Full color reflective display with multichromatic sub-pixels

Abstract

A full color, reflective display having superior saturation and brightness is achieved with a novel display element comprising multichromatic elements. In one embodiment a capsule includes more than three species of particles which differ visually. One embodiment of the invention employs three sub-pixels, each sub-pixel comprising a capsule including three species of particles which differ visually. Another embodiment of the invention employs color filters to provide different visual states to the user. The display element provides a visual display in response to the application of an electrical signal to at least one of the capsules.

1 . An encapsulated electrophoretic display comprising:
 a full-color pixel comprising electrophoretic particles that, when addressed, are capable of displaying four or more colors selected from the group consisting of white, black, red, green, blue, cyan, magenta, and yellow.   
     
     
         2 . The display of  claim 1  wherein the pixel comprises at least four electrophoretic particles of four colors. 
     
     
         3 . The display of  claim 2  wherein at least one of the electrophoretic particles is white. 
     
     
         4 . The display of  claim 2  wherein at least one of the electrophoretic particles is black. 
     
     
         5 . The display of  claim 1  wherein the displaying of the color results from lateral migration of at least one of the electrophoretic particles. 
     
     
         6 . The display of  claim 1  further comprising a clear suspending fluid. 
     
     
         7 . The display of  claim 1  further comprising a colored suspending fluid. 
     
     
         8 . The display of  claim 1  further comprising a color filter. 
     
     
         9 . The display pixel of  claim 1  wherein the pixel comprises at least five electrophoretic particles of five colors, wherein at least one color is black and at least another color is white.