Electromagnetic writing apparatus for electro-optic displays

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10037089-B2
Application number	US-201615045326-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 17, 2016
Priority date	Feb 17, 2015
Publication date	Jul 31, 2018
Grant date	Jul 31, 2018

Abstract

Particle-based electro-optic displays are described that are both electrically and magnetically controllable. Global and local addressing may be provided. The global addressing may be providing by one or more electrodes of the display, and may be electrically activated. The local addressing may be provided by a writing implement, especially one capable of producing rotating electric fields.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for addressing an electro-optic display, comprising:
an elongate tubular member having a first end and a second end, the elongate tubular member being sized to be hand-held, and being configured to allow a user to address an electro-optic display; and
an electromagnet comprising five magnetic cores with wire coils disposed around each magnetic core, wherein each wire coil receives a time-varying electric signal, and the electromagnet is configured to generate, from the first end of the elongate tubular member, a rotating magnetic field.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the five magnetic cores are configured to substantially define a closed contour.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the rotating magnetic field is generated using a combination of electrical signals having different phase shifts.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the elongate tubular member has a diameter less than approximately 3 cm.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a shielding material positioned proximate to the first end of the elongate tubular member.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the shielding material is a high permeability metal or copper.

7. A system, comprising:
the apparatus of claim 1 ; and
an electro-optic display containing electro-optic particles configured to change visible state in response to application of a rotating magnetic field.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the electro-optic display is an electrophoretic display containing electrophoretic particles.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the electro-optic display comprises a first transparent electrode.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the electro-optic display further comprises a second transparent electrode, a first opaque electrode, or an active matrix of transistors.

11. An apparatus for addressing an electro-optic display, comprising:
an elongate tubular member having a first end and a second end, being sized to be hand-held, and being configured to allow a user to address an electro-optic display; and
an electromagnet comprising three magnetic cores with a wire coil disposed around each of the three magnetic cores wherein each wire coil receives a time-varying electric signal, and the electromagnet is configured to generate, from the first end of the elongate tubular member, a rotating magnetic field.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the three magnetic cores are configured to substantially define a closed contour.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the rotating magnetic field is generated using a combination of electrical signals having different phase shifts.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the elongate tubular member has a diameter less than approximately 3 cm.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 , further comprising a shielding material positioned proximate to the first end of the elongate tubular member.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the shielding material is a high permeability metal or copper.

17. A system, comprising:
the apparatus of claim 11 ; and
an electro-optic display containing electro-optic particles configured to change visible state in response to application of a rotating magnetic field.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the electro-optic display is an electrophoretic display containing electrophoretic particles.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the electro-optic display comprises a first transparent electrode.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the electro-optic display further comprises a second transparent electrode, a first opaque electrode, or an active matrix of transistors.

Assignees

• E Ink Corp

Inventors

• Bishop Seth J
• Sainis Sunil Krishna
• Harris George G
• Vetterling William

Classifications

• G06F3/03545 Primary

  Pens or stylus · CPC title

• G09G3/344

  based on particles moving in a fluid or in a gas, e.g. electrophoretic devices (electrophoretic devices per se G02F1/167) · CPC title

• G06F3/0383

  Signal control means within the pointing device · CPC title

• G02F1/167 Primary

  by electrophoresis · CPC title

• G02F1/1685

  Operation of cells; Circuit arrangements affecting the entire cell · CPC title