Electronically addressable microencapsulated ink and display thereof

Abstract

A system of electronically active inks is described which may include electronically addressable contrast media, conductors, insulators, resistors, semiconductive materials, magnetic materials, spin materials, piezoelectric materials, optoelectronic, thermoelectric or radio frequency materials. We further describe a printing system capable of laying down said materials in a definite pattern. Such a system may be used for instance to: print a flat panel display complete with onboard drive logic; print a working logic circuit onto any of a large class of substrates; print an electrostatic or piezoelectric motor with onboard logic and feedback or print a working radio transmitter or receiver.

1 . A movable head for printing an electrically active material, the head comprising: 
 (a) an inert gas chamber; and    (b) a thermal, sputtering, or electron beam for depositing the material.    
   
   
       2 . An inkjet apparatus comprising a movable head according to  claim 1  in combination with means for changing the temperature of a substrate.  
   
   
       3 . An inkjet apparatus according to  claim 2  further comprising means for generating a beam of ultraviolet radiation.  
   
   
       4 . An electro-optic display component comprising a molecule having: 
 (a) a first portion with a first charge; and    (b) a second portion with a second charge whereby the application of an electric field, or a frequency change in such a field, changes the perceived optical state of said molecule.    
   
   
       5 . An electronic display component according to  claim 4  manufactured by a process comprising: 
 (a) providing a radiation-curable substrate;    (b) imagewise exposing said radiation-curable substrate to a radiation source, thereby forming a plurality of individual cells in said radiation-curable substrate; and    (c) filling at least one of said plurality of individual cells with a contrast medium comprising a suspending fluid and said molecule, thereby said filled cell forms said electronic display component.    
   
   
       6 . An electronic display component according to  claim 4  in combination with electric field generation means arranged to apply at least one of a DC field and an AC field to said component.  
   
   
       7 . An electro-optic display component comprising a microcavity filled with a suspending fluid and a microfabricated structure, said structure having: 
 (a) a first part with a first charge; and    (b) a second part with a second charge whereby the application of an electric field, or a frequency change in such a field, changes the perceived optical state of said structure.    
   
   
       8 . An image display operating by electrophoretic or dielectrophoretic principle wherein a charged particle species is replaced by a microfabricated structure having a first part with a first charge and a second part with a second charge.  
   
   
       9 . An electronic display component according to  claim 8  in combination with electric field generation means arranged to apply at least one of a DC field and an AC field to said display.  
   
   
       10 . A printable semiconductor ink comprising a semiconductor powder dispersed in a binder.  
   
   
       11 . A printable semiconductor ink according to  claim 10  wherein the semiconductive powder comprises any one or more of silicon, germanium, gallium arsenide, phosphorus, antimony, arsenic, boron, gallium, indium, aluminum, a p-type dopant and an n-type dopant.  
   
   
       12 . A printable semiconductor ink according to  claim 10  wherein the binder comprises a vinyl, heat-sensitive or ultra-violet sensitive polymer.  
   
   
       13 . A substrate coated with a semiconductor ink according to  claim 10 .  
   
   
       14 . A logic structure for a flat panel display comprising a semiconductor ink according to  claim 10 .  
   
   
       15 . A flat panel display comprising a logic structure according to  claim 14 .  
   
   
       16 . An electronic device comprising the flat panel display of  claim 15 .  
   
   
       17 . A printer cartridge or printer supply comprising a semiconductor ink according to  claim 12 .  
   
   
       18 . A battery, solar cell, antenna, or computer produced by a method according to  claim 12.