Electro-optic media produced using ink jet printing

• US 7,952,790 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2007
• Issued: 05/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: E Ink Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: E Ink Holdings Incorporated
• Inventors: Danner, Guy M., Honeyman, Charles Howie
• Primary Examiner(s): Mack; Ricky L
• Assistant Examiner(s): JONES, JAMES
• Application Number:
  US11/689,164
• Publication Number:
  US 20070223079A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,532 Days
• Field of Search: 359/296, 345/107
• US Class Current: 359/296
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/201 in the form of arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133516 Methods for their manufacture, e.g. printing, electro-deposition or photolithography
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/167 by electrophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1679 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells; Filling or closing of cells

Abstract

Ink jet printing can be used in the production of electro-optic displays for (a) forming a layer of a polymer-dispersed electrophoretic medium on a substrate; (b) forming a color electro-optic layer; (c) forming a color filter; and (d) printing electrodes and/or associated conductors on a layer of electro-optic material.

Claims

1. A process for forming a front plane laminate having a color filter, which process comprises:

providing a light-transmissive, electrically-conductive layer;

ink jet printing a plurality of areas of colored material on to the light-transmissive, electrically-conductive layer, the plurality of areas including areas of at least two different colors;

applying a layer of an electro-optic material over the colored material;

applying a layer of a lamination adhesive over the layer of electro-optic material; and

applying a release sheet over the layer of lamination adhesive.

2. A process according to claim 1 wherein the colored material is ink jet printed in a fluid form, and is thereafter subjected to conditions effective to convert the fluid form to a solid form, thereby forming a coherent layer of the colored material on the light-transmissive, electrically-conductive layer.

3. A process according to claim 2 wherein a first colored material is ink jet printed in a fluid form, and is thereafter subjected to conditions effective to convert the fluid form to a solid form, thereby forming a coherent layer of the first colored material, and thereafter a second colored material is ink jet printed on the light-transmissive, electrically-conductive layer.

4. A process according to claim 1 further comprising ink jet printing at least one fiducial mark on the light-transmissive, electrically-conductive layer at least one predetermined location relative to at least one area of colored material.

5. A process for forming a color double release film, which process comprises:

(a) providing a first release sheet;

(b) applying a first layer of a lamination adhesive to the release sheet;

(c) ink jet printing a plurality of areas of colored material, the plurality of areas of colored material including areas of at least two different colors;

(d) forming a layer of electro-optic material; and

(e) providing a second layer of a lamination adhesive and a second release sheet over the layer of electro-optic material,

wherein steps (c) and (d) are performed in either order, and wherein step (e) is effected by forming the second layer of lamination adhesive on the second release sheet and thereafter laminating the second layer of lamination adhesive and the second release sheet to the remaining layers of the double release film.

6. A process for producing a laminate for use in the production of an electro-optic display, the process comprising:

(a) providing a first release sheet;

(b) ink jet printing a plurality of areas of colored material on to the first release sheet, the plurality of areas including areas of at least two different colors, thereby forming a first sub-assembly;

(c) providing a second release sheet;

(d) forming a layer of electro-optic material on the second release sheet, thereby forming a second sub-assembly; and

(e) laminating the first and second sub-assemblies together with the areas of colored material in contact with the layer of electro-optic material to form the laminate.

7. A process according to claim 6 further comprising forming a layer of a lamination adhesive on a third release sheet, removing one of the first and second release sheets from the laminate produced in step (e), and contacting the layer of lamination adhesive with one of the plurality of areas of colored material and the layer of electro-optic material exposed by removal of the release sheet.

9. A process according to claim 6 wherein at least one of the plurality of areas of colored material is ink jet printed in a fluid form, and is thereafter subjected to conditions effective to convert the fluid form to a solid form, thereby forming a coherent area of the colored material on the first release sheet.

10. A process according to claim 9 wherein a first colored material is ink jet printed in a fluid form, and is thereafter subjected to conditions effective to convert the fluid form to a solid form, thereby forming a coherent area of the first colored material, and thereafter a second colored material is ink jet printed on the first release sheet.

11. A process according to claim 6 further comprising ink jet printing at least one fiducial mark on the first release sheet at least one predetermined location relative to at least one area of colored material.

8. A process for forming a color double release film, which process comprises:

(a) providing a first release sheet;

(b) applying a first layer of a lamination adhesive to the release sheet;

(c) ink jet printing a plurality of areas of colored material on the lamination adhesive, the plurality of areas of colored material including areas of at least two different colors;

(d) forming a layer of electro-optic material; and

(e) providing a second layer of a lamination adhesive and a second release sheet over the layer of electro-optic material.