ENCAPSULATED PIXELS FOR DISPLAY DEVICE

• US 20110157137A1
• Filed: 01/05/2011
• Published: 06/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Powermat Technologies, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Powermat Ltd.
• Inventors: Ben-Shalom, Amir
• Granted Patent: US 8,319,925 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/211
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1333 Constructional arrangements; Manufacturing methodsG02F1/135, G02F1/136 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133311 Environmental protection, e.g. against dust or humidity
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1334 based on polymer dispersed liquid crystals, e.g. microencapsulated liquid crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1339 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13452 Conductors connecting driver circuitry and terminals of panels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 2201/50 Protective arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49007 Indicating transducer

Abstract

A display device comprising an array of encapsulated pixels. The encapsulating pixel includes an optical element which is altered from a first optical state to a second optical state upon when a potential difference is generated across it. The optical element is in contact with two electrodes which are connected to a pixel driver for generating the potential difference. The encapsulated pixel is hermetically sealed from the environment by a sealing layer and the driver receives power wirelessly via an inductive power transmission system.

Claims

1. A display device comprising at least one encapsulated pixel, said encapsulated pixel comprising:

at least one optical element having at least two optical states, at least two electrodes;

a driver for generating a potential difference between said electrodes such that said optical element is altered from a first optical state to a second optical state; and

a sealing layer configured to hermetically seal said encapsulated pixel;

wherein said driver comprises at least one secondary inductor connected to said electrodes and configured to inductively couple with an external primary inductor wired to a power supply.

2. The display device of claim 1 comprising an array of said encapsulated pixels wherein said sealing layer is configured to encapsulate each said pixel individually.

3. The display device of claim 1 wherein each said encapsulated pixel has a characteristic resonant frequency such that said external primary inductor is capable of driving selected pixels by selecting an oscillating frequency known to resonate with a specific secondary inductor.

4. The display device of claim 1 wherein said optical element has at least two stable optical states such that said optical element remains in said second optical state when said potential difference is removed.

5. The display device of claim 1 wherein said optical element is a liquid crystal.

6. The display device of claim 1 wherein said sealing layer encapsulated pixel comprises an insulating coating.

7. The display device of claim 1 wherein said sealing layer comprises a material selected from a group consisting of glasses, ceramics, polymers and combinations thereof.

8. The display device of claim 1 wherein said electrodes comprise a transparent conductive material.

9. The display device of claim 1 wherein said secondary inductor comprises a transparent conductive material.

10. The display device of claim 1 further comprising ferromagnetic material for improving inductive coupling between said primary inductor and said secondary inductor.

11. A method for producing at least one encapsulated pixel for a display device, said method comprising

providing a first substrate comprising a first transparent conductor;

fabricating a first electrode from said first transparent conductor;

fabricating a first inductor on said first transparent conductor;

providing a second substrate comprising a second transparent conductor;

fabricating a second electrode from said second transparent conductor;

stacking said first substrate together with said second substrate;

introducing an active optical material between said first substrate and said second substrate to form a pixel; and

encapsulating said pixel within a sealing layer.

12. The method of claim 11 further including a step of fabricating a second inductor onto said second transparent conductor;

13. The method of claim 11 wherein at least one electrode is a strip electrode.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the steps of fabricating said electrodes comprise at least one of printing onto said conductors or etching said conductors.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the steps of fabricating said inductors comprise at least one of printing onto said conductors or etching said conductors.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the steps of fabricating said electrodes comprise at least one of printing onto said conductors or etching said conductors.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the steps of fabricating said inductors comprise at least one of printing onto said conductors or etching said conductors.