WO2009065909A1 - Procédé de fabrication d'un dispositif d'électromouillage, appareil pour réaliser le procédé et dispositif d'électromouillage - Google Patents

Procédé de fabrication d'un dispositif d'électromouillage, appareil pour réaliser le procédé et dispositif d'électromouillage Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2009065909A1
WO2009065909A1 PCT/EP2008/065942 EP2008065942W WO2009065909A1 WO 2009065909 A1 WO2009065909 A1 WO 2009065909A1 EP 2008065942 W EP2008065942 W EP 2008065942W WO 2009065909 A1 WO2009065909 A1 WO 2009065909A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
substrate
fluid
sealing member
surface area
making
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2008/065942
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Harrie C.M. Hermens
Charles R.M. Schmidgall
Robert A. Hayes
Original Assignee
Liquavista B.V.
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 Liquavista B.V. filed Critical Liquavista B.V.
Priority to CN2008801170318A priority Critical patent/CN101868749B/zh
Publication of WO2009065909A1 publication Critical patent/WO2009065909A1/fr

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B26/00—Optical devices or arrangements for the control of light using movable or deformable optical elements
    • G02B26/004—Optical devices or arrangements for the control of light using movable or deformable optical elements based on a displacement or a deformation of a fluid
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B26/00—Optical devices or arrangements for the control of light using movable or deformable optical elements
    • G02B26/02—Optical devices or arrangements for the control of light using movable or deformable optical elements for controlling the intensity of light
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B26/00—Optical devices or arrangements for the control of light using movable or deformable optical elements
    • G02B26/004—Optical devices or arrangements for the control of light using movable or deformable optical elements based on a displacement or a deformation of a fluid
    • G02B26/005—Optical devices or arrangements for the control of light using movable or deformable optical elements based on a displacement or a deformation of a fluid based on electrowetting
    • 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
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
    • G09G—ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION
    • G09G3/00—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes
    • G09G3/20—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters
    • G09G3/34—Control arrangements or circuits, of interest only in connection with visual indicators other than cathode-ray tubes for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters by control of light from an independent source

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method of making an electrowetting device, an apparatus for carrying out the method and an electrowetting device made according to the method.
  • a display device usually comprises two substrates sealed together to form a cavity comprising means showing a display effect.
  • the means is a liquid crystal material.
  • a first method arranges a pattern of sealing material on a substrate, attaches a second substrate to the sealing material, thereby forming a cavity between the two substrates.
  • the cavity has an opening, through which the cavity is filled with the LC material, commonly under vacuum.
  • a second method the so-called one-drop filling, is known from inter alia US patent application 2005/0094084. It arranges a closed pattern of sealing material on a substrate, thereby forming a series of open containers. A drop of LC material is dispensed within each container. A second substrate is attached to the sealing material, closing the container and forming a series of sealed cavities filled with LC material. The size of the drop must be chosen accurately to avoid over- or under- fill of the cavity.
  • the application of these display technologies to electrowetting devices results in laborious methods having a low yield and does not produce satisfactorily operating devices. In particular when the device is an electrowetting display device, the filling of the cavities causes often an unacceptable non-uniformity of the display effect over the display. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved method of making an electrowetting device, an apparatus for carrying out the method and an improved electrowetting device. Summary of the Invention
  • the object of the invention is achieved in a method of making an electrowetting device including a first substrate, a second substrate and a sealing member, comprising a first step of applying a first fluid and a second fluid on the first substrate, the first and second fluid being immiscible; a second, subsequent step of attaching the sealing member to the first substrate; a step of attaching the sealing member to the second substrate; the attaching of the sealing member forming a cavity enclosed by the first substrate, the second substrate and the sealing member, the cavity comprising the first fluid and the second fluid; a step of curing the sealing member.
  • the sealing member is attached to both the first substrate and the second substrate.
  • the invention relates amongst others to the order in which attaching the sealing member to the substrates and other steps for producing the device are made.
  • the method applies the first and second fluids to the first substrate prior to attaching the sealing member to the first substrate.
  • the sealing member connects the first and second substrate in the ready device.
  • the cavity containing the fluids is enclosed by the first substrate, the second substrate and the sealing member.
  • the first substrate is substantially free from obstructions such as protrusions of a sealing member. Obstructions may affect the dosing of fluids on the substrate.
  • the dosing of the fluids will depend only on the wettability of the surface and the properties of the two fluids, producing an accurate and reliable dosing.
  • the method according to the invention allows a better control of the dosing of the fluids than the prior art methods using substrates provided with sealing members.
  • the method according to the invention does not require the accurate dosage as is necessary in the prior art method for one-drop filling.
  • the method is eminently suitable for making an electrowetting device under water, e.g. a device where the second fluid is water and the first fluid may be oil.
  • the step of attaching the sealing member to the second substrate may be carried out before or after the application of the fluids on the first substrate.
  • the curing of the seal may be carried out after the two substrates are combined by the sealing member. Alternatively, use may be made of a delay in the curing effect, allowing an initiator of the cure such as irradiation to be carried out before combining the substrates, the curing taking place after the combining.
  • the method is specially adapted for making electrowetting devices, such as lenses, optical filters, lab on a chip, and in particular electrowetting display devices.
  • electrowetting devices such as lenses, optical filters, lab on a chip, and in particular electrowetting display devices.
  • Two substrates enclosing one cavity can form a display device including one picture element or a plurality of pixel elements.
  • the first fluid may be applied to both substrates.
  • the fluids are preferably applied to both substrates before the sealing member is attached to the substrates.
  • the method may also be used to make an electrowetting device comprising three or more substrates, each two substrates being connected by a sealing member. After the first two substrates are filled and connected using the method according to the invention, this pair of substrates may be connected to the third substrate using the method again.
  • the first fluid may be applied to one of each pair of substrates or to both.
  • the sealing member may be attached to the second substrate before combining the first and second substrate, which application has the advantage that the sealing material can be attached to the second substrate without the presence of a fluid.
  • the sealing member also may be attached to the first substrate after the application of the fluids on the first substrate and before combining the two substrates.
  • the two substrates and the sealing member may also be combined in one action.
  • the sealing member may be applied on the substrate in a specific pattern. This may be achieved by dispensing sealing material from an injector directly onto the substrate or by using screen printing.
  • the sealing member may be a patterned sealing member, also called a seal frame, made prior to the attachment and having the pre-determined pattern. Use of such a seal frame can simplify the manufacture of the device, e.g. by using a patterned layer from a roll.
  • a special embodiment of the patterned sealing member includes, in this order, a first layer of the sealing material, a carrier of a solid material and a second layer of the sealing material.
  • the layers of sealing material and the carrier have preferably the form of the predetermined pattern.
  • the carrier provides dimensional stability to the patterned sealing member, facilitating the handling of the sealing material prior to application on the substrate. Since the carrier becomes part of the final device, it also may assist in keeping the two substrates at a prescribed distance.
  • the seal between the substrates may be made by arranging one patterned sealing member on top of another patterned sealing member.
  • the seal comprises, in this order, sealing material, a first carrier, sealing material, a second carrier and sealing material.
  • the handling of the sealing member is facilitated if it includes a peel layer or liner.
  • the peel layer may also have the pre-determined pattern.
  • the peel layer is removed preferably shortly before combining the two substrates. During the time between application of the patterned sealing member on the substrate and the combining of the two substrates, the sealing material will not be contaminated.
  • the sealing member may also have a peel layer on both sides.
  • one peel layer is removed before application of the sealing member on a substrate.
  • one peel layer is removed before application of the sealing member on a substrate.
  • the other peel layer is removed before combining the two substrates.
  • the method may comprise the step of forming the pattern in the sealing member.
  • the pattern can be formed in any suitable way, preferably using laser cutting or die cutting.
  • a pattern may be formed in the sealing material, the carrier and/or the peel layer.
  • the second fluid is preferably electroconductive or polar and the first substrate is provided with a first surface area less wettable to the second fluid and a second surface area more wettable to the second fluid, the method including the step of applying the sealing material on the second surface area.
  • the first fluid will form a thin layer on areas less wettable to the second fluid and the second fluid will cover this thin layer and adjoin the first substrate at the second surface area, which is more wettable to the second fluid.
  • the sealing material When the sealing member is provided in the second surface area, the sealing material will only be in contact with the second fluid and can be optimised for keeping the second fluid inside the cavity. In contrast, if the sealing member were applied to the first surface area, the sealing material would be in contact with both the first fluid and the second fluid. It is difficult to develop a sealing material that can keep both the first and second fluid inside the cavity. In the case where the first and second fluid are oil and water, respectively, the sealing material is provided on the second surface area that is more hydrophilic than the first surface area.
  • the sealing member is preferably applied to the first substrate by adhering it to the second surface area of the first substrate through a layer of the second fluid present on the first substrate.
  • the sealing material may be adhered to the substrates by applying pressure on the sealing member.
  • the application of pressure is a reliable method particularly suitable for sealing electrowetting devices.
  • the sealing material may be cured using UV radiation, the application of an increased temperature or use of a settling time, either as the sole curing step or in combination.
  • the method according to the invention is particularly suitable for making a plurality of electrowetting devices, wherein the first substrate is common to the devices, and the method comprising the step of cutting the first substrate after forming the cavities.
  • the cutting of a glass substrate may be carried out using scribe and break. The cutting will usually be carried out after curing the sealing material.
  • the method can be used for making a plurality of devices having a common first substrate and separate second substrates.
  • the method comprises the steps of providing a sealing member for each of the devices and combining each of the second substrates and the common first substrate. After sealing the first substrate is cut.
  • the process allows shapes of the second substrate different from that of the first substrate.
  • the shape of the second substrate need not be suitable for scribe and break.
  • the method can also be used for making a plurality of devices having a common first substrate and a common second substrate.
  • the method includes the steps of providing a sealing member and a second substrate common to the devices; combining the common first substrate and the common second substrate; and cutting the first substrate and second substrate.
  • At least one of the steps of the method is preferably carried out in a continuous process.
  • the first substrates, second substrate and/or sealing member may be fed from a roll.
  • the method can be further automated if the ready product, the electrowetting devices, are wound on a roll, thereby forming a roll-to-roll process.
  • a further aspect of the invention relates to an apparatus for making an electrowetting device using the method according to the invention.
  • the invention also relates to an electrowetting device including a first substrate and a second substrate joined by a sealing member and forming a cavity, the cavity comprising a first fluid and a second, electroconductive or polar fluid, the first fluid and second fluid being immiscible, the first substrate being provided with a first surface area less wettable to the second fluid and a second surface area more wettable to the second fluid, wherein the sealing member is arranged on the second surface area.
  • the invention relates further to an electrowetting device including a first substrate and a second substrate joined by a sealing member and forming a cavity, the cavity comprising a first fluid and a second, electroconductive or polar fluid, the first fluid and second fluid being immiscible, the first substrate being provided with a first surface area less wettable to the second fluid and a second surface area more wettable to the second fluid, wherein the sealing member includes a pressure sensitive adhesive.
  • the sealing material is a pressure sensitive adhesive, the adhesion of the seal by applying pressure can be relatively simply integrated in the method of making the electrowetting device.
  • the sealing member may include a carrier of a solid material between two layers of a sealing material, forming a member of well-defined thickness.
  • the first substrate and the second substrate may have a different shape.
  • Fig. Ia shows a top view of a first substrate
  • Fig. Ib shows a top view of a second substrate
  • Fig. Ic shows a cross-section of the substrates before assembly
  • Fig. Id shows a cross-section of the substrates after assembly
  • Fig. 2a shows a cross-section of a seal frame comprising sealing material
  • Fig. 2b shows a cross-section of an alternative seal frame
  • Fig. 3a and 3b show two substrates prior to joining
  • Fig. 4 shows a cross-section and a top view of a plurality of devices
  • Fig. 5 shows a top view of a plurality of devices
  • Fig. 6 shows a cross-section and a top view of a plurality of devices
  • Fig. 7 shows an apparatus for making devices.
  • FIG. 1 shows the assembly of two substrates to form an electrowetting device using a method according to the invention.
  • the embodiment of the electrowetting device is an electrowetting display device having four picture elements.
  • the electrowetting device comprises a first fluid and a second fluid.
  • the first and second fluid are immiscible.
  • the first fluid is electrically non- conductive and may for instance be an alkane like hexadecane or (silicone) oil.
  • the first fluid is preferably opaque, but may be coloured or white.
  • the second fluid is electrically conductive or polar, and may be water or a salt solution such as a solution of potassium chloride in a mixture of water and ethyl alcohol.
  • the second fluid is preferably transparent, but may be coloured, white, absorbing or reflecting.
  • Figure Ia shows the top view of the first substrate 1.
  • the first substrate comprises four first surface areas 2 that are less wettable to the second fluid and a second surface area 3 more wettable to the second fluid.
  • the second surface area encloses the first surface areas.
  • the four first surface areas correspond to the four picture elements of the display device and are arranged within a display region 4.
  • the first fluid is an oil and the second fluid water
  • the first surface area is hydrophobic and the second surface area is hydrophilic.
  • the wettability properties of the surface areas may be obtained by a suitable choice of substrate material, treatment of the substrate surface or application of a layer on the substrate surface. For clarity sake, the figures show the surface areas as a layer. When the substrate material provides the properties of the second surface area 3, the second surface area extends to the edge of the substrate 1 in figure Ia.
  • the first surface area may be formed for instance by an amorphous fluoropolymer layer such as AF 1600 or another low surface energy polymer.
  • the hydrophobic character causes the first fluid to adhere preferentially to the first surface area since the hydrophobic layer has a higher wettability with respect to the first fluid than it has with respect to the second fluid.
  • the second surface area may be formed by a photoresist layer, for instance SU8.
  • sealing material is attached to or a fluid applied to the substrate or a surface or surface area of the substrate, the substrate is regarded as including any solid layers arranged on the substrate, such as the above layers controlling the wettability.
  • Wettability relates to the relative affinity of a fluid for the surface of a solid. Wettability increases with increasing affinity, and it can be measured by the contact angle formed between the fluid and the solid and measured internal to the fluid of interest. This increases from relative non-wettability at an angle more than 90° to complete wettability when the contact angle is 0°, in which case the fluid tends to forms a film on the surface of the solid.
  • Figure Ib shows a top view of the second substrate 5.
  • a sealing material is arranged on the substrate in a pre-determined pattern, in this embodiment a square 6 having a shape enclosing the display region 4. The sealing material may be dispensed using an injector that is made to follow the pre-determined pattern.
  • the injection is preferably started outside the display region and then continued towards the pre-determined pattern.
  • the sealing material may have the form of a seal frame that can be arranged on the substrate.
  • Figure Ic shows a cross-section of the first and second substrate 1 and 5 before assembly of the two substrates. The cross-section is along the line A-A in figure Ia.
  • Figure Ic shows the stripe of sealing material 6 also in cross- section.
  • the first substrate has been provided with first fluid 7, adjoining only the first surface areas 2.
  • a method of applying the first fluid on the first substrate is to submerge the substrate in a bath of the second fluid, e.g. water.
  • the first fluid e.g.
  • the oil is dispensed on the surface of the substrate by a dispenser, having an elongate opening close to the surface and submerged in the second fluid.
  • the dispenser is moved over the surface in a direction perpendicular to the long direction of the opening.
  • the first fluid is dispensed over the length of the dispenser as a thin film of first fluid. Since the surface comprises first surface areas that are more wettable with respect to the first fluid than to the second fluid and second surface areas that are more wettable to the second fluid, the first fluid will preferentially adjoin the first surface areas and will not cover the second surface areas.
  • the step of joining the two substrates is preferably carried out in the bath of the second fluid.
  • the second substrate 5 is put into the bath, where care is taken that no air is trapped under the substrate.
  • the two substrates 1 and 5 are aligned and pressed together such that the two substrates obtain the desired mutual distance as shown in figure Id.
  • the sealing material forms a sealing member 8 between the two substrates.
  • the sealing member closes off a cavity 9 between the two substrates.
  • the cavity comprises the first fluid 7 adjoining the first surface areas 2 and the second fluid 10 trapped in the cavity.
  • the drawings are schematic, exaggerating some dimensions for sake of clarity.
  • the seal 8 is formed on the second surface area 3, in this embodiment a hydrophilic area. Since no first fluid adjoins this area, the cavity-side of the seal is adjoined only by the second fluid.
  • the choice of sealing material can be optimized for one fluid. If the seal were formed on one of the first areas, the first fluid would adjoin the lower part of the seal and the second fluid the upper part of the seal. It is relatively difficult to find a sealing material that can withstand two such dissimilar fluids as the first and second fluid.
  • the sealing material 6 is preferably a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA), as available e.g. from 3M.
  • PSA pressure-sensitive adhesive
  • the sealing member may be cured by applying UV light.
  • the thickness of the sealing member may be between 10 and 100 ⁇ m. It should be noted that contact with oil deteriorates the adhesion of most pressure sensitive adhesives.
  • the substrates may be made for instance of glass or polymer and may be rigid or flexible.
  • the display device shown in figure Id has a viewing side 12 on which an image or display formed by the display device can be viewed and a rear side 13.
  • the first substrate 1 faces the rear side; the second substrate 5 faces the viewing side 12.
  • the display may be viewed from the rear side 13.
  • the display device may be of the reflective, transmissive or transflective type.
  • Figure 2 shows two different embodiments of a sealing member in the form of a seal frame.
  • a seal frame allows a different way of applying the sealing material on a substrate than the above method of using an injector.
  • Figure 2a shows a cross-section of a sealing member 15.
  • the seal frame includes a layer 16 of sealing material having the pre-determined shape required for sealing the cavity of the device.
  • the seal frame may be provided with a peel layer 17 on one side, as shown in the figure, but may also be provided on both sides.
  • the peel layer may provide strength to the seal frame, facilitating its handling and allowing storage of the seal frame on a roll.
  • the peel layer must be removed from the sealing material before the two substrates are joined.
  • the peel layer may be removed when the seal frame is submersed in the bath of second fluid, shortly before the two substrates are joined.
  • the peel layer may have the pre-determined shape but it may also be a sheet or belt without the predetermined shape.
  • Figure 2b shows an alternative sealing member 18 having two layers 19 and 20 of sealing material on both sides of a carrier 21 of a solid material, e.g. a polymer such as PET.
  • the sealing material and the carrier have the pre- determined shape.
  • the seal frame may have a peel layer 22, indicated by a dashed line.
  • the thickness of each of the layers of sealing material may be 25 ⁇ m and the thickness of the carrier 25 ⁇ m.
  • the sealing members or seal frames 15 or 18 may be attached to the second substrate 5 before the substrate is joined to the first substrate 1.
  • the cross-section of the substrates 1 and 5 prior to joining is similar to that shown in figure Ic.
  • the seal frame may be attached to the first substrate after the fluids are applied to this substrate.
  • the cross-section of the substrates prior to joining is shown in figure 3 a. It is also possible to align the seal frame between the two substrates and press the two substrates and the seal frame together, as shown in figure 3b.
  • the seal frames can be made in the pre-determined pattern before being used in an apparatus carrying out the method according to the invention.
  • the seal frames may be either separate seal frames, to be picked up by the apparatus from a store or they may be joined, e.g. by the peel layer, to form a belt that can be rolled.
  • the seal frames can be cut as part of the manufacturing method.
  • the apparatus requires a station in which the seal frame is cut, e.g. by means of a laser or a die.
  • the patterned seal frame is transported from this station to the station where the substrates are joined.
  • the method of making the electrowetting device according to the invention is eminently suitable for making a plurality of electrowetting devices on a single substrate.
  • Figure 4 shows a cross-section and a top view of a plurality of devices on a single substrate.
  • the number of devices in the embodiment shown is twelve, built up of three rows of four devices each.
  • the first substrate 25 is provided with a pattern of first and second surface areas, similar to figure Ia, for each of the twelve devices 26.
  • the surface area 27 in between the devices has the same wettability as the second surface area.
  • the first substrate is common to each of the devices, whereas each device 26 has its own second substrate 28.
  • each of the second substrates 28 is joined to the first substrate after alignment at the appropriate place of the first substrate.
  • the sealing material 29 may be applied by any of the above described methods.
  • each second substrate is provided individually with the sealing material.
  • the sealing material can be applied in a single pattern for all twelve devices.
  • the joining is preferably carried out in a bath of the second liquid.
  • the first substrate is cut in order to separate the devices.
  • the cutting will include a scribe and break process.
  • Figure 5 shows a top view of a series of devices before cutting.
  • the devices have a common first substrate 30 and separate second substrates 31.
  • the second substrates have a special form, deviating from rectangular, that can be made relatively simply. However, if the devices has a common second substrate, it is relatively difficult to make these shapes, in particular when the cutting requires scribe and break.
  • the second substrates 31 may be curved, e.g. giving the cavity a dome shape.
  • Figure 6 shows a cross-section and a top view of a plurality of devices having two substrates in common.
  • the first substrate 35 is provided with a pattern of first and second surface areas similar to the first substrate 25 in figure 4.
  • a second substrate 36 is joined to the first substrate.
  • the sealing material 37 can be applied in a single pattern, e.g. to the first or the second substrate. After curing of the seals the first and second substrate are cut.
  • the figure shows the lines 38 on the second substrate along which the devices, indicated by shading, will be cut out of the substrate.
  • the process of making an electrowetting device can be fully mechanized.
  • the first substrate is preferably processed by applying elements such as the electrodes, electronics and any optical layers, e.g. for reflection, absorption or transmission, on the surface of the substrate and giving the surface areas the required wettability properties.
  • the second substrate should be provided with any required layers, e.g. colour filters.
  • the components can be picked up by a pick- and-place machine and assembled according to the method.
  • FIG. 7 shows schematically an apparatus for making electrowetting devices using a roll-to-roll process.
  • a tape 45 comprising seal frames is fed from roll 46.
  • the tape may be a peel layer.
  • a seal frame includes a carrier material having adhesive an both sides.
  • An optional cutting station 47 cuts a pre-determined pattern out of the carrier material and adhesive and cuts the carrier material into separate carriers.
  • the carriers on roll 46 may already be provided with the pre-determined pattern, in which case the cutting station is not necessary.
  • a roll 48 provides a tape 49 having separate second substrates attached to it. The second substrates, arranged below the tape 49, and the seal frames, arranged on top of the tape 45, are joined in an assembly station 50.
  • the tape 45 is removed from the assembled second substrate and sealing member by a roll 51 and collected on a take-up roll 52.
  • a roll 53 provides a tape 54 comprising first substrates.
  • the tapes 49 and 54 transport the components into a bath 55 comprising a second liquid 56.
  • the second substrates arranged below the tape 49 face the first substrates arranged on top of the tape 54.
  • a filling-assembly station 57 is arranged partly above and in the bath and performs subsequently the two steps of filling the first substrate and joining both substrates. During the filling step the distance between the two tapes 49 and 54 is made sufficiently large for a dispenser to pass over the first substrate to dispense a first fluid on the first substrate.
  • the dispenser is not shown in the figure for clarity sake.
  • the second substrate and the first substrate are aligned and brought into close contact.
  • the joining step the two substrates are pressed together and the seal between the two substrates is cured, forming an assembled device.
  • the two tapes 49 and 54 transport the assembled devices out of the bath
  • a roll 58 removes the tape 49 from the devices and guides it to a take-up roll 59.
  • the tape 54 holding the devices is fed to a take-up roll 60.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Electrochromic Elements, Electrophoresis, Or Variable Reflection Or Absorption Elements (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Nonlinear Science (AREA)
  • Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un procédé de fabrication d'un dispositif d'électromouillage comprenant un premier substrat, un second substrat et un élément d'étanchéité. Le procédé comprend : une première étape consistant à appliquer un premier fluide et un second fluide sur le premier substrat, les premier et second fluides étant non miscibles ; une seconde étape ultérieure consistant à fixer l'élément d'étanchéité au premier substrat ; une étape consistant à fixer l'élément d'étanchéité au second substrat ; la fixation de l'élément d'étanchéité formant une cavité enfermée par le premier substrat, le second substrat et l'élément d'étanchéité, la cavité comprenant le premier fluide et le second fluide ; et une étape consistant à durcir l'élément d'étanchéité.
PCT/EP2008/065942 2007-11-21 2008-11-20 Procédé de fabrication d'un dispositif d'électromouillage, appareil pour réaliser le procédé et dispositif d'électromouillage WO2009065909A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CN2008801170318A CN101868749B (zh) 2007-11-21 2008-11-20 制造电润湿装置的方法、执行该方法的设备和电润湿装置

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0722812.5 2007-11-21
GB0722812A GB0722812D0 (en) 2007-11-21 2007-11-21 Method of making an electrowetting device, apparatus for carrying out the method and electrowetting device

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WO2009065909A1 true WO2009065909A1 (fr) 2009-05-28

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US8743450B2 (en) 2009-12-30 2014-06-03 Liquavista B.V. Electrowetting display device
WO2011080224A1 (fr) 2009-12-30 2011-07-07 Liquavista B.V. Dispositif d'affichage à mouillage électrique
WO2011113787A1 (fr) 2010-03-15 2011-09-22 Liquavista B.V. Dispositif d'affichage par électromouillage
WO2011135044A1 (fr) 2010-04-29 2011-11-03 Samsung Lcd Netherlands R & D Center B.V. Améliorations apportées à un procédé de fabrication d'un dispositif d'électromouillage
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WO2013037982A2 (fr) 2011-09-16 2013-03-21 Samsung Lcd Netherlands R & D Center B.V. Dispositif d'affichage
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WO2013079709A1 (fr) 2011-12-02 2013-06-06 Samsung Lcd Netherlands R & D Center B.V. Dispositif d'électro-mouillage
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WO2013079710A1 (fr) * 2011-12-02 2013-06-06 Samsung Lcd Netherlands R & D Center B.V. Dispositif d'affichage à électromouillage
US9019589B2 (en) 2011-12-16 2015-04-28 Amazon Technologies, Inc. Electrowetting device
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US9081174B2 (en) 2012-11-30 2015-07-14 National Chung-Hsing University Method of making an electrowetting device
US9377616B1 (en) 2013-12-19 2016-06-28 Amazon Technologies, Inc. Method of manufacturing a support plate
US9625705B2 (en) * 2014-04-14 2017-04-18 University Of Cincinnati Dosing and sealing of fluid-based elctro-optical devices and displays
US20150293346A1 (en) * 2014-04-14 2015-10-15 University Of Cincinnati Dosing and sealing of fluid-based electro-optical devices and displays
US10386628B2 (en) 2014-04-14 2019-08-20 University Of Cincinnati Dosing and sealing of fluid-based electro-optical devices and displays
CN104932096B (zh) * 2015-05-20 2017-08-25 华南师范大学 一种电润湿显示器的油墨填充设备及方法
CN104932096A (zh) * 2015-05-20 2015-09-23 华南师范大学 一种电润湿显示器的油墨填充设备及方法
WO2019016674A1 (fr) * 2017-07-21 2019-01-24 International Business Machines Corporation Dispositif de distribution de liquide à surface hydrophobe
GB2579305A (en) * 2017-07-21 2020-06-17 Ibm Fluid delivery device with hydrophobic surface
GB2579305B (en) * 2017-07-21 2020-09-30 Ibm Fluid delivery device with hydrophobic surface
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GB0722812D0 (en) 2008-01-02
TWI456256B (zh) 2014-10-11
CN101868749A (zh) 2010-10-20
CN101868749B (zh) 2013-11-20
TW200946956A (en) 2009-11-16
KR20100110787A (ko) 2010-10-13
KR101605570B1 (ko) 2016-03-22

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