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US 7,327,511 B2Granted
Light modulators
AssigneeE Ink Corporation
InventorsThomas H. Whitesides, Michael M. McCreary, Richard J. Paolini, Jr.
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AssigneeE Ink Corporation
InventorsThomas H. Whitesides, Michael M. McCreary, Richard J. Paolini, Jr.
Estimating the term…
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.
In a process for forming an electrophoretic medium, which process comprises:
A method of driving an electrophoretic display, the display comprising a layer of an electrophoretic medium having first and second surfaces on opposed sides thereof, and electrode means arranged to apply an electric field to the electrophoretic medium, the electrophoretic medium comprising a suspending fluid and a plurality of electrically charged particles disposed in the suspending fluid and capable of moving therethrough on application of an electric field to the suspending fluid, the suspending fluid and electrically charged particles being present as a plurality of discrete droplets, the electrophoretic medium further comprising a continuous phase within which the droplets are confined, the electrode means being arranged to drive the electrophoretic medium to a non-light-transmissive state, in which the particles occupy a major proportion of the area of the layer, thereby rendering the layer substantially non-light-transmissive, and a transmissive state, in which the particles occupy only a minor proportion of the area of the layer, thereby rendering the layer substantially light-transmissive,
An electrophoretic display comprising a laminar carrier medium having end walls and side walls defining a plurality of closed cavities formed therein, the sidewalls extending substantially normal to the thickness of the laminar carrier medium, each of the cavities having confined therein a suspending fluid and a plurality of electrically charged particles disposed in the suspending fluid and capable of moving therethrough on application of an electric field to the suspending fluid, wherein at least a portion of each side wall is electrically conductive, the display further comprising a light-transmissive front electrode provided at or adjacent one major surface of the laminar medium and at least one rear electrode at or adjacent the other major surface of the laminar medium, and therein the conductive side walls are electrically connected to at least one of the rear electrodes but are insulated from the front electrode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.