# US 10,503,041 B2 · Laminated electro-optic displays and methods of making same

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- Number: US 10,503,041 B2
- Document ID: US10503041B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/802,571
- Filed: 2017-11-03
- Published: 2018-05-31
- Granted: 2019-12-10
- Earliest claimed: 2016-11-30
- Assignees: E Ink Corporation
- Applicants: E Ink Corporation
- Inventors: George G. Harris; Richard J. Paolini, Jr.; Matthew Joseph Kayal
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10503041B2

## CPC

- G02F 1/167: by electrophoresis
- G02F 1/1345: Conductors connecting electrodes to cell terminals
- G02F 1/1676: Electrodes
- G02F 1/16766: for active matrices
- G02F 1/133354: {Arrangements for aligning or assembling substrates}
- G02F 1/13336: {Combining plural substrates to produce large-area displays, e.g. tiled displays}
- G02F 2201/42: Arrangements for providing conduction through an insulating substrate
- G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS

## Abstract

A method of forming an electrophoretic display is provided that includes forming a front plane laminate having a first substrate, a first conductive layer, a layer of electrophoretic media, and an adhesive, as well as coating an insulating layer and a second conductive layer onto a second substrate to provide a backplane. The first substrate and first conductive layer may be transparent, and the second substrate may include a plurality of conductors. The method may further include scoring the second substrate to provide a removable portion, laminating the front plane laminate to the backplane, removing the portion from the second substrate to provide an opening in the backplane, and filling the opening with a conductive material to provide an electrical connection between the first conductive layer and one of the plurality of conductors. Electrophoretic displays made according to the various methods are also provided.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of forming an electro-optic display comprising:
forming a front plane laminate comprising, in this order, a first substrate, a first conductive layer, a layer of an electro-optic medium, and an adhesive, the first substrate and first conductive layer being transparent;
coating an insulating layer and a second conductive layer onto a second substrate comprising a plurality of conductors to provide a backplane;
scoring the second substrate to form a removable portion;
laminating the front plane laminate to the backplane, such that the layer of electro-optic medium is between the first conductive layer and one of the plurality of conductors;
removing the portion from the second substrate to provide an opening through the backplane and the layer of electro-optic medium; and
filling the opening with a conductive material to provide an electrical connection between the first conductive layer and the one conductor.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the portion in the second substrate is scored in proximity to the one conductor.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the scoring step occurs prior to coating the second substrate with the insulating layer and the second conductive layer.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the removing step exposes at least one of the electro-optic medium and the adhesive within the opening.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4 further comprising removing at least some of the electro-optic medium and adhesive within the opening after the laminating step to expose the first conductive layer.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the second substrate is in the form of a flap.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the second conductive layer is applied to two opposing surfaces of the second substrate.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the portion is removed prior to the laminating step.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the one conductor is plated onto the surface of the opening prior to coating the second substrate with the insulating layer and the second conductive layer.

### Claim 10

A laminated electro-optic display comprising:
a front transparent substrate;
a rear substrate having a plurality of conductors; and
a plurality of layers between the front substrate and the rear substrate, the plurality of layers comprising a layer of an electro-optic medium, a first conductive layer positioned between the front substrate and the electro-optic medium, and a second conductive layer positioned between the electro-optic medium and the rear substrate,
wherein the rear substrate includes a through-hole filled with a conductive material such that at least one of the plurality of conductors is electrically connected via the conductive material to the first conductive layer.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the electro-optic medium is an electrophoretic medium.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The display of claim 10, wherein the electro-optic medium is an electrophoretic medium.