Components and methods for use in electro-optic displays

• US 7,729,039 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: E Ink Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: E Ink Holdings Incorporated
• Inventors: O'Neil, Steven J., Chan, Randolph W., Crossley, Glen, Albert, Jonathan D., Goenaga, Alberto, Knaian, Ara N., Zehner, Robert W., LeCain, Richard D., Danner, Guy M., Davis, Benjamin Max, Duthaler, Gregg M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mack; Ricky L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tra; Tuyen Q
• Application Number:
  US11/928,294
• Publication Number:
  US 20080054879A1
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: 359/296, 359/245, 359/254, 359/315, 430/32, 430/34, 430/38, 345/105, 345/107, 438/22, 438/29, 438/30, 204/600, 204/450
• US Class Current: 359/296
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 7/5483 No curing step for any layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/202 Conductive
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2457/20 Displays, e.g. liquid crystal displays, plasma displays
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/12 characterised by using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/18 involving the assembly of discrete sheets or panels only
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/14 Protective coatings, e.g. hard coatings
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1309 Repairing; Testing
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1339 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/167 by electrophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1675 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1681 having two or more microcells partitioned by walls, e.g. of microcup type
• 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: G02F 2203/69 Arrangements or methods for testing or calibrating a device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/1476 Release layer

Abstract

A front plane laminate useful in the manufacture of electro-optic displays comprises, in order, a light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer, a layer of an electro-optic medium in electrical contact with the electrically-conductive layer, an adhesive layer and a release sheet. This front plane laminate can be prepared as a continuous web, cut to size, the release sheet removed and the laminate laminated to a backplane to form a display. Methods for providing conductive vias through the electro-optic medium and for testing the front plane laminate are also described.

Claims

1. An electro-optic display comprising, in this order:

a light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer;

a layer of electro-optic material covering part of the electrically-conductive layer, the layer of electro-optic material not covering a tab portion of the electrically-conductive layer;

an adhesive layer, the adhesive layer not covering the tab portion of the electrically-conductive layer;

a backplane comprising at least one pixel electrode disposed adjacent the layer of electro-optic material, and a contact pad in electrical contact with the tab portion of the electrically-conductive layer.

2. An electro-optic display according to claim 1 wherein the layer of electro-optic material is substantially rectangular, and the electrically-conductive layer has a substantially rectangular portion disposed adjacent the layer of electro-optic material, and the tab portion of the electrically-conductive layer extends outwardly from one edge of the substantially rectangular portion of the electrically-conductive layer.

3. An electro-optic display according to claim 1 further comprising a deformable conductive material disposed between the tab portion of the electrically-conductive layer and the contact pad.

4. An electro-optic display according to claim 1 wherein the tab portion extends of the electrically-conductive layer extends outwardly from the entire periphery of the layer of electro-optic material.

5. An electro-optic display according to claim 1 wherein the electrically-conductive layer is provided with two discrete tab portions.

6. An electro-optic display according to claim 1 further comprising a sealing material for preventing ingress of material from the environment into the layer of electro-optic material, the sealing material extending between the backplane and a peripheral portion of the light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer extending beyond the periphery of the layer of electro-optic material.

7. An electro-optic display according to claim 1 further comprising a protective and/or barrier layer disposed on the opposed side of the light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer from the layer of electro-optic material.

8. An electro-optic display according to claim 7 further comprising a sealing material for preventing ingress of material from the environment into the layer of electro-optic material, the sealing material extending between the backplane and the protective and/or barrier layer and surrounding the layer of electro-optic material.

9. An electro-optic display according to claim 1 wherein the electro-optic medium comprises an electrophoretic medium.

10. An electro-optic display according to claim 9 wherein the electrophoretic medium comprises an encapsulated electrophoretic medium.

11. An electro-optic display according to claim 9 wherein the electrophoretic medium comprises a microcell electrophoretic medium.

12. An electro-optic display comprising:

a backplane comprising at least one pixel electrode;

a layer of an electro-optic material disposed adjacent the pixel electrode;

a light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer disposed on the opposed side of the layer of electro-optic material from the backplane;

a front substrate disposed on the opposed side of the light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer from the layer of electro-optic material, the front substrate supporting the light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer;

a protective and/or barrier layer disposed on the opposed side of the front substrate from the light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer;

a sealing material for preventing ingress of material from the environment into the layer of electro-optic material, the sealing material extending between the backplane and at least one of the light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer, front substrate and protective and/or baffler layer and;

a dam member disposed between the sealing material and the layer of electro-optic material.

13. An electro-optic display according to claim 12 further comprising a second dam member, the sealing material being disposed between the two dam members.

14. An electro-optic display according to claim 12 wherein the front substrate is larger than the layer of electro-optic material, and the dam member and the sealing material extend from the backplane to the front substrate.