Electro-optic display and lamination adhesive for use therein

1. An electro-optic display comprising a layer of a solid electro-optic material, at least one electrode disposed adjacent the layer of electro-optic material, and a layer of a lamination adhesive interposed between the electro-optic material and the electrode, the lamination adhesive having a higher electrical conductivity in a direction perpendicular to the layer of lamination adhesive than in the plane of the layer.

2. An electro-optic display comprising a layer of a solid electro-optic material, at least one electrode disposed adjacent the layer of electro-optic material, and a layer of a lamination adhesive interposed between the electro-optic material and the electrode, the lamination adhesive having a higher electrical conductivity in a direction perpendicular to the layer of lamination adhesive than in the plane of the layer, the lamination adhesive having a conductivity of less than about 10 −10 S/cm. in the plane of the adhesive layer and a conductivity greater than about 10 −9 S/cm. perpendicular to this plane.

3. An electro-optic display according to claim 1 wherein the lamination adhesive comprises a plurality of conductive particles dispersed in a substantially non-conductive matrix.

4. An electro-optic display comprising a layer of a solid electro-optic material, at least one electrode disposed adjacent the layer of electro-optic material, and a layer of a lamination adhesive interposed between the electro-optic material and the electrode, the lamination adhesive having a higher electrical conductivity in a direction perpendicular to the layer of lamination adhesive than in the plane of the layer, the lamination adhesive comprising a plurality of conductive particles dispersed in a substantially non-conductive matrix, the conductive particles having a conductivity greater than about 10 −9 S/cm. and a diameter not greater than about one-tenth of the thickness of the layer of lamination adhesive.

5. An electro-optic display according to claim 3 wherein the conductive particles are formed from a semiconducting polymer.

6. An electro-optic display according to claim 3 wherein the conductive particles are formed from a low conductivity material having a polar material adsorbed on its surface to increase its conductivity.

7. An electro-optic display comprising a layer of a solid electro-optic material, at least one electrode disposed adjacent the layer of electro-optic material, and a layer of a lamination adhesive interposed between the electro-optic material and the electrode, the lamination adhesive having a higher electrical conductivity in a direction perpendicular to the layer of lamination adhesive than in the plane of the layer, the lamination adhesive comprising a plurality of conductive particles dispersed in a substantially non-conductive matrix, the matrix having a conductivity less than about 10 −10 S/cm.

8. An electro-optic display according to claim 3 wherein the matrix comprises a gellable material.

9. An electro-optic display according to claim 8 wherein the matrix comprises any one or more of a thermally reversibly gellable polymer, a radiation-gellable material or a material which can be gelled by removal of a solvent therefrom.

10. An electro-optic display according to claim 1 wherein the lamination adhesive comprises a plurality of magnetizable particles dispersed in a substantially non-magnetizable matrix.

11. An electro-optic display according to claim 10 wherein the magnetizable particles comprise an iron oxide.

12. An electro-optic display according to claim 1 wherein the electro-optic material is a rotating bichromal member, microcell, electrochromic or electrophoretic material.

13. An electro-optic display according to claim 12 wherein the electro-optic material is an encapsulated electrophoretic material.

14. An article of manufacture comprising, in order:

a light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer;

a layer of a solid electro-optic medium in electrical contact with the electrically-conductive layer;

a layer of an adhesive having a higher electrical conductivity in a direction perpendicular to the layer of lamination adhesive than in the plane of the layer; and

a release sheet.

15. An article of manufacture comprising:

a layer of a solid electro-optic medium having first and second surface on opposed sides thereof;

a first adhesive layer on the first surface of the layer of solid electro-optic medium;

a release sheet disposed on the opposed side of the first adhesive layer from the layer of solid electro-optic medium; and

a second adhesive layer on the second surface of the layer of solid electro-optic medium,

at least one of the first and second adhesive layers having a higher electrical conductivity in a direction perpendicular to the adhesive layer than in the plane of the layer.

16. An article of manufacture according to claim 14 wherein the solid electro-optic medium is a rotating bichromal member, microcell, electrochromic or electrophoretic medium.

17. An article of manufacture according to claim 16 wherein the solid electro-optic medium is an encapsulated electrophoretic medium.

18. An article of manufacture according to claim 14 wherein the solid electro-optic medium has internal liquid- or gas-filled spaces.

19. An article of manufacture according to claim 15 wherein the solid electro-optic medium is a rotating bichromal member, microcell, electrochromic or electrophoretic medium.

20. An article of manufacture according to claim 19 wherein the solid electro-optic medium is an encapsulated electrophoretic medium.

21. An article of manufacture according to claim 15 wherein the solid electro-optic medium has internal liquid- or gas-filled spaces.

22. An electro-optic display according to claim 1 wherein the layer of a solid electro-optic material has internal liquid- or gas-filled spaces.