Components and methods for use in electro-optic displays
A front plane laminate useful in the manufacture of electro-optic displays comprises, in order, a light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer, a layer of an electro-optic medium in electrical contact with the electrically-conductive layer, an adhesive layer and a release sheet. This front plane laminate can be prepared as a continuous web, cut to size, the release sheet removed and the laminate laminated to a backplane to form a display. Methods for providing conductive vias through the electro-optic medium and for testing the front plane laminate are also described.
1. An electro-optic display comprising, in this order:
a light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer;
a layer of electro-optic material covering part of the electrically-conductive layer, the layer of electro-optic material not covering a tab portion of the electrically-conductive layer;
an adhesive layer, the adhesive layer not covering the tab portion of the electrically-conductive layer;
a backplane comprising at least one pixel electrode disposed adjacent the layer of electro-optic material, and a contact pad in electrical contact with the tab portion of the electrically-conductive layer.
2. An electro-optic display according to claim 1 wherein the layer of electro-optic material is substantially rectangular, and the electrically-conductive layer has a substantially rectangular portion disposed adjacent the layer of electro-optic material, and the tab portion of the electrically-conductive layer extends outwardly from one edge of the substantially rectangular portion of the electrically-conductive layer.
3. An electro-optic display according to claim 1 further comprising a deformable conductive material disposed between the tab portion of the electrically-conductive layer and the contact pad.
4. An electro-optic display according to claim 1 wherein the tab portion extends of the electrically-conductive layer extends outwardly from the entire periphery of the layer of electro-optic material.
5. An electro-optic display according to claim 1 wherein the electrically-conductive layer is provided with two discrete tab portions.
6. An electro-optic display according to claim 1 further comprising a sealing material for preventing ingress of material from the environment into the layer of electro-optic material, the sealing material extending between the backplane and a peripheral portion of the light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer extending beyond the periphery of the layer of electro-optic material.
7. An electro-optic display according to claim 1 further comprising a protective and/or barrier layer disposed on the opposed side of the light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer from the layer of electro-optic material.
8. An electro-optic display according to claim 7 further comprising a sealing material for preventing ingress of material from the environment into the layer of electro-optic material, the sealing material extending between the backplane and the protective and/or barrier layer and surrounding the layer of electro-optic material.
9. An electro-optic display according to claim 1 wherein the electro-optic medium comprises an electrophoretic medium.
10. An electro-optic display according to claim 9 wherein the electrophoretic medium comprises an encapsulated electrophoretic medium.
11. An electro-optic display according to claim 9 wherein the electrophoretic medium comprises a microcell electrophoretic medium.
12. An electro-optic display comprising:
a backplane comprising at least one pixel electrode;
a layer of an electro-optic material disposed adjacent the pixel electrode;
a light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer disposed on the opposed side of the layer of electro-optic material from the backplane;
a front substrate disposed on the opposed side of the light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer from the layer of electro-optic material, the front substrate supporting the light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer;
a protective and/or barrier layer disposed on the opposed side of the front substrate from the light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer;
a sealing material for preventing ingress of material from the environment into the layer of electro-optic material, the sealing material extending between the backplane and at least one of the light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer, front substrate and protective and/or baffler layer and;
a dam member disposed between the sealing material and the layer of electro-optic material.
13. An electro-optic display according to claim 12 further comprising a second dam member, the sealing material being disposed between the two dam members.
14. An electro-optic display according to claim 12 wherein the front substrate is larger than the layer of electro-optic material, and the dam member and the sealing material extend from the backplane to the front substrate.