Optical interference display panel

• US 6,999,225 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2004
• Issued: 02/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snaptrack Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Prime View International Company Limited (E Ink Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lin, Wen-Jian, Tsai, Hsiung-Kuang
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia
• Assistant Examiner(s): HASAN, MOHAMMED A
• Application Number:
  US10/807,142
• Publication Number:
  US 20050036192A1
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 359290-295, 445/24, 445/25
• US Class Current: 359/291
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/001 based on interference in an adjustable optical cavity interference filters G02B5/28; devices or arrangements using multiple reflections in spectrometry or monochromators G01J3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/00 Mountings, adjusting means, or light-tight connections, for optical elements

Abstract

An optical interference display panel is disclosed that has a substrate, an optical interference reflection structure, and a protection structure. The optical interference reflection structure has many color-changeable pixels and is formed on the substrate. The protection structure is adhered to the substrate with an adhesive and encloses the optical interference reflection structure between the substrate and the protection structure. The adhesive is used to hermetically isolate the optical interference reflection structure from water, dust and oxygen in the air. Moreover, the protection structure prevents the interference reflection structure from being damaged by an external force.

Claims

1. An optical interference display panel, comprising:

a substrate;

a protection structure, adhered to the substrate with an adhesive; and

an optical interference reflection structure, located between the substrate and the protection structure;

wherein the adhesive comprises spacers, and the spacers keep a predetermined distance between the protection structure and the substrate to prevent the protection structure from damaging the optical interference reflection structure.

2. The optical interference display panel of claim 1, wherein the optical interference reflection structure comprises:

a first electrode;

a second electrode, wherein the second electrode is situated in parallel with the first electrode substantially; and

a support, located between the first electrode and the second electrode to form a cavity.

3. The optical interference display panel of claim 1, wherein the protection structure is a flat protection structure or a U-shaped protection structure.

4. The optical interference display panel of claim 1, wherein a material of the protection structure is glass, plastic, organic polymer or inorganic polymer.

5. The optical interference display panel of claim 1, wherein the substrate and the protection structure are airtight to prevent the optical interference reflection structure from being damaged by an external environment.

6. The optical interference display panel of claim 1, wherein the adhesive comprises a UV glue or a thermosetting adhesive.

7. A method for manufacturing an optical interference display panel, the method comprising:

providing a substrate;

forming an optical interference reflection structure on the substrate; and

adhering a protection structure to the substrate in order to position the optical interference reflection structure between the protection structure and the substrate;

wherein the adhesive comprises spacers, and the spacers keep a predetermined distance between the protection structure and the substrate to prevent the protection structure from damaging the optical interference reflection structure.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the apical interference reflection structure comprises:

forming a first electrode on the substrate;

forming a sacrificial layer on the first electrode;

forming a plurality of first openings in the first electrode and the sacrificial layer;

forming a support in each of the first opening;

forming a second electrode on the sacrificial layer and the supports; and

removing the sacrificial layer by a release etching process.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the protection structure is a flat protection structure or a U-shaped protection structure.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein a material of the protection structure is glass, plastic, organic polymer or inorganic polymer.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the substrate and the protection structure are airtight to prevent the optical interference reflection structure from being damaged by an external environment.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the adhering step comprises adhering the protection structure and the substrate with an adhesive.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the adhesive comprises a UV glue or a thermosetting adhesive.