Addressable or Static Light Emitting or Electronic Apparatus

Abstract

The present invention provides an addressable or static electronic apparatus, such as a light emitting display. An exemplary apparatus comprises a substrate having a plurality of cavities; a plurality of first conductors coupled to the substrate and at least partially within the cavities, with the plurality of first conductors having a first and substantially parallel orientation; a plurality of light emitting diodes or other electronic components coupled to the plurality of first conductors and having a second orientation substantially normal to the first orientation; and a plurality of substantially optically transmissive second conductors coupled to the plurality of light emitting diodes and having a third orientation substantially normal to the second orientation and substantially perpendicular to the first orientation. In an exemplary method, the plurality of electronic components in a suspending medium are deposited within the plurality of cavities, and the plurality of electronic components are oriented using an applied field, followed by a bonding of the plurality of electronic components to the plurality of first conductors.

It is claimed: 
     
         1 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a substantially planar and substantially optically transmissive substrate;   at least one substantially optically transmissive first conductor coupled to the substrate;   a plurality of diodes coupled to the at least one first conductor;   at least one second conductor coupled to the plurality of diodes; and   a substantially optically transmissive, electrically insulating material partially surrounding each diode of the plurality of diodes and located substantially and solely between the at least one first conductor and the at least one second conductor.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of diodes are light emitting diodes. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of diodes are photovoltaic diodes. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each diode of the plurality of diodes has a junction which is substantially parallel to the plane of the substrate. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein each diode of the plurality of diodes further comprises at least one conductor responsive to an applied electromagnetic field during manufacture to orient the junction substantially parallel to the plane of the substrate. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each diode of the plurality of diodes has a junction which is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the substrate. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein each diode of the plurality of diodes further comprises at least one conductor responsive to an applied electromagnetic field during manufacture to orient the light emitting junction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the substrate. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one third conductor coupled to the at least one second conductor and further coupled to the substrate.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate further comprises a plurality of cavities. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one first conductor is located within at least one cavity of the plurality of cavities. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of diodes are located substantially within the plurality of cavities. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the substantially optically transmissive, electrically insulating material is located within at least one cavity of the plurality of cavities. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of cavities are substantially elongated and disposed parallel to each other. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of cavities are substantially and partially hemispherically-shaped and are disposed in an array. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one first conductor further comprises:
 a first portion substantially disposed within at least one cavity of the plurality of cavities; and   a second portion substantially elongated and disposed outside of the at least one cavity of the plurality of cavities.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the substrate is embossed. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of light scattering particles in the optically transmissive, electrically insulating material.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one second conductor comprises, in a cured form, at least one conductor selected from the group consisting of: a silver conductive ink, a copper conductive ink, a gold conductive ink, an aluminum conductive ink, a tin conductive ink, a carbon conductive ink, a conductive polymer, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first conductor comprises an optically transmissive polymer. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first conductor comprises, in a cured form, at least one optically transmissive material selected from the group consisting of: antimony tin oxide, indium tin oxide, polyethylene-dioxithiophene, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is substantially flat and having a thickness of less than two millimeters. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each diode of the plurality of diodes further comprises at least one conductor responsive to an applied electromagnetic field during apparatus manufacture. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first conductor, the plurality of diodes, and the at least one second conductor are deposited through a printing process. 
     
     
         24 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a substantially planar substrate;   at least one first conductor coupled to the substrate;   a plurality of diodes coupled to the at least one first conductor;   at least one substantially optically transmissive second conductor coupled to the plurality of diodes; and   a substantially optically transmissive, electrically insulating material partially surrounding each diode of the plurality of diodes and located substantially and solely between the at least one first conductor and the at least one second conductor.   
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the plurality of diodes are light emitting diodes. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the plurality of diodes are photovoltaic diodes. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein each diode of the plurality of diodes has a junction which is substantially parallel to the plane of the substrate. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein each diode of the plurality of diodes further comprises at least one conductor responsive to an applied electromagnetic field during manufacture to orient the junction substantially parallel to the plane of the substrate. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein each diode of the plurality of diodes has a junction which is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the substrate. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein each diode of the plurality of diodes further comprises at least one conductor responsive to an applied electromagnetic field during manufacture to orient the light emitting junction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the substrate. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 at least one third conductor coupled to the at least one second conductor and further coupled to the substrate.   
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the substrate further comprises a plurality of cavities. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the at least one first conductor is located within at least one cavity of the plurality of cavities. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the plurality of diodes are located substantially within the plurality of cavities. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the substantially optically transmissive, electrically insulating material is located within at least one cavity of the plurality of cavities. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the plurality of cavities are substantially elongated and disposed parallel to each other. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the plurality of cavities are substantially and partially hemispherically-shaped and are disposed in an array. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the at least one first conductor further comprises:
 a first portion substantially disposed within at least one cavity of the plurality of cavities; and   a second portion substantially elongated and disposed outside of the at least one cavity of the plurality of cavities.   
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the substrate is embossed. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 a plurality of light scattering particles in the optically transmissive, electrically insulating material.   
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one first conductor comprises, in a cured form, at least one conductor selected from the group consisting of: a silver conductive ink, a copper conductive ink, a gold conductive ink, an aluminum conductive ink, a tin conductive ink, a carbon conductive ink, a conductive polymer, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one second conductor comprises an optically transmissive polymer. 
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one second conductor comprises, in a cured form, at least one optically transmissive material selected from the group consisting of: antimony tin oxide, indium tin oxide, polyethylene-dioxithiophene, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein each diode of the plurality of diodes further comprises at least one conductor responsive to an applied electromagnetic field during apparatus manufacture. 
     
     
         45 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one first conductor, the plurality of diodes, and the at least one second conductor are deposited through a printing process. 
     
     
         46 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the substrate is substantially flat and has a thickness of less than two millimeters, and wherein the substrate is selected from the group consisting of: paper, coated paper, plastic coated paper, embossed paper, fiber paper, cardboard, poster paper, poster board, plastic, rubber, fabric, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         47 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a substantially planar substrate;   a plurality of first conductors coupled to the substrate;   a plurality of diodes coupled to one or more first conductors of the plurality of first conductors;   a plurality of second conductors coupled to one or more diodes of the plurality of diodes; and   for each diode of the plurality of diodes, a substantially optically transmissive, electrically insulating material partially surrounding the diode and located between a first conductor coupled to the diode and a second conductor coupled to the diode.   
     
     
         48 . The apparatus of  claim 47 , wherein the substrate and the plurality of first conductors are substantially optically transmissive. 
     
     
         49 . The apparatus of  claim 47 , wherein the plurality of second conductors are substantially optically transmissive. 
     
     
         50 . The apparatus of  claim 47 , wherein the plurality of diodes are light emitting diodes. 
     
     
         51 . The apparatus of  claim 47 , wherein the plurality of diodes are photovoltaic diodes. 
     
     
         52 . The apparatus of  claim 47 , wherein each diode of the plurality of diodes has a junction which is substantially parallel to the plane of the substrate. 
     
     
         53 . The apparatus of  claim 47 , wherein each diode of the plurality of diodes has a junction which is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the substrate. 
     
     
         54 . The apparatus of  claim 47 , wherein the substrate further comprises a plurality of cavities. 
     
     
         55 . The apparatus of  claim 47 , wherein the plurality of first conductors, the plurality of diodes, and the substantially optically transmissive, electrically insulating material are located within at least one cavity of the plurality of cavities. 
     
     
         56 . The apparatus of  claim 47 , further comprising:
 a plurality of light scattering particles in the optically transmissive, electrically insulating material.   
     
     
         57 . The apparatus of  claim 47 , wherein the plurality of first conductors or the plurality of second conductors comprises, in a cured form, at least one conductor selected from the group consisting of: a silver conductive ink, a copper conductive ink, a gold conductive ink, an aluminum conductive ink, a tin conductive ink, a carbon conductive ink, a conductive polymer, antimony tin oxide, indium tin oxide, polyethylene-dioxithiophene, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         58 . The apparatus of  claim 47 , wherein the plurality of first conductors or the plurality of second conductors comprises, in a cured form, an optically transmissive polymer. 
     
     
         59 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each diode of the plurality of diodes further comprises at least one conductor responsive to an applied electromagnetic field during apparatus manufacture. 
     
     
         60 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first conductors, the plurality of diodes, and the plurality of second conductors are deposited through a printing process.