Color electro-optic displays, and processes for the production thereof

• US 9,170,467 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2012
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: E Ink Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: E Ink Holdings Incorporated
• Inventors: Whitesides, Thomas H., Oleson, Andrew Y., Danner, Guy M., Paolini, Richard J. Jr., Honeyman, Charles Howie
• Primary Examiner(s): Allen, Stephone B
• Assistant Examiner(s): THOMAS, BRANDI N
• Application Number:
  US13/428,665
• Publication Number:
  US 20120182597A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,313 Days
• Field of Search: 359/237, 359/242, 359290-292, 359/295, 359/296, 359/298, 359/245, 359/246, 359251-254, 359265-267, 359/273, 359/321, 359/322, 359315-319
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 1/1677 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1681 having two or more microcells partitioned by walls, e.g. of microcup type
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24802 Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.]

Abstract

A color filter array is provided in an electro-optic display by ink jet printing a plurality of colored areas (22R, 22G, 22B) on one surface of a layer of electro-optic material (12), an adhesive layer or a protective layer. Alternatively, the ink jet printing may be effected on the same layers in various sub-assemblies used to produce electro-optic displays.

Claims

1. A process for preparing a sub-assembly useful for forming a color electro-optic display, the process comprising providing a sub-assembly comprising a layer of solid electro-optic material and an adhesive layer having one surface in contact with the layer of solid electro-optic material and a second, exposed surface, and ink jet printing a plurality of colored areas on the exposed surface of the adhesive layer.

2. A process according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of first colored areas and a plurality of second colored areas are printed on said exposed surface of the adhesive layer, the first and second colored areas being of different colors.

3. A process according to claim 1 wherein the electro-optic material comprises a rotating bichromal member material or a microcell electrophoretic material.

4. A process according to claim 1 wherein the electro-optic material comprises an encapsulated electrophoretic material comprising a plurality of capsules in a binder, or a polymer-dispersed electrophoretic material.

5. A process according to claim 1 wherein the ink used is radiation curable and after the ink has been printed it is exposed to radiation effective to cure the ink.

6. A process according to claim 1 wherein the ink used comprises pigment particles in an organic solvent.

7. A process according to claim 1 wherein the layer of electro-optic material is disposed on a backplane comprising at least one pixel electrode.

8. A sub-assembly useful for forming a color electro-optic display, the sub-assembly comprising a layer of solid electro-optic material and an adhesive layer, the adhesive layer having one surface in contact with the layer of solid electro-optic material and a second, exposed surface having a plurality of colored areas printed thereon.

9. A sub-assembly according to claim 8 having a plurality of first colored areas and a plurality of second colored areas printed on said second surface of the adhesive layer, the first and second colored areas being of different colors.

10. A sub-assembly according to claim 8 wherein the electro-optic material comprises a rotating bichromal member material or a microcell electrophoretic material.

11. A sub-assembly according to claim 8 wherein the electro-optic material comprises an encapsulated electrophoretic material comprising a plurality of capsules in a binder, or a polymer-dispersed electrophoretic material.

12. A sub-assembly according to claim 8 disposed on a backplane comprising at least one pixel electrode.