COMPONENTS AND METHODS FOR USE IN ELECTRO-OPTIC DISPLAYS

• US 20140340738A1
• Filed: 07/21/2014
• Published: 11/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: E Ink Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: E Ink Holdings Incorporated
• Inventors: LeCain, Richard D., Knaian, Ara N., O'Neil, Steven J., Duthaler, Gregg M., Danner, Guy M., Zehner, Robert W., Davis, Benjamin Max, Chan, Randolph W., Albert, Jonathan D., Crossley, Glen, Goenaga, Alberto
• Granted Patent: US 9,733,540 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. A method of testing an electro-optic medium, the method comprising:

disposing a layer of the electro-optic medium on a light-transmissive first electrically-conductive layer;

disposing a second electrically-conductive layer on the opposed side of the layer of electro-optic medium from the first electrically-conductive layer;

applying a potential difference between the first and second electrically-conductive layers, thereby forming an image on the medium; and

observing the image thus formed.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the electro-optic medium comprises an electrophoretic medium.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the electrophoretic medium comprises an encapsulated electrophoretic medium.

4. A method according to claim 2 wherein the electrophoretic medium comprises electrically charged particles and a fluid present as a plurality of discrete droplets surrounded by a continuous phase comprising a polymeric material.

5. A method according to claim 2 wherein the electrophoretic medium comprises a microcell electrophoretic medium.

6. A method of testing an electro-optic medium, the method comprising:

disposing a layer of the electro-optic medium on a light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer;

disposing a release on the opposed side of the layer of electro-optic medium from the electrically-conductive layer;

placing an electrostatic charge on the release sheet, thereby forming an image on the medium; and

observing the image thus formed.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the electro-optic medium comprises an electrophoretic medium.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the electrophoretic medium comprises an encapsulated electrophoretic medium.

9. A method according to claim 7 wherein the electrophoretic medium comprises electrically charged particles and a fluid present as a plurality of discrete droplets surrounded by a continuous phase comprising a polymeric material.

10. A method according to claim 7 wherein the electrophoretic medium comprises a microcell electrophoretic medium.

11. A method of forming a sub-assembly useful in the production of an electro-optic display, the method comprising:

forming a layer of a solid electro-optic medium; and

coating a layer of an adhesive on to the layer of solid electro-optic medium.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein the layer of solid electro-optic medium is formed on a release sheet.

13. A method according to claim 11 wherein the layer of solid electro-optic medium is formed on a light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer.

14. A method according to claim 11 further comprising forming a second layer of adhesive on the opposed side of the layer of solid electro-optic medium from the previously coated layer of adhesive.

15. A method according to claim 11 further comprising contacting the layer of adhesive with a backplane comprising at least one electrode.

16. A method according to claim 11 further comprising contacting the layer of adhesive with a light-transmissive electrode.

17. A method according to claim 11 further comprising placing a release sheet over the exposed surface of the layer of adhesive.

18. A method according to claim 14 further comprising placing release sheets over both the adhesive layers.

19. A method according to claim 11 wherein the electro-optic medium comprises an electrophoretic medium.

20. A method according to claim 19 wherein the electrophoretic medium comprises an encapsulated electrophoretic medium.

21. A method according to claim 19 wherein the electrophoretic medium comprises electrically charged particles and a fluid present as a plurality of discrete droplets surrounded by a continuous phase comprising a polymeric material.

22. A method according to claim 19 wherein the electrophoretic medium comprises a microcell electrophoretic medium.

23. An electro-optic display comprising:

a backplane comprising at least one pixel electrode;

a layer of an electro-optic material disposed adjacent the pixel electrode;

a light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer disposed on the opposed side of the layer of electro-optic material from the backplane;

a front substrate disposed on the opposed side of the light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer from the layer of electro-optic material, the front substrate supporting the light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer;

a protective and/or barrier layer disposed on the opposed side of the front substrate from the light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer; and

a sealing material for preventing ingress of material from the environment into the layer of electro-optic material, the sealing material extending between the backplane and at least one of the light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer, front substrate and protective and/or barrier layer.

24. An electro-optic display according to claim 23 wherein the sealing member contacts the edges of the light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer, front substrate and protective and/or barrier layer, but does not contact the surface of the protective and/or barrier layer remote from the front substrate.

25. An electro-optic display according to claim 24 wherein the sealing material has a lateral thickness, measured parallel to the plane of the backplane, which decreases away from the backplane.

26. An electro-optic display according to claim 23 wherein the light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer is larger than the layer of electro-optic material, and the sealing material extends from the backplane to the light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer.

27. An electro-optic display according to claim 23 wherein the electro-optic medium comprises an electrophoretic medium.

28. An electro-optic display according to claim 27 wherein the electrophoretic medium comprises an encapsulated electrophoretic medium.

29. An electro-optic display according to claim 27 wherein the electrophoretic medium comprises a microcell electrophoretic medium.