Reflective type electro-wetting display device

• US 20090051632A1
• Filed: 08/25/2008
• Published: 02/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InnoLux Corporation
• Original Assignee: Innolux Display Corporation (InnoLux Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Rei-Yun, Huang, Jung-Lung
• Granted Patent: US 8,106,861 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/84
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/005 based on electrowetting
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/04 Structural and physical details of display devices
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3433 using light modulating elements actuated by an electric field and being other than liquid crystal devices and electrochromic devices using liquid crystal devices G09G3/36; using electrochromic devices G09G3/38
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 9/241 the vessel being for a flat panel display H01J9/261 takes precedence; flat discharge lamps H01J9/248

Abstract

An electro-wetting display device includes a first substrate; a second substrate opposite to the first substrate; a plurality of side walls interposed between the first and second substrates, the side walls being arranged in a matrix and cooperating with the first and second substrates to form a plurality of spaces; a first polar liquid disposed in each of the spaces; a second, colored, non-polar liquid disposed in each of the spaces. The second liquid is immiscible with the first liquid. The second substrate includes a reflective electrode and a hydrophobic insulating layer disposed on the reflective electrode. The reflective electrode includes a first metal layer and a transparent protective layer, and the transparent protective layer is interposed between the metal layer and the hydrophobic insulating layer.

Claims

1. An electro-wetting display device, comprising:

a first substrate;

a second substrate opposite to the first substrate;

a plurality of side walls interposed between the first and second substrates, the side walls being arranged in a matrix and cooperating with the first and second substrates to form a plurality of spaces;

a first polar liquid disposed in each of the spaces;

a second, colored, non-polar liquid disposed in each of the spaces, and the second liquid being immiscible with the first liquid; and

wherein the second substrate comprises a reflective electrode and a hydrophobic insulating layer disposed on the reflective electrode, the reflective electrode comprises a first metal layer and a transparent protective layer, the transparent protective layer is interposed between the metal layer and the hydrophobic insulating layer.

2. The electro-wetting display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first metal layer of the reflective electrode is made of aluminum.

3. The electro-wetting display device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the protective layer is aluminum oxide.

4. The electro-wetting display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the protective layer is an insulating protective layer.

5. The electro-wetting display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reflective electrode further comprises a second metal layer disposed under the first metal layer.

6. The electro-wetting display device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the second metal layer is made of indium-tin-oxide or indium-zinc-oxide.

7. The electro-wetting display device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the reflective metal layer comprises a buffer layer disposed between the first and second metal layers.

8. The electro-wetting display device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the buffer layer is made of molybdenum.

9. The electro-wetting display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the protective layer is a conductive protective layer.

10. The electro-wetting display device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the protective layer is made of indium-tin-oxide or indium-zinc-oxide.

11. The electro-wetting display device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the reflective metal layer comprises a buffer layer disposed between the first metal layer and the protective layer.

12. The electro-wetting display device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the buffer layer is made of molybdenum.

13. A method for manufacturing an electro-wetting display device, comprising:

providing a first substrate;

providing a second substrate opposite to the first substrate;

providing a plurality of side walls between the first and second substrates, the side walls being arranged in a matrix and cooperating with the first and second substrates to form a plurality of spaces;

providing a first polar liquid in each of the spaces;

providing a second, colored, non-polar liquid in each of the spaces, and the second liquid being immiscible with the first liquid; and

forming a reflective electrode on the second substrate, the reflective electrode comprising a first metal layer and a transparent protective layer; and

forming a hydrophobic insulating layer on the transparent protective layer.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first metal layer is formed by aluminum, and the protective layer is aluminum oxide, the aluminum oxide is formed via reacting the first metal layer and oxygen plasma in a chamber.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein a temperature is set in a range of 25°

C. to 600°

C. in the chamber.

16. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein a pressure is set in a range of 1.333×

10⁴N/m² to 6.555×

10⁴N/m²in the chamber.

17. The method as claimed in claim 14, wherein a time for reacting is less than or equal to one minute.