Processes for the production of electro-optic displays, and color filters for use therein

• US 9,199,441 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2008
• Issued: 12/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: E Ink Corporation (E Ink Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: E Ink Corporation (E Ink Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Danner, Guy M.
• Primary Examiner(s): McPherson, John A
• Application Number:
  US12/163,068
• Publication Number:
  US 20090004442A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,713 Days
• Field of Search: 430/7, 430/323, 430/333, 430/334, 430/336, 430/338
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 3/06 by exposure to radiation B05D3/02 takes precedence ; plasma treatment B05D3/141
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2037/243 Coating
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2038/0076 Curing, vulcanising, cross-linking
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2310/0843 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2457/202 LCD, i.e. liquid crystal displays
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/0053 Constructional details of laminating machines comprising rollers; Constructional features of the rollers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/025 Transfer laminating
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/24 with at least one layer not being coherent before laminating, e.g. made up from granular material sprinkled onto a substrate B32B37/15 takes precedence
• 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 1/133519 Overcoatings
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/157 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices
• 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: G03F 7/0007 Filters, e.g. additive colour filters; Components for display devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24802 Discontinuous or differential coating, impregnation or bond [e.g., artwork, printing, retouched photograph, etc.]

Abstract

Processes are provided for depositing multiple color filter materials on a substrate to form color filters. In a first process, the surface characteristic of a substrate is modified by radiation so that a flowable form of a first color filter material will be deposited on a first area, and converted to a non-flowable form. A second color filter material can then be deposited on a second area of the substrate. In a second process, first and second color filter materials are deposited on separate donor sheets and transferred by radiation to separate areas of the substrate. A third process uses flexographic printing to transfer the first and second color filter materials to the substrate.

Claims

1. A process for producing a color electrophoretic display including first and second color filter materials on a backplane of the color display, comprising:

providing an opaque backplane comprising first and second sets of electrodes;

depositing on the backplane a coating of a material having a surface characteristic capable of being modified by radiation;

applying radiation to a first area of the coating aligned with the first set of electrodes but not to a second area of the coating, said second area of the coating being aligned with said second set of electrodes;

depositing a flowable form of a first color filter material on to the first area of the coating;

converting the flowable form of the first color filter material on the first area of the coating to a non-flowable form;

applying radiation to the second area of the coating;

depositing a second color filter material on to the second area of the coating; and

laminating an electrophoretic medium and a front electrode to the backplane, thereby producing a color electrophoretic display.

2. A process according to claim 1 wherein the flowable form of the first color filter material has a color substantially the same as the first area in the final product of the process.

3. A process according to claim 1 wherein the flowable form of the first color filter material contains a color precursor which is treated to form a colored material after deposition on the substrate.

4. A process according to claim 3 wherein the color precursor is a thermally activated dye precursor which is heated to form a colored material after deposition on the substrate.

5. A process according to claim 1 further comprising laminating a protective layer to the color electrophoretic display.

6. A process according to claim 1 further comprising converting the flowable form of the second color filter material on the second area of the coating to a non-flowable form.