Cospheric LLC

Cbrite Inc.

Brian Gobrogge

Yelena Lipovetskaya

Optically anisotropic spheres that can be used as pixel elements in rotating element displays are fabricated by partially (e.g., hemispherically) coating a plurality of spheres by transfer coating methods. Typically, a monolayer of spaced apart monochromal (e.g., white) spheres is formed on a support surface by, for example, making use of a removable template matrix. Next, a uniform layer of viscous coating material (e.g., black coating) is applied to the monolayer of spheres to transfer at least some of the coating material onto the surface of spheres in a monolayer. The obtained partially coated spheres are optionally cured by a UV or thermal exposure and are then removed from the support substrate. In some embodiments, coating material also provides electrical anisotropy to the spheres. Transfer coating methods result in improved precision of hemispherical coating and allow use of environmentally robust pixel elements.

Hemispherical coating method for micro-elements

An electro-optic display includes a 'matrix' for confining moving elements of the display (e.g., rotating or twisting elements). The matrix (or at least the viewable portions thereof) may have a high reflectivity, comparable to that of white paper. This results in an overall 'whiter' or brighter display. The matrix may include channels to facilitate inter-cell fluid transport and high-density element packing. In some cases, the matrix elements provide a hexagonal arrangement of cells for holding the rotating elements. The rotating elements of the display may be electrically and optically anisotropic hemispherically coated spheres. The hemispherical coating typically provides the necessary charge to create electrical anisotropy.

Electro-optic display

A transmissive electro-optic display includes a substantially transparent front plane and back plane element. The back plane element includes a plurality of electrodes distributed in two dimensions on the backplane, each allowing independent control of a discrete region of the display. The front plane element includes at least one electrode disposed opposite the back plane, and is spaced apart from the back plane element by an interior wall defining a plurality of cells therebetween. A plurality of partially conductive and optically anisotropic elements is rotatably disposed in the plurality of cells, together with a dielectric fluid. When an appropriate electric field and/or a magnetic field is applied to the cells, the corresponding anisotropic elements are caused rotate between a 'transmissive' state and an 'opaque' state.

Rotating element transmissive displays

A rotating element display includes a matrix having discrete regions of cells of different sizes occupied by rotatably disposed optically and electrically anisotropic elements (e.g., electrically anisotropic bichromal spheres). The regions of larger cells are occupied by larger rotating elements having a first combination of optical properties while the regions of smaller cells are occupied by smaller elements having a second combination of optical properties. The rotating elements having different combinations of optical properties are separately addressable by electromagnetic signals that cause rotation of selected optically dissimilar elements and create a desired color image. In a different aspect, a rotating element display includes a plurality of optically anisotropic rotatable elements occupying cells of a transparent matrix, in a configuration where a background color is viewable through the matrix. A color image is created using a combination of background color with optical properties of the rotating elements.

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Grand Rapids, MI, United States of America

Brian Gobrogge