Shutter mode microencapsulated electrophoretic display

An electrophoretic display comprising:

• a plurality of display elements, each display element including:
• a capsule having a first surface and a second surface, said first surface having a larger projected surface area than a projected surface area of said second surface when both surfaces are viewed in an intended viewing direction, said capsule containing:
• a suspending fluid;
• and
• at least one particle dispersed within said suspending fluid;
• and
• a first substrate defining a plurality of cavities, each cavity adapted to receive at least one of said plurality of display elements therein.

A method of manufacturing an electrophoretic display comprising the steps of:

• manufacturing a plurality of display elements, each display element being manufactured by a process comprising the steps of:
• encapsulating with a capsule a suspending fluid having a first optical property, and at least one particle dispersed within said suspending fluid and having a second optical property different from said first optical property;
• and
• shaping said capsule to produce a first surface and a second surface, said first surface having a larger projected surface area than a projected surface area of said second surface when both surfaces are viewed in an intended viewing direction;
• providing a substrate defining a plurality of cavities, each cavity adapted to receive one of said plurality of display elements therein;
• and
• situating at least one of said plurality of display elements within at least one of said plurality of cavities defined within said substrate.

An electrophoretic display element comprising:

• a capsule having a first surface and a second surface and containing a structural portion, said structural portion adjacent to at least a portion of said second surface of said capsule and oriented at an oblique angle relative to said second surface to create a display portion of said capsule wherein one of said first surface and said second surface has a larger projected area than the other of said first surface and said second surface, said projected areas being measured when viewed in an intended viewing direction, said display portion including:
• a suspending fluid;
• and
• at least one particle dispersed within said suspending fluid;
• wherein application of a first electrical field causes the at least one particle to migrate towards said first surface of said capsule and application of a second electrical field causes the at least one particle to migrate towards said second surface of said capsule.

A method of manufacturing an electrophoretic display element comprising the steps of:

• encapsulating within a capsule a suspending fluid having a first optical property, at least one particle dispersed within said suspending fluid and having a second optical property different from said first optical property, and a structural material;
• orienting said capsule in a predetermined orientation;
• and
• treating said structural material within said capsule to form a capsule comprising a display portion having a first surface, a second surface and a structural portion, said structural portion adjacent to at least a portion of said second surface and oriented at an oblique angle relative to said second surface of said capsule, and one of said first surface and said second surface having a larger projected area than the other of said first surface and said second surface, said projected areas being measured when viewed in an intended viewing direction.

An electrophoretic display comprising:

• a plurality of display elements, each display element including;
• a capsule having a first surface and a second surface and containing a structural portion, said structural portion adjacent to at least a portion of said second surface and oriented at an oblique angle relative to said second surface of said capsule to create a display portion of said capsule wherein one of said first surface and said second surface has a larger projected area than the other of said first surface and said second surface, said projected areas being measured when viewed in an intended viewing direction, said display portion including:
• a suspending fluid;
• and
• at least one particle dispersed within said suspending fluid;
• and
• a first substrate adapted to receive said plurality of display elements.

A method of manufacturing an electrophoretic display comprising the steps of:

• manufacturing a plurality of display elements, each display element being manufactured by a process comprising the steps of:
• encapsulating within a capsule a suspending fluid having a first optical property, at least one particle dispersed within said suspending fluid and having a second optical property different from said first optical property, and a structural material;
• providing a substrate adapted to receive said plurality of display elements;
• situating at least one of said plurality of display elements on said substrate;
• orienting said substrate in a predetermined orientation;
• and
• treating said structural material within each of said plurality of capsules to form within each of said plurality of capsules a display portion having a first surface, a second surface and a structural portion, said structural portion adjacent to at least a portion of said second surface and oriented at an oblique angle relative to said second surface, one of said first surface and said second surface having a larger projected area than the other of said first surface and said second surface, said projected areas being measured when viewed in an intended viewing direction.

An electrophoretic display element comprising:

• a capsule having a first surface and a second surface, wherein said first surface and said second surface comprise different projected areas, said projected areas being measured when viewed in an intended viewing direction, and wherein said first surface and said second surface are relatively oblique, said capsule containing:
• a suspending fluid;
• and
• at least one particle dispersed within said suspending fluid;
• wherein application of a first electrical field causes the at least one particle to migrate towards said first surface and application of a second electrical field causes the at least one particle to migrate towards said second surfacer wherein said first surface.

An electrophoretic display element comprising:

• a capsule having a first surface and a second surface, said first surface having a larger projected surface area than a projected surface area of said second surface when both surfaces are viewed in an intended viewing direction, said capsule containing:
• a suspending fluid;
• and
• at least one particle dispersed within said suspending fluid;
• wherein application of a first electrical field causes the at least one particle to migrate towards said first surface and application of a second electrical field causes the at least one particle to migrate towards said second surface, and wherein a cross section of said element comprises a polygon of N sides, where N ranges from 5 to 12.