Electromagnetic writing apparatus for electro-optic displays

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016239113-A1
Application number	US-201615045326-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 17, 2016
Priority date	Feb 17, 2015
Publication date	Aug 18, 2016
Grant date	—

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

1 . 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; an electromagnet configured to generate, from the first end of the elongate tubular member, a rotating magnetic field.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electromagnet comprises three magnetic cores.

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

4 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the electromagnet comprises five magnetic cores.

5 . The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising a coil disposed around each of the magnetic cores.

6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein each coil receives a time-varying electric signal.

7 . An apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the rotating magnetic field is generated using a combination of electrical signals having different phase shifts.

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

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

10 . An apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the shielding material is a high permeability metal or copper.

11 . 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.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the electro-optic display is an electrophoretic display containing electrophoretic particles.

13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the electro-optic display comprises a first transparent electrode.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the electro-optic display further comprises a second transparent electrode, a first opaque electrode, or an active matrix of transistors.

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

16 . A method of addressing an electro-optic medium comprising:
applying a voltage to the electro-optic medium that is insufficient to cause the electro-optic medium to switch between a first and a second optical state; and applying a magnetic field to the electro-optic medium in addition to the voltage, such that the combined electric and magnetic fields are sufficient to cause the electro-optic medium to switch between a first and a second optical state.

17 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the magnetic field is a rotating magnetic field.

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

• G02F1/167 Primary

  by electrophoresis · CPC title

• G06F3/0383

  Signal control means within the pointing device · CPC title

• G02F1/1685

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

• G06F3/038

  Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry · CPC title