Multi-color electro-optic media

Abstract

An electro-optic medium that may be incorporated into an electro-optic display. The medium includes a first microcapsule containing at least one of a first dispersion of colored particles and a colored fluid and an encapsulated second dispersion that may include the first microcapsule and a plurality of electrophoretic particles. The colored particles of the first dispersion may include one or more sets of differently colored electrophoretic particles. The second dispersion may be encapsulated within a second microcapsule or a microcell, for example.

1 . An electro-optic medium comprising:
 a first microcapsule containing a first dispersion, the first dispersion comprising a colored fluid; and   an encapsulated second dispersion comprising the first microcapsule and a first plurality of electrophoretic particles.   
     
     
         2 . The electro-optic medium of  claim 1 , wherein the second dispersion is encapsulated within a second microcapsule. 
     
     
         3 . The electro-optic medium of  claim 1 , wherein the second dispersion is encapsulated within a microcell. 
     
     
         4 . The electro-optic medium of  claim 1 , wherein the first plurality of electrophoretic particles comprises a first and a second set of charged colored particles, the color of the first set of charged colored particles being different than the color of the second set of charged colored particles. 
     
     
         5 . The electro-optic medium of  claim 4 , wherein the charge of the first set of charged colored particles is an opposite polarity relative to the charge of the second set of charged colored particles. 
     
     
         6 . The electro-optic medium of  claim 1 , wherein the first microcapsule is charged. 
     
     
         7 . The electro-optic medium of  claim 1 , wherein the first dispersion additionally comprises a second plurality of electrophoretic particles. 
     
     
         8 . The electro-optic medium of  claim 7 , wherein the second plurality of electrophoretic particles comprises a third set of charged colored particles. 
     
     
         9 . The electro-optic medium of  claim 8 , wherein the second plurality of electrophoretic particles further comprises a fourth set of charged colored particles. 
     
     
         10 . The electro-optic medium of  claim 1 , wherein the encapsulated second dispersion comprises a plurality of first microcapsules containing the first dispersion. 
     
     
         11 . An electro-optic medium comprising:
 a first microcapsule containing a first dispersion, the first dispersion comprising a first colored fluid; and   an encapsulated second dispersion comprising the first microcapsule and a second colored fluid.   
     
     
         12 . The electro-optic medium of  claim 11 , wherein the second dispersion is encapsulated within a second microcapsule. 
     
     
         13 . The electro-optic medium of  claim 11 , wherein the second dispersion is encapsulated within a microcell. 
     
     
         14 . The electro-optic medium of  claim 11 , wherein the first microcapsule is charged. 
     
     
         15 . The electro-optic medium of  claim 11 , wherein the encapsulated second dispersion comprises a plurality of first microcapsules containing the first dispersion. 
     
     
         16 . The electro-optic medium of  claim 11 , wherein the second dispersion additionally comprises a first plurality of electrophoretic particles. 
     
     
         17 . The electro-optic medium of  claim 16 , wherein the first plurality of electrophoretic particles comprises a first and a second set of charged colored particles, the color of the first set of charged colored particles being different than the color of the second set of charged colored particles. 
     
     
         18 . The electro-optic medium of  claim 17 , wherein the charge of the first set of charged colored particles is an opposite polarity relative to the charge of the second set of charged colored particles.