Asulab S.a.

Interuniversitair Micorelektronica Centrum (imec, Vzw)

Omega Electronics S.a.

Universitait Gent

Rolf Klappert

Joachim Grupp

Hans Peter Herzig

Gilles Rey-Mermet

Nicolas Blanckaert

Peter Kipfer

Toralf Scharf

Pierre Desarzens

Jan Doutreloigne

Robert Deschenaux

Thierry Chuard

S&eacute;verine Meyer

Christian Bohley

Jean-Michel Kunzi

Yvan Tere/ S

An electro-optical display cell including: a transparent front substrate whose top surface forms the front face of the cell; a back substrate whose lower surface forms the back face of the cell; a sealing frame joining the front and back substrates and defining a volume for retaining an electro-optically or photo-electrically active medium; the front and back substrates including on faces opposite to each other at least one electrode, each connected by conductive paths to an electrical power or control circuit and defining lateral electric contact zones, wherein the conductive paths are each formed of a first part in contact with the electrodes at the level of the lateral electric contact zones, and a second part extending over the back surface, contact means arranged over the edge and/or the back of the cell forming the electrical junction between the first and second parts of the conductive paths.

Display cell, in particular liquid crystal, or photovoltaic cell comprising means for connection to an electronic control circuit

The present invention concerns a multi-layered cell, particular a liquid crystal display cell (), or an electrochemical photovoltaic cell, or a combination of a liquid crystal display cell and an electrochemical photovoltaic cell, this multi-layered cell comprising n superposed substrates (), n being an integer number greater than or equal to three, these substrates () being joined by sealing frames () delimiting (n&#x2212;1) sealed cavities () for containing an optically or electro-optically active medium, the upper surface () of the first substrate () and the lower surface () of the last substrate () forming the external faces of the cell (), said multi-layered cell () being characterised in that it includes (n&#x2212;1) filling holes () arranged, at least in part, on one side or other of the cell (), said (n&#x2212;1) filling holes () each communicating with a different cavity and passing through at least one cavity to reach the cavity with which they are connected, said (n&#x2212;1) filling holes () being isolated from the cavity or cavities through which they pass.

Multi-layered cell, particularly a liquid crystal display cell, or electrochemical photovoltaic cell

The present invention concerns an electro-optical cell, in particular a liquid crystal display cell (), or an electrochemical photovoltaic cell, including in particular a first transparent front substrate () and a second back substrate () which may or may not be transparent, said substrates () being joined by a sealing frame that defines a volume () for retaining a sensitive material whose physical properties, particularly optical, or electrical properties are capable of changing, said substrates () including on their faces opposite each other at least one electrode (), these electrodes () being intended to be connected to an electrical power or control circuit, said cell () being characterised in that the sealing frame includes at least one wall () structured on one of the two substrates () and which defines via its inner lateral face the volume () for retaining the sensitive material, the substrates () being joined by a sealing frame (), which occupies at least part of the gap () defined by said two substrates () and the external lateral face of the wall (), and in that the electrodes () include contact bumps () made of an electrically conductive material added onto the extension of each electrode () at the place where the latter emerges from the wall (), so as to increase the surface of the lateral electrical contact zone via which each electrode () of the cell () is connected to the electrical power or control circuit.

Connection means for setting up an electric connection between a cell, in particular a liquid crystal cell, and a power or control circuit

The present invention concerns a method for manufacturing a plurality of multi-layered cells, particularly liquid crystal display cells, or electrochemical photovoltaic cells, or a combination of such cells, each cell including at least two superposed sealed cavities each delimited by a sealing frame and filled with a liquid, this method comprising the step of collectively manufacturing a batch of cells including at least three plates common to all the display cells and connected to each other by patterns of sealing material connecting said plates to each other and forming the sealing frames which delimit the cavities of said cells, this method being characterised in that filling holes are pierced through the plates such that each of the cavities of a cell is fed by a different filling hole, each of the filling holes being in communication with at least two cells and feeding the cavities of the same level, i.e. comprised between the same two plates, or different levels of these at least two cells, said filling holes being isolated in a sealed manner from the cavities that they must not feed.

Method for manufacturing a batch of multi-layered cells, such as liquid crystal display cells, or electrochemical photovoltaic cells

A level-shifter architecture with high-voltage driving capability and extremely low power consumption, exploiting dynamic control of the charge on the gate electrodes of the high-voltage output transistors, is provided. The architecture can be integrated in CMOS technology and can be applied to various applications, including monolithic integration of high-voltage display driver circuits in battery-powered applications.

Method and apparatus for level shifting

The present invention concerns chiral doping agents allowing a modification to be induced in the spiral pitch of a cholesteric liquid crystal, said doping agents including a biactivated chiral unit at least one of whose functions allows a chemical link to be established with an isomerisable group, for example by radiation, said group possibly having a polymerisable or co-polymerisable end chain. These new chiral doping agents find application in particular in a color display.

Chiral doping agents with variable spiral pitch induction and application thereof to a reflective color display

An optical device ( ) is provided using at least one film ( ) of cholesteric liquid crystal to reflect at least one predetermined wavelength band from an incident light. This device is characterized in that a non zero birefringence gradient is present in a portion or the entire thickness of said film. The gradient may be obtained in particular by superposing layers ( ) having increasing or decreasing respective birefringence coefficients. The birefringence gradient has the effect of removing the lateral bands of the reflection spectrum, hence making the color of the reflected light more brilliant and more saturated. The effect is particularly advantageous in the case of the color red, for which the lateral band located on the yellow side is perceived strongly by the human eye.

Bragg reflection optical device and methods for the manufacturing thereof

The invention concerns a collective manufacturing method for a plurality of individual electro-optical cells each formed of two outer substrates and one intermediate substrate inserted between the outer substrates. The substrates are connected to each other by a sealing frame to form two cavities receiving liquid crystals. This method includes a step consisting in making a zone of least mechanical resistance along the contour of each individual double cell in the intermediate plate in order to facilitate the division of the batch into individual cells during the step of dividing the batch by scribing and breaking the outer substrates.

Method for manufacturing a plurality of electro-optical cells, in

The invention concerns a liquid crystal display device intended, in particular, to form a colour image display screen, of the type including: a first substrate which is transparent on a front side situated on the side of the viewer; and a second substrate arranged on a back side facing the first substrate and extending parallel to the latter. The first substrate is connected to the second substrate in order to delimit between them a cavity in which at least one film of liquid crystal is arranged. The liquid crystal has at least a first state in which it reflects the light of a range of wavelengths of a predetermined colour and at least a second state in which it is transparent. The surface of each substrate facing the other substrate includes electrodes to allow the liquid crystal to pass at least from the first state to the second state or conversely, by selective application of a control voltage to the electrodes. The liquid crystal display includes a filter absorbing at least the visible neighbouring wavelengths of the range of wavelengths of the predetermined colour and the closest to the wavelength 555 nm with the exception of the wavelengths of said predetermined colour. The filter is arranged on the side of the viewer with respect to the film of liquid crystal.

Liquid crystal display device intended, in particular, to form a color

The electro-optical display device includes at least one electro-optical assembly, in particular an electro-optical cell (4), electrically connected to a supply unit (12) by means of elongated flexible supports (6, 8). Metallized tracks are arranged on the flexible supports which support integrated circuits (16). The flexible supports are assembled to the electro-optical cell and have loose intermediate portions formed by folds (42) which are free and thus allow positioning of each segment (44) situated between two consecutive folds with respect to the electro-optical cell which is independent of the positioning of the other segments.

Electro-optical display device and flexible support for such devices

An electronic display arrangement comprises at least one electro-optical display means, as for example a liquid crystal cell, a certain number of elementary patterns associated with the electro-optical display means, such elementary patterns for the most part conforming to and being based on a series of stylized and selected alpha-numeric characters in the form of a composite mosaic-type structure the grid of which is formed by the patterns which exhibit heterogeneous and complementary contours arranged so as to nest into one another in a manner similar to that of a puzzle, the arrangement being characterized in that the mosaic is divided up by optically passive bands which partially cover over certain of the elementary patterns and form a cutup of the mosaic. The electronic display arrangement is applicable to panels for displaying alpha-numeric characters for the visualization of messages in public places such as railway or airport halls.

Growing community of inventors

Neuchatel, Switzerland

Rolf Klappert