble polymer capable of forming an immiscible second phase on contact with the polyanionic polymer.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2005Date of Patent: June 13, 2006Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Lan Cao, Libing Zhang, Charles H. Honeyman, Kimberly L. Houde, Andrew L. Loxley, David D. Miller, Richard J. Paolini, Jr., Tibyron Quinn, Michael L. Steiner, Thomas H. Whitesides
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Patent number: 7002728Abstract: Copper chromite particles can advantageously be used as black particles in electrophoretic media and displays. Preferably, the copper chromite particles are coated with a silica coating and a polymer coating.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2004Date of Patent: February 21, 2006Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Anthony Edward Pullen, Thomas H. Whitesides, Charles H. Honeyman, Barrett Comiskey, Jonathan D. Albert
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Patent number: 6958848Abstract: An encapsulation material, intended for use in encapsulated electrophoretic displays, comprises the coacervation product of a polyanionic polymer having a vinyl main chain and a plurality of anionic groups bonded to the main chain, with a cationic or zwitterionic water-soluble polymer capable of forming an immiscible second phase on contact with the polyanionic polymer.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2003Date of Patent: October 25, 2005Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Lan Cao, Charles Howie Honeyman, Kimberly L. Houde, Andrew L. Loxley, David D. Miller, Richard J. Paolini, Jr., Tibyron Quinn, Michael L. Steiner, Thomas H. Whitesides, Libing Zhang
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Publication number: 20040226820Abstract: A coating of an encapsulated electrophoretic medium is formed on a substrate (106) by dispersing in a fluid (104) a plurality of electrophoretic capsules (102), contacting at least a portion of a substrate (106) with the fluid (104); and applying a potential difference between at least a part of the portion of the substrate (106) contacting the fluid (104) and a counter-electrode (110) in electrical contact with the fluid (104), thereby causing capsules (102) to be deposited upon at least part of the portion of the substrate (106) contacting the fluid (102). Patterned coatings of capsules containing different colors may be deposited in registration with electrodes using multiple capsule deposition steps. Alternatively, a patterned coating may be deposited upon a substrate containing a conductive layer by varying the conductivity of the conductive layer by radiation exposure or by coating portions of the conductive layer with an insulating layer, typically a photoresist.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2004Publication date: November 18, 2004Applicant: E Ink CorporationInventors: Richard M. Webber, Thomas H. Whitesides, Guy M. Danner, Craig A. Herb, Charles H. Honeyman, Michael McCreary
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Publication number: 20040112750Abstract: An electrophoretic medium (102) comprises a plurality of capsules (104), each capsule comprising an internal phase comprising a plurality of electrophoretically mobile particles (106, 108) in a gaseous suspending medium, and a capsule wall surrounding the internal phase. Various processes for producing such an electrophoretic medium are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2003Publication date: June 17, 2004Applicant: E INK CORPORATIONInventors: Joseph M. Jacobson, Thomas H. Whitesides, Robert W. Zehner
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Patent number: 6721083Abstract: An electrophoretic display comprises a fluid and a plurality of nanoparticles having diameters substantially less the wavelengths of visible light such that, when the nanoparticles are in a dispersed state and uniformly dispersed throughout the fluid, the fluid presents a first optical characteristic, but when the nanoparticles are in an aggregated state in which they are gathered into aggregates substantially larger than the individual nanoparticles, the fluid presents a second optical characteristic different from the first optical characteristic. The electrophoretic display further comprises at least one electrode arranged to apply an electric field to the nanoparticle-containing fluid and thereby move the nanoparticles between their dispersed and aggregated states. Various compound particles comprising multiple nanoparticles, alone or in combination with larger objects, and processes for the preparation of such compound particles, are also described.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2002Date of Patent: April 13, 2004Assignee: E Ink CorporationInventors: Joseph M. Jacobson, Anthony E. Pullen, Thomas H. Whitesides, Paul S. Drzaic, Ian D. Morrison, Jianna Wang, Caprice L. Gray