Components and methods for use in electro-optic displays

• US 8,482,835 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2008
• Issued: 07/09/2013
• 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., Goenaga, Alberto, Davis, Benjamin Max, Chan, Randolph W., Albert, Jonathan D., Crossley, Glen
• Primary Examiner(s): TRA, TUYEN Q
• Application Number:
  US12/248,190
• Publication Number:
  US 20090034057A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,734 Days
• Field of Search: 359/296, 359/529, 359/530, 359/538, 359/539, 359/541, 359/237, 359/245, 359/248, 359/254, 359/53, 385/2, 385/8
• US Class Current: 359/245
• 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 having first and second display states differing in at least one optical property, the medium being changed from its first to its second display state by application of an electric field to the medium;

an adhesive layer in contact with the layer of solid electro-optic medium; and

a release sheet covering the surface of the adhesive layer remote from the layer of solid electro-optic medium, wherein the release sheet is provided with an electrically-conductive layer.

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 solid electro-optic medium has walls defining gas-filled spaces within the medium.

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

5. 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.