Electrophoretic display and novel process for its manufacture
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A semi-finished display panel comprising an array of display cells sandwiched between two temporary substrate layers or between a temporary substrate and a conductor or permanent substrate layer wherein said display cells are filled with an electrophoretic fluid and top-sealed with a polymeric sealing material formed from a top-sealing composition having a specific gravity no greater than that of the electrophoretic fluid.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This application is directed to electrophoretic displays and semi-finished display panels comprising display cells prepared from the microcup and top-sealing technologies.
97 Citations
34 Claims
- 1. A semi-finished display panel comprising an array of display cells sandwiched between two temporary substrate layers or between a temporary substrate and a conductor or permanent substrate layer wherein said display cells are filled with an electrophoretic fluid and top-sealed with a polymeric sealing material formed from a top-sealing composition having a specific gravity no greater than that of the electrophoretic fluid.
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4. A semi-finished display panel comprising an array of filled and top-sealed display cells sandwiched between two temporary substrate layers or between a temporary substrate and a conductor or permanent substrate layer wherein said display cells are filled and top-sealed before a second temporary substrate, conductor or permanent substrate layer is assembled onto the display.
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5. A process for the preparation of a semi-finished display panel, which process comprises the steps of:
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a) coating a layer of thermoplastic or thermoset precursor on a temporary substrate;
b) embossing the thermoplastic or thermoset precursor layer with a pre-patterned male mold;
c) hardening the thermoplastic or thermoset precursor layer;
d) releasing the mold from the thermoplastic or thermoset precursor layer; and
e) filling the thus-formed array of microcups with a charged pigment suspension in a dielectric solvent or solvent mixture. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A process for the preparation of a semi-finished display panel, which process comprises the steps of:
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a) coating a layer of radiation curable composition on a temporary substrate;
b) imagewise exposing the radiation curable layer;
c) removing the unexposed areas by a developer or solvent to reveal an array of microcups; and
d) filling the microcups with a charged pigment dispersion in a dielectric solvent or solvent mixture. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A process for the manufacture of a semi-finished display panel, which process comprises the steps of:
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a) preparing microcups by first coating a layer of thermoplastic or thermoset precursor on a conductor film or a permanent substrate layer followed by embossing the thermoplastic or thermoset precursor layer with a male mold or by imagewise exposing a layer of a radiation curable material and removing the unexposed areas;
b) filling in the thus-formed array of microcups with a dielectric fluid containing at least a charged pigment suspension in a dielectric solvent or solvent mixture;
c) top-sealing the microcups; and
d) applying a temporary substrate onto the top-sealed array of electrophoretic cells. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 19, 21)
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17. A process for the manufacture of a multi-color semi-finished display panel, which process comprises the steps of:
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a) preparing microcups by first coating a layer of thermoplastic or thermoset precursor on a conductor film or a permanent substrate layer followed by embossing the thermoplastic or thermoset precursor layer with a male mode or by imagewise exposing a layer of radiation curable material and removing the unexposed areas;
b) laminating or coating the thus formed array of microcups with a layer of positive photoresist;
c) imagewise exposing the positive photoresist to selectively open the microcups in a predetermined area;
d) filling in the opened microcups with a dielectric fluid comprising at least a white pigment dispersion in a dielectric solvent or solvent mixture containing a dye or pigment dispersion of the first color;
e) top-sealing the microcups to form closed electrophoretic cells containing said white pigment dispersion in said dielectric solvent or solvent mixture of the first color;
f) repeating Steps c) to e), if necessary, in different areas to generate groups of microcups containing electrophoretic fluid of different colors;
g) removing residual positive photoresist, if any; and
h) applying a temporary substrate onto the top-sealed array of electrophoretic cells. - View Dependent Claims (18, 20, 22)
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30. A process for the manufacture of an electrophoretic display, which process comprises the steps of:
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a) preparing microcups by first coating a layer of thermoplastic or thermoset precursor on a first conductor film or a permanent substrate layer followed by embossing the thermoplastic or thermoset precursor layer with a male mold or by imagewise exposing a layer of a radiation curable material and removing the unexposed areas;
b) filling in the thus-formed array of microcups with a dielectric fluid comprising a charged pigment dispersion in a dielectric solvent or solvent mixture;
c) top-sealing the microcups; and
d) disposing a second conductor or substrate layer onto the top-sealed array of electrophoretic cells by coating, printing, vapor deposition, sputtering or a combination thereof. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34)
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31. A process for the manufacture of a multi-color electrophoretic display, which process comprises the steps of:
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a) preparing microcups by first coating a layer of thermoplastic or thermoset precursor on a first conductor film or a permanent substrate layer followed by embossing the thermoplastic or thermoset precursor layer with a male mode or by imagewise exposing a layer of radiation curable material and removing the unexposed areas;
b) laminating or coating the thus formed array of microcups with a layer of positive photoresist;
c) imagewise exposing the positive photoresist to selectively open the microcups in a predetermined area;
d) filling in the opened microcups with a dielectric fluid comprising at least a white pigment dispersion in a dielectric solvent or solvent mixture containing a dye or pigment dispersion of the first color;
e) top-sealing the microcups to form closed electrophoretic cells containing said white pigment dispersion in said dielectric solvent or solvent mixture of the first color;
f) repeating Steps c) to e), if necessary, in different areas to generate groups of microcups containing electrophoretic fluid of different colors;
g) removing residual positive photoresist, if any; and
h) disposing a second conductor or a substrate layer onto the top-sealed array of electrophoretic cells by coating, printing, vapor deposition, sputtering or a combination thereof.
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Specification