Display panel with pre-patterned images

• US 10,073,318 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2016
• Issued: 09/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: E Ink Corporation (E Ink Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: E Ink California, LLC (E Ink Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kang, Yih-Ming, Schultz, Donald A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ben, Loha
• Application Number:
  US15/238,075
• Publication Number:
  US 20160357084A1
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 359228, 359245, 359253, 359296, 345 84, 345107, 264134, 427 58, 349106, 430 7
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/026 based on the rotation of particles under the influence of an external field, e.g. gyricons, twisting ball displays based on orientable dipolar particles G02F1/172; based on electrophoresis G02F1/167
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1333 Constructional arrangements; Manufacturing methodsG02F1/135, G02F1/136 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133371 Cells with varying thickness of the liquid crystal layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/134336 Matrix
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1347 Arrangement of liquid crystal layers or cells in which the final condition of one light beam is achieved by the addition of the effects of two or more layers or cells
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/167 by electrophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1679 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells; Filling or closing of cells
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1681 having two or more microcells partitioned by walls, e.g. of microcup type
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/344 based on particles moving in a fluid or in a gas, e.g. electrophoretic devices electrophoretic devices per se G02F1/167

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a panel comprising a plurality of microcells wherein each of the microcells has a bottom, the panel has a first area and a second area, and the microcells in the first area have substantially the same bottom thickness and the microcells in the second area have added bottom thicknesses. Such a panel is useful for many applications, such drug administrations.

Claims

1. A panel comprising a plurality of microcells, wherein:

each of the microcells has a bottom, the panel has a first area and a second area, the microcells in the first area have substantially the same bottom thickness, and the microcells in the second area have thicker bottom than the microcells in the first area.

2. The panel of claim 1, wherein the microcells in the second area have a bottom thickness which is 0.001 micron to 9/10 of the depth of the microcells in the first area, more than the bottom thickness of the microcells in the first area.

3. The panel of claim 1, wherein the microcells in the second area have a bottom thickness which is 0.001 micron to ½

of the depth of the microcells in the first area, more than the bottom thickness of the microcells in the first area.

4. The panel of claim 1, wherein the bottom thicknesses of the microcells in the second area are not the same.

5. A method for preparing a panel of claim 1, comprising:

a) providing a nip roller on the surface of which has carved-out areas to form a pattern which pattern is a positive or negative image of an intended pattern for the panel;

b) coating an embossable composition over a substrate layer which is on the surface of the nip roller; and

c) applying a male mold over the embossable composition.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the carved-out areas have different depths.

7. A method for preparing a panel of claim 1, comprising:

a) providing microcells;

b) filling the microcells in a pre-determined area, with a chemical composition in a solvent;

c) removing the solvent; and

d) optionally curing the chemical composition after removal of the solvent.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the solvent is methyl ethyl ketone, acetone, or isopropyl alcohol.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the microcells are filled with different concentrations of chemical compositions.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the concentrations are in the range of 0.01% to 90% by weight.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the concentrations are in the range of 0.01% to 50% by weight.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the chemical composition is not the same as a composition from which the microcells are formed.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the chemical composition is the same as a composition from which the microcells are formed.