Rear electrode structures for displays

• US 6,232,950 B1
• Filed: 08/27/1998
• Issued: 05/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: E Ink Corporation (E Ink Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: E Ink Corporation (E Ink Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Albert, Jonathan D., Comiskey, Barrett
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLACKMAN, ANTHONY J
• Application Number:
  US09/141,280
• Time in Patent Office: 992 Days
• Field of Search: 345/107, 345/33, 345/34, 359/296, 359/297, 361/749-751
• US Class Current: 345/107
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/4076 printing on rewritable, bistable "electronic paper" by a focused electric or magnetic field
• 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 1/133305 Flexible substrates, e.g. plastics, organic film
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133348 Charged particles addressed liquid crystal cells, e.g. controlled by an electron beam
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13336 Combining plural substrates to produce large-area displays, e.g. tiled displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1334 based on polymer dispersed liquid crystals, e.g. microencapsulated liquid crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1343 Electrodes reflective electrodes G02F1/133553
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1345 Conductors connecting electrodes to cell terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/136227 Through-hole connection of the pixel electrode to the active element through an insulation layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/167 by electrophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2202/12 photoconductor
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2202/28 Adhesive materials or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1446 display composed of modules, e.g. video walls
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07703 the interface being visual
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/302 characterised by the form or geometrical disposition of the individual elements
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/372 the positions of the elements being controlled by the application of an electric field
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/04 Electronic labels
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/0289 having a matrix lay-out, i.e. having selectively interconnectable sets of X-conductors and Y-conductors in different planes
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/4664 Adding a circuit layer by thick film methods, e.g. printing techniques or by other techniques for making conductive patterns by using pastes, inks or powders H05K3/4647 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 10/46 : Field-effect transistors, e.g. organic thin-film transistors [OTFT] H10K10/43 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 10/462 : Insulated gate field-effect transistors [IGFETs]
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/30 : Coordination compounds
• CPC Class Codes: H10K 85/60 : Organic compounds having low molecular weight H10K85/10 - H10K85/50 take precedence

Abstract

Novel addressing schemes for controlling electronically addressable displays include a scheme for rear-addressing displays, which allows for in-plane switching of the display material. Other schemes include a rear-addressing scheme which uses a retroreflecting surface to enable greater viewing angle and contrast. Another scheme includes an electrode structure that facilitates manufacture and control of a color display. Another electrode structure facilitates addressing a display using an electrostatic stylus. Methods of using the disclosed electrode structures are also disclosed. Another scheme includes devices combining display materials with silicon transistor addressing structures.

Claims

1. An electrode structure for electrically addressable displays, the structure comprising:

a substrate;

a conductor disposed on said substrate;

a dielectric coating printed over at least part of said conductor, said dielectric coating having at least one aperture therein; and

a layer of conductive ink printed over said dielectric coating, said conductive ink contacting said conductor through said at least one aperture in said dielectric coating to form a conductive via extending through said dielectric coating.

2. The electrode structure of claim 1, further comprising at least one electrophoretic display element disposed adjacent said layer of conductive ink.

3. A process for manufacturing an electrode structure for electrically addressable displays, the process comprising:

providing a substrate;

disposing a conductor on said substrate;

printing a dielectric coating over at least part of said conductor, said dielectric coating having at least one aperture therein; and

printing a layer of conductive ink over said dielectric coating, said conductive ink contacting said conductor through said at least one aperture in said dielectric coating and forming a conductive via extending through said dielectric coating.

4. The process of claim 3, wherein providing a substrate comprises providing a substrate comprising a printable display material.

5. The process of claim 3, further comprising laminating a display material to said electrode structure.

6. An electrode structure for electrically addressable displays, the structure comprising:

a flexible insulating substrate having surfaces on opposed sides thereof and having defined therein at least one aperture extending through the substrate between said surfaces;

a conductor disposed on one of said surfaces of said substrate; and

a layer of conductive ink printed on the other of said surfaces of said substrate, said conductive ink contacting said conductor through said at least one aperture defined within said substrate.

7. The electrode structure of claim 6, further comprising at least one electrophoretic display element disposed adjacent said layer of conductive ink.

8. The electrode structure of claim 6, wherein said substrate comprises a selected one of plastic, polymer films, and glass.

9. A process for manufacturing an electrode structure for electrically addressable displays, the process comprising:

providing a flexible insulating substrate having surfaces on opposed sides thereof and having defined therein at least one aperture extending through the substrate between said surfaces;

disposing a conductor on one of said surfaces of said substrate; and

printing a layer of conductive ink on the on the other of said surfaces of said substrate, said conductive ink contacting said conductor through said at least one aperture defined in said substrate and forming a conductive via extending through said substrate.

10. The process of claim 9, further comprising laminating a display material to said electrode structure.

11. The process of claim 9, wherein providing an insulating substrate comprises provided an insulating substrate comprising a selected one of plastic, polymer films, and glass.