Method of fabricating flexible display

• US 7,791,585 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2006
• Issued: 09/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Jackson, James D., Searls, Damion T., Dishongh, Terrance J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Kevin M
• Application Number:
  US11/561,068
• Publication Number:
  US 20070092689A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,390 Days
• Field of Search: 345/107, 345/108, 359/296, 359/290, 264/437, 264/108, 264/343, 438/22, 438/323
• US Class Current: 345/107
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/091 based on magneto-absorption or magneto-reflection
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/375 the position of the elements being controlled by the application of a magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24008 including fastener for attaching to external surface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/25 Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and including a second component containing structurally defined particles

Abstract

A method of fabricating a flexible display, the method comprising selecting a first flexible sheet and a second flexible sheet; and forming a number of magnetic display elements having magnetically controllable reflectivity between the first flexible sheet and the second flexible sheet. In some embodiments, a display includes pixels having a magnetically controllable reflectivity. The pixels are formed between a pair of flexible non-conductive sheets. Each of the magnetically controllable pixels includes a flexible ring located between the flexible non-conductive sheets. Each of the magnetically controllable pixels also includes magnetic particles located within the flexible ring. The location of the magnetic particles with respect to the flexible non-conductive sheets determines the reflectivity of the pixel. The display is especially suitable for use in connection with portable electronic devices.

Claims

1. A method of fabricating a flexible display, the method comprising:

selecting a first flexible sheet and a second flexible sheet; and

forming a number of magnetic display elements having magnetically controllable reflectivity between the first flexible sheet and the second flexible sheet, wherein forming a number of magnet display elements between the first flexible sheet and the second flexible sheet comprises;

forming a first conductive trace on the first flexible sheet;

forming a second conductive trace on the second flexible sheet;

inserting a non-conductive element between the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace; and

placing a number of magnetic particles in the non-conductive element.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting a first flexible sheet and a second flexible sheet comprises fabricating at least one of the first or second flexible sheets from a dielectric material.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein forming a first conductive trace includes:

forming a conductive material on a surface of the first flexible sheet;

patterning the conductive material; and

etching the conductive material to leave the first conductive trace.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace include copper.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting a first flexible sheet and a second flexible sheet includes fabricating sheets of polyamide.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting a first flexible sheet and a second flexible sheet includes selecting a sheet having a thickness between about 25 micrometers and about 125 micrometers.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein forming a number of magnetic display elements includes forming pixels arranged in rows and columns to form a rectangular display area.

8. A method comprising:

providing a single flexible sheet having a plurality of holes, each of the plurality of holes corresponding to a location of a pixel in a flexible display;

providing a plurality of magnetic particles in each of the plurality of holes corresponding to a location of a pixel; and

arranging the single flexible sheet between a first flexible sheet and a second flexible sheet to form an information display area, further comprising;

forming a first conductive trace on the first flexible sheet;

forming a second conductive trace on the second flexible sheet;

inserting a non-conductive element between the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace; and

placing a number of magnetic particles in the non-conductive element.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein an inner surface of each of the plurality of holes forms a cylinder.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the first flexible sheet and the second flexible sheet includes a sheet of polyamide.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein providing a single flexible sheet includes injecting capton into a mold.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein arranging the single flexible sheet between a first flexible sheet and a second flexible sheet includes at least a portion of one of the first flexible sheet and the second sheet is a translucent sheet.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein arranging the single flexible sheet between a first flexible sheet and a second flexible sheet includes for each of the plurality of holes providing a first conductive trace on a surface of the first flexible sheet, and providing a second conductive trace on a surface of the second flexible sheet.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein providing the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace for each of the plurality of holes includes the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace having a centerline aligned with a centerline of one of the plurality of holes.

15. A method comprising:

providing an electronic device;

providing a take-up bar connected to the electronic device; and

providing a flexible display communicatively coupled to the electronic device and operable to wrap around the take-up bar, wherein providing the flexible display includes providing a first flexible sheet and a second flexible sheet and forming a number of magnetic display elements having magnetically controllable reflectivity between the first flexible sheet and the second flexible sheet, wherein forming a number of magnet display elements between the first flexible sheet and the second flexible sheet comprises;

forming a first conductive trace on the first flexible sheet;

forming a second conductive trace on the second flexible sheet;

inserting a non-conductive element between the first conductive trace and the second conductive trace; and

placing a number of magnetic particles in the non-conductive element.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein providing an electronic device includes:

providing a cellular telephone.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein providing an electronic device includes:

providing a portable web browser.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein providing an electronic device includes:

providing a geographical positioning system.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein providing a flexible display communicatively coupled to the electronic device includes:

the flexible display electrically coupled to the electronic device and operable to receive information from the electronic device for display on the flexible display.