Phoretic display device with liquid crystalline suspension medium, and manufacturing method
US7145626B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 11, 2003 |
| Grant date | Dec 5, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 30, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F1/133776
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A phoretic display device comprising a plurality of electrophoretic or magnetophoretic cells, each having a phoretic particle dispersed within a suspension medium comprising a liquid crystal material. The phoretic cell is adapted to induce defects, sometimes known as disclinations, in the alignment of the liquid crystal material within the cell which act to exert a retentive force on the phoretic particle when within the region of influence of the defects. The configuration of the display introduces a threshold level in the electric or magnetic field required to move the phoretic particle between defects within the cell. Accordingly, the non-linear electro-optic or magneto-optic behaviour of the display facilitates matrix addressing of the cells therein. The display may comprise a plurality of prolate spheroid phoretic cells arranged in an encapsulant, the major (long) axis of each cell arranged substantially perpendicular to the plane of the display.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.