E Ink Corporation

The present invention is directed to a sealing layer that comprises a poly(vinyl alcohol) homopolymer or a poly(vinyl alcohol-co-ethylene) copolymer, a polyurethane, and a conductive filler. The sealing layer shows good barrier properties to a non-polar fluid. The sealing layer can be used to seal microcells of electro-optic devices, contributing to improved good electro-optic performance of the device, especially at low temperatures.

An electrophoretic display and a method for driving an electrophoretic display are disclosed for minimizing visible flicker during pixel transitions between black and white optical states. The method generates distinct transition waveforms for black-to-white and white-to-black transitions. Each waveform includes a plurality of full-velocity voltage segments followed by at least one reduced-velocity segment having a smaller voltage magnitude. For black-to-white transitions, the reduced-velocity segment occurs last; for white-to-black transitions, it occurs first. These tailored waveforms are applied to respective display pixels such that the transition velocity of a display pixel changing from black to white substantially matches that of a display pixel changing from white to black. This approach improves visual stability and reduces flicker artifacts during display updates.

Fast response color waveforms for driving multi-particle color electrophoretic media to improve the user experience of a display, e.g. a tablet, monitor, or interactive sign, that incorporates multi-particle color electrophoretic media. In particular, the waveforms result in a sharp and immediate response, which is preferred when writing with a stylus, or typing on a keyboard, or interacting with an icon on a sign, such as a timetable.

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.

Improved methods for driving an active matrix of pixel electrodes controlled with thin film transistors when the voltage on a top electrode is being altered between driving frames. The methods described increase performance by providing smaller swings in the overall voltage between the top electrode and pixel electrode while reducing stress on the thin film transistor.

A light-collimating film including elongated chambers of bistable electrophoretic fluids. The light-collimating films are suitable to control the amount and/or direction of light incident to a transmissive substrate. Such films may be integrated into devices, such as LCD displays, to provide a zone of privacy for a user viewing the LCD display. Because the light-collimating film is switchable, it allows a user to alter the collimation of the emitted light on demand. Because the films are bistable, they do not require additional power after they have been switched to a display state.

Electro-optic (especially electrophoretic) front plane laminates (FPLs) that include a top layer of light-transmissive polyurethane and displays that include a top layer of light-transmissive polyurethane. Because the FPLs and displays are flexible, they can be easily unrolled, and in some instances cut, at the point of installation and then easily incorporated into a surface, such as a floor, or the body of a vehicle. The front plane laminates (FPLs) and displays that include a top layer of light-transmissive polyurethane may be subsequently overcoated with a polyurethane sealant, polyurethane hard coat, polyurethane dispersion, or polyurethane film.

This disclosure describes conductive adhesive compositions that can be used to fabricate electro-optic devices. The compositions include acrylic or methacrylic oligomers, acrylate monomers, glycol ether co-solvents, and photoinitiators for UV curing. These adhesives enable thinner adhesive layers while maintaining excellent electrical conductivity across a wide temperature range. Articles of manufacture and electrophoretic displays using these adhesive compositions are also described.

A hybrid display including an emissive display adjacent a variable transmission display. The hybrid display device typically includes a controller. The emissive display provides an image that is viewable from a viewing location, and the variable transmission medium is positioned relative to the emissive display to partially alter the image at the viewing location. The controller generates a desired altered image at the viewing location by controlling the electrophoretic image display or the variable transmission medium. The display device can include an ambient light sensor. The hybrid display can be incorporated into a combination display by combining the hybrid display with one or more additional electrophoretic displays.

A method is described for driving an electro-optic display having a plurality of display pixels. The method includes updating the electro-optic display with a first image including image data from a first portion of a scrollable content. The method also includes receiving a user input comprising one or more parameters, and generating a second image based on at least one parameter of the user input. The second image includes: a subset of the image data from the first portion of the scrollable content, and image data from a second portion of the scrollable content. The method also includes updating the electro-optic display with the second image.