Display devices having micro-reflectors and color filters

• US 8,238,021 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2010
• Issued: 08/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: E Ink Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SiPix Imaging, Inc. (E Ink Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sprague, Robert A., Chaug, Yi-Shung, Zang, HongMei, Wang, Xiaojia, Kang, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Ben, Loha
• Application Number:
  US12/938,991
• Publication Number:
  US 20110043894A1
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 359/296, 359/891, 359/238, 359/245, 359/315, 359/316, 359/318, 359/321, 345 84- 86, 345/88, 345/107, 349/106, 349/113, 349/114
• US Class Current: 359/296
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0242 by means of dispersed particles
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0278 used in transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133504 Diffusing, scattering, diffracting elements associated to illuminating devices G02F1/133606
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133507 Films for enhancing the luminance
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133553 Reflecting elements associated to illuminating devices G02F1/133605
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/167 by electrophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1677 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing a brightness enhancement structure comprising micro-reflectors. The process comprises forming an array of micro-structures by embossing; and depositing a metal layer over the surface of the micro-structures. The present invention also relates to a process for manufacturing a display device comprising micro-reflectors. The present invention further relates to a display device comprising micro-reflectors and color filters.

Claims

1. A display device, comprising

(a) a plurality of display cells filled with an electrophoretic fluid wherein the display cells are separated by partition walls;

(b) a brightness enhancement structure comprising microreflectors, wherein the brightness enhancement structure is on the viewing side of the display device; and

(c) color filters either on top of the brightness enhancement structure or underneath the brightness enhancement structure,

wherein said microreflectors are not aligned with the partition walls.

2. The display device of claim 1, wherein the surface of said microreflectors is coated with a metal layer.

3. The display device of claim 2, wherein said metal layer is formed from a metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, copper, zinc, tin, molybdenum, nickel, chromium, silver, gold, iron, indium, thallium, titanium, tantalum, tungsten, rhodium, palladium, platinum and cobalt.

4. A display device, comprising

(a) a plurality of display cells filled with an electrophoretic fluid;

(b) a brightness enhancement structure comprising microreflectors, wherein the brightness enhancement structure is on the viewing side of the display device; and

(c) color filters either on top of the brightness enhancement structure or underneath the brightness enhancement structure,

wherein there are dead spots between the color filters.

5. The display device of claim 4, wherein the microreflectors are aligned with the dead spots.