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 
  • G02F1/165—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 
  • G02F1/165—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
  • G02F1/1679—Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells; Filling or closing of cells
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
  • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
  • G09F9/00—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements
  • G09F9/30—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements
  • G09F9/37—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements being movable elements
  • G09F9/372—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements being movable elements the positions of the elements being controlled by the application of an electric field

Definitions

• the invention relates to a foil layer system destined for use in an electrophoretic imaging system, comprising at least a first transparent foil layer having a first and second surface which are located opposite each other, the foil layer being provided with multiple channels of the first type, which extend over a part of a thickness of the foil layer from the first surface in the direction of the second surface.
• the channels in the foil system known per se are filled with an electrophoretic system.
• An electrophoretic system in this connection comprises a medium in which particles are included which respond to an electric and/or magnetic field.
• a visual appearance of the electrophoretic system depends on the position and/or orientation of the particles.
• the visual appearance of the electrophoretic system is controlled with the aid of control means which are arranged, for instance, to apply an electric field over an electrophoretic system present in a channel.
• a simple and relatively inexpensive electrophoretic system can assume a first visual appearance and a second visual appearance, different from the first.
• an electrophoretic imaging system which can assume, for instance, more than two different visual appearances, it is necessary that a first number of the multiple channels in the electrophoretic imaging system be provided with a first electrophoretic system and a second number of the multiple channels be provided with a second electrophoretic system, different from the first electrophoretic system.
• the first electrophoretic system can assume, for instance, a transparent visual appearance as first visual appearance, and a colored visual appearance as second visual appearance.
• the second electrophoretic system in that case can, for instance, likewise assume a transparent visual appearance and a colored visual appearance, with the colored visual appearance of the first electrophoretic system differing from the colored visual appearance of the second electrophoretic system.
• both the first and the second electrophoretic system can assume a colored visual appearance, instead of a transparent visual appearance, the system, accordingly, also has at least three mutually different visual appearances that can be assumed.
• These three mutually different visual appearances can be the three mutually different principal colors.
• a mixed color is visible which is based on the contribution of each principal color.
• the channels be selectively filled with either the first electrophoretic system or the second electrophoretic system.
• Such a technique is known per se and comprises, for instance, spreading the first electrophoretic system on the first surface, whereafter, for instance with the aid of a kind of roller, the electrophoretic system is pressed into the channels.
• An object of the invention is to provide a foil system which, for selectively filling the channels in the foil system with either a first electrophoretic system or a second electrophoretic system, enables the use of a relatively simple and inexpensive procedure for filling the channels with the aid of, for instance, the application of the electrophoretic system desired in the channels, onto the foil surface.
• a foil layer system which is characterized in that the system is further provided with a second foil layer having a first and a second surface which are located opposite each other, the second foil layer being provided with multiple channels of the second type which extend over a part of a thickness of the foil layer from the first surface in the direction of the second surface, the second foil layer in the foil layer system being provided opposite, and parallel to, the first or the second surface of the first foil layer, such that a direct fluid communication between the channels of the first type and the channels of the second type is precluded, whilst, viewed in a direction directed parallel to the axial direction of the channels, a minimal distance is present between at least a part of an inherently closed channel wall of each channel of the first type and at least a part of an inherently closed channel wall of each channel of the second type.
• An advantage of a foil layer system according to the invention is that it is possible to fill the channels of the first type according to a relatively simple and inexpensive method with a first electrophoretic system, and in a step to be carried out separately, according to a same relatively simple and inexpensive method, to fill the channels of the second type with a second electrophoretic system. Filling the channels of the first type, and, entirely separately therefrom, filling the channels of the second type can be done before the second foil layer is arranged opposite and parallel to one of the two surfaces of the first foil layer.
• foil layer systems can be provided in the foil layer systems, without this requiring the use of selective application methods, which are complex and expensive.
• An additional advantage of such a foil layer system is that a part of a foil layer surface where the channels terminate can be relatively low per foil layer surface. This is beneficial to the mechanical strength and stability of the foil layer.
• the foil layer system can be maximally provided with electrophoretic systems.
• the imaging system can be maximally provided with image contributing elements, which is beneficial to the quality of the image to be formed.
• a particular embodiment of a foil layer system according to the invention is characterized in that at least the first or the second foil layer is further provided with multiple channels of a third type, which extend over a part of a thickness of the foil layer, from the second surface in the direction of the first surface, while the channels of the third type are so distributed in this foil layer that, viewed in a direction directed parallel to the axial direction of the channels, at least a minimal distance is present between at least a part of an inherently closed channel wall of each channel of the third type and at least a part of an inherently closed channel wall of each channel of the first type and at least a part of an inherently closed channel wall of each channel of the second type, while a fluid communication between the channels of the first type, and the channels of the second type, and the channels of the third type, is precluded.
• the invention further relates to a method for manufacturing a foil layer system, intended for use in an electrophoretic imaging system, the method comprising the following steps: a) the channels of the first type are filled with a first electrophoretic system; b) the channels of the second type are filled with a second electrophoretic system, different from the first electrophoretic system; c) the first and at least second foil layer are arranged in the foil layer system parallel to each other, such that a surface of the first foil layer is positioned opposite a surface of the at least second foil layer, while, viewed in a direction directed parallel to the axial direction of the channels, a minimal distance is present between at least a part of an inherently closed channel wall of each channel of the first type and at least a part of an inherently closed channel wall of each channel of at least the second type.
• the method provides the advantage that a foil layer system is manufactured, whereby the channels of the first type are filled according to a relatively simple and inexpensive method with a first electrophoretic system and the channels of the second type, in a step to be carried out separately, can be filled, according to a same relatively simple and inexpensive method, with a second electrophoretic system.
• Fig. la schematically shows a cross section of a first embodiment of a foil layer system according to the invention
• Fig. lb schematically shows a top plan view of the first embodiment shown in cross section in Fig. la;
• Fig. 2a schematically shows a cross section of a second embodiment of the foil layer system according to the invention
• Fig. 2b schematically shows a top plan view of the second embodiment shown in cross section in Fig. 2a;
• Fig. 3a schematically shows a cross section of a third embodiment of the foil layer system according to the invention
• Fig. 3b schematically shows a top plan view of the third embodiment shown in cross section in Fig. 3a;
• Fig. 4 schematically shows a cross section of a fourth embodiment of a foil layer system according to the invention.
• Fig. 5a schematically shows a cross section of a fifth embodiment of a foil layer system according to the invention
• Fig. 5b schematically shows a top plan view of the fifth embodiment shown in cross section in Fig. 5a;
• Fig. 6a schematically shows a first cross section of a sixth embodiment of a foil layer system according to the invention
• Fig. 6b schematically shows a second cross section of the sixth embodiment shown in cross section in Fig. 6a;
• Fig. 6c schematically shows a third cross section of the sixth embodiment shown in cross section in Figs. 6a and 6b;
• Fig. 6d schematically shows a fourth cross section of the sixth embodiment shown in cross section in Figs. 6a to 6c
• Fig. 6e schematically shows a top plan view of the sixth embodiment shown in cross section in Figs. 6a to 6d.
• Fig. la schematically shows a cross section of a foil layer system intended for use in an electrophoretic imaging system.
• the foil layer system 1 comprises a first transparent foil layer 2 having a first and a second surface 3, 4 which are located opposite each other.
• the first foil layer 2 is provided with multiple channels of the first type 5 extending over a part of the thickness of the foil layer 2, from the first surface 3 in the direction of the second surface 4.
• the foil layer system 1 is further provided with a second foil layer 6 having a first surface 3 and a second surface 4, which are likewise located opposite each other.
• the second foil layer 6 is preferably transparent, although this is not requisite in every embodiment.
• the second foil layer 6 is provided with multiple channels of the second type 7 which extend over a part of the thickness of the second foil layer 6, from the first surface 3 in the direction of the second surface 4.
• the second foil layer 6 is arranged in the foil layer system 1 opposite and parallel to the first and second surfaces 3, 4 of the first foil layer 2, in such a manner that a direction fluid communication between the channels of the first type 5 and the channels of the second type 7 is precluded.
• a minimal distance 8 is present between at least a part of an inherently closed channel wall 9 of each channel of the first type 5 and at least a part of an inherently closed channel wall 10 of each channel of the second type 7.
• Fig. lb schematically shows a top plan view of the first embodiment shown in cross section in Fig. la.
• the channels of the first type 5 can be filled with a first electrophoretic system and, entirely separately therefrom, the channels of the second type 7 can be filled with a second electrophoretic system.
• the first foil layer 2 is transparent, which, incidentally, does not necessarily mean that the foil layer is colorless, the channels of the second type 7, in the top plan view shown in Fig. lb, are virtually equally well visible as the channels of the first type 5. It will therefore be clear that when all channels are filled with an electrophoretic system, all these electrophoretic systems are also visible in the top plan view.
• Fig. 2a schematically shows a cross section of a second embodiment of the foil layer system according to the invention.
• the channels of the first type 5 are each filled with a first electrophoretic system 11.
• the channels of the second type 7 in the second foil layer 6 are each filled with a second electrophoretic system 12.
• the first electrophoretic system 11 differs from the second electrophoretic system 12.
• the channels of the second type 7 in the second foil layer 6 will be filled with a second electrophoretic system, before the second foil layer 6 is arranged opposite and parallel to the second surface 4 of the first foil layer 2.
• the first surface 3 of the second foil layer 6 is actually arranged against the surface 4 of the first foil layer 2.
• Fig. 2b a top plan view of this embodiment is represented.
• the first foil layer 2 is transparent in this case, both the first electrophoretic system and the second electrophoretic system are perceptible in a top plan view.
• the first surface 3 of the second foil layer 6 after filling of the channels of the second type 7 with the second electrophoretic system, to be provided with a transparent foil layer which covers the channels of the second type 7.
• the first electrophoretic system 11 can assume a colored visual appearance which is different from the colored visual appearance that can be assumed by the second electrophoretic system 12.
• an electrophoretic system can be used which can assume at least two different colored visual appearances.
• both the first and the second electrophoretic system 11, 12 can assume two differently colored visual appearances.
• a third embodiment of the foil layer system 1 according to the invention is shown in cross section in Fig. 3a.
• This embodiment shows a variant of the embodiment shown in Figs. 2a and 2b, in the sense that, viewed in a direction directed parallel to the axial direction of the channels, there is also a minimal distance 8 present between at least a part of an inherently closed channel wall of the channels of the first type 9 and at least a part of an inherently closed channel wall of the channels of the second type 10, whilst, viewed in said direction there is some overlap between the first electrophoretic system 11 and the second electrophoretic system 12 in Figs. 3a and 3b.
• Fig. 4 schematically shows a cross section of a fourth embodiment of the foil layer system 1 according to the invention.
• the channels of the first type 5 in the first foil layer 2 each extend throughout the thickness of the first foil layer 2.
• the channels of the second type 7 in the second foil layer 6 also extend each throughout the thickness of the second foil layer 6.
• the second foil layer 6 is also arranged opposite and parallel to the second surface 4 of the first foil layer 2 such that a direct fluid communication between the channels of the first type 5 and the channels of the second type 7 is precluded.
• the second layer 6 is arranged directly against the first foil layer 2, but it is also possible that between the two foil layers 2, 6 a transparent channel-closing foil layer is provided.
• the foil layer system 1 has subsequently been provided with a third transparent foil layer 13, which has been arranged to abut against the first surface of the first foil layer 2, such that the channels of the first type 5 terminating in the first surface 3 are closed off.
• This foil layer can also be arranged to serve as electrode, as shown in Fig. 4.
• the first surface 3 of the second foil layer 6 is likewise provided with electrodes 14, which are arranged such that each electrophoretic system contained in a separate channel can be separately controlled.
• Fig. 5 shows a variant in which the first foil layer 2 is further provided with multiple channels of a third type 15. These channels of the third type 15 extend over a part of the thickness of the first foil layer 2, from the second surface 4 in the direction of the first surface 3. In this case, the foil layer 2 is of course transparent.
• the channels of the first type 5 and the channels of the second type 7 are so distributed in the foil layer 2 that, viewed in a direction directed parallel to the axial direction of the channels, at least a minimal distance 8 is present between at least a part of an inherently closed channel wall 16 of each channel of the third type 15 and at least a part of an inherently closed channel wall 9 of each channel of the first type 5.
• a fluid communication between the channels of the first type 5 and the channels of the third type 15 is here precluded, of course. Looking in a direction directed parallel to the axial direction of the channels, there is, of course, also at least a minimal distance present between at least a part of an inherently closed channel wall of each channel of the third type 15 and at least a part of an inherently closed channel wall of each channel of the second type 7. Between these channels 5, 15, too, a fluid communication is precluded.
• the cross section of an embodiment of the foil layer system 1 shown schematically in Fig. 5a corresponds to a cross section along the line A-A in Fig. 5b.
• the channels of the first type 5 are of cylindrical design.
• the channels of the second type 7 and of the third type 15, however, are of annular design.
• the channels of the third type 15, viewed in a direction directed parallel to the axial direction of the channels, are here arranged like a ring around the channels of the second type 7.
• the channels of the second type 7 in this aspect are each arranged like a ring around a channel of the first type 5. Accordingly, a channel of the first, second and preferably third type 5, 7, 15 can be arranged in a set of channels.
• the foil layer system 1 can then comprise a multiplicity of such sets.
• Figs. 6a to 6d schematically show cross sections of a sixth embodiment of a foil layer system according to the invention.
• a third transparent foil layer 13 is provided with multiple channels of a third type 15.
• Each channel of the third type 15 extends through at least a part of the thickness of the foil layer 13, from a first surface 3 of the third foil layer 13 in the direction of a second surface 4 of the third foil layer 13.
• the foil layers 2, 6, 13 link up with each other such that a fluid communication between the channels of the first type 5 and/or the channels of the second type 7 and/or the channels of the third type 15 is precluded.
• the channels of the third type 15 are moreover so distributed over the foil layer 13 that, viewed in a direction which is directed parallel to the axial direction of the channels 5, 7, 15, a minimal distance 8 is present between at least a part of an inherently closed channel wall 9 of each channel of the first type 5 and/or of each channel of the second type 7 and at least a part of an inherently closed channel wall 16 of each channel of the third type 15.
• the cross section shown schematically in Fig. 6a corresponds to a cross section along the fine A-A in Fig. 6e.
• the cross section schematically shown in Fig. 6b corresponds to a cross section along the line B-B in Fig. 6e.
• the cross section schematically shown in Fig. 6c corresponds to a cross section along the line C-C in Fig. 6e and the cross section schematically shown in Fig. 6d corresponds to a cross section along the line D-D in Fig. 6e.
• FIG. 6e A top plan view of this particular foil layer system 1 is shown in Fig. 6e. It will be clear that viewed in a direction directed parallel to the axial direction of the channels 5, 7, 15, channels of the first 5 and second 7 and third type 15 are so arranged that the channels 5, 7, 15 of each type are uniformly distributed across the foil layer system.
• An advantage of such a foil layer system 1 can be that the imaging system, in use, can contain three mutually different electrophoretic systems, allowing, for instance, the three principal colors to be imaged. However, each foil layer only contains an electrophoretic system of one type, which can be provided in the foil layer in a simple and inexpensive manner.
• An advantage of such a system is that there is a large freedom in the selectable order of the various steps to be carried out in the manufacture of such a foil layer system 1 intended for imaging systems. Filling the channels 5, 7, 15 and arranging the foil layers relative to each other can be done in any random order. Only the channels of the second type 7 in the second foil layer 4 should be filled with an electrophoretic system of the second type before the first foil layer 2 and the third foil layer 13 are provided.
• the method thus comprises at least the following steps: a) the channels of the first type 5 are filled with a first electrophoretic system; b) the channels of the second type are filled with a second electrophoretic system, different from the first electrophoretic system; c) the first and at least second foil layer are arranged parallel relative to each other in the foil layer system 1, such that a surface of the first foil layer 2 is positioned opposite a surface of at least a second foil layer 6, while, viewed in a direction directed parallel to the axial direction of the channels, a minimal distance 8 is present between at least a part of an inherently closed channel wall 9 of each channel of the first type 5 and at least a part of an inherently closed channel wall 10 of each channel of at least the second type.
• the order in the method for manufacturing a foil layer system is virtually arbitrary. It may be advantageous to expand the method to include a step whereby a transparent foil layer is arranged to abut against a first or a second surface of the foil layer whose channels are filled first. This additional step can be carried out to prevent the electrophoretic system from flowing out of the channels. All channels 5, 7, 15 can be substantially filled by providing the electrophoretic system on the surface in which the channels 5, 7, 15 terminate and subsequently allowing the electrophoretic system to flow into the channels 5, 7, 15.
• the invention is not limited in any way to the exemplary embodiments shown.
• the channels 5, 7, 15 can have widely varying shapes, as desired.
• the thicknesses of the foil layers could be different per foil layer, but also within a foil layer the thickness could, if desired, be different per location. This affords possibilities of positioning the different electrophoretic systems as much as possible next to each other in one plane.
• the electrophoretic systems can be so arranged that a colored visual appearance but also a transparent visual appearance can be assumed.
• all foil layers in the foil layer system are transparent. It will be understood, however, that one of the two foil layers located at a free surface of the foil layer system does not necessarily need to be transparent. All combinations of such variants are understood to belong to the invention.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Nonlinear Science (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Electrochemistry (AREA)
• Molecular Biology (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• Electrochromic Elements, Electrophoresis, Or Variable Reflection Or Absorption Elements (AREA)

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Citations (4)

• 2001
  • 2001-02-28 NL NL1017468A patent/NL1017468C2/nl not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2002
  • 2002-02-27 WO PCT/NL2002/000126 patent/WO2002069309A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation

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