Ink substrate, electrophoretic display device having the same, and method of fabricating the same

• US 20080143669A1
• Filed: 07/10/2007
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: E Ink Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: LG Philips LCD Company Limited (LG Display Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kim, Sang Soo, Paek, Seung Han, Kim, Kyung Lock
• Granted Patent: US 8,482,514 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/107
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/167 by electrophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/16757 Microcapsules
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1679 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells; Filling or closing of cells

Abstract

An ink substrate, an electrophoretic display device including the ink substrate and methods of fabricating the display, where in ink substrate includes a first substrate, an electrode adjacent the first substrate, and an ink layer adjacent the electrode, the ink layer including a plurality of microcapsules. At least one protective member is disposed on at least a side surface of the ink layer and a protective film disposed on a rear surface of the first substrate opposite the ink layer. The protective member is formed by one of spaying an ink protection liquid on at least the side surfaces of the ink layer or dipping at least the side surfaces of the ink layer into an ink protection liquid and curing the ink protection liquid to form a solid film. The protective member is an impact resistant, heat resistant, and moisture resistant material.

Claims

1. An ink substrate comprising:

a substrate;

an electrode adjacent the substrate;

an ink layer adjacent the electrode, the ink layer including a plurality of microcapsules;

a release paper disposed on the ink layer; and

a protective member disposed on at least a side surface of the ink layer.

2. The ink substrate of claim 1, wherein the protective member overlies side surfaces of the ink layer, the electrode and the substrate.

3. The ink substrate of claim 2, further comprising another release paper disposed on a rear surface of the substrate opposite the electrode, the protective member overlying a side surface of the another release paper.

4. The ink substrate of claim 3, wherein the protective member overlies rear edges of the release papers.

5. The ink substrate of claim 1, wherein the protective member comprises a resin-based material.

6. The ink substrate of claim 5, wherein protective member comprises a UV-curable resin.

7. The ink substrate of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises one of a flexible transparent material including a resin or a glass material.

8. An electrophoretic display device comprising:

an ink substrate including;

a first substrate,

an electrode adjacent the first substrate,

an ink layer adjacent the electrode, the ink layer including a plurality of microcapsules; and

a first protective member disposed on at least a side surface of the ink layer, the first protective member operable to seal the ink layer;

a driving substrate attached to the ink substrate having the sealed ink layer, the driving substrate including a second substrate and a plurality of driving devices disposed thereon; and

a protective film disposed on a rear surface of the first substrate opposite the ink layer.

9. The electrophoretic display device of claim 8, further comprising a second protective member disposed on the first protective member.

10. A method of fabricating an electrophoretic display device, the method comprising:

forming an ink substrate having an electrode and an ink layer on the electrode;

applying a release paper on the ink layer;

forming a first protective member on at least side surfaces of the ink layer;

removing the release paper; and

attaching the ink substrate to a driving substrate.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the ink substrate is attached to the driving substrate subsequent to the formation of the first protective member.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising forming a second protective member overlying the side surface of the ink layer.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein forming the first protective member comprises spraying an ink protection liquid on at least the side surfaces of the ink layer and curing the ink protection liquid.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein forming the second protective member comprises spraying an ink protection liquid on at least the side surfaces of the ink layer and curing the ink protection liquid.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein forming the first protective member comprises dipping at least the side surfaces of the ink layer into an ink protection liquid and curing the ink protection liquid.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein forming the second protective member comprises dipping at least the side surfaces of the ink layer into an ink protection liquid and curing the ink protection liquid.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein forming the first protective member comprises forming the first protective member with a resin-based material.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein forming the second protective member comprises forming the second protective member with the material of the first protective member.

19. The method of claim 10, further comprising forming a protective film on the rear surface of the ink substrate.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein forming the first protective member comprises forming the first protective member subsequent to formation of the protective film.