Sipix Imaging, Inc.

Photon Dynamics, Inc.

Xianhai Chen

Rong-Chang Liang

Zarng-Arh George Wu

Hongmei Zang

Xiaojia Wang

Mary Chan-Park

Hong-Mei Zang

Alexander J Nagy

Mary B Chan-Park

HongMei Zang

Rajiv Pethe

Pramod Gupta

Polymer network liquid crystal materials have improved mechanical properties such as rigidity and hardness and substantially improved electro-optical performance. The PNLC material can be manufactured with an emulsion process so as to simplify substantially the manufacturing process. Each LC droplet can be configured with the polymer network extending substantially across the LC droplet, and the polymer network may comprise a material to lower substantially the switching voltage, such as a fluorinated acrylate that may interact with the liquid crystal so as to lower the surface tension of the LC droplet. The PNLC material may comprise an interfacial layer combined with the polymer network so as to decrease substantially the driving voltage.

Encapsulated polymer network liquid crystal material, device and applications

A PDLC modulator is fabricated using at least one of a selection of specially-formulated UV curable organic hard coatings as a protective layer on the exposed side of polyester (Mylar) film. The hard coatings of various related types show good adhesion on a polyester film substrate, superior hardness and toughness, and have a slippery top surface, which minimizes unnecessary wear. The coating as applied on the modulator surface significantly reduces scratch damage on modulators caused by unexpected particles on the panels under test. In addition, the slip surface will reduce stickiness to particles and therefore also reduce the possibility of panel damage.

Scratch and MAR resistant PDLC modulator

An electro-optic modulator assembly includes a sensor layer made from an electro-optic modulator material that comprises liquid crystal droplets encapsulated within a polymer matrix. The sensor layer material comprises an interfacial agent, for example a defoaming agent, in an amount sufficient to lower an intrinsic operating voltage at which the sensor layer transmits light. The defoaming agent can comprise from about 1 to about 10 percent by weight of the electro-optic modulator material, and the defoaming agent may comprise a reactive component to react with the polymer matrix, for example at least one of a siloxane with a reactive end group, a reactive fluorinated polymer or a non-ionic block copolymer to react with the polymer matrix. The assembly can also include a hard coating layer to protect the sensor layer.

Modulator with improved sensitivity and life time

Embodiments of polymer dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs) in accordance with the present invention comprise TL-series liquid crystal materials and a polymer matrix comprising polyacrylate resins having hydroxyl groups. These hydroxyl groups allow crosslinking by using isocyanate, improving mechanical properties and heat resistance. Typical ratios of liquid crystal to polymer range between about 50/50 to 70/30 (wt/wt). The PDLC materials exhibit enhanced sensitivity to driving voltages and higher transmission&#x2dc;voltage (T-V) curve slope. In testing thin film transistors (TFTs), these PDLC materials can be used to compensate for an increased air gap accommodating flatness variation in the TFT substrate, and to reduce electrostatic forces between modulator and panel. Embodiments of PDLC materials in accordance with the present invention form solid films upon evaporation of the solvent. Homogeneity of embodiments of solvent-based PDLC formulations in accordance with the present invention allow for the use of many different coating methods, such as spin, doctor blade, and slot-die coatings.

Polymer dispersed liquid crystal formulations for modulator fabrication

This invention relates to the field of electrophoretic displays. In particular, it relates to imagewise opening, filling and sealing multicolor display components and the manufacture of multicolor displays.

Process for imagewise opening and filling color display components and color displays manufactured thereof

A PDLC modulator is fabricated using at least one a selection of specially-formulated UV curable organic hard coatings as a protective layer on the exposed side of polyester (Mylar) film. The hard coatings of various related types show good adhesion on a polyester film substrate, superior hardness and toughness, and have a slippery top surface, which minimizes unnecessary wear. The coating as applied on the modulator surface significantly reduces scratch damage on modulators caused by unexpected particles on the panels under test. In addition, the slip surface will reduce stickiness to particles and therefore also reduce the possibility of panel damage.

Scratch and mar resistant PDLC modulator

This invention relates to the field of electrophoretic displays. In particular, it relates to imagewise opening, filling, and sealing multicolor display components and the manufacture of multicolor displays.

This invention relates to an electrophoretic display or a liquid crystal display and novel processes for its manufacture. The electrophoretic display (EPD) of the present invention comprises microcups of well-defined shape, size and aspect ratio and the microcups are filled with charged pigment particles dispersed in an optically contrasting dielectric solvent. The liquid crystal display (LCD) of this invention comprises well-defined microcups filled with at least a liquid crystal composition having its ordinary refractive index matched to that of the isotropic cup material. A novel roll-to-roll process and apparatus of the invention permits the display manufacture to be carried out continuously by a synchronized photo-lithographic process. The synchronized roll-to-roll process and apparatus permits a pre-patterned photomask, formed as a continuous loop, to be rolled in a synchronized motion in close parallel alignment to a web which has been pre-coated with a radiation sensitive material, so as to maintain image alignment during exposure to a radiation source. The radiation sensitive material may be a radiation curable material, in which the exposed and cured portions form the microcup structure. In an additional process step, the radiation sensitive material may be a positively working photoresist which temporarily seals the microcups. Exposure of a selected subset of the microcups via the photomask image permits selective re-opening, filling and sealing of the microcup subset. Repetition with additional colors permits the continuous assembly of a multicolor EPD or LCD display.

Process for roll-to-roll manufacture of a display by synchronized photolithographic exposure on a substrate web

In order to allow application of any coating under a vacuum over a volatile gelatinous layer, such as polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) on an optical glass substrate with a transparent electrode, such as indium tin oxide (ITO) on its surface, a layer of an intermediate stress absorbing polymeric material is first applied to cover the volatile gelatinous layer to prevent evaporation and escape of volatiles, thereafter the coating is applied under a very high vacuum using for example a technique called Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) or sputtering.

Vacuum deposition of dielectric coatings on volatile material

Electro-optic structures are constructed by spin coating water based emulsions or solvent based sensor materials, preferably a solvent-based polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC), onto a substrate under conditions of controlled solvent evaporation. In a particular process, the uniformity of the PDLC coating is achieved by 1) spin coating in a semi-sealed chamber, 2) 'converting' a square substrate into round substrate by using a fixture; 3) providing a controllable distance between the substrate and a spin coater top cover; and 4) providing a controllable solvent evaporation rate.

Method for manufacturing PDLC-based electro-optic modulator using spin coating

This invention relates to a novel composition suitable for use in the manufacture of electrophoretic display cells. The mechanical properties of the cells are significantly improved with this composition in which a rubber material is incorporated.

Microcup compositions having improved flexure resistance and release properties

This invention relates to a method of manufacturing a micro-cup array. Such an array may find use in a number of applications such as, for example, a video display. The micro-cups find particular use in electrophoretic or liquid crystal displays.

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Xianhai Chen