Components and methods for use in electro-optic displays

• US 8,786,929 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2010
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: E Ink Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: E Ink Holdings Incorporated
• Inventors: LeCain, Richard D., Knaian, Ara N., O'Neil, Steven J., Duthaler, Gregg M., Danner, Guy M., Zehner, Robert W., Goenaga, Alberto, Davis, Benjamin Max, Chan, Randolph W., Albert, Jonathan D., Crossley, Glen
• Primary Examiner(s): TRA, TUYEN Q
• Application Number:
  US12/959,508
• Publication Number:
  US 20110075248A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,327 Days
• Field of Search: 359/296, 359/245, 359265-275, 345/107, 204/450, 204/600, 430/32, 430/34, 430/38, 428/40.1, 428/41.8, 428/98, 428/354, 428/22, 428/29, 428/30, 445/23, 445/25, 156/60
• US Class Current: 359/245
• 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. A method of forming a sub-assembly useful in the production of an electro-optic display, the method comprising:

forming a layer of a solid electro-optic medium; and

coating a layer of an adhesive on to the layer of solid electro-optic medium;

forming a second layer of adhesive on the opposed side of the layer of solid electro-optic medium from the previously coated layer of adhesive; and

contacting one of the adhesive layers with a backplane and the other adhesive layer with a light-transmissive electrode.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the electro-optic medium comprises an electrophoretic medium.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the electrophoretic medium comprises an encapsulated electrophoretic medium.

4. A method according to claim 2 wherein the electrophoretic medium comprises electrically charged particles and a fluid present as a plurality of discrete droplets surrounded by a continuous phase comprising a polymeric material.

5. A method according to claim 2 wherein the electrophoretic medium comprises a microcell electrophoretic medium.

6. An article of manufacture comprising, in order:

a layer of a solid electrophoretic medium;

an adhesive layer; and

a release sheet;

wherein the electrophoretic medium comprises a suspending fluid and a plurality of electrically charged particles, the suspending fluid and the particles being present as a plurality of discrete droplets, the electrophoretic medium further comprising a continuous phase of polymeric material surrounding the droplets.

7. An article of manufacture according to claim 6 wherein the electrophoretic medium comprises an encapsulated electrophoretic medium.

8. An article of manufacture according to claim 6 wherein the electrophoretic medium comprises a microcell electrophoretic medium.

9. An article of manufacture according to claim 6 wherein the adhesive layer comprises a heat activated adhesive.

10. An article of manufacture according to claim 6 wherein the adhesive layer comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive.