Liquid crystal display device having particulate spacers in liquid crystal area and method of fabrication
First Claim
1. A display for containing electro-optic material in a layer of controlled thinness comprising:
- first and second substrates;
a pattern of electrical conductors associated with each of said first and second substrates;
said first and second substrates being positioned to define a predetermined separation therebetween and having;
a plurality of support particles in the region between said first and second substrates;
said plurality of support particles being in generally isolated distribution throughout a substantial portion of the region between said first and second substrates including regions intermediate the peripheries of said first and second substrates;
said plurality of support particles being bonded to each of said substrates to provide a rigid physical interconnection between said first and second substrates;
said support particles thereby defining the predetermined separation between said substrates; and
an electro-optic material in the region between said first and second substrates.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A display device wherein a liquid crystal is contained between accurately spaced transparent electrical contacts to allow control over the transparency or transmissive properties of the display by application of a voltage to the contacts. In one version the spacing is provided by an inorganic frit of particles which occupy the space between the electrical contacts and impart a ground glass optical property. The particles provide accurate separation that prevents the contacts from short circuiting and when immersed in a liquid crystal give the display an overall transparent or other characteristic as desired. Preferably, the contacts are applied to glass substrates which are hermetically sealed by fusion of a denser glass frit applied between peripheral edges of the substrates. In a further version, spacing is provided by a set of legs perpendicularly emanating from one of the electrical contacts and supporting it from the other electrical contact.
41 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A display for containing electro-optic material in a layer of controlled thinness comprising:
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first and second substrates; a pattern of electrical conductors associated with each of said first and second substrates; said first and second substrates being positioned to define a predetermined separation therebetween and having; a plurality of support particles in the region between said first and second substrates; said plurality of support particles being in generally isolated distribution throughout a substantial portion of the region between said first and second substrates including regions intermediate the peripheries of said first and second substrates; said plurality of support particles being bonded to each of said substrates to provide a rigid physical interconnection between said first and second substrates; said support particles thereby defining the predetermined separation between said substrates; and an electro-optic material in the region between said first and second substrates. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A display for containing electro-optic material in a layer of controlled thinness comprising:
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first and second substrates; a pattern of electrical conductors associated with each of said first and second substrates; said first and second substrates being positioned to define a predetermined separation therebetween and having; a plurality of first heat softenable support particles in the region between said first and second substrates; said plurality of first heat softenable support particles being in generally isolated distribution throughout a substantial portion of the region between said first and second substrates including the regions intermediate the peripheries of said first and second substrates; said first heat softenable support particles thereby defining the predetermined separation between said substrates; a plurality of second heat softenable support particles of lower firing temperature than said plurality of first heat softenable support particles and forming a seal for said first and second substrates peripheral of the region containing said first heat softenable support particles; and an electro-optic material in the region between said first and second substrates.
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Specification