IP Library Granted Patent US 7,209,281
Granted Patent B2
US 7,209,281 · App. 11/110,621 · Granted Apr 24, 2007

Electrophoretic display device and contactless communication medium

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,209,281
App. No.
11/110,621
Granted
Apr 24, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

Electrophoretic display devices and contactless communication media are provided. A display electrode pattern, a first voltage application circuit to apply a voltage between the display electrode pattern and a transparent electrode, and a wiring pattern that electrically conducts the first voltage application circuit and the display electrode pattern are provided on the side of the back surface of a substrate. Also, a BG electrode pattern, a loop pattern of a predetermined height, and the transparent electrode are provided on the side of the surface of the substrate. Multiple electrophoretic particles and a dispersion medium to disperse the electrophoretic particles are enclosed inside the loop pattern and between the substrate and the transparent electrode. A voltage is applied between the transparent electrode and the display electrode pattern by the first voltage application circuit thereby causing the electrophoretic particles to migrate in the dispersion medium to display a desired image.

Claims (29)

1. An electrophoretic display device comprising:

a substrate, and a display electrode composed of a conductor provided on one surface of the substrate and having a predetermined shape;

a background electrode composed of a conductor provided on another surface of the substrate in a manner to overlap a periphery of the display electrode as viewed in a plan view;

an insulator having a predetermined height and provided on the other surface of the substrate in a manner to entirely surround the display electrode and the background electrode as viewed in a plan view;

a transparent electrode provided on the insulator in a manner to cohere to the insulator;

voltage application means for applying a voltage across the display electrode and the transparent electrode;

a wiring provided on the one surface of the substrate for electrically conducting the voltage application means to the display electrode; and

a plurality of electrophoretic particles and a dispersion medium for dispersing the electrophoretic particles,

wherein the plurality of electrophoretic particles and the dispersion medium are contained inside the insulator between the substrate and the transparent electrode, and

the voltage application means applies a voltage across the transparent electrode and the display electrode to thereby cause the electrophoretic particles to migrate in the dispersion medium to display a desired image.

2. An electrophoretic display device comprising:

a substrate and a display electrode composed of a conductor provided on one surface of the substrate and having a predetermined shape;

a background electrode composed of a conductor provided on another surface of the substrate in a manner to overlap a periphery of the display electrode as viewed in a plan view;

a display sheet provided on the other surface of the substrate in a manner to overlap the display electrode and to overlap a part or the whole of the background electrode as viewed in a plan view;

a transparent electrode provided on the other surface of the substrate in a manner to cover the display sheet;

voltage application means for applying a voltage across the display electrode and the transparent electrode; and

a wiring provided on the one surface of the substrate for electrically conducting the voltage application means to the display electrode,

wherein the display sheet includes a plurality of electrophoretic particles and a dispersion medium for dispersing the electrophoretic particles, and

the voltage application means applies a voltage across the transparent electrode and the display electrode to thereby cause the electrophoretic particles to migrate in the dispersion medium to display a desired image.

3. An electrophoretic display device according to claim 2 , further comprising an insulator having a predetermined height and provided on the other surface of the substrate in a manner to entirely surround the display electrode and the background electrode as viewed in a plan view, wherein the transparent electrode is provided on the insulator in a manner to cohere to the insulator.

4. An electrophoretic display device according to claim 1 , wherein the height of the insulator from the other surface of the substrate is h 1 , and the height of the background electrode from the other surface of the substrate is h 2 , wherein h 2 is smaller than h 1 .

5. An electrophoretic display device according to claim 1 , wherein the transparent electrode and the background electrode are connected to the same potential.

6. An electrophoretic display device according to claim 1 , wherein the voltage application means is a first voltage application device, and further comprising a second voltage application device for applying a voltage across the transparent electrode and the background electrode to display a background color.

7. A contactless communication medium comprising:

the electrophoretic display device recited in claim 1 ;

a loop antenna composed of a conductor; and

a communication circuit for performing data communications through the loop antenna.

8. A contactless communication medium according to claim 7 , comprising driving electric power generation means for generating a driving electric power from electromagnetic radiation received with the loop antenna, wherein

the voltage application means and the communication circuit are driven by the driving electric power generated by the driving electric power generation means.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 13, 2018
From: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
To: E INK CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 047072/0325 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 20, 2005
From: TAKEI, YOSHIKI
To: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 016495/0666 →