The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 26, 2000
Filed:
Aug. 08, 1997
Charles L Bruzzone, St. Paul, MN (US);
Richard J Pokorny, St. Paul, MN (US);
Patrick A Thomas, St. Paul, MN (US);
David J Aastuen, St. Paul, MN (US);
Timothy J Gardner, St. Paul, MN (US);
Raghunath Padiyath, St. Paul, MN (US);
3M Innovative Properties Company, St. Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
Substrate elements for making liquid crystal display devices are disclosed as well as display devices using such elements. A substrate element includes a base sheet having the desired optical properties and providing the structural stability for the substrate element. The substrate element further includes a microstructured barrier layer that protects the base sheet from adverse chemical reactions with the liquid crystal or alignment layer solvents. The microstructured barrier layer comprises a plurality of microstructured spacing members that provide precise, uniform spacing between the first substrate element and a second substrate element. A pair of substrate elements, at least one of which having a microstructured barrier layer, can thereby be mated to form a display device. The substrate elements of the present invention allow large area, high resolution displays to be fabricated which will provide uniform display properties throughout the display area.