ELECTRO-OPTIC DISPLAYS, AND MATERIALS FOR USE THEREIN

1 . A process for the preparation of an electro-optic display, the process comprising:

forming a layer of an electro-optic material on an electrode;

depositing a layer of a substantially solvent-free polymerizable liquid material over the layer of electro-optic material;

placing a color filter over the layer of polymerizable liquid material; and

exposing the polymerizable liquid material to conditions effective to cause polymerization of the material, thereby forming a polymeric layer overlying the layer of electro-optic material and securing the color filter to the layer of electro-optic material.

2 . A process according to claim 1 wherein the polymerizable liquid material is thermally curable and the conditions effective to cause polymerization of the material comprise heating the liquid material to a temperature high enough to cure the material.

3 . A process according to claim 1 wherein the polymerizable liquid material is radiation curable and the conditions effective to cause polymerization of the material comprise exposing the liquid material to radiation of a wavelength effective to cure the material.

4 . A process according to claim 1 wherein the polymerizable liquid material comprises an acrylate or a urethane acrylate blend or a silicone.

5 . A process according to claim 1 further comprising controlling the thickness of the layer of polymerizable liquid material deposited on the layer of electro-optic material.

6 . A process according to claim 5 wherein the thickness of the layer of polymerizable liquid material is controlled by doctor blade or die coating.

7 . A process according to claim 5 wherein the thickness of the layer of polymerizable liquid material is controlled by first placing the color filter over the layer of polymerizable liquid material and thereafter passing a nip roller over the color filter prior to polymerizing the liquid material.

8 . A process according to claim 1 wherein the thickness of the final polymeric layer is from about 6 to about 250 μm.

9 . A process according to claim 8 wherein the thickness of the final polymeric layer is from about 8 to about 50 μm.

10 . A process according to claim 1 wherein the electro-optic material comprises a rotating bichromal member or electrochromic material.

11 . A process according to claim 1 wherein the electro-optic material comprises an electrophoretic material comprising a plurality of electrically charged particles disposed in a fluid and capable of moving through the fluid under the influence of an electric field.

12 . A process according to claim 11 wherein the electrically charged particles and the fluid are confined within a plurality of capsules or microcells.

13 . A process according to claim 11 wherein the electrically charged particles and the fluid are present as a plurality of discrete droplets surrounded by a continuous phase comprising a polymeric material.

14 . A process according to claim 11 wherein the fluid is gaseous.

15 . An electro-optic display comprising:

an electrode;

a layer of an electro-optic material disposed on the electrode;

a polymeric layer overlying the layer of electro-optic material, the polymeric layer comprising the polymerization product of a substantially solvent-free polymerizable liquid material; and

a color filter secured to the layer of electro-optic material by the polymeric layer.

16 . An electro-optic display according to claim 15 wherein the thickness of the polymeric layer is from about 6 to about 250 μm.

17 . An electro-optic display according to claim 16 wherein the thickness of the polymeric layer is from about 8 to about 50 μm.

18 . A process for the preparation of an electro-optic display, the process comprising:

forming a layer of an electro-optic material on an electrode;

depositing a layer of a substantially solvent-free polymerizable liquid material over the layer of electro-optic material;

placing an electrically-conductive layer over the layer of polymerizable liquid material; and

exposing the polymerizable liquid material to conditions effective to cause polymerization of the material, thereby forming a polymeric layer overlying the layer of electro-optic material and securing the electrically-conductive layer to the layer of electro-optic material.

19 . An electro-optic display comprising:

an electrode;

a layer of an electro-optic material disposed on the electrode;

a polymeric layer overlying the layer of electro-optic material, the polymeric layer comprising the polymerization product of a substantially solvent-free polymerizable liquid material; and

an electrically-conductive layer secured to the layer of electro-optic material by the polymeric layer.

20 . A process for the preparation of an electro-optic display, the process comprising:

forming a layer of an electro-optic material on an electrode;

depositing a layer of a substantially solvent-free polymerizable liquid material over the layer of electro-optic material;

placing a release sheet over the layer of polymerizable liquid material;

exposing the polymerizable liquid material to conditions effective to cause polymerization of the material, thereby forming a polymeric layer overlying the layer of electro-optic material; and

removing the release sheet from the polymeric layer.

21 . An electro-optic display comprising:

a layer of solid electro-optic material capable of changing at least one optical characteristic upon application of an electric field thereto;

a backplane comprising at least one electrode arranged to apply an electric field to the layer of electro-optic material; and

an adhesive layer disposed between the layer of electro-optic material and the backplane and adhesively securing the layer of electro-optic material to the backplane,

the adhesive layer comprising a thermally-activated cross-linking agent capable, upon exposure to an activation temperature, of cross-linking the adhesive layer.