Gravity-activated displays comprising patterned microcell arrays
AssigneeE Ink Corporation
InventorsYuriy Borisovich Matus, Chandra Bikram Kc, Haiyan Gu, Ajeet Kumar, Bryan Hans Chan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Gravity-actuated display systems suitable for use as security markers, for example to incorporate into bank notes. The devices can be made very thin and flexible, yet are robust enough to endure the harsh conditions of paper currency in general circulation. Because the displays are gravity actuated, they do not require a power source or circuitry. The gravity-actuated displays can be fabricated using microembossing or photolithography and can be filled and sealed using roll-to-roll techniques. The microcells can also be patterned to provide custom designs, such as official seals.
Claims24
A gravity-actuated display comprising:
- an array of microcells, each microcell having walls, a floor, and a top opening, wherein the floor of each microcell is light-transmissive;
- a first mixture comprising between 5-15% of a surfactant (wt surfactant/wt mixture), between 20-50% of reflective particles having a density greater than 7 grams/cm3, (wt particles/wt mixture), between 1-8% of a first soluble dye (wt soluble dye/wt mixture) and a balance of hydrocarbon solvent, wherein the first mixture is disposed in at least some of the microcells in the array;
- and
- a light-transmissive sealing layer that seals the first mixture into the at least some of the microcells.
A gravity-actuated display comprising:
- an array of microcells, each microcell having walls, a floor, and a top opening, wherein the floor of each microcell is light-transmissive;
- a first mixture comprising reflective particles having a density greater than 7 grams/cm3, a hydrocarbon solvent, and a first soluble dye, wherein the first mixture is disposed in at least some of the microcells in the array;
- and
- a light-transmissive sealing layer that seals the first mixture into the at least some of the microcells,
- wherein the gravity-actuated display does not include any layers having a conductivity greater than 1×104 Ohm cm.
A gravity-actuated display comprising:
- an array of microcells, each microcell having walls, a floor, and a top opening, wherein the floor of each microcell is light-transmissive;
- a first mixture comprising reflective particles having a density greater than 7 grams/cm3, a hydrocarbon solvent, and a first soluble dye, wherein the hydrocarbon solvent comprises aliphatic molecules having a molecular weight between 100 g/mol and 300 g/mol, and wherein the first mixture is disposed in at least some of the microcells in the array;
- and
- a light-transmissive sealing layer that seals the first mixture into the at least some of the microcells.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.