EP2162783A1 - Dispositifs d'affichage électro-optiques, et matériaux et procédés de test apparentés - Google Patents

Dispositifs d'affichage électro-optiques, et matériaux et procédés de test apparentés

Info

Publication number
EP2162783A1
EP2162783A1 EP08771974A EP08771974A EP2162783A1 EP 2162783 A1 EP2162783 A1 EP 2162783A1 EP 08771974 A EP08771974 A EP 08771974A EP 08771974 A EP08771974 A EP 08771974A EP 2162783 A1 EP2162783 A1 EP 2162783A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
layer
electro
optic
optic medium
section
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP08771974A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP2162783A4 (fr
Inventor
Guy M. Danner
Sandra Rifai
Valerie C. Northrop
Jonathan D. Albert
Timothy Lewis Wong
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
E Ink Corp
Original Assignee
E Ink Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by E Ink Corp filed Critical E Ink Corp
Publication of EP2162783A1 publication Critical patent/EP2162783A1/fr
Publication of EP2162783A4 publication Critical patent/EP2162783A4/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
    • G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
    • G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour 
    • G02F1/03—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour  based on ceramics or electro-optical crystals, e.g. exhibiting Pockels effect or Kerr effect
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B38/00—Ancillary operations in connection with laminating processes
    • B32B38/18—Handling of layers or the laminate
    • B32B38/1825—Handling of layers or the laminate characterised by the control or constructional features of devices for tensioning, stretching or registration
    • B32B38/1833—Positioning, e.g. registration or centering
    • B32B38/1841—Positioning, e.g. registration or centering during laying up
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
    • G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
    • G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour 
    • G02F1/165—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour  based on translational movement of particles in a fluid under the influence of an applied field
    • G02F1/166—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour  based on translational movement of particles in a fluid under the influence of an applied field characterised by the electro-optical or magneto-optical effect
    • G02F1/167—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour  based on translational movement of particles in a fluid under the influence of an applied field characterised by the electro-optical or magneto-optical effect by electrophoresis
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
    • G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
    • G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour 
    • G02F1/13—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour  based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells
    • G02F1/133—Constructional arrangements; Operation of liquid crystal cells; Circuit arrangements
    • G02F1/1333—Constructional arrangements; Manufacturing methods
    • G02F1/1334—Constructional arrangements; Manufacturing methods based on polymer dispersed liquid crystals, e.g. microencapsulated liquid crystals
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
    • G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
    • G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour 
    • G02F1/165—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour  based on translational movement of particles in a fluid under the influence of an applied field
    • G02F1/1675—Constructional details
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
    • G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
    • G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour 
    • G02F1/13—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour  based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells
    • G02F1/1306—Details
    • G02F1/1309—Repairing; Testing
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
    • G02F1/00—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics
    • G02F1/01—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour 
    • G02F1/13—Devices or arrangements for the control of the intensity, colour, phase, polarisation or direction of light arriving from an independent light source, e.g. switching, gating or modulating; Non-linear optics for the control of the intensity, phase, polarisation or colour  based on liquid crystals, e.g. single liquid crystal display cells
    • G02F1/133—Constructional arrangements; Operation of liquid crystal cells; Circuit arrangements
    • G02F1/1333—Constructional arrangements; Manufacturing methods
    • G02F1/1345—Conductors connecting electrodes to cell terminals
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
    • G02F2201/00—Constructional arrangements not provided for in groups G02F1/00 - G02F7/00
    • G02F2201/42—Arrangements for providing conduction through an insulating substrate
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
    • G02F2202/00—Materials and properties
    • G02F2202/28—Adhesive materials or arrangements
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02F—OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS
    • G02F2203/00—Function characteristic
    • G02F2203/69—Arrangements or methods for testing or calibrating a device

Definitions

  • This invention relates to electro-optic displays, and to materials and methods for the production and testing of such displays.
  • This invention is particularly, but not exclusively, intended for use with displays comprising encapsulated electrophoretic media.
  • the invention can also make use of various other types of electro-optic media which are solid, in the sense that they have solid external surfaces, although the media may, and often do, have internal cavities which contain a fluid (either liquid or gas).
  • solid electro- optic displays includes encapsulated electrophoretic displays, encapsulated liquid crystal displays, and other types of displays discussed below.
  • Electro-optic displays comprise a layer of electro-optic material, a term which is used herein in its conventional meaning in the imaging art to refer to a material having first and second display states differing in at least one optical property, the material being changed from its first to its second display state by application of an electric field to the material.
  • rotating bichromal member displays see, for example, U.S. Patents Nos. 5,808,783; 5,777,782; 5,760,761; 6,054,071 6,055,091; 6,097,531; 6,128,124; 6,137,467; and 6,147,791);
  • Electrophoretic media can use liquid or gaseous fluids; for gaseous fluids see, for example, Kitamura, T., et al., "Electrical toner movement for electronic paper-like display", IDW Japan, 2001, Paper HCSl-I, and Yamaguchi, Y., et al., "Toner display using insulative particles charged triboelectrically", IDW Japan, 2001, Paper AMD4-4); U.S. Patent Publication No.
  • the media may be encapsulated, comprising numerous small capsules, each of which itself comprises an internal phase containing electrophoretically-mobile particles suspended in a liquid suspending medium, and a capsule wall surrounding the internal phase.
  • the capsules are themselves held within a polymeric binder to form a coherent layer positioned between two electrodes; see the aforementioned MIT and E Ink patents and applications.
  • the walls surrounding the discrete microcapsules in an encapsulated electrophoretic medium may be replaced by a continuous phase, thus producing a so-called polymer-dispersed electrophoretic display, in which the electrophoretic medium comprises a plurality of discrete droplets of an electrophoretic fluid and a continuous phase of a polymeric material; see for example, U.S. Patent No. 6,866,760.
  • such polymer- dispersed electrophoretic media are regarded as sub-species of encapsulated electrophoretic media.
  • microcell electrophoretic display in which the charged particles and the fluid are retained within a plurality of cavities formed within a carrier medium, typically a polymeric film; see, for example, U.S. Patents Nos. 6,672,921 and 6,788,449.
  • Electrophoretic media can operate in a "shutter mode" in which one display state is substantially opaque and one is light-transmissive. See, for example, U.S. Patents Nos. 6,130,774 and 6,172,798, and U.S. Patents Nos. 5,872,552; 6,144,361; 6,271,823; 6,225,971; and 6,184,856. Dielectrophoretic displays can operate in a similar mode; see U.S. Patent No. 4,418,346. Other types of electro-optic displays may also be capable of operating in shutter mode.
  • the light- transmissive electrically-conductive layer will be carried on a light-transmissive substrate, which is preferably flexible, in the sense that the substrate can be manually wrapped around a drum (say) 10 inches (254 mm) in diameter without permanent deformation.
  • the term "light- transmissive" is used in this patent and herein to mean that the layer thus designated transmits sufficient light to enable an observer, looking through that layer, to observe the change in display states of the electro-optic medium, which will normally be viewed through the electrically -conductive layer and adjacent substrate (if present); in cases where the electro- optic medium displays a change in reflectivity at non-visible wavelengths, the term "light- transmissive" should of course be interpreted to refer to transmission of the relevant non- visible wavelengths.
  • the substrate will typically be a polymeric film, and will normally have a thickness in the range of about 1 to about 25 mil (25 to 634 ⁇ m), preferably about 2 to about 10 mil (51 to 254 ⁇ m).
  • the electrically -conductive layer is conveniently a thin metal or metal oxide layer of, for example, aluminum or ITO, or may be a conductive polymer.
  • PET Poly(ethylene terephthalate)
  • PET films coated with aluminum or ITO are available commercially, for example as "aluminized Mylar” ("Mylar” is a Registered Trade Mark) from E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company, Wilmington DE, and such commercial materials may be used with good results in the front plane laminate.
  • ITO-coated polymeric films having thicknesses of about 0.5 to 1 mil (13 to 25 ⁇ m) are commercially available and can be coated with electro-optic material.
  • the aforementioned U.S. Patent No. 6,982,178 also describes a first method for testing the electro-optic medium in a front plane laminate prior to incorporation of the front plane laminate into a display.
  • the release sheet is provided with an electrically conductive layer, and a voltage sufficient to change the optical state of the electro- optic medium is applied between this electrically conductive layer and the electrically conductive layer on the opposed side of the electro-optic medium.
  • Observation of the electro- optic medium will then reveal any faults in the medium, thus avoiding laminating faulty electro-optic medium into a display, with the resultant cost of scrapping the entire display, not merely the faulty front plane laminate.
  • Double release film which is essentially a simplified version of the front plane laminate of the aforementioned U.S. Patent No. 6,982,178.
  • One form of the double release sheet comprises a layer of a solid electro-optic medium sandwiched between two adhesive layers, one or both of the adhesive layers being covered by a release sheet.
  • Another form of the double release sheet comprises a layer of a solid electro-optic medium sandwiched between two release sheets.
  • Both forms of the double release film are intended for use in a process generally similar to the process for assembling an electro-optic display from a front plane laminate already described, but involving two separate laminations; typically, in a first lamination the double release sheet is laminated to a front electrode to form a front sub-assembly, and then in a second lamination the front sub-assembly is laminated to a backplane to form the final display, although the order of these two laminations could be reversed if desired.
  • the aforementioned 2007/0109219 describes a so-called "inverted front plane laminate", which is a variant of the front plane laminate described in the aforementioned U.S. Patent No. 6,982,178.
  • This inverted front plane laminate comprises, in order, at least one of a light-transmissive protective layer and a light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer; an adhesive layer; a layer of a solid electro-optic medium; and a release sheet.
  • This inverted front plane laminate is used to form an electro-optic display having a layer of lamination adhesive between the electro-optic layer and the front electrode or front substrate; a second, typically thin layer of adhesive may or may not be present between the electro-optic layer and a backplane.
  • Such electro-optic displays can combine good resolution with good low temperature performance.
  • the electro-optic medium must be removed by the use of solvents or mechanical cleaning, either of which may result in damage to, or removal of, the electrically-conductive layer of the FPL (this electrically-conductive layer usually being a layer of a metal oxide, for example indium tin oxide, less than 1 ⁇ m thick), causing a failed electrical connection.
  • this electrically-conductive layer usually being a layer of a metal oxide, for example indium tin oxide, less than 1 ⁇ m thick
  • damage may also be caused to the front substrate (typically a polymeric film) which is used to support and mechanically protect the conductive layer.
  • the materials from which the electro-optic medium is formed may not be easily solvated, and it may not be possible to remove them without the use of aggressive solvents and/or high mechanical pressures, either of which will exacerbate the aforementioned problems.
  • the aforementioned 2007/0211331 describes methods of forming electrical connections to the conductive layers of front plane laminates.
  • This application describes a first process for the production of a front plane laminate which comprises forming a sub- assembly comprising a layer of lamination adhesive and a layer of electro-optic medium; forming an aperture through this sub-assembly; and thereafter securing to the exposed surface of the lamination adhesive a light-transmissive electrode layer extending across the aperture.
  • the resultant FPL has a pre-cut aperture through the electro-optic medium and adhesive layers, this pre-cut aperture allowing contact to be made with the electrode layer.
  • the aforementioned 2007/0211331 also describes a second process for the production of a front plane laminate which comprises forming a sub-assembly comprising a layer of lamination adhesive and a layer of electro-optic medium; and thereafter securing to the exposed surface of the lamination adhesive a light-transmissive electrode layer, the electrode layer having a tab portion which extends beyond the periphery of the lamination adhesive and electro-optic layers.
  • One aspect of the present invention relates to alternative methods for forming electrical connections to the conductive layers of front plane laminates which are generally similar to those described in the aforementioned 2007/0211331 but which do not require forming an aperture through the electro-optic layer or the provision of a tab portion on the electrode layer.
  • a second aspect of the present invention relates to reducing problems experienced in testing prior art front plane laminates and similar structures.
  • the first testing method for a front plane laminate described in the aforementioned U.S. Patent No. 6,982,178 obviously requires that electrical contact be made with both the light-transmissive electrically- conductive layer and the conductive layer of the release sheet.
  • Contact with the light- transmissive electrically-conductive layer can be made as described in the aforementioned 2007/0211331 by providing a pre-cut aperture through the electro-optic medium and any adhesive layer lying between the electro-optic medium and the light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer.
  • FIG. 22 A typical prior art front plane laminate (generally designated PlOO) of this type is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of the front plane laminate and Figure 2 is a schematic section through one of the inspection tabs shown in Figure 1.
  • the FPL PlOO has a main section P 102, which is rectangular in shape and two inspection tabs each generally designated P 104; each of the tabs P104 has an inner section P104A adjacent the main section P102 and an outer section P104B.
  • the FPL PlOO comprises several different layers. In order from the top (viewing) surface of the FPL, these layers are:
  • an electro-optic layer P 114 illustrated as an encapsulated electrophoretic layer
  • each inner tab section P104A is provided with a top plane connection aperture P 122, which extends from the lower surface (as illustrated in Figure 2) of the FPL PlOO through the polymeric layer P120, the aluminum coating Pl 18, the adhesive layer Pl 16 and the electro-optic layer Pl 14.
  • a printed silver layer P124 covers the section of the ITO layer P112 exposed by the aperture P122, this silver layer P124 serving to lessen the risk of damage to the relatively fragile ITO layer Pl 12 when a probe is used to make electrical contact with the ITO layer P 112.
  • the silver layer P 124 is produced by printing silver ink on to the ITO layer Pl 12 supported on the PET layer PI lO prior to coating the electro-optic layer Pl 14 over the ITO layer 112.
  • the FPL PlOO By contacting the exposed surfaces of the aluminum coating Pl 18 and the silver layer P 124 with probes, the FPL PlOO, which is of a size corresponding to a single display, can be tested by the first testing method described in the aforementioned U.S. Patent No. 6,982,178. Subsequent removal of the release sheet comprising the polymeric layer P 120 and the aluminum coating P 118 removes the outer tab section P104B, leaving the inner tab sections 104A and their apertures P 122 available to act as top plane connections in the final display.
  • an FPL is typically prepared by coating the electro-optic layer on a polymeric film already coated with ITO (such ITO-coated films are available commercially); if the silver layer P 124 is present this layer is coated before the electro-optic layer is applied.
  • the adhesive layer Pl 16 is coated on to a conductive release sheet comprising the aluminum layer Pl 18 and the polymeric layer P 120, and the resultant adhesive-on-release sub-assembly is laminated, typically under heat and pressure, to the electro-optic layer.
  • the process is conducted on material in the form of webs or large sheets, and only after the FPL is prepared is it cut into pieces suitable for use in forming individual displays.
  • the laminated FPL is cut to the shape shown in Figure 1, and laser "kiss” cutting is applied from both sides of the FPL both to remove the unwanted layers from the outer tab sections P104B and to form the apertures 122.
  • laser cutting may damage the silver layer P124 and/or the adjacent part of the ITO layer Pl 12, with the disadvantageous results already noted.
  • this invention provides a process for the production of an article of manufacture useful in the production of an electro-optic display, the process comprising: providing an electro-optic sub-assembly comprising a layer of electro-optic medium; providing an adhesive sub-assembly comprising an adhesive layer, the adhesive layer being larger in at least one dimension than the layer of electro-optic medium, the adhesive layer having at least one aperture extending therethrough; and adhering the adhesive sub-assembly to the electro-optic sub-assembly so that a part of the adhesive layer adheres to the layer of electro-optic medium but the at least one aperture in the adhesive layer is spaced from the layer of electro-optic medium (i.e., so that the electro-optic medium does not block the adjacent ends of the aperture(s) in the adhesive layer).
  • the electro-optic sub-assembly may comprise a light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer which will form a front electrode in the final display.
  • the electro-optic sub-assembly will typically also comprise at least one supporting or protective layer on the opposed side of the electrically- conductive layer from the layer of electro-optic medium, the supporting or protective layer serving to support the electrically-conductive layer and to protect it against mechanical damage.
  • the supporting or protective layer may also serve other functions, for example by acting as a barrier against water vapor and/or ultra-violet radiation, and/or providing a desired surface texture.
  • the electro-optic sub-assembly may comprise a second adhesive layer disposed on one surface of the layer of electro-optic medium; the adhesive sub-assembly is adhered to the surface of the layer of electro-optic medium not covered by the second adhesive layer.
  • the surface of the second adhesive layer remote from the layer of electro-optic medium may be covered by a release sheet.
  • the electro-optic sub-assembly may also comprise a release sheet covering the surface of the layer of electro-optic medium to be adhered to the adhesive sub-assembly, this release sheet being removed from the layer of electro-optic medium before the layer of electro-optic medium is contacted with the adhesive sub-assembly.
  • the adhesive sub-assembly will typically comprise a release sheet carrying the adhesive layer. It is not necessary that the at least one aperture in the adhesive layer extend through the release sheet, but typically the at least one aperture will do so, since it is usually most convenient to form the at least one aperture by cutting (for example, by laser or die cutting) completely through the adhesive sub-assembly.
  • the electro-optic medium used in the process of the present invention may be any solid electro-optic medium of the types previously described.
  • the electro-optic medium may be a rotating bichromal member or electrochromic medium.
  • the electro-optic medium may also be an electrophoretic material comprising a plurality of electrically charged particles disposed in a fluid and capable of moving through the fluid under the influence of an electric field.
  • the electrically charged particles and the fluid may be confined within a plurality of capsules or microcells.
  • the electrophoretic material may be of the polymer-dispersed type, with the electrically charged particles and the fluid present as a plurality of discrete droplets surrounded by a continuous phase comprising a polymeric material.
  • the fluid used may be liquid or gaseous.
  • This invention extends to the novel sub-assemblies and displays produced by the process of the present invention.
  • Articles of manufacture and electro-optic displays produced using the process of the present invention can be used in any of the applications in which electro-optic displays have previously been used. Accordingly, this invention extends to an electronic book reader, portable computer, tablet computer, cellular telephone, smart card, sign, watch, shelf label or flash drive comprising a display of the present invention, or produced using a method or component of the present invention.
  • This invention also provides a sub-assembly useful in the production of an electro- optic display, the sub-assembly comprising: a layer of electro-optic medium; and an adhesive layer larger in at least one dimension than the layer of electro- optic medium, the adhesive layer having at least one aperture extending therethrough; a part of the adhesive layer adhering to the layer of electro-optic medium but the at least one aperture in the adhesive layer being spaced from the layer of electro-optic medium.
  • a plurality of discrete areas of the layers of electro-optic medium may be disposed on a substrate, the discrete areas being separated by lands free from the electro-optic medium, and a plurality of apertures may pass through the adhesive layer, one end of each aperture terminating in one of the lands.
  • the sub-assembly may comprise a light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer disposed on the surface of the layer of electro-optic medium remote from the adhesive layer.
  • the invention extends to an electro-optic display comprising the aforementioned sub-assembly and a backplane adhered to the adhesive layer, the backplane comprising at least one first electrode disposed adjacent the layer of electro-optic medium and at least one second electrode spaced from the layer of electro-optic medium, the at least one second electrode being in electrical contact with the light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer via the at least one aperture in the adhesive layer.
  • This invention also extends to an electronic book reader, portable computer, tablet computer, cellular telephone, smart card, sign, watch, shelf label or flash drive comprising such a display.
  • this invention provides an article of manufacture (a "detachable tab front plane laminate” or "DTFPL”) for use in the production of an electro- optic display, the article comprising a conductive layer and a layer of electro-optic medium, the conductive layer having a main section covered by the layer of electro-optic medium, an exposed section in at least part of which the conductive layer is exposed free from the electro- optic medium, and a weak section connecting the main section and the exposed section, such that the exposed section can be manipulated to cause rupture of the weak section, thereby separating the exposed section from the main section without substantial damage to the main section.
  • DTFPL detachable tab front plane laminate
  • a supporting layer for example, a polymeric film
  • both the conductive layer and supporting layer will have weak sections to enable the exposed section of the conductive layer and the associated part of the supporting layer to be detached from the main section of the conductive layer and the associated part of the supporting layer.
  • the supporting layer may also serve other functions, for example by acting as a barrier against water vapor and/or ultra-violet radiation, and/or providing a desired surface texture.
  • the conductive layer Pl 18 of the release sheet could be omitted and a detachable tab provided for the conductive layer Pl 12, and the FPL tested by the second method described in the aforementioned U.S. Patent No. 6,982,178, with the static charge being applied to the polymeric layer P 120.
  • a front plane laminate intended for testing will have two separate conductive layers, one conductive layer (Pl 12 in Figure 2) being that which will form the front electrode in the final display, and the other conductive layer (P 118 in Figure 2) being part of a conductive release sheet which will be removed from the front plane laminate before lamination to a backplane.
  • a detachable exposed section is provided for each conductive layer.
  • they are desirably offset from one another, i.e., spaced from one another in the plane of the layer of electro-optic medium.
  • the exposed section of the front electrode conductive layer may be provided as illustrated in the same way as in Figure 2, that is to say by providing an aperture extending through layers of the front plane laminate (and the conductive release sheet, if the conductive release sheet covers the location of the aperture) overlying the front electrode conductive layer.
  • the portion of the front electrode conductive layer exposed by the aperture may be strengthened by providing a conductive pad in electrical contact with the conductive layer.
  • providing separate tabs has the advantage that, at least in some cases, the exposed section of the conductive layer on the release sheet can be provided simply by weakening the appropriate area of the FPL and then removing from the relevant tab the front substrate, with the electro-optic medium and adhesive attached thereto.
  • the weak section or sections of the DTFPL may have various forms, although it is of course necessary to preserve some electrical connection between the exposed and main sections of the conductive layer to ensure that the electro-optic medium can still be switched during the testing process.
  • the thicknesses of the PET layer PI lO and the polymeric layer P 120 could be reduced, such as by contacting these layers with heated members.
  • parts of the weak section be cut, for example by perforating or rouletting; the latter may be preferred since it does not generate numerous small pieces of debris.
  • the electro-optic medium used in the DTFPL of the present invention may be any solid electro-optic medium of the types previously described.
  • the electro-optic medium may be a rotating bichromal member or electrochromic medium.
  • the electro-optic medium may also be an electrophoretic material comprising a plurality of electrically charged particles disposed in a fluid and capable of moving through the fluid under the influence of an electric field.
  • the electrically charged particles and the fluid may be confined within a plurality of capsules or microcells.
  • the electrophoretic material may be of the polymer-dispersed type, with the electrically charged particles and the fluid present as a plurality of discrete droplets surrounded by a continuous phase comprising a polymeric material.
  • the fluid used may be liquid or gaseous.
  • Electro-optic displays produced using the DTFPL of the present invention can be used in any of the applications in which electro-optic displays have previously been used.
  • this invention extends an electronic book reader, portable computer, tablet computer, cellular telephone, smart card, sign, watch, shelf label or flash drive comprising a display produced using an article of the present invention.
  • this invention provides a process for testing a layer of electro-optic medium, the process comprising: providing an article comprising a conductive layer and a layer of electro-optic medium, the conductive layer having a main section covered by the layer of electro-optic medium, an exposed section in at least part of which the conductive layer is exposed free from the electro-optic medium, and a weak section connecting the main section and the exposed section; applying a potential to the conductive layer sufficient to change the optical state o the layer of electro-optic medium; observing the appearance of the layer of electro-optic medium following the change; and thereafter, manipulating the exposed section to cause rupture of the weak section, thereby separating the exposed section from the main section without substantial damage to the main section.
  • the article may comprise first and second conductive layers disposed on opposed sides of the layer of electro-optic medium, each of the first and second conductive layers being provided with an exposed section and a weak section, the potential is applied between the first and second conductive layers, and thereafter both exposed sections are manipulated to cause rupture of both weak sections.
  • the accompanying drawings are not strictly to scale. In particular, for ease of illustration, the thicknesses of the various layers are greatly exaggerated relative to their lateral dimensions.
  • the present invention is well adapted for the production of thin, flexible electro-optic displays; typically, the sub-assemblies used in the processes described below will have thicknesses of about 100 ⁇ m, and can be laminated to flexible backplanes of similar thickness.
  • Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a top plan view of a prior art front plane laminate having inspection tabs.
  • Figure 2 is a schematic section through one of the inspection tabs of the front plane laminate shown in Figure 1.
  • Figures 3A to 3E are schematic sections through various stages in a pre-formed aperture process of the present invention.
  • Figure 4A is a schematic top plan view of the stage of the pre-formed aperture process shown in Figure 3C.
  • Figure 4B is a schematic top plan view of the stage of the pre-formed aperture process shown in Figure 3E.
  • Figures 5A to 5C are schematic sections through various stages in the process used to convert the product of the process of Figures 3A to 3E to a finished display.
  • Figures 6A to 6E are schematic sections, similar to those of Figures 3A to 3E respectively through various stages in a process for the production of a detachable tab front plane laminate of the present invention.
  • Figures 7A and 7B are schematic top plan views of the stages of the process corresponding to Figures 6C and 6E respectively.
  • backplane is used herein consistent with its conventional meaning in the art of electro-optic displays and in the aforementioned patents and published applications, to mean a rigid or flexible material provided with one or more electrodes.
  • the backplane may also be provided with electronics for addressing the display, or such electronics may be provided in a unit separate from the backplane.
  • the backplane In flexible displays (and the present invention is especially although not exclusively intended for use in flexible displays), it is highly desirable that the backplane provide sufficient barrier properties to prevent ingress of moisture and other contaminants through the non-viewing side of the display.
  • the barrier layers should be located as closely as possible to the electro-optic layer so that little or no edge profile of low barrier materials is present between the front (discussed below) and rear barrier layers.
  • loose and tight release sheets are used in their conventional meaning in the art to indicate the magnitude of the force necessary to peel the relevant release sheet from the layer with which it is in contact, a tight release sheet requiring more force than a loose release sheet.
  • a stack of layers has a tight release sheet on one side and a loose release sheet on the other, it is possible to peel the loose release sheet away from the stack without separating the tight release sheet from the stack.
  • Some of the displays and sub-assemblies of the present invention contain two separate adhesive layers.
  • the two adhesive layers will be denoted as “front” and “rear” adhesive layers, these terms denoting the position of the relevant adhesive layer in the final display;
  • the front adhesive layer is the adhesive layer lying between the electro-optic medium and the viewing surface of the display, while the rear adhesive layer lies on the opposed side of the electro-optic layer from the front adhesive layer.
  • the front adhesive layer lies between the electro-optic layer and the front electrode, while the rear adhesive layer lies between the electro-optic layer and the pixel electrodes.
  • the present invention provides a "pre-formed aperture" process for the production of a sub-assembly useful in the manufacture of an electro-optic display.
  • this pre-formed aperture process separate electro-optic and adhesive sub-assemblies are formed, the former comprising at least a layer of electro-optic medium and the later at least an adhesive layer.
  • the adhesive layer has one or more apertures extending therethrough. The two sub-assemblies are adhered together so that a part of the adhesive layer adheres to the layer of electro-optic medium, but the electro-optic medium does not block the aperture(s) in the adhesive layer.
  • the electro-optic sub-assembly used in this process may comprise at least one electrode layer, most commonly a single continuous front electrode extending across the entire display.
  • the surface of the electro-optic sub-assembly remote from the adhesive sub-assembly will form the viewing surface through which an observer views the display.
  • the electro-optic sub-assembly may provide barrier properties to prevent ingress of moisture and other contaminants through the viewing side of the display.
  • the barrier layers should be located as closely as possible to the electro-optic layer so that little or no edge profile of low barrier materials is present between the front and rear barrier layers.
  • FIGS 3A to 3E are schematic sections through various stages in a pre-formed aperture process of the present invention.
  • an electro-optic medium is coated or otherwise deposited on to a tight release sheet 302 to form an electro- optic layer 304.
  • a front adhesive layer 306 is coated on to a loose release sheet 308.
  • the two resulting sub-assemblies are then laminated to each other with the adhesive layer 306 in contact with the electro-optic layer 304 to produce the structure shown in Figure 3A.
  • These steps are as described in the aforementioned U.S. Patent No. 7,110,164, and the resulting assembly is a double release sheet as described in the aforementioned 2004/0155857.
  • the structure shown in Figure 3 A is kiss cut with the loose release 308 facing the cutter (typically a laser cutter), the kiss cutting being effected such that the loose release sheet 308, the front adhesive layer 306 and the electro-optic layer 304 are severed but the tight release sheet 302 is not.
  • the continuous portions of the loose release sheet 308, the front adhesive layer 306 and the electro-optic layer 304 are then removed, either manually or mechanically, thus leaving the structure shown in Figure 3 B, in which there extend upwardly from the tight release sheet 302 multiple "mesas" comprising the islands 318 of the loose release sheet and similarly sized areas 316 and 314 of the front adhesive layer and electro-optic layer respectively. Each of these mesas will eventually form a separate display. (In some cases, it may be possible to recycle the portions of the front adhesive layer and electro-optic layer removed with the loose release sheet 308 in other small displays.)
  • the front substrate 320 is a multi-layer structure including an indium-tin-oxide (ITO) layer which forms the front electrode of the final display.
  • ITO indium-tin-oxide
  • the front substrate may further comprise a removable masking film, which can be removed before the final display is placed in use.
  • the front substrate is designed to provide the front light-transmissive electrode for the final display.
  • the front substrate 320 can also provide the necessary mechanical support for this thin and relatively fragile front electrode.
  • the front substrate preferably provides all necessary water vapor and oxygen barriers, and ultra-violet absorption properties, desirable to protect certain electro-optic layers, especially electrophoretic layers.
  • the front substrate may also provide desirable anti-glare properties to the viewing surface of the final display.
  • the front substrate 320 serves all of these functions while still being thin and flexible enough to enable the formation of a final display sufficiently flexible to be wound around a mandrel of (say) 15 mm diameter.
  • the front substrate includes a masking film; this masking film is provided primarily to increase the thickness of the front substrate so as to facilitate handling of this substrate during laminations.
  • the total thickness of the front substrate as it remains in the final display i.e., with the masking film removed
  • the masking film is used to add about 2 mil (51 ⁇ m) to this thickness for ease of handling.
  • the masking film also typically serves to prevent scratching or adhesion of dust or debris to an adjacent anti-glare layer during the laminations.
  • the structure resulting from this step of the process is shown in Figure 3C, and comprises an electro-optic sub-assembly suitable for use in the process of the present invention.
  • the release sheet 302 is peeled from the electro-optic sub-assembly shown in Figure 3 C and the adhesive layer 322 laminated to the electro-optic layer portions 314 to give the structure shown in Figure 3D.
  • the apertures 326 in the adhesive layer are positioned so that they are spaced from the mesas (i.e., from the electro-optic portions 314) so that the mesas do not block the apertures 326.
  • Figure 4A shows a top plan view corresponding to Figure 3D but only illustrating a single mesa and its associated aperture 326; at this stage of the process, the material is still in web or large sheet form and Figure 4A illustrates only part of the web or sheet, as indicated by the curved boundary of front substrate 320 in Figure 4A.
  • Figure 4A shows only a single aperture 326 associated with the mesa.
  • operation (a) is effected by cutting the front substrate 320, the adhesive layer 322 and the release sheet 324 along the same rectangular perimeter, thus defining a separate unit (piece) of front plane laminate which will eventually be laminated to a backplane to form a single display.
  • this step creates an extended tab or "tail" of non- optically active material (the portion of the front plane laminate lying below the electro-optic layer 314 as illustrated in Figure 4B) that adds to the thickness of the corresponding section of the final display.
  • the thickness of the final display in this region would be only the thickness of the backplane itself, and in thin, flexible displays, the thickness of this backplane may be only about 25 ⁇ m; the extended tail section will typically provide an additional 25 ⁇ m of thickness, thus doubling the thickness of this region to about 50 ⁇ m. See the aforementioned 2007/0211331 for further discussion of providing a tab or tail portion of a front electrode layer, and use of such a tab or tail portion to provide electrical contact with the front electrode layer.
  • Operation (b) is effected by providing two small circular apertures 328 adjacent one edge (the lower edge as illustrated in Figure 4B) of the rectangular front plane laminate.
  • the apertures 328 are shown in broken lines in Figure 3E even though Figure 3E is a section looking upwardly in Figure 4B so the apertures 328 would not actually be visible in the section of Figure 3E.
  • the apertures 328 lie within the tail section of the FPL and extend through the whole thickness of the FPL, passing through the front substrate 320, the adhesive layer 322 and the release sheet 324.
  • the apertures 328 can be used for mechanical alignment or attachment of the FPL during lamination to a backplane or during later stages of manufacture.
  • the apertures 328 can be used to engage registration pins or similar co-operating members provided on the backplane, or on a substrate carrying the backplane, to ensure accurate registration of the FPL with respect to the backplane.
  • the apertures 328 can also be used in later stages of the manufacturing process to locate the final display module accurately with respect to a housing or other surrounding portion (for example, a printed circuit board) of the final commercial display unit, or to attach the display module to such housing or surrounding portion.
  • Operation (c) is effected by providing a rectangular aperture 330 in the tail portion of the FPL, this rectangular aperture 330 extending completely through the FPL, i.e., through the front substrate 320, the adhesive layer 322 and the release sheet 324.
  • the type of FPL shown in Figures 3E and 4B is typically used with a backplane which is essentially the same size as the FPL, so that the FPL covers essentially the whole of the backplane. Accordingly, if it is desired to have electrical access to the backplane, for example for mounting driver chips on the backplane, an aperture must be formed to permit this, and this is the function of the aperture 330.
  • Driver chips or other electronic circuit devices can be placed within the aperture 330, and the FPL surrounding the aperture provides a region of increased thickness which assists ruggedization of the display.
  • Figure 5A illustrates, in a highly schematic manner, a process in which the piece of front plane laminate shown in Figures 3E and 4B is laminated to a backplane.
  • a support table 350 is provided with a pair of pins 352 (only one of which is visible in Figure 5A).
  • a backplane 354 is provided with apertures which engage the pins 352.
  • the release sheet 324 (see Figure 3E) is removed from the front plane laminate 356, which is then laid over the backplane with the apertures 328 (see Figures 3E and 4B) engaged with the pins 352.
  • a roller 358 passes over the front plane laminate 356, thus adhering the adhesive layer 322 (see Figure 3E) to the adjacent surface of the backplane 354 and thus laminating the front plane laminate to the backplane to form a display.
  • a conductive ink may be placed on the backplane at appropriate points prior to this lamination so that during the lamination the conductive ink is forced into the apertures 326 to form conductive vias (not shown) connecting contact pads (also not shown) on the backplane to the electrode layer in the front substrate 320.
  • the lamination will cause the electrode layer in the front substrate 320 into electrical contact with one or more contact pads on the backplane without need for such conductive ink.
  • the laminated FPL and backplane are removed from the support table 350 as the structure shown in Figure 5B. (The meaning of the arrows in Figure 5B is explained below.) [Para 74]
  • the FPL When laminating front plane laminates to a backplane, the FPL must typically be aligned with respect to backplane features, for example contact pads designed to provide contacts to the electrode layer present in the front plane laminate.
  • the FPL can be designed to be smaller than the backplane (to allow access to electrical connections on areas of the backplane not covered by the FPL) or the same size as the backplane. If the FPL, or a barrier layer laminated over the FPL, is the same size as the backplane, achieving a clean edge alignment can be difficult in practice, since there is always some tendency for the FPL not to line up exactly with the backplane. Also, certain features desirable during manufacture, such as inspection tabs or tacking strips, can be undesirable if present in the finished display module.
  • Electro-optic displays based on such thin backplanes can be flexible or reliable and hence usable in certain applications (for example, a large display screen capable of being stored in a cellular telephone - see the aforementioned 2002/0090980) where traditional displays cannot be used.
  • an FPL laminated to such a polymeric or metal foil backplane can readily be cut by industrial methods, for example laser cutting or die cutting, and that such cutting of an FPL/backplane laminate enables an accurately matched edge to be achieved between the FPL (or a barrier layer overlying the FPL) and the backplane, without adverse effects on the functionality of the final display.
  • Such cutting also allows for the removal of features useful during manufacture but not wanted in the final display.
  • the second main aspect of the present invention relates to a detachable tab front plane laminate comprising a conductive layer and a layer of electro-optic medium, the conductive layer having a main section covered by the layer of electro-optic medium, an exposed section in at least part of which the conductive layer is exposed free from the electro-optic medium, and a weak section connecting the main section and the exposed section, such that the exposed section can be separated from the main section without substantial damage to the main section.
  • the surface of the DTFPL of the present invention which remains exposed after lamination to a backplane will form the viewing surface through which an observer views the display.
  • a front substrate of the DTFPL may provide barrier properties to prevent ingress of moisture and other contaminants through the viewing side of the display. If one or more additional layers need to be added to the DTFPL to reduce ingress of moisture and other contaminants, the barrier layers should be located as closely as possible to the electro-optic layer so that little or no edge profile of low barrier materials is present between the front and rear barrier layers.
  • Figures 6A to 6E are schematic sections through various stages in the production of a DTFPL of the present invention.
  • the process illustrated in Figures 6A to 6E closely resembles that illustrated in Figures 3A to 3E above, and accordingly the following description will be abbreviated to describe only the aspects of the process of Figures 6A to 6E which differ from the corresponding aspects of the process of Figures 3A to 3E.
  • the first two stages of the process, illustrated in Figures 6A and 6B are identical to the corresponding stages shown in Figures 3A and 3B respectively.
  • the next stage, shown in Figure 6C is also in practice identical to that shown in Figure 3 C, but for reasons which will appear below, the front electrode layer 621, which will form the light-transmissive electrode in the final display, is shown separately in Figure 6C.
  • the next step of the process uses a third release sheet 624, one surface of which bears a conductive layer 625.
  • a thin adhesive layer 322 is coated on the third release sheet, but in this case the adhesive layer is deposited on the conductive layer 625.
  • Apertures 326 are formed through the adhesive layer 322, the conductive layer 625 and the release sheet 624 at positions corresponding to where top plane connections will be present in the final displays.
  • a second aperture 628 is also formed through the adhesive layer 322, the conductive layer 625 and the release sheet 624 to allow the formation of a detachable inspection tab, as described below.
  • the release sheet 624 is cut, preferably discontinuously, along a line 627 (see Figure 7A) to form a tacking strip (discussed further below).
  • the release sheet 302 is peeled from the structure shown in Figure 6C and the adhesive layer 322 laminated to the electro-optic layer portions 314 to give the structure shown in Figure 6D.
  • Figure 7A shows a corresponding top plan view which only illustrates a single mesa and its associated apertures 326 and 628 and the line 627; at this stage of the process, the material is still in web or large sheet form and Figure 7A illustrates only part of the web or sheet, as indicated by the curved boundary of front substrate 320 in Figure 7A.
  • the tab 630 simply comprises a small rectangular area of the FPL separated from the main part of the FPL by a rouletted (i.e., discontinuously cut) line 634.
  • the tab 632 surrounds the aperture 628 and is separated from the main part of the FPL by a rouletted line 636.
  • the discontinuous cuts along lines 634 and 636 extend completely through the FPL and are formed using the same laser cutter which separates the FPL piece shown in Figures 6E and 7B from the web. Since the discontinuous cuts do not completely sever the conductive layers 621 and 625, the portions of these conductive layers lying within the tabs 630 and 632 are in electrical contact with the main portions of these conductive layers in the major portion of the FPL piece.
  • the tab 630 is intended to provide access to the conductive layer 625 on the release sheet 624, i.e., the tab 630 serves the same function as the outer tab sections P104B shown in Figures 1 and 2.
  • the conductive layer 625 is still covered by the front substrate 320, the front conductive layer 621 and the adhesive layer 322, it has been found that, by manually grasping the front substrate 320 and pulling, the front substrate 320, the front conductive layer 621 and the adhesive layer 322 will all part along line 634 to expose the conductive layer 625.
  • the aperture 628 exposes the front conductive layer 621, so that the tab 632 serves the same function as the inner tab sections P104A shown in Figures 1 and 2.
  • the tabs 630 and 632 are then removed by manually pulling on them, thus causing tearing along lines 634 and 636 and separation of the tabs without damage to the main part of the FPL piece.
  • the tab 630 could be used to peel the release sheet 624 from the remaining layers of the FPL prior to lamination of the FPL to a backplane.
  • the singulation of the FPL piece from the web results in the line 627 extending close to and parallel to one edge of the FPL piece, so that between the line 627 and the adjacent edge is formed a tacking strip 629, in the form of an elongate area running along one edge of the FPL piece. Because the release sheet 624 is severed along line 627, the section of the release sheet 624 underlying the tacking strip 629 can be removed without removing the release sheet 624 from the main part of the FPL piece.
  • the tacking strip 629 is provided to assist in locating the FPL piece on a backplane prior to the lamination of these two parts to form a display; the section of the release sheet 624 underlying the tacking strip 629 is removed and the portion of the adhesive layer 322 thus exposed can be pressed manually into the correct position for lamination to the backplane, before the main portion of the release sheet 624 is removed and the lamination operation completed.
  • the electro-optic medium does not extend into the removable tabs.
  • the electro-optic medium may extend into part of the tab.
  • tabs used in DTFPL process may be similar to those illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 but provided with weakened sections similar to those shown in Figure 7B so that they are detachable.
  • tabs used in the DTFPL process have been illustrated in the drawings as discrete rectangles protruding from a larger rectangular area which defines the form of the final piece of FPL, it is not necessary that the tabs protrude in this manner.
  • the tabs could for example have the form of triangular sections disposed within the corners of a rectangular piece of FPL, so that the final piece of FPL would have the form of a rectangle with beveled corners.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
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  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
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  • Electrochromic Elements, Electrophoresis, Or Variable Reflection Or Absorption Elements (AREA)

Abstract

Un premier sous-ensemble utile dans un dispositif d'affichage électro-optique est produit par les opérations consistant à disposer un sous-ensemble électro-optique (302, 314, 316, 320) comprenant une couche de milieu électro-optique (314); disposer un sous-ensemble adhésif (322, 324) comprenant une couche adhésive (324), la couche adhésive étant plus grande que la couche de milieu électro-optique (314) et ayant une ou plusieurs ouvertures (326); faire adhérer le sous-ensemble adhésif (322, 324) au sous-ensemble électro-optique (302, 314, 316, 320) de telle sorte qu'une partie de la couche adhésive (322) adhère à la couche de milieu électro-optique (314) mais que les ouvertures (326) sont espacées de la couche de milieu électro-optique (314). Un second sous-ensemble comprend une couche conductrice (621, 625) et une couche de milieu électro-optique (314). La couche conductrice (621, 625) a une section principale recouverte par le milieu électro-optique (314), une section exposée (630, 632) exempte du milieu électro-optique (314) et une section affaiblie (634, 636) reliant la section principale et la section exposée (630, 632), de telle sorte que la section exposée (630, 632) peut être manipulée pour rompre la section affaiblie (634, 636), séparant ainsi la section exposée (630, 632) de la section principale sans dommages substantiels.
EP08771974A 2007-06-29 2008-06-26 Dispositifs d'affichage électro-optiques, et matériaux et procédés de test apparentés Withdrawn EP2162783A4 (fr)

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EP2064581A2 (fr) * 2006-09-20 2009-06-03 E Ink Corporation Composants et procédés d'utilisation de ceux-ci dans des écrans électro-optiques

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JP3938112B2 (ja) 2002-11-29 2007-06-27 セイコーエプソン株式会社 電気光学装置並びに電子機器
CN1302315C (zh) * 2003-11-05 2007-02-28 友达光电股份有限公司 液晶显示组件

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US6118426A (en) * 1995-07-20 2000-09-12 E Ink Corporation Transducers and indicators having printed displays
US6982178B2 (en) * 2002-06-10 2006-01-03 E Ink Corporation Components and methods for use in electro-optic displays
EP2064581A2 (fr) * 2006-09-20 2009-06-03 E Ink Corporation Composants et procédés d'utilisation de ceux-ci dans des écrans électro-optiques

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KR101124183B1 (ko) 2012-03-27
EP2162783A4 (fr) 2011-05-18
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CN102759836A (zh) 2012-10-31
KR20100017941A (ko) 2010-02-16
WO2009006170A1 (fr) 2009-01-08

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