CN102759836A

CN102759836A - Electro-optic displays, and materials and testing methods therefor

Info

Publication number: CN102759836A
Application number: CN2012100884287A
Authority: CN
Inventors: G·M·丹纳; S·里法伊; V·C·诺思罗普; J·D·艾伯特; T·L·汪
Original assignee: E Ink Corp
Current assignee: E Ink Corp
Priority date: 2007-06-29
Filing date: 2008-06-26
Publication date: 2012-10-31
Anticipated expiration: 2028-06-26
Also published as: EP2162783A4; WO2009006170A1; KR20100017941A; CN102759836B; EP2162783A1; CN101790699A; KR101124183B1

Abstract

A first sub-assembly useful in an electro-optic display is produced by: providing an electro-optic sub-assembly (302, 314, 316, 320) comprising a layer of electro-optic medium (314); providing an adhesive sub-assembly (322, 324) comprising an adhesive layer (324), the adhesive layer being larger than the layer of electro-optic medium (314) and having one or more apertures (326); adhering the adhesive sub-assembly (322, 324) to the electro-optic sub-assembly (302, 314, 316, 320) so that a part of the adhesive layer (322) adheres to the layer of electro-optic medium (314) but the aperture(s) (326) are spaced from the layer of electro-optic medium (314). A second sub-assembly comprises a conductive layer (621, 625) and a layer of electro-optic medium (314). The conductive layer (621,625) has a main section covered by the electro-optic medium (314), an exposed section (630, 632) free from the electro-optic medium (314), and a weak section (634, 636) connecting the main section and the exposed section (630, 632), so that the exposed section (630, 632) can be manipulated to rupture the weak section (634, 636), thus separating the exposed section (630, 632) from the main section without substantial damage.

Description

Electro-optic displays and its material and method of testing

The application is dividing an application of one Chinese patent application that submitted on June 26th, 2008, application number 200880104642.9, title " electro-optic displays and its material and method of testing ".

Technical field

The application relates to:

(a) United States Patent(USP) No. 6,982, and 178;

(b) the open No.2004/0155857 of United States Patent (USP);

(c) United States Patent(USP) No. 7,110, and 164;

(d) United States Patent(USP) No. 7,075, and 703;

(e) the open No.2007/0109219 of United States Patent (USP);

(f) the open No.2007/0152956 of United States Patent (USP); With

(g) the open No.2008/0057252 of United States Patent (USP).

The present invention relates to electro-optic displays, and relate to material and the method that is used for the such display of Computer-Assisted Design, Manufacture And Test.The present invention especially but be not intended to be used to comprise the display of the electrophoretic media of encapsulation uniquely.Yet the present invention can also adopt the solid-state electro-optical medium of various other types, and this is solid-state to be meant at these electro-optical mediums to have solid-state under the meaning of solid-state outside surface, although this medium can and have the internal cavities that comprises fluid (liquid or gas) usually.Therefore, term " solid electro-optic display " comprises the electrophoretic display device (EPD) of encapsulation, the LCD of encapsulation and the display of following other type of discussing.

Background technology

Electro-optic displays comprises electro-optical material layer; Term as used herein is to get its conventional sense in technical field of imaging; Refer to material with first and second show states; At least a optical property of this first and second show state is different, makes this material be converted to its second show state from its first show state through apply electric field to this material.

The term " bistable " that here uses and " bistability " are its routine meanings in the art; Be meant the display that comprises display element with first and second show states; Said first and second show states have at least a kind of optical property different; Making any point element be driven into through the addressing pulse with finite duration appears after its first or second show state; After addressing pulse stops, this state will be continuously several times of times at least of the minimum duration of the required addressing pulse of state that changes this display element, for example be four times of times at least.

The electro-optic displays of known several types, for example:

(a) Rotating Double colourity member display is (referring to for example United States Patent(USP) No. 5,808,783; 5,777,782; 5,760,761; 6,054,0716,055,091; 6,097,531; 6,128,124; 6,137,467 and 6,147,791);

(b) electrochromic display device (ECD) (referring to for example O ' Regan, people such as B., Nature 1991,353,737; Wood, D., Information Display, 18 (3), 24 (in March, 2002); Bach, people such as U., Adv.Mater., 2002,14 (11), 845; With United States Patent(USP) No. 6,301,038; 6,870.657 and 6,950,220);

(c) electric moistening display is (referring to Hayes; R.A. wait people " Video-Speed ElectronicPaper Based on Electro wetting " (" based on the video high-velocity electrons paper of electrowetting technology "); Nature; 425, the open No.2005/0151709 of 383-385 (on September 25th, 2003) and United States Patent (USP));

(d) based on the electrophoretic display device (EPD) of particle, wherein a plurality of charged particles pass fluid under electric field effects.(referring to United States Patent(USP) No. 5,930,026; 5,961,804; 6,017,584; 6,067,185; 6,118,426; 6,120,588; 6,120,839; 6,124,851; 6,130,773 and 6,130,774; The open No.2002/0060321 of U.S. Patent application; 2002/0090980; 2003/0011560; 2003/0102858; 2003/0151702; 2003/0222315; 2004/0014265; 2004/0075634; 2004/0094422; 2004/0105036; 2005/0062714 and 2005/0270261; And the open No.WO 00/38000 of international application; WO00/36560; WO 00/67110 and WO 01/07961; And European patent No.1,099,207B1; With 1,145,072B1; And other Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (MIT) of in aforesaid United States Patent(USP) No. 7,012,600, discussing and the patent and the application of Yi Yingke (EInk) company).

The different distortion that has several kinds of electrophoretic media.Electrophoretic media can be used liquid state or gaseous fluid; For gaseous fluid referring to for example Kitamura; T. wait people " Electrical toner movement forelectronic paper-like display " (" motion of electronics toner in the Electronic Paper class display "); IDWJapan, 2001, Paper HCS1-1 and Yamaguchi; Y. wait people " Toner display usinginsulative particles charged triboelectrically " (" utilizing the toner display of the insulating particle of frictional electrification "); IDW Japan, 2001, Paper AMD4-4); The open No.2005/0001810 of United States Patent (USP); European patent application 1,462,847; 1,482,354; 1,484,635; 1,500,971; 1,501,194; 1,536,271; 1,542,067; 1,577,702; 1,577,703 and 1,598,694; And International Application No. WO 2004/090626; WO 2004/079442 and WO 2004/001498.This medium can be for encapsulation, comprise a large amount of folliculus, and mutually and around the cyst wall of interior phase, it was improved to comprise the electrophoresis that is suspended in the liquid suspension medium in this mutually in wherein each folliculus comprised itself.Usually, these capsules itself remain in the polymeric binder to form the adhesion layer between two electrodes; Patent and application referring to aforesaid MIT and EInk.Alternately; The wall that centers on the separation micro-capsule in the packaged electrophoretic media can replace with external phase; Thereby produce the electrophoretic display device (EPD) of so-called polymer dispersed, wherein electrophoretic media comprises electrophoretic fluid and the external phase of polymeric material of the droplet of a plurality of separation; Referring to for example United States Patent(USP) No. 6,866,760.For the application's purpose, the subclass of the electrophoretic media that the electrophoretic media of such polymer dispersed is considered to encapsulate.Another kind of distortion is so-called " microcell electrophoretic display ", and wherein charged particle and fluid remain in a plurality of chambeies that are formed in the carrier medium (normally polymer film), referring to for example United States Patent(USP) No. 6,672,921 and 6,788,449.

Electrophoretic media can be in " shutter mode (shutter mode) " down work, and a kind of show state is not transmission and a kind of show state is light transmissive basically under this shutter mode.Referring to for example United States Patent(USP) No. 6,130,774 and 6,172,798, and United States Patent(USP) No. 5,872,552,6,144,361,6,271,823,6,225,971 and 6,184,856.Dielectrophoretic displays can similarly worked under the pattern; Referring to United States Patent(USP) No. 4,418,346.The electro-optic displays of other type also can be worked under shutter mode.

The electrooptical material of other type also can be used in the display of the present invention.

The most of art methods that is used to make electrophoretic display device (EPD) is essentially batch processes; Wherein electro-optical medium, lamination tackifier and backboard only just will combined by before the final assembling, expect that therefore providing a kind of is more suitable in mass-produced method.

Aforesaid United States Patent(USP) No. 6,982,178 has been described the method (comprising the electrophoretic display device (EPD) based on the encapsulation of particle) of assembling solid electro-optic display, and this method can be applicable to a large amount of productions preferably.This patent has been described in fact so-called " frontal plane lamination " (FPL), the solid-state electro-optical medium layer, adhesive layer and the release board that should " frontal plane lamination " sequentially comprise light transmission conductive layer, electrically contact with this conductive layer.Typically, light transmission conductive layer is carried by transparent substrates, and this substrate is preferably flexible, the implication of this flexibility be this substrate can by (for example) diameter of manually reeling be 10 inches (254 millimeters) column and can permanent deformation.The specified layer of this patent and term as used herein " printing opacity " expression can make enough light pass through; So that the observer can see through this layer with the variation on the show state of observing electro-optical medium, and common this variation is to watch through conductive layer and adjacent substrate (if any).Shown that at electro-optical medium term " printing opacity " should be interpreted as certainly and be meant seeing through of relevant non-visible wavelength under the situation of variation of reflectivity of non-visible wavelength.Typically, substrate is a polymer film, and its thickness is about 1 to the scope of about 25 Mills (25 to 634 μ m) usually, and preferably about 2 to about 10 Mills (51 to 254 μ m).Conductive layer is thin metal or the metal oxide layer such as aluminium or ITO routinely, perhaps can be conducting polymer.Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film that is coated with aluminium or ITO is commercial obtainable; For example from (the E.I.du Pont de Nemours & Company of E.I.Du Pont Company of Wilmington, the Delaware State; Wilmington DE) " calorize Mylar " (" Mylar " is registered trademark) can use this commercial obtainable material and have good effect in the frontal plane lamination.When expectation will be very flexible frontal plane lamination when being used in the flexible display, thickness be the polymer film that is coated with ITO of about 0.5～1 Mill (13 to 25 μ m) be commercial obtainable and its can be coated with electrooptical material.

Aforesaid United States Patent(USP) No. 6,982,178 has also been described and the frontal plane lamination has been introduced first method that is used for testing frontal plane lamination electro-optical medium before the display.In this method of testing, release board is furnished with conductive layer, and between the conductive layer of the opposite side of this conductive layer and this electro-optical medium, applies enough the voltage in order to the optical states that changes electro-optical medium.Observe electro-optical medium and expose any flaw in medium subsequently, thereby avoided being laminated in the display electro-optical medium defective and discarded whole display and be not only the final cost of frontal plane lamination defective.

Aforesaid No.2004/0155857 has described so-called " two release board ", is somebody's turn to do the simplification version that " two release board " is essentially the frontal plane lamination of aforesaid United States Patent(USP) No. 6,982,178.Wherein the form of a kind of pair of release board has comprised the solid-state electro-optical medium layer that is clipped between two adhesion layers, one or two is by adhesion layer that release board covered.The another kind of form of two releasing layers comprises the solid-state electro-optical medium layer that is clipped between two release boards.The similar method of method that is used for the past flat stack assembling electro-optic displays that two release films of these two kinds of forms all are intended to be used in usually and have described, but it comprises the lamination of two separation.Usually; Electrode is to form preceding sub-component before be that two release boards are laminated to the first time in the lamination; In the lamination preceding sub-component is laminated to backboard to form final display in the second time then, still if necessary, the order of this twice lamination can be conversely.

Aforesaid No.2007/0109219 has described so-called " inverted frontal plane lamination ", and it is at aforesaid United States Patent(USP) No. 6,982, the distortion of the frontal plane lamination described in 178.This inverted frontal plane laminated layer sequence ground comprises: at least one in light transmission protective layer and the light transmission conductive layer, adhesion layer, solid-state electro-optical medium layer and release board.This inverted frontal plane lamination is used to form the electro-optic displays that between electrooptic layer and preceding electrode or prebasal plate, has the lamination adhesion layer; Between electrooptic layer and backboard, can have maybe can the uncommon second very thin adhesion layer.This electro-optic displays has good articulation and cryogenic property concurrently.

Aforesaid No.2008/0057252 has also described and has been designed to adopt inverted frontal plane lamination to make the whole bag of tricks of electro-optic displays in a large number.The optimal way of these methods is " a plurality of making progress " method, and this method is designed to allow the while lamination to be used for the parts of a plurality of electro-optic displays.

Aforesaid United States Patent(USP) No. 6; 982; 178 also described be used for forming between by the light transmission conductive layer of the backboard of frontal plane lamination institute lamination and frontal plane lamination the method that is electrically connected (connection that needs are such because the circuit that is used to control the voltage that is applied to pixel electrode also usually control be applied to the voltage of preceding electrode).As shown in Figure 21 and Figure 22 of this patent; Can control the formation of electro-optical medium layer in the frontal plane lamination so that reserve uncoated zone (" groove "); Wherein do not have the electro-optical medium layer, and the part in these uncoated area can be used to form required electrical connection subsequently.Yet; From making angle; This method that is used to form connection do not expect, because the function of the layout that connects yes back plate design, the FPL that makes specific arrangements with groove be coated with only can use with a kind of or narrow backboard; But for economic reasons, the FPL of the only a kind of form that can use with any backboard is produced in expectation.

Correspondingly, aforesaid United States Patent(USP) No. 6,982,178 has also been described through being coated with electro-optical medium and forming the place that is electrically connected in expectation subsequently in whole FPL zone and has been removed this electro-optical medium, forms the method for required electrical connection.Yet this problem with himself that removes of electro-optical medium is especially when FPL is the polymer film formation of thin through being coated with (littler than about 25 μ m).Typically; Electro-optical medium must remove through using solvent or mechanical removal; This dual mode all may destroy or remove the conductive layer (this conductive layer typically is metal oxide layer, and for example thickness is than the little tin indium oxide of 1 μ m) of FPL, makes the electrical connection can't be successful.In extreme case, also possibly cause in order to support and the destruction of mechanically protecting the prebasal plate (typically being polymer film) of this conductive layer.In some cases; Be difficult for making the material that forms electro-optical medium to become solvate; And perhaps this can not remove them under the situation that does not adopt aggressive solvent and/or high mechanical pressure, yet adopt aggressive solvent or high mechanical pressure can worsen aforesaid problem.

Can also the similar approach that adopt selectively applied electro-optical medium and/or selective removal electro-optical medium be applied to aforesaid pair of release film and inverted frontal plane lamination.

Adopt cut to isolate and be used to be laminated to separately that the FPL sheet of the suitable dimension of backboard is actual common from continuous slab.Through using laser " osculating cuts " FPL from the lamination adhesive side, can also adopt such cut to prepare the zone of the electrical connection that is used for backboard, so that remove lamination tackifier and electro-optical medium, but do not remove conductive layer from join domain.If do not remove or destroy thin and frangible relatively conductive layer, such osculating cut need accurately control laser power and cutting speed the two.In addition, according to the position that connects, crooked conductive layer and the related prebasal plate conductive layer that possibly fracture causes producing the suitable connection between backboard and conductive layer, and so can't show.

Aforesaid No.2007/0211331 has described the method for the electrical connection of the conductive layer that is formed into the frontal plane lamination.This application has been described the first kind of technology that is used to make the frontal plane lamination, comprises the formation sub-component, and this sub-component comprises lamination adhesive layer and electro-optical medium layer; The hole of this sub-component is passed in formation; And the euphotic electrode layer that will extend through this hole subsequently is fixed to the surface of the exposure of lamination tackifier.The FPL that is obtained has the precut hole of passing electro-optical medium and adhesive layer, and this precut hole is convenient to contact with electrode layer.

Aforesaid No.2007/0211331 has also described the second method that is used to make the frontal plane lamination, and it comprises the formation sub-component, and this sub-component comprises lamination adhesive layer and electro-optical medium layer; And subsequently euphotic electrode layer is fixed to the surface of the exposure of lamination tackifier, this electrode layer has the outshot outside the circumference that extends to lamination tackifier and electro-optical medium layer.

Summary of the invention

One aspect of the present invention relates to the alternative method of the electrical connection of the conductive layer that is used to form the frontal plane lamination; It is substantially similar to those characteristics described in the aforesaid No.2007/0211331, but need not form the hole through electrooptic layer or be provided at the outshot on the electrode layer.

Second aspect of the present invention relates to the problem that minimizing is experienced in the test frontal plane lamination of prior art and similar structures.At aforesaid United States Patent(USP) No. 6,982, the first kind of method of testing significant need that is used for the frontal plane lamination described in 178 made and the light transmission conductive layer of release board and electrically contacting of conductive layer.Can be as described in the aforesaid No.2007/0211331; Through providing precut through hole to make the contact (so-called " end face is connected ") with light transmission conductive layer, wherein said precut through hole is through electro-optical medium and any adhesive layer between this electro-optical medium and light transmission conductive layer.Can realize that through the part outside the residual layer that extends outwardly into the frontal plane lamination that release board is provided conductive layer is exposed on this expanded range with the contacting of conductive layer of release board.

Illustrated the frontal plane lamination (always being designated as P100) of typical prior art of this type among Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, wherein Fig. 1 is that top view and Fig. 2 of frontal plane lamination is the schematic cross-section through one shown in Fig. 1 inspection teat.FPL P100 has major part P102 and two inspection teats of rectangle, and each inspection teat always is designated as P104; Each teat P104 has inside P104A and the outside P104B of contiguous major part P102.

As shown in Figure 2, FPL P100 comprises several different layers, from these layers of top surface (observation) order of FPL is:

(a) mask P106, it is in order to protect following layer and before final display being placed use, it to be removed;

(b) optical clear adhesive layer P108;

(c) pet layer P110, it is as the support and the protective seam that support;

(d) the euphotic electrode layer P112 that forms by tin indium oxide (ITO);

(e) electrooptic layer P114 is illustrated as the electrophoresis layer of encapsulation;

(f) lamination adhesive layer P116;

(g) conductive aluminum coating P118, its by

(h) polymer film P120 supports, and this polymer film and aluminum coating P118 form the conduction release board together.

All aforementioned layers are all through the inside P104A of major part P102 and each teat P104.Yet, as shown in Figure 2, in the outside P104B of each teat P104, have only aluminum coating P118 and polymer film P120, so that in each outside P104, expose the upper surface (as shown in Figure 2) of aluminum coating, thereby can constitute and the electrically contacting of this coating.In order to constitute and the contacting of ITO layer P112; Each inner outshot P104A is furnished with end face connecting hole P122, and (as shown in Figure 2) its lower surface from FPL P100 extends through polymeric layer P120, aluminum coating P118, adhesive layer P116 and electrooptic layer P114.The silver layer P124 that passes through to cover on 122 exposed portions of hole printing at ITO layer P112; This silver layer P124 is used for when electrically contacting with ITO layer P112 with probe; Reduce the risk (before electrooptic layer P114 being applied on the ITO layer P112, through the printed silver ink on the ITO layer P112 that is supported on the pet layer P110, processing silver layer P124) of the frangible relatively ITO layer P112 of damage.

Through contact the surface of the exposure of aluminum coating P118 and silver layer P124 with probe, can pass through aforesaid United States Patent(USP) No. 6,982, first kind of method of testing described in 178 tested the FPL P100 that has corresponding to the size of individual monitor.Follow-up the removing that comprises the release board of polymeric layer P120 and aluminum coating P118 removed outside outshot P104B, stays inner outshot P104A, and the end face that their hole P122 can be used for serving as in the final display connects.

The FPL structure of the prior art shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 provides the good result of thick relatively FPL, for example aforesaid United States Patent(USP) No. 6,982, and described in 178, it is based on the pet layer P110 of about 5 Mills of thickness (127 μ m).Yet; When the FPL of the prior art shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 structure is the pet layer based on about 1 Mill of thickness (25 μ m); Existence is to the risk of the physical disturbance of the adjacent part of hole P122 or silver layer P124 and ITO layer P112; And because be used for test purpose and, all can have influence on the performance of final display to the destruction of this hole or adjacent conductive layer at test period as the finally end face connection of display at this structure mesopore P122.

Structure illustrated in figures 1 and 2 also has other shortcomings.Like aforesaid United States Patent(USP) No. 6,982, described in 178, typically prepare FPL through coating electrooptic layer on the polymer film that is coated with ITO (film of this ITO of being coated with is that commerce can get); If there is silver layer P124, then before applying electrooptic layer, be coated with this layer.In addition, adhesive layer P116 is applied on the conduction release board that comprises aluminium lamination P118 and polymeric layer P120, and typically heat and pressure under with resulting on release board the tackifier sub-component be laminated to electrooptic layer.So far be desirably on the material with lamellar or big sheet form and carry out this process, and only after preparing FPL, be cut to a plurality of that are suitable for forming each display.

If prepare structure illustrated in figures 1 and 2 in this way; Then also need be will be at electrooptic layer on the PET with before adhesive layer forces together on the release board; Respectively to they cuttings, and subsequently lamination they, keep meticulous aligning to guarantee that aluminium lamination still is exposure on little outside outshot P104B; Perhaps need the FPL that piece layer is pressed be cut into shape shown in Figure 1, remove a layer P106 to P116 from outside outshot P104B subsequently.In arbitrary situation, also need form hole P122.In fact, the FPL of lamination is cut into shape shown in Figure 1, and uses laser " kiss " cutting from the both sides of FPL, all in order to remove undesired layer from outside outshot P104B and in order to formation hole 122.Such cut possibly damaged the adjacent part of silver layer P124 and/or ITO layer P112, and its unfavorable result explains.

In addition; The same end face of structural requirement illustrated in figures 1 and 2 connects (hole P122) and is used for test and is used in final display, and from the engineering reason, independent group the end face that is provided for these two purposes connects perhaps more convenient; And after removing conduction release board P118/P120; Inner outshot P104A is still stayed on the final FPL, and in some cases, the existence of the inside outshot P104A of these protrusions possibly cause inconvenience.

Second aspect of the present invention is to seek to provide a kind of frontal plane lamination or similar products of manufacturing, its reduction or eliminated the defective of prior art structure discussed above.

Therefore, in one aspect in, the invention provides a kind of be used for producing be used in the method that manufactures a product of producing electro-optic displays, this method comprises:

The electric light that comprises electro-optical medium layer sub-component is provided;

The tackifier that comprises adhesive layer sub-component is provided, and this adhesive layer is bigger than this electro-optical medium layer at least one dimension, and this adhesive layer has at least one hole that extends through wherein; And

Adhere to this tackifier sub-component to this electric light sub-component, at least one hole so that the part of this adhesive layer adheres to this electro-optical medium layer in this adhesive layer separates (promptly making electro-optical medium not block the adjacent end of adhesive layer mesopore) with this electro-optical medium interlayer.

In the method in such " preformed hole ", the electric light sub-component can comprise the light transmission conductive layer that forms the preceding electrode in the final display.In addition, under these circumstances, the electro-optical medium layer typically also be included in light transmission conductive layer with electro-optical medium layer opposite side at least one support or protective seam, this support or protective layer used to support conductive layer and in order to protect it to avoid mechanical damage.This support or protective seam also play other effects, for example serve as and resist stopping of steam and/or ultraviolet radiation, and/or the surperficial matter structure (watching electro-optical medium from the side of supporting conductive layer usually certainly) of expectation is provided.Alternatively, the electric light sub-component can comprise one of them lip-deep second adhesive layer that is positioned in the electro-optical medium layer, the tackifier sub-component is adhered to not the surface of this electro-optical medium layer that is covered by this second adhesive layer.The surface that is away from the electro-optical medium layer of second adhesive layer can be released plate and cover.The electric light sub-component also comprises the release board on the surface that will be adhered to this tackifier sub-component that covers this electro-optical medium layer, before this electro-optical medium layer contacts with this tackifier sub-component, this release board is removed from this electro-optical medium layer.

Typically, the tackifier sub-component comprises the release board that carries adhesive layer.Do not need at least one hole in this adhesive layer to extend through this release board; But typically this at least one hole is such, and this is because pass the tackifier sub-component and form this common most convenient at least one hole through cutting (for example through cut or die-cut) fully.

The solid-state electro-optical medium of any type that usefulness electro-optical medium is in the method for the invention described before can being.Like this, electro-optical medium can be Rotating Double colourity member or electrochromic medium.Electro-optical medium can also be to comprise the electrophoresis material that is arranged in the fluid and can under electric field effects, moves through a plurality of charged particles of fluid.Charged particle and fluid can be limited in a plurality of capsules or the micro unit.Alternatively, electrophoresis material can be a polymer dispersion, and charged particle and fluid are as being existed by a plurality of droplets that separate that the external phase that comprises polymeric material centered on.

The invention still further relates to the sub-component and the display of the novelty of producing by method of the present invention.Before can being used in electro-optic displays, manufacturing a product of utilizing that method of the present invention produces adopted in any application of electro-optic displays.Therefore, the present invention relates to comprise E-book reader, portable computer, flat computer, cell phone, smart card, label, wrist-watch, shelf label and flash drive display of the present invention or that adopt method of the present invention or parts to produce.

The present invention also provides and is used in the sub-component of producing in the electro-optic displays, and this sub-component comprises:

The electro-optical medium layer;

The adhesive layer bigger at least one dimension than this electro-optical medium layer, this adhesive layer has at least one hole that extends through wherein;

The part of this adhesive layer adheres to this electro-optical medium layer but at least one hole in this adhesive layer separates with this electro-optical medium interlayer.

In such sub-component; A plurality of discontinuity zones of this electro-optical medium layer are arranged on the substrate; This discontinuity zone is separated by the area of not having this electro-optical medium, and a plurality of hole can pass this adhesive layer, and an end in each hole terminates in one of them this area.Sub-component can be included on the light transmission conductive layer of arranging on the surface that is away from this adhesive layer of this electro-optical medium layer.

The present invention relates to a kind of electro-optic displays; It comprises aforesaid sub-component and the backboard that adheres to adhesion layer; This backboard comprises at least one first electrode that contiguous electro-optical medium layer is arranged and at least one second electrode that separates with the electro-optical medium interlayer, and at least one hole and the light transmission conductive layer of this at least one second electrode in adhesive layer electrically contacts.The invention still further relates to the E-book reader, portable computer, flat computer, cell phone, smart card, label, wrist-watch, shelf label and the flash drive that comprise such display.

Second main aspect in; The present invention provides a kind of manufacture a product (" separable teat frontal plane lamination " or " DTFPL ") that produces in the electro-optic displays that be used in; This product comprises conductive layer and electro-optical medium layer; Expose portion at least a portion that this conductive layer has the major part that covered by this electro-optical medium layer, expose the conductive layer that does not have this electro-optical medium, and the vulnerable area that connects this major part and this expose portion are so that this expose portion can be by operation to cause the fracture of vulnerable area; Separate this expose portion from this major part thus, and to the not infringement basically of this major part.

Typically; In separable teat frontal plane lamination of the present invention, all has vulnerable area with supporting layer so that the relevant part of the expose portion of conductive layer and supporting layer is separable on the relevant part of the major part of conductive layer and supporting layer at all parts and conductive layer that supporting layer (for example polymer film) go up to support conductive layer.This supporting layer also plays other effects, for example serves as the restraining barrier of resisting steam and/or ultraviolet radiation, and/or the surperficial matter structure of expectation is provided.

Although above " separable teat frontal plane lamination " and following main reference that product provided by the present invention is called is similar to " entirely " frontal plane lamination shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 and describes, can the present invention be applied to other structures with electrooptic layer and conductive layer.For example, aforesaid 2004/0155857 has described a kind of two release films that are clipped in two electrooptic layers between the release board that comprise, the one of which of this pair release film or the two can comprise the conductive layer that is used for test purpose.Two release films like this can be furnished with separable teat of the present invention.Similarly; In the FPL of type shown in Figure 2; Can omit the conductive layer P118 of release board and for conductive layer P112 disposes separable teat, and utilize and apply static charge to polymer film P112, through aforesaid United States Patent(USP) No. 6; 982,178 described second methods are tested FPL.

As previously discussed; The frontal plane lamination that typically is intended to be used to test has two conductive layers that separate; A conductive layer (P112 among Fig. 2) forms the preceding electrode in the final display; And other conductive layers (P118 among Fig. 2) are the part of conduction release board, and it can the past flat stack remove before being laminated to backboard.Desirably, in such dual electric layer frontal plane lamination, for each conductive layer provides separable exposed portions.For the ease of removing this two separable exposed portions, expect that they offset with respect to each, promptly in the plane of electro-optical medium layer, be separated from each other.The expose portion of electrodes conduct layer before can providing with the same way as described in Fig. 2 is in other words through providing the hole that extends through frontal plane lamination (with the conduction release board, if the conduction release board has covered the position in hole) on preceding electrodes conduct layer.In Fig. 2, can through provide the conductive welding disk that is electrically connected with conductive layer strengthen before the electrodes conduct layer by hole institute exposed portions.Although the expose portion of two conductive layers can be positioned on the same separable teat, typically to the expose portion of two conductive layers two separable teats being provided is easily.More go through as following; Provide the advantage of teat separately to be; At least in some cases, can be simply through weakening FPL appropriate area and remove the expose portion that the prebasal plate with adhesion electro-optical medium and tackifier above that provides the conductive layer on the release board from relevant teat subsequently.

Although need remain on the expose portion of conductive layer and some electrical connections between the major part certainly to guarantee that electro-optical medium still can switch during test process, one or more vulnerable areas of DTFPL can have multi-form.For example, in the FPL of type shown in Figure 2, for example through letting pet layer P110 contact the thickness that reduces them with the assembly of heating with polymeric layer P120.Yet, a plurality of parts of preferably for example cutting vulnerable area usually through perforation or junction of the edges of two sheets of paper point; Wherein the latter is preferred, because it can not produce the fragment of a large amount of fritters.

The arbitrary solid-state electro-optical medium of the type of describing before being used in electro-optical medium among the DTFPL of the present invention and can being.Like this, electro-optical medium can be Rotating Double colourity member or electrochromic medium.Electro-optical medium can also be to comprise the electrophoresis material that is arranged in the fluid and can under electric field effects, moves through a plurality of charged particles of fluid.Charged particle and fluid are limited in a plurality of capsules or the micro unit.Alternatively, electrophoresis material can be a polymer dispersion, and charged particle and fluid are as being existed by a plurality of droplets that separate that the external phase that comprises polymeric material centered on.This employed fluid can be liquid or gas.

Before can being used in, adopted in any application of electro-optic displays the electro-optic displays that utilizes DTFPL of the present invention to produce.Therefore, the present invention relates to comprise E-book reader, portable computer, flat computer, cell phone, smart card, label, wrist-watch, shelf label and the flash drive of the display that adopts product of the present invention and produce.

At last, the present invention provides a kind of method that is used to test the electro-optical medium layer, and this method comprises:

The product that comprises conductive layer and electro-optical medium layer is provided; Expose portion at least a portion that this conductive layer has the major part that covered by this electro-optical medium layer, expose the conductive layer that does not have this electro-optical medium, and the vulnerable area that connects this major part and this expose portion;

The voltage that applies the optical states that is enough to change this electro-optical medium layer is to this conductive layer;

And then this changes the outward appearance of observing this electro-optical medium layer; And

Subsequently, operate this expose portion to cause the fracture of vulnerable area, this expose portion is separated and major part is not damaged basically from this major part thus.

In such method; Product (DTFPL) can comprise first and second conductive layers on the opposite side that is arranged in this electro-optical medium layer; Each of this first and second conductive layer is furnished with expose portion and vulnerable area; This voltage is applied between this first and second conductive layer, and operates these two expose portions subsequently to cause the fracture of two vulnerable areas.

Description of drawings

Accompanying drawing is not strict pro rata.For the ease of signal, the thickness of its each layer of lateral dimension has significantly exaggerative relatively especially.The present invention is suitable for making thin, flexible electro-optic displays; Typically, with the about 100 μ m of thickness of the sub-component in the described method below, and can be in turn laminated on the flexible back plate of similar thickness.

As described, Fig. 1 is the top view of the frontal plane lamination with inspection teat of prior art;

Fig. 2 is the cross sectional representation of passing one of them inspection teat of frontal plane lamination shown in Figure 1;

Fig. 3 A to Fig. 3 E is the cross sectional representation that runs through different phase in the technology of preformed hole of the present invention;

Fig. 4 A is the end face synoptic diagram in the stage of the preformed hole technology shown in Fig. 3 C;

Fig. 4 B is the end face synoptic diagram in the stage of the preformed hole technology shown in Fig. 3 E;

Fig. 5 A to Fig. 5 C is the cross sectional representation that is applied in order to different phase in the technology of the display that the product in the technology of Fig. 3 A to Fig. 3 E changed into completion;

Be similar to Fig. 3 A to Fig. 3 E, Fig. 6 A to Fig. 6 E is respectively the cross sectional representation of the technology different phase that runs through the frontal plane lamination that is used for making separable teat of the present invention;

Fig. 7 A and Fig. 7 B are respectively the end face synoptic diagram corresponding to the operation stage of Fig. 6 C and Fig. 6 E.

Embodiment

Before specifically describing each embodiment of the present invention, stipulate that some definition are useful.Term as used herein " backboard " with its in the electro-optic displays field with aforesaid patent and disclosed application in conventional sense consistent, refer to rigidity or the flexible material of being furnished with one or more electrodes.This backboard can also be furnished with the electron device that is used for addressed display, or such electron device is configured in the unit that is separated with backboard.In flexible display (and the present invention especially but be not intended to uniquely be used in the flexible display), expect that very backboard provides enough barrier properties to get into to prevent that water from dividing with the non-observation side of other pollutants through display.Add one or more extra plays if desired to the entering of backboard with minimizing moisture and other pollutants; Then the restraining barrier should be near electrooptic layer as much as possible, does not almost have between the preceding and restraining barrier, back (below discussion) like this or the edge contour of low barrier material.

Hereinafter will mention the release board of " pine " and " tightly ".Its routine meaning in the art got in employed these terms, refers to peeling the size of required power with the relevant release board of layer contact from this layer, and the needed power of tight release board is greater than the release board of pine.Especially,, then can pile up and peel away loose release board, and need not to separate tight release board from piling up from this if stack layer has tight release board and has loose release board in an other side in a side.

Displays more of the present invention or sub-component comprise the adhesive layer of two separation.When needs or when expectation, can these two adhesive layers be expressed as " preceding " and " back " adhesive layer, these nomenclatures illustrate the position of relative adhesive layer in final display; Before adhesive layer be at the electro-optical medium of display and watch the adhesive layer between the surface, then adhesive layer then be positioned at electrooptic layer with preceding adhesive layer opposite side on.At display at electrooptic layer with watch having between the surface and have a plurality of pixel electrodes generally on electrode and the opposite side before single at electrooptic layer; Preceding adhesive layer is between electrooptic layer and preceding electrode, and then adhesive layer is between electrooptic layer and pixel electrode.

As above pointed, middle in one aspect the present invention provides the technology in a kind of " preformed hole ", is used for making the sub-component that is used in the electro-optic displays manufacturing.In the technology in this preformed hole, formed the electric light and the tackifier sub-component that separate, the former comprises that at least the electro-optical medium layer and the latter comprise adhesive layer at least.This adhesive layer has one or more holes that extend through wherein.This two sub-assemblies is adhered to each other, and so a part of adhesive layer adheres to the electro-optical medium layer, but electro-optical medium is not blocked the hole in the adhesive layer.

As mentioned, the electric light sub-component that is used in this technology can comprise at least one electrode layer, prevailing is the single continuously preceding electrode that extends through whole display.Typically, the surface that is away from the electric light sub-component of tackifier sub-component forms watches face, and the observer watches display through it.Owing to have backboard, the electric light sub-component can provide the watch side of barrier properties in order to prevent that moisture and other pollutants from passing display.Add one or more extra plays if desired to the entering of sub-component with minimizing moisture and other pollutants, then the restraining barrier should be near electrooptic layer as much as possible, between preceding and restraining barrier, back, has seldom or hang down the edge contour of barrier material like this.Discuss for such restraining barrier and the much more concrete of other optical layers in this two sub-assemblies, referring to aforesaid 2007/0109219 and 2007/0152956.

Fig. 3 A to Fig. 3 E is the cross sectional representation that runs through different phase in the technology of preformed hole of the present invention.In the first step of this technology, electro-optical medium is coated with or otherwise deposits on the tight release board 302, in order to form electrooptic layer 304.Dividually, preceding adhesive layer 306 is applied on the loose release board 308.With these two mutual laminations of gained sub-component, adhesive layer 306 contacts with electrooptic layer 304 then, to produce the structure shown in Fig. 3 A.These steps and aforesaid United States Patent(USP) No. 7,110,164 is described the same, and as described in aforesaid 2004/0155857, the gained assembly be pair release boards.

In second step of this technology; Structure shown in Fig. 3 A is cut by osculating in the face of under the situation of cutting tool (typically being laser cutting machine) at loose release board 308; Implement osculating and cut cutting off loose release board 308, preceding adhesive layer 306 and electrooptic layer 304, but do not cut off tight release board 302.Manual then or mechanically remove the continuous part of loose release board 308, preceding adhesive layer 306 and electrooptic layer 304; Stay the structure shown in Fig. 3 B like this; Wherein have urgent release board 302 upwardly extending a plurality of " table tops ", this table top comprises the

zone

316 and 314 of similar size of island 318 and the preceding adhesive layer and the electrooptic layer of loose release board respectively.Each of these table tops will finally form separately display (in some cases, in other small displays, might can reuse preceding adhesive layer and electrooptic layer separate with loose release board 308 that part of).

The stage of thus, very typically on the continuous lamellar of the material that is enough to form several final displays or big light sheet material, implementing the technology of describing.For the ease of signal, Fig. 3 B only shows two table tops that separate, but it is understandable that in fact on single big thin plate (sheet) or lamellar (web), more table top is arranged.When being the basis with the volume to volume, when on lamellar, implementing this technology, used lamellar can comprise the traction feed-in hole that forms along the lateral edges of sheet of material bar, in order to serve as mating holes.Alternatively, reference mark and these reference marks being provided on this lamellar is the photosensitive aligning with the control lamellar.

In next step, the remainder 318 of loose release board is peeled off from the structure shown in Fig. 3 B, and the rest layers of this structure is laminated on the plate of prebasal plate 320.Prebasal plate 320 is the sandwich construction of tin indium oxide (ITO) layer that comprises the preceding electrode that forms final display.This prebasal plate can also comprise removable mask, and it can remove before final display being placed use.

Prebasal plate is designed in order to be provided for the preceding euphotic electrode of final display.For this thin and frangible relatively preceding electrode, prebasal plate 320 also provides required mechanical support.In addition, prebasal plate preferably provides all steam and oxygen barrier of needing, and uv absorption property, and expectation is in order to protect some electrooptic layer, especially electrophoresis layer.Prebasal plate can also provide the desired anti-dazzle performance of watching the surface to final display.Prebasal plate 320 provides all these functions still can be simultaneously enough thin with flexible so that the final display that forms enough flexibility with center on diameter (such as) be the reel of 15mm.As explained that prebasal plate comprises mask, provide this mask mainly for the thickness that increases prebasal plate so that in lamination process, handle this substrate.In preferred technology, only about 1 Mill of gross thickness (25 μ m) of (removing under the mask situation) prebasal plate when prebasal plate is stayed in the final display, and, adopt mask in this thickness, to add about 2 Mills (51 μ m) for the ease of handling.Typically, this mask also is used for preventing scratch or the adhesion to adjacent anti-dazzle photosphere of during lamination dust or fragment.Fig. 3 C shows the structure of this step gained of technology from then on, and this structure comprises the electric light sub-component that is suitable for being used in the technology of the present invention.

The step of aforementioned technology is same as those steps of Fig. 2 technology that A to 2E describes of reference aforesaid 2008/0057252 basically, and the reader can consult to obtain further information it.

At this some place; The second thin adhesive layer 322 is applied on the 3rd release board 324; And be present in final display in end face be connected (connection between backboard and the preceding electrode) corresponding position and form the hole 326 of passing adhesive layer 322 and release board 324, produce thus and be suitable for being used in the tackifier sub-component in the technology of the present invention.In order to implement this technology, release board 302 is peeled off from the electric light sub-component shown in Fig. 3 C and adhesive layer 322 is laminated to electrooptic layer part 314 so that the structure shown in Fig. 3 D to be provided.Notice, arrange that the hole 326 in the adhesive layer is so that they and table top spaced apart (promptly spaced apart with electrooptic layer part 314) make table top not block hole 326.Fig. 4 A shows the top view corresponding to Fig. 3 D, but has only illustrated the hole 326 that single table top is related with it.In this stage of this technology; Material still exists with the form of lamellar or big thin plate and is indicated like the curved boundary of prebasal plate 320 among Fig. 4 A; Fig. 4 A only illustrated lamellar or thin plate a part (for the ease of the signal, Fig. 4 A only shows the single hole 326 that is associated with table top.In fact; Usually expectation provides the two or more holes 326 that are associated with each table top; Thereby provide the too much end face in each final display to connect, even if guaranteeing thus that one of them end face connects does not correctly form or damage during use, each display still can true(-)running).

The next stage of technology is to cut apart, and just goes out the part of sub-component corresponding to each displays separated.Fig. 3 E and Fig. 4 B have illustrated the result of this segmentation procedure.This segmentation procedure has produced three operations that separate in logic simultaneously, that is:

(a) thin plate or lamellar are cut into the piece of the desired size of each display;

(b) hole of passing adhesive layer 322 of formation needs is to be used for being pressed onto at succeeding layer the mechanical registeration of the process sub-component of backboard; And

(c) form the hole of passing prebasal plate 320, adhesive layer 322 and release board 324, this Kongzui is eventually in order to install electronic circuit on the backboard of final display.

Such as Fig. 3 E and 4B signal, through along the cutting of same rectangular peripheral prebasal plate 320, adhesive layer 322 and release board 324, finally be in turn laminated to backboard and realize (a) operation with the separative element (piece) of the frontal plane lamination that forms the single display device thereby limit.Except cutting apart the separative element of frontal plane lamination, this generating step increase teat or " afterbody " (being positioned at the frontal plane laminate portion under the electrooptic layer 314 shown in Fig. 4 B) of extension of non-optical active material of thickness of the appropriate section of final display.If there is not the afterbody of this non-optical active material; The thickness of final display will only be the thickness of backboard itself in this zone; And in thin flexible display; The thickness of this backboard only is approximately 25 μ m, and the afterbody of prolongation part typically provides the thickness of extra 25 μ m, thereby makes this regional thickness be doubled to about 50 μ m.About the teat or the afterbody part of electrode layer before providing, and in order to provide with should before the further discussion of use of such teat of electrically contacting of electrode layer or afterbody part referring to aforesaid 2007/0211331.

Through being provided, two small sircle holes 328 adjacent with an edge (lower limb shown in Fig. 4 B) of rectangle frontal plane lamination realize that (b) operation is (although Fig. 3 E is the cross-sectional view of 4B with the aid of pictures in the above; But for the ease of understanding; Hole 328 shown in broken lines among Fig. 3 E, therefore in fact hole 328 is invisible in the cross-sectional view of Fig. 3 E).Shown in Fig. 3 E, hole 328 is arranged in the afterbody part of FPL and extends through the whole thickness of FPL, passes prebasal plate 320, adhesive layer 322 and release board 324.Hole 328 can be used for mechanical registeration or in the attachment of process that is laminated to backboard or the FPL during subsequent stage of fabrication.Such as below with reference to Fig. 5 A to Fig. 5 C description, hole 328 can be used to be combined in backboard or carry registration pin or the similarly collaborative member that is provided on the substrate of backboard, to guarantee the accurate registration of FPL with respect to backboard.Hole 328 can also be used in the follow-up phase of manufacturing process and accurately locate final display apparatus module with housing or other peripheral part (for example printed circuit board (PCB)) with respect to final commercial display unit, or in order to this display apparatus module is attached to such housing or peripheral part.

Partly provide rectangular opening 330 to realize (c) operation through the afterbody at FPL, this rectangular opening 330 fully extends through FPL, promptly through prebasal plate 320, adhesive layer 322 and release board 324.Like following discussion, the FPL that typically adopts Fig. 3 E and Fig. 4 B shown type with the big or small essentially identical backboard of FPL so that FPL covers whole back plate basically.Therefore, if expectation has the electric pathway to backboard, for example be used for installation of driver chip on backboard, the hole that then forms must allow like this, and this is the effect in hole 330.Can in hole 330, place driver chip or other electronic circuits, and around the FPL in this hole the zone that has increased thickness is provided, this helps the sturdy and durable of display.

Fig. 5 A illustrates a kind of technology with quite schematic mode, and wherein the piece with the frontal plane lamination shown in Fig. 3 E and Fig. 4 B is laminated to backboard.Shown in Fig. 5 A, brace table 350 is furnished with pair of pin 352 (only one of which is visible among Fig. 5 A).Backboard 354 is furnished with the hole of engaging pin 352.Release board 324 (seeing Fig. 3 E) is removed on the flat stack 356 in the past, utilize the hole 328 (seeing Fig. 3 E and Fig. 4 B) of meshing that this frontal plane lamination 356 is lain on the backboard subsequently with pin 352.Roll 358 is process on frontal plane lamination 356, makes adhesive layer 322 (seeing Fig. 3 E) be attached to the adjacently situated surfaces of backboard 354 thus and thus the frontal plane lamination is laminated to backboard to form display.Like aforesaid United States Patent(USP) No. 6; 982; Described in 178; Can place conductive ink in the appropriate point place at backboard before this lamination, so that this conductive ink is suppressed in the hole 326, in order to form the conductive through hole (not showing yet) that the contact pad (not shown) on the backboard is connected to the electrode layer in the prebasal plate 320 during lamination.Alternatively, if particularly adhesive layer 322 and prebasal plate 320 are for thin, this lamination will make that the one or more contact pads on the electrode layer and backboard electrically contact in the prebasal plate 320, and need not such conductive ink.After this lamination, will be removed the structure shown in Fig. 5 B (meaning of arrow among the following key drawing 5B) from brace table 350 by the FPL of lamination and backboard.

When the lamination frontal plane was laminated to backboard, FPL typically must aim at respect to back board member, for example with respect to the design in order to provide with the frontal plane lamination in the contacted contact pad of electrode layer aim at.According to designing requirement, FPL can be designed as than backboard little (so that on the unlapped backplane region of FPL, realizing being electrically connected) or identical with the backboard size.If FPL or the restraining barrier that is laminated on the FPL are identical with the backboard size, then be difficult to realize neat justified margin in the reality, this is because for FPL, there are some trend of aliging with the backboard out of true all the time.In addition, some parts of expecting during manufacture are such as checking that teat or positioning strip (tacking strip) if be present in the display apparatus module of completion, then are undesirable.

Exist to use have based on polymer film (for example commercial get from the PET under the registered trademark TEONEX of DuPont Teijin FilmsofHopewellVA or gather (vinylnaphthalene) (poly (ethylenenaphthalate)), PEN) or the rising tendency of the electro-optical medium of the thin backboard of tinsel.Can maybe can curl for flexibility based on the electro-optic displays of so thin backboard, and therefore can be used in out of use some application of traditional monitor institute (for example can be stored in large display screen in the mobile phone-referring to aforesaid 2002/0090980).Have now found that; Through can easily cutting to the FPL on the backboard that is laminated to such polymkeric substance or tinsel such as cut or die-cut commercial run; And this cutting to FPL/ backboard lamination can realize the accurately edge of coupling between FPL (or covering the restraining barrier above the FPL) and backboard, can not have a negative impact to the functional of final display.This cutting also makes and removes the parts that use during manufacture but in final display, do not expect to exist.

Arrow as among Fig. 5 B points out that schematically the lamination that is produced among Fig. 5 B is subsequently by laser or die-cut the finishing, in order to produce the final display apparatus module that Fig. 5 C is schematically shown.

Mention as above; Second main aspect of the present invention relates to separable teat frontal plane lamination; It comprises conductive layer and electro-optical medium layer, and this conductive layer has the major part that covered by the electro-optical medium layer, expose the expose portion at least a portion of the conductive layer that does not have this electro-optical medium, and the vulnerable area that connects major part and this part that is exposed; Make this part that is exposed can be located away from major part, and to major part not damage basically.

Typically, still be that face is watched with formation in the surface of the DTFPL of the present invention of exposure after being laminated to backboard, the observer watches face to watch display through this.Owing to have backboard, the prebasal plate of DTFPL can provide barrier properties to get into through the side of watching of display to prevent water branch or other pollutants.Add one or more extra plays if desired to the entering of DTFPL with minimizing moisture and other pollutants, then the restraining barrier should be near electrooptic layer as much as possible, between preceding and restraining barrier, back, does not almost have or hang down the edge contour of barrier material like this.

Fig. 6 A to Fig. 6 E is the cross sectional representation that runs through the different phase of the frontal plane lamination of making separable teat of the present invention.Therefore the technology that Fig. 6 A to Fig. 6 E is illustrated is similar to the technology that above Fig. 3 A to Fig. 3 E is illustrated very much, only simplifies the aspect of describing Fig. 6 A to Fig. 6 E technology different with the corresponding aspect of Fig. 3 A to Fig. 3 E technology below.The technology in Fig. 6 A and preceding two stages of anticipating shown in Fig. 6 B is identical with the respective stage shown in Fig. 3 A and Fig. 3 B respectively.In fact the next stage shown in Fig. 6 C also identical with shown in Fig. 3 C, but be based on reason as follows, the preceding electrode layer 621 that forms euphotic electrode in the final display is illustrated in separately among Fig. 6 C.

The next step of this technology adopts one of them surface of the 3rd release board 624, the three release boards to have conductive layer 625.The technology of shown in Fig. 3 D, anticipating is coated on thin adhesive layer 322 on the 3rd release board, but in this situation, adhesive layer is deposited on the conductive layer 625.Be present in final display in end face be connected corresponding position and form the hole 326 of passing adhesive layer 322, conductive layer 625 and the 3rd release board 624.Also form and pass second hole 628 of adhesive layer 322, conductive layer 625 and release board 624, so that form separable inspection teat as described below.Simultaneously, preferably discontinuously, cut release board 624 in order to form (discussed further below) positioning strip along line 627 (seeing Fig. 7 A).Release board 302 is peeled off and adhesive layer 322 is laminated to electrooptic layer part 314 so that the structure shown in Fig. 6 D to be provided from the structure shown in Fig. 6 C.Fig. 7 A shows and has only illustrated single table top and related hole 326 thereof and 628 and the respective top view of line 627.In this stage of technology; Material remains the form of lamellar or big thin plate and indicated like the curved boundary of prebasal plate 320 among Fig. 7 A; Fig. 7 A has only illustrated a part of plate or sheet (although Fig. 6 D and Fig. 6 E are the cross-sectional views of 7A with the aid of pictures in the above; But for the ease of understanding, hole 628 shown in broken lines among Fig. 6 D and Fig. 6 E, therefore in fact hole 628 is invisible in the xsect of Fig. 6 D and Fig. 6 E).Adhesive layer 322 must accurately be aimed at respect to table top certainly, with guarantee hole 326 with 628 and line 627 in the tram of the table top related with respect to them, shown in Fig. 7 A (for the ease of illustrating that Fig. 7 A only shows the single hole 326 that is associated with table top.In fact; In the structure shown in Fig. 4 A; Usually expectation provides the two or more holes 326 that are associated with each table top; Thereby provide the too much end face in each final display to connect, even if guaranteeing thus that one of them end face connects does not correctly form or damage during use, each display still can true(-)running).

The next stage of this technology is to cut apart, just corresponding to the separation of the FPL of each display part.Fig. 6 E and Fig. 7 B illustrate the result of this segmentation procedure.Cut apart not only the FPL piece that thin plate or lamellar is cut into size that each display requires, also on an edge of each FPL piece, form separable teat 630 and 632 (shown in lower limb among Fig. 7 B).Teat 630 only comprises the little rectangular area of the FPL that separates through junction of the edges of two sheets of paper point (promptly being interrupted cutting) line 634 and the major part of FPL.Teat 632 separates with the major part of FPL around hole 628 and through junction of the edges of two sheets of paper dotted line 636.Extend through FPL fully and adopt Fig. 6 E is formed from the same laser cutting machine that lamellar separates with the FPL piece shown in Fig. 7 B with 636 the cutting that is interrupted along line 634.Because be interrupted cutting incomplete cut-off conductive layer 621 and 625, the part that is arranged in

teat

630 and 632 of these conductive layers is electrically connected on the major part of these conductive layers in the major part of FPL piece.

Teat 630 aims to provide the path of the conductive layer 625 on the release board 624, i.e. the effect played of teat 630 is identical with the outside outshot P104B shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2.Although shown in Fig. 6 E and Fig. 7 B, anticipate; Conductive layer 625 is still covered by prebasal plate 320, preceding conductive layer 621 and adhesive layer 322; But have been found that; Through catching and draw prebasal plate 320 by hand, prebasal plate 320, preceding conductive layer 621 and adhesive layer 322 are with 634 complete ruptures along the line, to expose conductive layer 625.On teat 632, hole 628 exposes preceding conductive layer 621, so that the effect that teat 632 plays is identical with the inside outshot P104A shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2.

FPL piece for shown in test pattern 6E and Fig. 7 B exposes the conductive layer 625 on the teat 630 described in leading portion, and with probe placement for teat 630 on conductive layer 625 contact with conductive layer 621 on the teat 632.The voltage that changes is applied to conductive layer 621 and 625, thereby electro-optical medium is switched between its extreme optical state.Observe the switching of electro-optical medium through naked eyes or through mechanical video system.In case find that electro-optical medium is satisfactory, then remove probe.Draw them to remove

teat

630 and 632 through manual subsequently, thereby feasiblely tear and separate teat, and be not damaged to the major part of FPL piece along line 634 and 636.Alternatively, before FPL being laminated to backboard, can use teat 630 that release board 624 is peeled off from the rest layers of FPL.

Still shown in Fig. 7 B; The FPL piece causes approaching and be parallel to an edge of FPL piece and the line 627 that extends cutting apart from the lamellar, thus online 627 and neighboring edge between form with positioning strip 629 along the elongated region form of a continuous edge of FPL piece.Because release board 624 is cut off along line 627, can removes the part below positioning strip 629 of release board 624, and need not to remove release board 624 from the major part of FPL piece.With before forming display, provide positioning strip 629 in laminate backsheet and these two parts of FPL piece to help location FPL piece on backboard; Remove release board 624 in the part below the positioning strip 629 and can be before major part that removes release board 624 and complete layer press operation, the manual part of exposed adhesive layer 322 thus is pressed onto the tram that is used for being laminated to backboard.

Obvious for the electro-optic displays those skilled in the art is in the preferred embodiments of the present invention of having described, can make a large amount of modifications and improvement, and not depart from the scope of the present invention.For example, in the preferable methods of the present invention that accompanying drawing is illustrated, before being in turn laminated to backboard, inverted frontal plane lamination can be cut into the piece (referring to Fig. 3 E, 4B, 6E and 7B) of the desired size of each display.When a large amount of production of expectation; Putting upside down these orders of cutting apart with laminating operation is easily; Be about to enough to be laminated on the thin plate or lamellar in order to the backboard that forms a plurality of displays with the mode of alignment, subsequently it separated from this thin plate or lamellar in order to the thin plate of the inverted frontal plane lamination that forms a plurality of displays or lamellar.Under the situation of the thin plate that uses inverted frontal plane lamination and backboard; Typically during the lamination backboard thin plate is being fixed on the supporting member; And can realize cutting operation (and any desired finishing operation, for example above described) with the thin plate that still is fixed on the display on this supporting member with reference to figure 5B and Fig. 5 C.Notice, in the variant of this DTFPL technology, single a pair of teat 630,632 only need be provided, test the electro-optical medium of the complete thin plate of FPL in order to permission.

In addition, in the preferred DTFPL technology of Fig. 6 and invention shown in Figure 7, electro-optical medium does not extend in the removable teat.In of the present invention other changed, electro-optical medium can extend in the part of teat.The teat that for example is used in the DTFPL technology can be similar to shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, but is furnished with the part that is similar to the weakness shown in Fig. 7 B, so that they are dismountable.

In addition, although be used in discerptible teat in the DTFPL technology be illustrated as in the accompanying drawings from the final piece form that limits FPL than the outstanding discontinuous rectangle in large rectangle zone, not necessarily with this form protrusion teat.According to the desired form of final piece FPL, teat for example can be the form that is placed on the triangular cross section in the corner of rectangular block of FPL, so that the final piece of FPL is the rectangular in form with corner cut.

Claims

1. one kind is used in manufacturing a product in the electro-optic displays product, and this product comprises conductive layer (621,625) and electro-optical medium layer (314); Expose portion (630 at least a portion that this conductive layer (621,625) has the major part that covered by this electro-optical medium layer (314), expose the conductive layer (621,625) that does not have this electro-optical medium (314); 632), and the vulnerable area (634 that connects this major part and this expose portion (630,632); 636), make this expose portion of operation (630,632) to cause vulnerable area (634; 636) fracture is separated this expose portion (630,632) and this major part is not had infringement basically from this major part thus.

2. according to claim 1 manufacturing a product also comprises the supporting layer (320 that contiguous this conductive layer (621,625) is arranged; 624), this supporting layer (320,624) has the major part of the major part layout of contiguous this conductive layer (314); The expose portion that the expose portion of contiguous this conductive layer is arranged, and the vulnerable area arranged of the vulnerable area of contiguous this conductive layer make this conductive layer (621; 625) and both expose portions of supporting layer (320,624) (630,632) operated vulnerable area (634 to cause them; 636) fracture is separated this conductive layer (621,625) and supporting layer (320 from their major parts separately thus; 624) both expose portions (630,632) and to major part not infringement basically.

3. according to claim 1 manufacturing a product comprises first and second conductive layers (621,625) on the opposite side that is arranged in this electro-optical medium layer (314); This first and second conductive layer (621; 625) each is furnished with expose portion (630,632) and vulnerable area (634,636).

4. according to claim 3 manufacturing a product, wherein the expose portion (630,632) of this first and second conductive layer (621,625) is spaced apart from each other in the plane of this electro-optical medium layer (314).

5. according to claim 1 manufacturing a product wherein forms this vulnerable area through the thickness that reduces this vulnerable area.

6. manufacture a product according to claim 1 is said, wherein this vulnerable area forms through perforation or junction of the edges of two sheets of paper point.

7. method that is used to test the electro-optical medium layer, this method comprises:

The product that comprises conductive layer (621,625) and electro-optical medium layer (314) is provided, this conductive layer (621; 625) have the major part that is covered by this electro-optical medium layer (314), the conductive layer (621 that exposes this electro-optical medium of nothing (314); 625) expose portion at least a portion (630,632), and connect this major part and this expose portion (630; 632) vulnerable area (634,636);

The voltage that applies the optical states that is enough to change this electro-optical medium layer (314) is to this conductive layer (621,625);

And then should change the outward appearance of observing this electro-optical medium layer (314); And

Subsequently, operate this expose portion (630,632), separate this expose portion (630,632) and this major part is not had infringement basically from this major part thus to cause the fracture of vulnerable area (634,636).

8. according to the said method of claim 7, wherein this product comprises first and second conductive layers (621,625) on the opposite side that is arranged in this electro-optical medium layer (314); Each of this first and second conductive layer (621,625) is furnished with expose portion (630,632) and vulnerable area (634; 636), this voltage is applied between this first and second conductive layer (621,625); And operate these two expose portions (630,632) subsequently to cause the fracture of these two vulnerable areas (634,636).