ELECTRO-OPTIC DISPLAYS, AND MATERIALS FOR USE THEREIN

• US 20150338717A1
• Filed: 08/04/2015
• Published: 11/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: E Ink Corporation (E Ink Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: E Ink Corporation (E Ink Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Paolini, Richard J. Jr., McCreary, Michael D., Honeyman, Charles Howie, Wu, Bin
• Application Number:
  US14/817,497
• Publication Number:
  US 20150338717A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 7/18 using wave energy or particle radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/10 Optical coatings produced by application to, or surface treatment of, optical elements G02B1/08 takes precedence
• 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 1/0063 Optical properties, e.g. absorption, reflection or birefringence materials for non-linear optics G02F1/355
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133305 Flexible substrates, e.g. plastics, organic film
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13338 Input devices, e.g. touch panels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133723 Polyimide, polyamide-imide
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/155 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/167 by electrophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2001/1678 characterised by the composition or particle type
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2202/28 Adhesive materials or arrangements
• 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

A first electro-optic display comprises first and second substrates, and an adhesive layer and a layer of electro-optic material disposed between the first and second substrates, the adhesive layer comprising a mixture of a polymeric adhesive material and a hydroxyl containing polymer having a number average molecular weight not greater than about 5000. A second electro-optic display is similar to the first but has an adhesive layer comprising a thermally-activated cross-linking agent to reduce void growth when the display is subjected to temperature changes. A third electro-optic display, intended for writing with a stylus or similar instrument, is produced by forming a layer of an electro-optic material on an electrode; depositing a substantially solvent-free polymerizable liquid material over the electro-optic material; and polymerizing the polymerizable liquid material.

Claims

1. An electro-optic display capable of being imaged by a stylus, the display comprising:

an electrode;

a layer of an electro-optic material disposed on the electrode, such that the surface of the layer of electro-optic material remote from the electrode is non-planar; and

a polymeric layer overlying the layer of electro-optic material,

the polymeric layer comprising the polymerization product of a substantially solvent-free polymerizable liquid material, the surface of the polymeric layer remote from the layer of electro-optic material being substantially planar and forming an exposed external surface of the display on which a stylus can be placed.

2. An electro-optic display according to claim 1 wherein the thickness of the polymeric layer is from about 6 to about 250 μ

m.

3. An electro-optic display according to claim 2 wherein the thickness of the polymeric layer is from about 8 to about 50 μ

m.

4. An electro-optic display according to claim 1 wherein the polymeric layer comprises an acrylate or a urethane acrylate blend or a silicone.

5. An electro-optic display according to claim 1 wherein the electro-optic material comprises a rotating bichromal member or electrochromic material.

6. An electro-optic display according to claim 1 wherein the electro-optic material comprises an electrophoretic material comprising a plurality of electrically charged particles disposed in a fluid and capable of moving through the fluid under the influence of an electric field.

7. An electro-optic display according to claim 6 wherein the electrically charged particles and the fluid are present as a plurality of discrete droplets surrounded by a continuous phase comprising a polymeric material.

8. An electro-optic display according to claim 6 wherein the fluid is gaseous.

9. A process for the preparation of an electro-optic display, the process comprising:

forming a layer of an electro-optic material on an electrode, the surface of the layer of electro-optic material remote from the electrode being non-planar;

depositing a layer of a substantially solvent-free polymerizable liquid material over the layer of electro-optic material; and

exposing the polymerizable liquid material to conditions effective to cause polymerization of the material, thereby forming a polymeric layer overlying the layer of electro-optic material, the surface of the polymeric layer remote from the layer of electro-optic material being substantially planar and forming an exposed external surface of the display.

10. A process according to claim 9 wherein the thickness of the polymeric layer is from about 6 to about 250 μ

m.

11. A process according to claim 9 wherein the thickness of the polymeric layer is from about 8 to about 50 μ

m.

12. A process according to claim 9 wherein the polymeric layer comprises an acrylate or a urethane acrylate blend or a silicone.

13. A process according to claim 9 wherein the electro-optic material comprises a rotating bichromal member or electrochromic material.

14. A process according to claim 9 wherein the electro-optic material comprises an electrophoretic material comprising a plurality of electrically charged particles disposed in a fluid and capable of moving through the fluid under the influence of an electric field.

15. A process according to claim 14 wherein the electrically charged particles and the fluid are present as a plurality of discrete droplets surrounded by a continuous phase comprising a polymeric material.

16. A process according to claim 14 wherein the fluid is gaseous.