Producing electrophoretic display with seamless front surface

• US 9,862,176 B1
• Filed: 04/14/2015
• Issued: 01/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc. (Amazon.com, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zehner, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Gray, Linda L
• Application Number:
  US14/686,681
• Time in Patent Office: 1,001 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2037/268 Release layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/20 having particular electrical or magnetic properties, e.g. piezoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/412 Transparent
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2315/02 Ceramics
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2315/08 Glass
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2367/00 Polyesters, e.g. PET, i.e. polyethylene terephthalate
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2457/20 Displays, e.g. liquid crystal displays, plasma displays
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2457/208 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/0076 characterised in that the layers are not bonded on the totality of their surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/1292 selectively, e.g. in stripes, in patterns B32B37/0076 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/18 involving the assembly of discrete sheets or panels only
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/26 with at least one layer which influences the bonding during the lamination process, e.g. release layers or pressure equalising layers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 38/10 Removing layers, or parts of layers, mechanically or chemically
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1339 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/501 Blocking layers, e.g. against migration of ions
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/372 the positions of the elements being controlled by the application of an electric field
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/2022 using sub-frames
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/344 : based on particles moving in a fluid or in a gas, e.g. electrophoretic devices electrophoretic devices per se G02F1/167
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/346 : based on modulation of the reflection angle, e.g. micromirrors micromirrors devices per se G02B26/0833

Abstract

Methods and systems for producing an electro-optic display with a barrier layer for a seamless front surface of a user device. One method of manufacturing includes the following: providing a backplane comprising at least one electrode; disposing a first layer of lamination adhesive above the backplane; disposing a layer of electro-optic material above the first layer of lamination adhesive; disposing a second layer of lamination adhesive above the layer of electro-optic material; disposing a barrier layer, supported by a release film, above the second layer of lamination adhesive; applying a sealing material to peripheral portions of the backplane to form an underfill edge seal between the backplane and the barrier layer; removing the release film; and disposing a front-surface material above the barrier layer.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing comprising:

providing a backplane comprising at least one electrode;

disposing a first layer of lamination adhesive above the backplane;

disposing a layer of electro-optic material above the first layer of lamination adhesive;

disposing a second layer of lamination adhesive above the layer of electro-optic material;

disposing a barrier layer, supported by a release film, above the second layer of lamination adhesive;

applying a sealing material to peripheral portions of the backplane to form an underfill edge seal between the backplane and the barrier layer;

removing the release film; and

disposing a front-surface material above the barrier layer.

2. The method of manufacturing of claim 1, wherein a length and a width of the front-surface material are, respectively, equal to or greater than a length and a width of the backplane, and wherein a length and a width of the barrier layer are, respectively, greater than a length and a width of the layer of electro-optic material and are less than the length and the width of the backplane.

3. The method of manufacturing of claim 1, further comprising disposing a third layer of adhesive above the barrier layer before the disposing the front-surface material.

4. The method of manufacturing of claim 3, wherein the disposing the third layer of adhesive is disposed above the barrier layer after the removing the release film.

5. The method of manufacturing of claim 1, wherein the disposing the front-surface material comprises disposing one or more layers of a capacitive touch sensor.

6. The method of manufacturing of claim 1, wherein the disposing the layer of electro-optic material comprises:

providing a Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate;

disposing a layer of indium tin oxide (ITO) above or below the PET substrate; and

disposing an electro-optic medium above the backplane, wherein the electro-optic medium comprises first and second display states differing in at least one optical property.

7. The method of manufacturing of claim 1, further comprising:

performing a first lamination to laminate the backplane, the layer of electro-optic material, and the barrier layer, supported by the release film;

after the applying the sealing material and before removing the release film, curing the sealing material to form the underfill edge seal; and

performing a second lamination to laminate the front-surface material to the backplane, the layer of electro-optic material, and the barrier layer without the release film.

8. A method of manufacturing an electro-optic display, the method comprising:

providing a backplane comprising at least one electrode;

disposing a first layer of lamination adhesive above the backplane;

disposing a layer of electro-optic material above the first layer of lamination adhesive;

disposing a second layer of lamination adhesive above the layer of electro-optic material;

disposing a barrier layer above the second layer of lamination adhesive, the barrier layer being supported by a release film;

applying a sealing material to peripheral portions of the backplane to form an underfill edge seal between the backplane and the barrier layer;

removing the release film from the barrier layer; and

disposing a front-surface material above the barrier layer after the removing the release film, wherein a length and a width of the front-surface material are, respectively, equal to or greater than a length and a width of the backplane, wherein a length and a width of the barrier layer are, respectively, greater than a length and a width of the layer of electro-optic material and are, respectively, less than the length and the width of the backplane, and wherein the length and the width of the barrier layer are, respectively, less than the length and the width of the backplane.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising

disposing a third layer of adhesive above the barrier layer before the disposing the front-surface material, wherein the third layer of adhesive is a layer of optically clear adhesive.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the disposing the front-surface material comprises disposing a front-surface glass above the barrier layer.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising disposing a capacitive touch sensor above the barrier layer before the disposing of the front-surface material, and wherein the disposing the front-surface material comprises disposing a front-surface glass above the capacitive touch sensor.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the disposing the capacitive touch sensor comprises:

disposing a substrate above the barrier layer; and

disposing one or more conductive layers above the substrate.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the disposing the capacitive touch sensor comprises

disposing one or more conductive layers above the barrier layer, wherein the barrier layer is a substrate of the capacitive touch sensor.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the disposing the layer of electro-optic material comprises disposing electrophoretic material comprising electrically charged particles disposed in a fluid above the first layer of lamination adhesive.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the disposing the layer of electro-optic material comprises:

disposing a Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate;

disposing a layer of indium tin oxide (ITO) disposed above the PET substrate; and

disposing an electro-optic medium above the PET substrate, wherein the electro-optic medium comprises a first display state and a second display state, the first and second states differing in at least one optical property, and wherein the electro-optic medium changes between its first and second display states by application of an electric field to the layer of electro-optic material.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising disposing a capacitive touch sensor above the barrier layer before the disposing of the front-surface material, and wherein the disposing the front-surface material comprises disposing a front-surface glass above the capacitive touch sensor.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the disposing the capacitive touch sensor comprises:

disposing a substrate above the barrier layer; and

disposing one or more conductive layers above the substrate.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the disposing the capacitive touch sensor comprises

disposing one or more conductive layers above the barrier layer, wherein the barrier layer is a substrate of the capacitive touch sensor.

16. A method manufacturing a display, the method comprising:

providing a backplane comprising at least one electrode;

disposing above the backplane an electro-optic display, wherein the electro-optic display is smaller in width and length than the backplane to leave a peripheral portion of the backplane extending beyond edges of the electro-optic display;

disposing a barrier layer above the electro-optic display, wherein barrier layer is greater in width and length than the electro-optic display to create an overhang;

disposing under the overhang sealing material to create an underfill edge seal between the peripheral portion of the backplane and the overhang; and

disposing a front-surface material above the barrier layer, wherein the front-surface material is equal to or greater in width and length than the backplane.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the disposing the electro-optic display comprises:

disposing a first layer of lamination adhesive above the backplane;

disposing a layer of electro-optic material above the first layer of lamination adhesive;

disposing a second layer of lamination adhesive above the layer of electro-optic material, wherein the first and second layers of lamination adhesive are to laminate the backplane and the layer of electro-optic material; and

disposing a front substrate comprising at least one electrode above the second layer of lamination adhesive, wherein the first and second layers of lamination adhesive are to laminate the backplane, the layer of electro-optic material, and the front substrate.