Components and methods for use in electro-optic displays

Abstract

A front plane laminate useful in the manufacture of electro-optic displays comprises, in order, a light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer, a layer of an electro-optic medium in electrical contact with the electrically-conductive layer, an adhesive layer and a release sheet. This front plane laminate can be prepared as a continuous web, cut to size, the release sheet removed and the laminate laminated to a backplane to form a display. Methods for providing conductive vias through the electro-optic medium and for testing the front plane laminate are also described.

1 . A process for forming an electro-optic display comprising:
 providing a backplane comprising at least one pixel electrode;   providing a front sub-assembly comprising, in order, an adhesive layer, a layer of electro-optic material and at least one support layer, the support layer being larger than the layer of electro-optic material and the adhesive layer so as to leave a peripheral area of the support layer exposed around the layer of electro-optic material;   dispensing a curable material on to one of the backplane and the peripheral area of the support member, and curing the curable material to form a dam member;   laminating the adhesive layer of the front sub-assembly to the backplane, and   thereby causing the dam member to extend between the backplane and the peripheral area of the support layer; and   dispensing a sealing material adjacent the dam member to form a seal extending between the backplane and the peripheral area of the support layer.   
   
   
       2 . A process according to  claim 1  wherein the curable material is dispensed and cured to form two dam members spaced from each other, and the sealing material is dispensed between the two dam members. 
   
   
       3 . A process according to  claim 1  wherein the electro-optic medium comprises an electrophoretic medium. 
   
   
       4 . A process according to  claim 3  wherein the electrophoretic medium comprises an encapsulated electrophoretic medium. 
   
   
       5 . A process according to  claim 3  wherein the electrophoretic medium comprises electrically charged particles and a fluid present as a plurality of discrete droplets surrounded by a continuous phase comprising a polymeric material. 
   
   
       6 . A process according to  claim 3  wherein the electrophoretic medium comprises a microcell electrophoretic medium. 
   
   
       7 . A method of testing an electro-optic medium, the method comprising:
 disposing a layer of the electro-optic medium on a light-transmissive first electrically-conductive layer;   disposing a second electrically-conductive layer on the opposed side of the layer of electro-optic medium from the first electrically-conductive layer;   applying a potential difference between the first and second electrically-conductive layers, thereby forming an image on the medium; and   observing the image thus formed.   
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 7  wherein the electro-optic medium comprises an electrophoretic medium. 
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 8  wherein the electrophoretic medium comprises an encapsulated electrophoretic medium. 
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 8  wherein the electrophoretic medium comprises electrically charged particles and a fluid present as a plurality of discrete droplets surrounded by a continuous phase comprising a polymeric material. 
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 8  wherein the electrophoretic medium comprises a microcell electrophoretic medium. 
   
   
       12 . A method of testing an electro-optic medium, the method comprising:
 disposing a layer of the electro-optic medium on a light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer;   disposing a release on the opposed side of the layer of electro-optic medium from the electrically-conductive layer;   placing an electrostatic charge on the release sheet, thereby forming an image on the medium; and   observing the image thus formed.   
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 12  wherein the electro-optic medium comprises an electrophoretic medium. 
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claim 13  wherein the electrophoretic medium comprises an encapsulated electrophoretic medium. 
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 13  wherein the electrophoretic medium comprises electrically charged particles and a fluid present as a plurality of discrete droplets surrounded by a continuous phase comprising a polymeric material. 
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 13  wherein the electrophoretic medium comprises a microcell electrophoretic medium. 
   
   
       17 . A method of forming a sub-assembly useful in the production of an electro-optic display, the method comprising:
 forming a layer of a solid electro-optic medium; and   coating a layer of an adhesive on to the layer of solid electro-optic medium.   
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 17  wherein the layer of solid electro-optic medium is formed on a release sheet. 
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 17  wherein the layer of solid electro-optic medium is formed on a light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer. 
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 17  further comprising forming a second layer of adhesive on the opposed side of the layer of solid electro-optic medium from the previously coated layer of adhesive. 
   
   
       21 . A method according to  claim 17  further comprising contacting the layer of adhesive with a backplane comprising at least one electrode. 
   
   
       22 . A method according to  claim 17  further comprising contacting the layer of adhesive with a light-transmissive electrode. 
   
   
       23 . A method according to  claim 20  further comprising contacting one of the adhesive layers with a backplane and the other adhesive layer with a light-transmissive electrode. 
   
   
       24 . A method according to  claim 17  further comprising placing a release sheet over the exposed surface of the layer of adhesive. 
   
   
       25 . A method according to  claim 20  further comprising placing release sheets over both the adhesive layers. 
   
   
       26 . A method according to  claim 17  wherein the electro-optic medium comprises an electrophoretic medium. 
   
   
       27 . A method according to  claim 26  wherein the electrophoretic medium comprises an encapsulated electrophoretic medium. 
   
   
       28 . A method according to  claim 26  wherein the electrophoretic medium comprises electrically charged particles and a fluid present as a plurality of discrete droplets surrounded by a continuous phase comprising a polymeric material. 
   
   
       29 . A method according to  claim 26  wherein the electrophoretic medium comprises a microcell electrophoretic medium.