Processes for the production of electro-optic displays

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9238340-B2
Application number	US-201313951511-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 26, 2013
Priority date	Jul 27, 2012
Publication date	Jan 19, 2016
Grant date	Jan 19, 2016

Abstract

Electrical connection between the backplane and the front electrode of an electro-optic display is provided by forming a front plane laminate ( 100 ) comprising, in order, a light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer ( 104 ), a layer of electro-optic material ( 106 ), and a layer of lamination adhesive ( 108 ); forming an aperture ( 114 ) through all three layers of the front plane laminate ( 100 ); and introducing a flowable, electrically-conductive material ( 118 ) into the aperture ( 114 ), the flowable, electrically-conductive material being in electrical contact with the light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer ( 104 ) and extending through the adhesive layer ( 108 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A process for the production of an electro-optic display, the process comprising:
forming a front plane laminate comprising, in order, a light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer, a layer of electro-optic material, and a layer of lamination adhesive;
forming an aperture through all three layers of the front plane laminate; and
introducing a flowable, electrically-conductive material into the aperture, the flowable, electrically-conductive material being in electrical contact with the light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer and extending through the adhesive layer.

2. A process according to claim 1 wherein the front plane laminate comprises a release sheet covering the surface of the layer of lamination adhesive remote from the layer of electro-optic material.

3. A process according to claim 2 wherein the release sheet comprises a conductive layer.

4. A process according to claim 2 wherein the aperture extends through the release sheet.

5. A process according to claim 1 wherein the front plane laminate comprises two layers of lamination adhesive on opposed sides of the layer of electro-optic medium, and the aperture extends through both layers of lamination adhesive.

6. A process according to claim 1 wherein the formation of the aperture is effected by laser cutting.

7. A process according to claim 6 wherein the laser cutting is effected from the adhesive layer side of the front plane laminate.

8. A process according to claim 1 wherein the electrically-conductive material comprises a conductive adhesive or a conductive ink.

9. A process according to claim 2 further comprising removing the release sheet from the front plane laminate; and
laminating the remaining layers of the front plane laminate to a backplane comprising at least one electrode,
wherein the flowable conductive material is introduced into the aperture prior to or during the lamination so as to provide an electrical connection between the light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer and a contact provided on the backplane.

10. A process according to claim 9 further comprising laminating a protective sheet over the front plane laminate after the front plane laminate has been laminated to the backplane.

11. A process according to claim 1 wherein the electro-optic material comprises a rotating bichromal member, electrochromic or electro-wetting material.

12. A process according to claim 1 wherein the electro-optic material comprises 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.

13. A process according to claim 12 wherein the electrically charged particles and the fluid are confined within a plurality of capsules or microcells.

14. A process according to claim 12 wherein the electrically charged particles and the fluid are present as a plurality of discrete droplets surrounded by a continuous phase comprising a polymeric material.

15. A process according to claim 12 wherein the fluid is gaseous.

Assignees

• E Ink Corp

Inventors

• Kayal Matthew Joseph
• Battista Stephen Joseph
• Paolini Jr Richard J
• Subramanian Jr Shyamala A

Classifications

• G02F1/1675

  Constructional details · CPC title

• H05K1/095

  for polymer thick films, i.e. having a permanent organic polymeric binder · CPC title

• H05K2203/063

  of preperforated insulating layer · CPC title

• H05K3/4053

  by thick-film techniques · CPC title

• H05K1/0274

  Optical details, e.g. printed circuits comprising integral optical means (H05K1/0269 takes precedence; coupling light guides with opto-electronic components G02B6/42) · CPC title