Ian Alexander Morrison

US Patent:

6445489, Sep 3, 2002

Filed:

Mar 18, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/272716

Inventors:

Joseph M. Jacobson - Newton Centre MA
Paul Drzaic - Lexington MA
Barrett Comiskey - Cambridge MA
Russell J. Wilcox - Natick MA
Ian Morrison - Acton MA

Assignee:

E Ink Corporation - Cambridge MA

International Classification:

G02B 2600

US Classification:

359296, 345107, 204450, 204606

Abstract:

Electrophoretic displays include a light-emitting layer, a photoconductive layer, and an electrophoretic layer. The light-emitting layer may be an organic, light-emitting material, or organic, light-emitting diode, which is addressable using a multiplex addressing drive scheme. The impedance of the photoconductive layer is lowered when struck by light from the light-emitting layer. As a result of the lowered impedance of the photoconductive layer, the electrophoretic layer, which itself cannot be multiplexed, is addressed at a lower, subthreshold voltage.

US Patent:

6515649, Feb 4, 2003

Filed:

Aug 27, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/140792

Inventors:

Jonathan D. Albert - Cambridge MA
Barrett Comiskey - Cambridge MA
Joseph M. Jacobson - Newton Centre MA
Libing Zhang - Quincy MA
Andrew Loxley - Somerville MA
Robert Feeney - Scituate MA
Paul Drzaic - Lexington MA
Ian Morrison - Acton MA

Assignee:

E Ink Corporation - Cambridge MA

International Classification:

G09G 334

US Classification:

345107, 349 89, 359296, 204450, 204600, 4272133

Abstract:

Disclosed herein are novel electrophoretic displays and materials useful in fabricating such displays. In particular, novel encapsulated displays are disclosed. Particles encapsulated therein are dispersed within a suspending, or electrophoretic, fluid. This fluid may be a mixture of two or more fluids or may be a single fluid. The displays may further comprise particles dispersed in a suspending fluid, wherein the particles contain a liquid. In either case, the suspending fluid may have a density or refractive index substantially matched to that of the particles dispersed therein. Finally, also disclosed herein are electro-osmotic displays. These displays comprise at least one capsule containing either a cellulosic or gel-like internal phase and a liquid phase, or containing two or more immiscible fluids. Application of electric fields to any of the electrophoretic displays described herein affects an optical property of the display.

US Patent:

6538801, Mar 25, 2003

Filed:

Nov 12, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/054721

Inventors:

Joseph M. Jacobson - Newton Centre MA
Paul S. Drzaic - Morgan Hill CA
Ian D. Morrison - Acton MA
Anthony E. Pullen - Belmont MA
Jianna Wang - Waltham MA
Robert W. Zehner - Cambridge MA
Caprice L. Gray - Somerville MA
Gregg M. Duthaler - Needham MA
Michael McCreary - Acton MA
Emily J. Pratt - Brookline MA

Assignee:

E Ink Corporation - Cambridge MA

International Classification:

G09G 334

US Classification:

359296, 345107

Abstract:

An electrophoretic display comprises a fluid and a plurality of nanoparticles having diameters substantially less the wavelengths of visible light such that, when the nanoparticles are in a dispersed state and uniformly dispersed throughout the fluid, the fluid presents a first optical characteristic, but when the nanoparticles are in an aggregated state in which they are gathered into aggregates substantially larger than the individual nanoparticles, the fluid presents a second optical characteristic different from the first optical characteristic. The electrophoretic display further comprises at least one electrode arranged to apply an electric field to the nanoparticle-containing fluid and thereby move the nanoparticles between their dispersed and aggregated states. Various compound particles comprising multiple nanoparticles, alone or in combination with larger objects, and processes for the preparation of such compound particles, are also described.

US Patent:

6693620, Feb 17, 2004

Filed:

May 3, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/564125

Inventors:

Craig A. Herb - Medford MA
Ian D. Morrison - Acton MA
Andrew L. Loxley - Somerville MA

Assignee:

E Ink Corporation - Cambridge MA

International Classification:

G09G 334

US Classification:

345107, 345 84, 345 85

Abstract:

Methods and apparatus for an electrophoretic display in which the particle motion is a controlled, non-linear function of the applied electric field. Threshold addressing allows simple, inexpensive passive addressing techniques to be employed. The inverse electrorheological gating techniques allow the construction of a full color, passively addressed display without the need to address individual capsules. A mixture of capsules is coated randomly onto a substrate enabling the creation of inexpensive displays. All the techniques allow a significant threshold to be realized. Rapid movement of the pigment particles above the threshold allows rapid switching times for the display. Since diffusion and gravity are extremely weak forces compared to the yield stresses created, the structured or gelled medium approach provides a great improvement in the bistability of the displays.

US Patent:

6721083, Apr 13, 2004

Filed:

Nov 4, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/065617

Inventors:

Joseph M. Jacobson - Newton Centre MA
Anthony E. Pullen - Belmont MA
Thomas H. Whitesides - Cambridge MA
Paul S. Drzaic - Morgan Hill CA
Ian D. Morrison - Acton MA
Jianna Wang - Waltham MA
Caprice L. Gray - Somerville MA

Assignee:

E Ink Corporation - Cambridge MA

International Classification:

G02B 2600

US Classification:

359296, 345107, 264 41, 264 43, 106 3116

Abstract:

An electrophoretic display comprises a fluid and a plurality of nanoparticles having diameters substantially less the wavelengths of visible light such that, when the nanoparticles are in a dispersed state and uniformly dispersed throughout the fluid, the fluid presents a first optical characteristic, but when the nanoparticles are in an aggregated state in which they are gathered into aggregates substantially larger than the individual nanoparticles, the fluid presents a second optical characteristic different from the first optical characteristic. The electrophoretic display further comprises at least one electrode arranged to apply an electric field to the nanoparticle-containing fluid and thereby move the nanoparticles between their dispersed and aggregated states. Various compound particles comprising multiple nanoparticles, alone or in combination with larger objects, and processes for the preparation of such compound particles, are also described.

US Patent:

6724519, Apr 20, 2004

Filed:

Dec 20, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/467324

Inventors:

Barrett Comiskey - Cambridge MA
Ian Morrison - Acton MA
Paul Drzaic - Lexington MA
Peter T. Kazlas - Brookline MA
Russell Wilcox - Natick MA
Robert Feeney - Scituate MA

Assignee:

E-Ink Corporation - Cambridge MA

International Classification:

G02B 2600

US Classification:

359296, 345109

Abstract:

An electrophoretic display having a protective electrode that reduces the degradation of the display caused by mechanical or electrochemical action. The electrode can include a protective layer that reduces the mechanical or electrochemical damage to a transparent conductive electrode. The protective electrode can be a vapor permeable electrode that is a reticulated electrically conductive structure, such as a metal screen or wire mesh, or a reticulated structure coated or impregnated with a conductive material. The protective electrode can include a layer that protects the display media from physical abrasion or removal by mechanical action, while allowing the application of an electric field to cause the display to be addressed.

US Patent:

6727881, Apr 27, 2004

Filed:

Aug 27, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/140846

Inventors:

Jonathan D. Albert - Cambridge MA
Barrett Comiskey - Cambridge MA
Joseph M. Jacobson - Newton Centre MA
Libing Zhang - Quincy MA
Andrew Loxley - Somerville MA
Robert Feeney - Scituate MA
Paul Drzaic - Lexington MA
Ian Morrison - Acton MA

Assignee:

E Ink Corporation - Cambridge MA

International Classification:

G02B 2600

US Classification:

345107, 359296, 430 35

Abstract:

Disclosed herein are novel electrophoretic displays and materials useful in fabricating such displays. In particular, novel encapsulated displays are disclosed. Particles encapsulated therein are dispersed within a suspending, or electrophoretic, fluid. This fluid may be a mixture of two or more fluids or may be a single fluid. The displays may further comprise particles dispersed in a suspending fluid, wherein the particles contain a liquid. In either case, the suspending fluid may have a density or refractive index substantially matched to that of the particles dispersed therein. Finally, also disclosed herein are electro-osmotic displays. These displays comprise at least one capsule containing either a cellulosic or gel-like internal phase and a liquid phase, or containing two or more immiscible fluids. Application of electric fields to any of the electrophoretic displays described herein affects an optical property of the display.

US Patent:

6753999, Jun 22, 2004

Filed:

May 31, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/160131

Inventors:

Robert W. Zehner - Cambridge MA
Gregg M. Duthaler - Needham MA
Ian Morrison - Acton MA

Assignee:

E Ink Corporation - Cambridge MA

International Classification:

G02B 2600

US Classification:

359296, 345107, 430 35, 204450, 204606

Abstract:

A card may include a photoconductive layer and an electrophoretic layer. The impedance of the photoconductive layer is lowered when struck by light from the light-emitting layer. Where the impedance of the photoconductive layer is lowered, the electrophoretic layer may be addressed by an applied electric field to update an image on the card. The image on a card may be updated by a system of updating an image on a card and a method of updating an image on a card that are presented.