Components and methods for use in electro-optic displays

• US 9,563,099 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2016
• Issued: 02/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• 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:
  US15/001,312
• Publication Number:
  US 20160139482A1
• Time in Patent Office: 384 Days
• Field of Search: 359/245, 359265-275, 359/296, 345/105, 345/107, 445/23, 445/25
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 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.

2. An electro-optic display according to claim 1 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.

3. An electro-optic display according to claim 2 wherein the sealing material has a lateral thickness, measured parallel to the plane of the backplane, which decreases away from the backplane.

4. An electro-optic display according to claim 1 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.

5. An electro-optic display according to claim 1 wherein the electro-optic medium comprises an electrophoretic medium.

6. An electro-optic display according to claim 5 wherein the electrophoretic medium comprises an encapsulated electrophoretic medium.

7. An electro-optic display according to claim 5 wherein the electrophoretic medium comprises a microcell electrophoretic medium.