Conservatively printed displays and methods relating to same

• US 6,146,716 A
• Filed: 05/04/1999
• Issued: 11/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SRI International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SRI International, Inc.
• Inventors: Narang, Subhash
• Primary Examiner(s): Beck, Shrive
• Assistant Examiner(s): JOLLEY, KIRSTEN
• Application Number:
  US09/305,152
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 427/261, 427/283, 427/287, 427/96, 427/98, 427/558, 427/559, 430/315, 430/324
• US Class Current: 427/559
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 18/04 Pretreatment of the material to be coated C23C18/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 18/08 characterised by the deposition of metallic material
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/02 for controlling the intensity of light G02B26/004 takes precedence

Abstract

Display elements of computer screens and other information displays are printed using conservative printing techniques. Contemplated electronic components that can be conservatively printed at the display element level include switches, transistors, capacitors, memory elements, and actuators. Contemplated light path components that can be conservatively printed at the display element level include light pipes or other optical wave guides, mirrors, light emitting diodes, liquid crystals, and actuators. The conservatively printed components may advantageously be produced by a process that includes depositing a precursor onto the substrate in a desired pattern, depositing an appropriate ligand onto the substrate, and applying sufficient energy to transfer electrons from the ligand to the precursor, thereby decomposing the precursor to form a precipitate. In an especially preferred class of embodiments, light emission at individual display elements is controlled by a conservatively printed moving actuator. The teachings herein may advantageously be employed in very large displays (measuring more than a meter across), including larger televisions such as "hang-on-the-wall" televisions, billboards, custom advertising, and presentation displays. The teachings herein may also advantageously be employed in flexible displays, such as those printed on fabrics utilized in clothing, or wrapped about a curved surface.

Claims

1. A method of printing an information display, comprising:

providing a plurality of electrical conductors in the form of a grid having a plurality of nodes;

providing an addressable display element at one of the nodes;

conservatively printing at least one of a switch and a movable light modulation element included in the display element, including the steps of;

a) depositing a precursor onto a substrate in a desired pattern;

b) contacting the precursor with a ligand;

c) applying sufficient energy from an extended radiation source to transfer electrons from the ligand to the precursor, thereby decomposing the precursor to form a patterned conductive precipitate in the desired pattern and thus forming a conductive pattern coating directly on the substrate; and

addressing the node using the switch.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the switch comprises a transistor.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the switch comprises a transistor and a capacitor.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the switch comprises a memory element.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing the conductors comprises conservatively printing the conductors on a substrate.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing a display element comprises conservatively printing the display element on a substrate.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing the conductors comprises conservatively printing the conductors on a substrate, and the step of providing a display element comprises conservatively printing the display element on a substrate.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the display element comprises a conservatively printed moving actuator.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the moving actuator comprises an ionomeric polymer.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the moving actuator comprises a mirror.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the grid spans at least one meter by one meter.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the display bends at least 30 degrees.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the switch comprises at least one of a transistor, a capacitor, and a memory element.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing a display element comprises conservatively printing at least a portion of the display element on a substrate.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing a display element comprises conservatively printing a moving actuator.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing a display element comprises conservatively printing an ionomeric polymer.