1. An electrophoretic display comprising a pair of facing substrates at least one of which is transparent, a plurality of particles and a gas enclosed between the substrates, and means for applying an electric field across the substrates so as to cause the particles to move between the substrates, the display further comprising a water-absorbing compound in contact with the gas.
2. An electrophoretic display according to claim 1 wherein the water-absorbing compound comprises at least one of an alkaline earth metal and an oxide, carbonate or sulfate of an alkaline earth metal.
3. An electrophoretic display according to claim 1 wherein the water-absorbing compound comprises at least one of calcium carbonate, magnesium sulfate, sodium sulfate, calcium oxide and alumina.
4. An electrophoretic display according to claim 1 wherein the water-absorbing compound is incorporated into a wall in contact with the gas.
5. An electrophoretic display according to claim 4 wherein the display comprises a plurality of cell walls extending between the two substrates and defining a plurality of cavities within which the gas and the particles are confined, and wherein the water-absorbing compound is incorporated into the cell walls.
6. An electrophoretic display comprising a pair of facing substrates at least one of which is transparent, a plurality of at least one type of particle and a gas enclosed between the substrates, means for applying an electric field across the substrates so as to cause the particles to move between the substrates, and vibration inducing means for causing mechanical vibration and tribo-charging of the at least one type of particle.
7. An electrophoretic display comprising a pair of facing substrates at least one of which is transparent, a plurality of at least one type of particle and a gas enclosed between the substrates, and means for applying an electric field across the substrates so as to cause the particles to move between the substrates, the display at least one wall in contact with the gas and having a volume resistivity in the range of about 107 to about 1011 ohm cm.
8. A method of charging particles in an electrophoretic display, the display comprising a pair of facing substrates at least one of which is transparent, a plurality of a first type of particle capable of being triboelectrically charged, a plurality of a second type of particle having a polarizability greater than that of the first type of particle, and a gas, the first and second types of particles and the gas being enclosed between the substrates, the method comprising applying a non-uniform electric field between the substrates, thereby causing dielectrophoretic movement of the second type of particles and consequent triboelectric charging of the first type of particles.
9. An electrophoretic display comprising a pair of facing substrates at least one of which is transparent, a plurality of a first type of particle and a gas enclosed between the substrates, and means for applying an electric field across the substrates so as to cause the first type of particles to move between the substrates, the display further comprising a plurality of a second type of particle effective to increase triboelectric charging of the first type of particles.
10. An electrophoretic display comprising a pair of facing substrates at least one of which is transparent, a plurality of particles and a gas enclosed between the substrates, and means for applying an electric field across the substrates so as to cause the particles to move between the substrates, wherein the particles comprise titania coated with silica andor alumina.
11. An electrophoretic display comprising a pair of facing substrates at least one of which is transparent, a plurality of particles and a gas enclosed between the substrates, and means for applying an electric field across the substrates so as to cause the particles to move between the substrates, wherein the particles comprise carbon black having a polymeric coating.
12. An electrophoretic display comprising a pair of facing substrates at least one of which is transparent, a plurality of particles and a gas enclosed between the substrates, and means for applying an electric field across the substrates so as to cause the particles to move between the substrates, wherein the transparent substrate is provided with a coating for reducing the transmission of ultraviolet radiation through the transparent substrate.
13. An electrophoretic display comprising a pair of facing substrates at least one of which is transparent, a plurality of particles and a gas enclosed between the substrates, and means for applying an electric field across the substrates so as to cause the particles to move between the substrates, wherein at least some of the particles are arranged to absorb ultraviolet radiation.
14. An electrophoretic display comprising a pair of facing substrates at least one of which is transparent, a plurality of particles and a gas enclosed between the substrates, and means for applying an electric field across the substrates so as to cause the particles to move between the substrates, wherein the gas is able to accept electrons from, or donate electrons to, the particles.
15. An electrophoretic display comprising a pair of facing substrates at least one of which is transparent and forms a viewing surface, cell walls defining a plurality of cavities between the substrates, a plurality of particles and a gas enclosed within the cavities, and means for applying an electric field across the substrates so as to cause the particles to move between the substrates, the means for applying an electric field being arranged to drive the particles to a first optical state, in which at least some of the particles lie adjacent the viewing surface so that the viewing surface displays a first optical characteristic, and to drive the particles to a second optical state, in which the particles are disposed adjacent the cell walls so that the light can pass through the cavities and the viewing surface displays a second optical characteristic different from the first optical characteristic.
16. An electrophoretic display according to claim 15 wherein the means for applying electric field is arranged to apply a non-uniform electric field so that the particles are moved by dielectrophoretic forces to the cell walls.
17. An electrophoretic display according to claim 15 wherein the means for applying electric field comprises electrodes disposed at or adjacent the cell walls for moving the particles adjacent the cell walls.
18. An electrophoretic display according to claim 15 wherein the particles include a plurality of a first type of particle capable of being charged with a charge of a first polarity and having the first optical characteristic, and a plurality of a second type of particle capable of being charged with a charge of a second polarity opposite to the first polarity, the second type of particle having a third optical characteristic different from the first and second optical characteristics.
19. An electrophoretic display comprising a pair of facing substrates at least one of which is transparent, a plurality of particles and a gas enclosed between the substrates, and means for applying an electric field across the substrates so as to cause the particles to move between the substrates, the particles comprising a plurality of a first type of particle capable of being charged with a charge of a first polarity, and a plurality of a second type of particle capable of being charged with a charge of a second polarity opposite to the first polarity, the charge on the second type of particle being smaller in magnitude than the charge on the first type of particle, the first and second types of particles having substantially the same optical characteristic.
20. An electrophoretic display comprising a pair of facing substrates at least one of which is transparent, a plurality of particles and a gas enclosed between the substrates, and means for applying an electric field across the substrates so as to cause the particles to move between the substrates, the display comprising a plurality of pixels and the means for applying an electric field comprising at least one electrode having a surface covered by an insulating coating, the thickness of the insulating coating varying within one pixel.
21. An electrophoretic display according to claim 20 wherein the insulating coating is patterned so that some parts of the electrode are free of the insulating coating.
22. An electrophoretic display according to claim 20 wherein the whole of the area of the electrode corresponding to the one pixel is covered by the insulating coating, but the thickness of the insulating coating varies from point to point within the pixel.
23. An electrophoretic display comprising a pair of facing substrates at least one of which is transparent, a plurality of particles and a gas enclosed between the substrates, and means for applying an electric field across the substrates so as to cause the particles to move between the substrates, the display comprising at least one electrode having a surface covered by an coating which is insulating at low electric fields but conductive at high electric fields.
24. An electrophoretic display comprising a pair of facing substrates at least one of which is transparent, a plurality of particles and a gas enclosed between the substrates, and means for applying an electric field across the substrates so as to cause the particles to move between the substrates, wherein the particles comprise a polymer having a glass transition temperature of at least about 80\xb0 C.
25. An electrophoretic display comprising a pair of facing substrates at least one of which is transparent, a plurality of particles and a gas enclosed between the substrates, and means for applying an electric field across the substrates so as to cause the particles to move between the substrates, wherein the plurality of particles comprises particles having substantially the same optical characteristics but differing in size by a factor of at least about 2.
26. An electrophoretic display according to claim 62 wherein the plurality of particles comprises a plurality of a first type of particle having a first optical characteristic and capable of being triboelectrically charged with a charge of a first polarity, and a plurality of a second type of particles having a second optical characteristic different from the first optical characteristic and capable of being triboelectrically charged with a charge of a second polarity opposite to that of the first polarity, wherein both the first and second types of particles comprise particles having substantially the same optical characteristics but differing in size by a factor of at least about 2.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An ink delivery system for printing, comprising:
a plurality of ink containers, the ink containers fluidically coupled to a fluidically common ink manifold;
the ink manifold fluidically coupled to a pressure regulator;
the pressure regulator fluidically coupled to multiple print cartridges, the regulator maintaining a backpressure on ink flowing to the print cartridges, such that ink from any one of the plurality of ink containers may be provided to any one of the multiple print cartridges through the common ink manifold.
2. The ink delivery system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of ink containers are free ink containers.
3. The ink delivery system of claim 2, wherein the ink containers have a first port for providing ink and a second port for admitting air.
4. The ink delivery system of claim 1, further comprising a receiving station configured to hold the plurality of ink containers.
5. The ink delivery system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of valves, with a valve interposed between each ink container and the common ink manifold, the valves operable to interrupt the flow of ink from an ink container to the manifold.
6. The ink delivery system of claim 1, wherein the pressure regulator and the multiple print cartridges are mounted on a printer carriage assembly.
7. The ink delivery system of claim 1, further comprising an electronic controller.
8. The ink delivery system of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of valves, with a valve interposed between each ink container and the common ink manifold, the valves operable to interrupt the flow of ink from an ink container to the manifold.
9. The ink delivery system of claim 8, wherein the electronic controller controls the plurality of valves.
10. The ink delivery system of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of ink containers further comprises an integral electronic memory component, each of the integral electronic memory components in electrical communication with the electronic controller.
11. The ink delivery system of claim 10, wherein each integral electronic memory component includes information regarding the characteristics of the ink within the container with which the memory component is integral.
12. The ink delivery system of claim 11, wherein the electronic controller includes information regarding the type of ink required for a print job, and wherein the electronic controller compares the information regarding the type of ink required for a print job to the information regarding the characteristics of the ink within a container.
13. An ink delivery system for printing, comprising:
a plurality of ink containers;
a plurality of valves, each of the plurality of ink containers fluidically coupled to a valve, the valves operable to interrupt the flow of ink from an ink container;
an ink manifold, each of the plurality of valves fluidically coupled to the manifold;
a carriage assembly, the carriage assembly having
a common pressure regulator, the pressure regulator fluidically coupled to the ink manifold;
multiple print cartridges, each of the print cartridges fluidically coupled to the common pressure regulator, the regulator maintaining a backpressure on ink flowing to the print cartridges,
such that ink from any one of the plurality of ink containers may be provided to any one of the multiple print cartridges through the common ink manifold.
14. The ink delivery system of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of ink containers have a first port for providing ink and a second port for admitting air.
15. The ink delivery system of claim 13, further comprising a receiving station configured to hold the plurality of ink containers.
16. The ink delivery system of claim 13, further comprising an electronic controller.
17. The ink delivery system of claim 16, wherein the electronic controller controls the plurality of valves.
18. The ink delivery system of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of ink containers further comprises an integral electronic memory component, each of the integral electronic memory components in electrical communication with the electronic controller.
19. The ink delivery system of claim 18, wherein each integral electronic memory component includes information regarding the characteristics of the ink within the container with which the memory component is integral.
20. The ink delivery system of claim 11, wherein the electronic controller includes information regarding the type of ink required for a print job, and wherein the electronic controller compares the information regarding the type of ink required for a print job to the information regarding the characteristics of the ink within a container.