Electro-optic media produced using ink jet printing

• US 9,164,207 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2014
• Issued: 10/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: E Ink Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: E Ink Holdings Incorporated
• Inventors: Honeyman, Charles Howie, Danner, Guy M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, James
• Application Number:
  US14/265,951
• Publication Number:
  US 20140240817A1
• Time in Patent Office: 538 Days
• Field of Search: 359/296
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/201 in the form of arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133516 Methods for their manufacture, e.g. printing, electro-deposition or photolithography
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/167 by electrophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1679 Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells; Filling or closing of cells

Abstract

Ink jet printing can be used in the production of electro-optic displays for (a) forming a layer of a polymer-dispersed electrophoretic medium on a substrate; (b) forming a color electro-optic layer; (c) forming a color filter; and (d) printing electrodes and/or associated conductors on a layer of electro-optic material.

Claims

1. An article of manufacture comprising, in order:

(a) a light-transmissive, electrically-conductive layer;

(b) a plurality of areas of colored material ink jet printed on to the light-transmissive, electrically-conductive layer, the plurality of areas including areas of at least two different colors;

(c) a layer of an electro-optic material;

(d) a layer of a lamination adhesive; and

(e) a release sheet;

the article of manufacture further comprising at least one fiducial mark ink jet printed on the light-transmissive, electrically-conductive layer at at least one predetermined location relative to at least one area of colored material.

2. An article of manufacture, comprising, in order:

(a) a first release sheet;

(b) a first layer of a lamination adhesive;

(c) a plurality of areas of colored material ink jet printed on the previous layer, the plurality of areas of colored material including areas of at least two different colors;

(d) a layer of electro-optic material;

(e) a second layer of a lamination adhesive; and

(f) a second release sheet,

wherein layers (c) and (d) are in either order;

the article of manufacture further comprising at least one fiducial mark ink jet printed at at least one predetermined location relative to at least one area of colored material.

3. A process for forming a front plane laminate having a color filter, which process comprises:

(a) providing a light-transmissive, electrically-conductive layer;

(b) applying a layer of an electro-optic material over the light-transmissive, electrically-conductive layer;

(c) ink jet printing a plurality of areas of colored material on to the layer of electro-optic material, the plurality of areas including areas of at least two different colors;

(d) applying a layer of a lamination adhesive over the layer of colored material; and

(e) applying a release sheet over the layer of lamination adhesive;

the process further comprising ink jet printing at least one fiducial mark on the layer of electro-optic material at at least one predetermined location relative to at least one area of colored material.