COMPONENTS AND METHODS FOR USE IN ELECTRO-OPTIC DISPLAYS

• US 20090034057A1
• Filed: 10/09/2008
• Published: 02/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: E Ink Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: E Ink Holdings Incorporated
• Inventors: O'Neil, Steven J., Chan, Randolph W., Crossley, Glen, Albert, Jonathan D., Goenaga, Alberto, Knaian, Ara N., Zehner, Robert W., LeCain, Richard D., Danner, Guy M., Davis, Benjamin Max, Duthaler, Gregg M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,482,835 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/296
• 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. An article of manufacture comprising, in order:

a layer of a solid electro-optic medium;

an adhesive layer; and

a release sheet.

2. An article of manufacture according to claim 1 wherein the electro-optic medium comprises a rotating bichromal member medium or an electrochromic medium.

3. An article of manufacture according to claim 1 wherein the electro-optic medium comprises an electrophoretic medium.

4. An article of manufacture according to claim 3 wherein the electrophoretic medium comprises an encapsulated electrophoretic medium.

5. An article of manufacture according to claim 3 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.

6. An article of manufacture according to claim 3 wherein the electrophoretic medium comprises a microcell electrophoretic medium.

7. An article of manufacture according to claim 1 wherein the adhesive layer comprises a heat activated adhesive.

8. An article of manufacture according to claim 1 wherein the adhesive layer comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive.

9. An article of manufacture according to claim 1 wherein the release sheet is provided with an electrically-conductive layer.

10. An article of manufacture according to claim 1 wherein the solid electro-optic medium has walls defining gas-filled spaces within the medium.

11. An article of manufacture according to claim 1 wherein the electro-optic medium is an encapsulated liquid crystal medium.

12. An article of manufacture according to claim 1 further comprising a protective and/or barrier layer on the opposed side of the layer of electro-optic medium from the adhesive layer.