Writing electronic paper
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsOmer Gila, Napoleon J. Leoni, Steven Rosenberg, Henryk Birecki
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems and methods for writing on electronic paper (“e-paper”) and display platforms implemented with e-paper. In one aspect, a system for writing information to electronic paper includes a writing module and an erasing unit connected to the writing module. The erasing unit is configured to erase information stored in the electronic paper. The system also includes a writing unit connected to the writing module and is configured to write information to the electronic paper. Information is written to the electronic paper by orienting the writing module so that the electronic paper passes the erasing unit prior to passing the writing unit.
Claims17
A device comprising:
- a module comprising a first side spaced apart from and facing a first surface of a passive e-paper media and comprising:
- an erasing unit to generate airborne electrical species having a first charge for attachment onto the first surface of the passive e-paper media to erase information in a fluid-containing microcapsule layer of the passive e-paper media;
- and
- a writing unit to generate airborne electrical species having an opposite second charge for attachment onto the first surface of the passive e-paper media to write information in the fluid-containing microcapsule layer of the passive e-paper media,
- wherein both the erasing unit and the writing unit are physically carried by, and positioned on, the first side of the module and wherein relative movement is to selectively occur between the module and the passive e-paper media during the erasing and the writing,
- wherein the erasing unit and the writing unit of the module are both positioned to be vertically suspended above the passive e-paper media, and
- wherein the module comprises, and physically carries, a discharging unit in a trailing position relative to the writing unit to discharge at least some ions from the first surface of the passive e-paper media.
A method comprising:
- arranging a writing module to be vertically suspended above and facing a passive e-paper media, which comprises a charge-receiving layer, a charge-responsive, fluid-containing microcapsule layer, and a ground electrode;
- causing relative movement between the writing module and the passive e-paper media, wherein during such relative movement:
- erasing information in the microcapsule layer in the passive e-paper media via first airborne electrical charges produced via a first unit of the writing module;
- and
- writing information in the microcapsule layer in the passive e-paper media via second airborne opposite electrical charges produced via a second unit of the writing module, wherein both the respective first and second units are located on a first side of the writing module to face a charge-receiving layer of the passive e-paper media;
- and
- after writing information, removing at least some electrical charges attached to the charge-receiving layer of the passive e-paper media via operating a discharging unit, which is physically carried by the writing module and in a trailing position relative to the second unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.