Electronically addressable microencapsulated ink and display thereof
AssigneeE Ink Corporation
InventorJoseph M. Jacobson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
We describe a system of electronically active inks which may include electronically addressable contrast media, conductors, insulators, resistors, semiconductive materials, magnetic materials, spin materials, piezoelectric materials, optoelectronic, thermoelectric or radio frequency materials. We further describe a printing system capable of laying down said materials in a definite pattern. Such a system may be used for instance to: print a flat panel display complete with onboard drive logic; print a working logic circuit onto any of a large class of substrates; print an electrostatic or piezoelectric motor with onboard logic and feedback or print a working radio transmitter or receiver.
Claims18
An electrically addressable ink comprising a microcapsule, said microcapsule comprising:
- a first particle having a first charge;
- and
- a second particle having a second charge;
- wherein applying an electric field having a first polarity to said microcapsule effects a perceived optical property change by causing one of said first and second particles to migrate in a direction responsive to said field.
A microencapsulated ink system, comprising:
- a microcapsule comprising:
- a photoconductive semiconductor particle;
- and
- a dye indicator particle;
- wherein the application of an electric field to said microcapsule causes said photoconductive semiconductor particle to generate free charge, causing the dye indicator to effect a first color state.
An electrically addressable ink comprising a microcapsule, said microcapsule comprising:
- a hairpin-shaped molecule having a first portion and a second portion, said hair-pin shaped molecule comprising:
- a first moiety having a first charge attached to said first portion of said hairpin-shaped molecule;
- and
- a second moiety having a second charge attached to said second portion of said hairpin-shaped molecule, said second moiety capable of reacting with said first moiety, said second charge being opposite to said first charge;
- the reaction between said first moiety and said second moiety defining a closed state of said hairpin-shaped molecule effecting a first color state;
- and
- the separation of said first moiety from said second moiety defining an open state of said hairpin-shaped molecule, effecting a second color state.
An electronically addressable ink comprising a microcapsule, said microcapsule comprising:
- a polymer molecule having a first non-linear shape in the presence of a first electric field, said polymer molecule comprising:
- a first moiety attached to a first location;
- and
- a second moiety attached to a second location;
- wherein the application of a second electric field causes said polymer molecule to assume a linear shape, separating said first and second moities to effect a first color state.
An electrically addressable medium comprising a microcapsule, said microcapsule further comprising a non-colored dye solvent complex, said dye solvent complex being stable when no electric field is applied and wherein applying an electric field causes said dye solvent complex to separate into a dye complex and a solvent complex, effecting a first color state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.