E Ink Corporation

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Creator Technology B.v.

Valerie C Northrop

Guy Danner

Jonathan D Albert

Holly G Gates

Fredericus Johannes Touwslager

Erik Van Veenendaal

Sandra Rifai

Steven J O'Neil

Shamus Ford Patry

Jonathan L Zalesky

Matthew Joseph Kayal

Timothy L Wong

An electro-optic display is produced using a sub-assembly comprising a front sheet, an electro-optic medium; and an adhesive layer. An aperture is formed through the adhesive layer where the adhesive layer is not covered by the electro-optic medium, and the sub-assembly is adhered to a backplane having a co-operating member with the aperture engaged with a co-operating member, thus locating the sub-assembly relative to the backplane. In another form of electro-optic display, a chip extends through an aperture in the electro-optic medium and adhesive layer. In a third form, the aforementioned sub-assembly is secured to a backplane and then a cut is made through both backplane and sub-assembly to provide an aligned edge.

Electro-optic displays, and materials and methods for production thereof

A sub-assembly useful in an electro-optic display includes a conductive layer and a layer of electro-optic medium. The conductive layer has a main section covered by the electro-optic medium, an exposed section free from the electro-optic medium, and a weak section connecting the main section and the exposed section, so that the exposed section can be manipulated to rupture the weak section, thus separating the exposed section from the main section without substantial damage.

A display assembly comprises a backplane assembly comprising a plurality of spaced backplane areas, each backplane area comprising a plurality of electrodes, the backplane areas being separated by gutter areas free from electrodes; an adhesive layer overlying the plurality of spaced backplane areas; and a layer of a solid electro-optic medium overlying the adhesive layer in the plurality of spaced backplane areas. The display sub-assembly can be produced via a single lamination and severed to form a plurality of separate electro-optic displays. Processes for producing the display assembly are also described.

Components and methods for use in electro-optic displays

A first sub-assembly useful in an electro-optic display is produced by: 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 than the layer of electro-optic medium and having one or more apertures; 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 aperture(s) are spaced from the layer of electro-optic medium. A second sub-assembly comprises a conductive layer and a layer of electro-optic medium. The conductive layer has a main section covered by the electro-optic medium, an exposed section free from the electro-optic medium, and a weak section connecting the main section and the exposed section, so that the exposed section can be manipulated to rupture the weak section, thus separating the exposed section from the main section without substantial damage.

A sub-assembly for use in forming an electro-optic display comprises (in this order) a light-transmissive substrate (); discrete areas () of electro-optic material separated by gutter areas () essentially free from the electro-optic material; and an adhesive layer () and/or a release layer () peelable from the sub-assembly. A second sub-assembly comprises (in this order) a peelable release sheet (); discrete areas of electro-optic material () separated by gutter areas () essentially free from the electro-optic material, and an adhesive layer () and/or a peelable release layer (). Processes for producing these sub-assemblies and for using them to form electro-optic displays are also described.

Growing community of inventors

Waltham, MA, United States of America

Valerie C Northrop