Abstract

An electronic display is formed using an array of hollow tubes filled with an electrophoretic material sandwiched between two plates. The hollow tubes have either barrier walls or an electrostatic barrier, which restrict the flow of electrophoretic particles within the hollow tubes. The flow of electrophoretic particles over these barriers is controlled using electric fields, which makes it possible to matrix address the electrophoretic displays. Wire electrodes built into the hollow tubes and electrodes on the two plates are used to address the display. The plates are preferably composed of glass, glass-ceramic, polymer/plastic or metal, while the hollow tubes are preferably composed of glass, polymer/plastic or a combination of glass and polymer/plastic. Color is optionally imparted into the display using colored tubes, adding a color coating to the surface of the tubes, or adding the color to the electrophoretic material. Reflectivity within the display is accomplished by using a reflective material to fabricate the tubes, coating the tubes with a reflective material or coating one of the two plates with a reflective material. The display can also function in a transmissive mode by applying an illuminating back to the display.