COMPOSITE STRUCTURE FOR ENHANCED FLEXIBILITY OF ELECTRO-OPTIC DISPLAYS
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A flexible electro-optic display assembly comprising:
- an electro-optic display element that comprises a material having an optical state that changes as a function of an applied electric or magnetic field, at least one laminar layer in sliding apposition to the display element, and optionally one or more additional slidingly apposed laminar layers, wherein the electro-optic display element, the at least one laminar layer and the optional one or more additional laminar layers comprise individual layers of a laminate assembly; and
a structure element for fastening together the individual layers of the laminate assembly, wherein the structure element engages a portion of the laminate assembly so as to maintain the individual layers of the laminate assembly in the sliding apposition, wherein upon flexing of the laminate assembly, the individual layers slide relative to each other.
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Abstract
The invention provides a thin, lightweight, durable electro-optic display assembly that is significantly more flexible than known plastic electro-optic displays. The enhanced flexibility of the plastic display assemblies according to the invention is achieved by employing laminate display structures in which there is little, if any, bonding between adjacent layers of the laminate assembly.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A flexible electro-optic display assembly comprising:
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an electro-optic display element that comprises a material having an optical state that changes as a function of an applied electric or magnetic field, at least one laminar layer in sliding apposition to the display element, and optionally one or more additional slidingly apposed laminar layers, wherein the electro-optic display element, the at least one laminar layer and the optional one or more additional laminar layers comprise individual layers of a laminate assembly; and
a structure element for fastening together the individual layers of the laminate assembly, wherein the structure element engages a portion of the laminate assembly so as to maintain the individual layers of the laminate assembly in the sliding apposition, wherein upon flexing of the laminate assembly, the individual layers slide relative to each other. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A flexible electro-optic display assembly comprising:
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an electro-optic display element that comprises a material having an optical state that changes as a function of an applied electric or magnetic field, at least one laminar layer in sliding apposition to the display element, and optionally one or more additional slidingly apposed laminar layers, wherein the electro-optic display element, the at least one laminar layer and the optional one or more additional laminar layers comprise individual layers of a laminate assembly; and
a flexible frame structure having a top portion comprising an area for viewing an electro-optic display, and a body portion, wherein the top portion and the body portion comprise a housing for the laminate assembly so as to maintain the individual layers of the laminate assembly in the sliding apposition, wherein upon flexing of the housing, the individual layers of the laminate assembly slide relative to each other. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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30. A flexible electro-optic display assembly comprising:
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an electro-optic display element that comprises a material having an optical state that changes as a function of an applied electric or magnetic field, at least one laminar layer in sliding apposition to the display element, and optionally one or more additional slidingly apposed laminar layers, wherein the electro-optic display element, the at least one laminar layer and the optional one or more additional laminar layers comprise individual layers of a laminate assembly having a deflection axis; and
a fastener for fastening together the individual layers of the laminate assembly, wherein the fastener maintains the individual layers of the laminate assembly in a first position relative to one another at the fastener, and wherein upon flexing of the display assembly, the individual layers slide relative to each other in regions outside of the fastener. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A flexible electro-optic display assembly comprising:
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an electro-optic display element that comprises a material having an optical state that changes as a function of an applied electric or magnetic field, at least one laminar layer in sliding apposition to the display element, and optionally one or more additional slidingly apposed laminar layers, wherein the electro-optic display element, the at least one laminar layer and the optional one or more additional laminar layers comprise individual layers of a laminate assembly having a deflection axis; and
at least two fasteners placed on a fixation axis oriented at a non-zero angle relative to the deflection axis for fastening together the individual layers of the laminate assembly on the fixation axis, wherein the fasteners maintain the individual layers of the laminate assembly in a first position relative to each other along the fixation axis, and wherein upon flexing of the display assembly, the individual layers outside of the fixation axis slide relative to each other along the deflection axis. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39)
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40. A flexible electro-optic display assembly comprising:
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a first electro-optic display element and a second electro-optic display element, wherein the first and second electro-optic display elements independently comprise a material having an optical state that changes as a function of an applied electric or magnetic field, at least one laminar layer in sliding apposition to the first or the second display element, and optionally one or more additional slidingly apposed laminar layers, wherein the first and second electro-optic display elements, the at least one laminar layer and the optional one or more additional laminar layers comprise individual layers of a laminate assembly; and
a structure element for fastening together the individual layers of the laminate assembly, wherein the structure element engages a portion of the laminate assembly so as to maintain the individual layers of the laminate assembly in the sliding apposition, wherein upon flexing of the laminate assembly, the individual layers slide relative to each other. - View Dependent Claims (41)
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Specification