COLOR ELECTRO-OPTIC DISPLAYS, AND PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION THEREOF

• US 20080043318A1
• Filed: 09/07/2007
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: E Ink Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: E Ink Holdings Incorporated
• Inventors: Oleson, Andrew, Whitesides, Thomas, Paolini, Richard, Honeyman, Charles, Danner, Guy
• Application Number:
  US11/851,568
• Publication Number:
  US 20080043318A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/296
• 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 layer of electro-optic material having a color filter array thereon, which process comprises ink jet printing a plurality of colored areas on one surface of the layer of electro-optic material.

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 one surface of the layer of electro-optic material, 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 process according to claim 1 further comprising laminating an adhesive layer over said one surface of the layer of electro-optic material.

9. A layer of electro-optic material having a plurality of colored areas printed on one surface thereof.

10. A layer of electro-optic material according to claim 9 having a plurality of first colored areas and a plurality of second colored areas printed on said one surface, the first and second colored areas being of different colors.

11. A layer of electro-optic material according to claim 9 wherein the electro-optic material comprises a rotating bichromal member material or a microcell electrophoretic material.

12. A layer of electro-optic material according to claim 9 wherein the electro-optic material comprises an encapsulated electrophoretic material comprising a plurality of capsules in a binder, or a polymer-dispersed electrophoretic material.

13. A layer of electro-optic material according to claim 9 disposed on a backplane comprising at least one pixel electrode.

14. A layer of electro-optic material according to claim 9 having an adhesive layer laminated over said one surface of the layer of electro-optic material.

15. An article of manufacture comprising, in order:

a light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer;

a layer of a solid electro-optic medium in electrical contact with the electrically-conductive layer;

an adhesive layer; and

a release sheet, wherein the layer of a solid electro-optic medium is a layer according to claim 9.

16. An article of manufacture comprising:

a layer of a solid electro-optic medium having first and second surfaces on opposed sides thereof, a first adhesive layer on the first surface of the layer of solid electro-optic medium;

a release sheet disposed on the opposed side of the first adhesive layer from the layer of solid electro-optic medium; and

a second adhesive layer on the second surface of the layer of solid electro-optic medium, wherein the layer of a solid electro-optic medium is a layer according to claim 9.

17. An article of manufacture comprising:

a layer of a solid electro-optic medium having first and second surfaces on opposed sides thereof, a first release sheet covering the first surface of the layer of solid electro-optic medium; and

a second release sheet covering the second surface of the layer of solid electro-optic medium, wherein the layer of a solid electro-optic medium is a layer according to claim 9.

18. An article of manufacture comprising, in order:

a release sheet;

a layer of a solid electro-optic medium;

an adhesive layer; and

at least one of a light-transmissive protective layer and a light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer, wherein the layer of a solid electro-optic medium is a layer according to claim 9.

19. 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 electro-optic material and an adhesive layer having an exposed surface, and ink jet printing a plurality of colored areas on the exposed surface of the adhesive layer.

20. A sub-assembly useful for forming a color electro-optic display, the sub-assembly comprising a layer of electro-optic material and an adhesive layer, the adhesive layer having a plurality of colored areas printed on one surface thereof.

21. A process for preparing a color electro-optic display, the process comprising providing a film comprising a layer of electro-optic material and a protective layer having an exposed surface, and ink jet printing a plurality of colored areas on the exposed surface of the protective layer.

22. A film for use in forming a color electro-optic display, the film comprising a layer of electro-optic material and a protective layer having an exposed surface, the protective layer having a plurality of colored areas printed on its exposed surface.

23. A process for providing printed colored areas on an electro-optic display, the process comprising:

providing a display comprising a backplane bearing a plurality of pixel electrodes and a layer of an electro-optic material disposed on the backplane, the display having an exposed surface remote from the backplane;

applying voltages to the pixel electrodes and thereby forming an image on the layer of electro-optic material;

detecting the image; and

ink jet printing the colored areas on the exposed surface in registry with the detected image.

24. A process for placing a color filter array on an electro-optic display, the process comprising:

providing a color filter array;

providing a display comprising a backplane bearing a plurality of pixel electrodes and a layer of an electro-optic material disposed on the backplane, the display having an exposed surface remote from the backplane;

applying voltages to the pixel electrodes and thereby forming an image on the layer of electro-optic material;

detecting the image; and

securing the color filter array on the exposed surface in registry with the detected image.