Flexible display system

• US 8,217,869 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2004
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center, Inc. (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Weisberg, Michael C., Heaney, Michael B., Dunec, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Nitin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shapiro, Leonid
• Application Number:
  US11/017,327
• Publication Number:
  US 20060132427A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,759 Days
• Field of Search: 345/105, 345/107, 345/84
• US Class Current: 345/84
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13345 Network or three-dimensional gels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/167 by electrophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/16755 Substrates
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1679 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells; Filling or closing of cells

Abstract

The present exemplary embodiment relates to an improved flexible display system. One form of the display may use various types of switchable materials contained in micro cells formed from a fabric or mesh material. These cells may serve as a spacer between two opposing electrode sheets and may be individually sealed to the electrode sheets on each face. Moreover, the fabric may, in some forms, be implemented as an electrical grid for addressing the micro cells.

Claims

1. A flexible display apparatus comprising:

a first flexible encapsulating layer;

a second flexible encapsulating layer;

a flexible encapsulated layer between the first encapsulating layer and the second encapsulating layer, the encapsulated layer comprising a mesh layer wherein a plurality of micro-cells are defined by the mesh layer, the first encapsulating layer and the second encapsulating layer; and

a plurality of display elements housed within the plurality of microcells, wherein individual microcells of the plurality of microcells are at least partially sealed and function to house at least one display element and fluid to stimulate the at least one display element.

2. The flexible display as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first flexible encapsulating layer is heat sealable.

3. The flexible display as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first flexible encapsulating layer comprises multiple layers.

4. The flexible display as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second flexible encapsulating layer is heat sealable.

5. The flexible display as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second flexible encapsulating layer comprises multiple layers.

6. The flexible display as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second flexible encapsulating layer has conductive islands formed thereon.

7. The flexible display as set forth in claim 1 wherein the flexible encapsulated layer is heat sealable.

8. The flexible display as set forth in claim 1 wherein the flexible encapsulated layer comprises a mesh layer formed of polymer material.

9. The flexible display as set forth in claim 1 further comprising at least one drive circuit and a controller.

10. A flexible display apparatus comprising:

a first flexible encapsulating layer;

a second flexible encapsulating layer;

a flexible encapsulated layer between the first encapsulating layer and the second encapsulating layer, the encapsulated layer comprising a mesh layer formed of conductive wire wherein a plurality of micro-cells are defined by the mesh layer, the first encapsulating layer and the second encapsulating layer; and

a plurality of display elements housed within the plurality of microcells.

11. The flexible display as set forth in claim 10 wherein the conductive wire is coated with a single polymer layer.

12. The flexible display as set forth in claim 10 wherein the conductive wire is coated with multiple polymer layers.

13. The flexible display as set forth in claim 12 wherein the multiple polymer layers have different melting points.

14. The flexible display as set forth in claim 10 wherein the micro-cells of the flexible encapsulated layer are individually addressable.

15. A flexible display apparatus comprising:

a first flexible encapsulating layer;

a second flexible encapsulating layer;

a flexible encapsulated layer between the first encapsulating layer and the second encapsulating layer, the encapsulated layer comprising a conductive mesh layer wherein a plurality of micro-cells are defined by the conductive mesh layer, the first encapsulating layer and the second encapsulating layer;

a plurality of display elements housed within the plurality of microcells, wherein individual microcells of the plurality of microcells are at least partially sealed and function to house at least one display element and fluid to stimulate the at least one display element; and

,

at least one drive circuit connected to the conductive mesh layer and being operative to address selected ones of the plurality of micro-cells.

16. The flexible display as set forth in claim 15 wherein the first flexible encapsulating layer is heat sealable.

17. The flexible display as set forth in claim 15 wherein the second flexible encapsulating layer is heat sealable.

18. A flexible display apparatus comprising:

a first flexible encapsulating layer;

a second flexible encapsulating layer;

a flexible encapsulated layer between the first encapsulating layer and the second encapsulating layer, the encapsulated layer comprising a conductive mesh layer formed of conductive wire wherein a plurality of micro-cells are defined by the conductive mesh layer, the first encapsulating layer and the second encapsulating layer;

a plurality of display elements housed within the plurality of microcells; and

,

at least one drive circuit connected to the conductive mesh layer and being operative to address selected ones of the plurality of micro-cells.

19. The flexible display as set forth in claim 18 wherein the conductive wire is coated with multiple polymer layers.

20. The flexible display as set forth in claim 19 wherein the multiple polymer layers have different melting points.