Transmissive or reflective liquid crystal display and novel process for its manufacture

A process for the preparation of well-defined cells of substantially uniform size and shape to be used in a LC display, which process comprises the steps of:

• a) coating a layer of thermoplastic or thermoset precursor on a conductor film;
• b) embossing the thermoplastic or thermoset precursor layer with a pre-patterned male mold;
• c) releasing the mold from the thermoplastic or thermoset precursor layer;
• d) hardening the thermoplastic or thermoset precursor layer;
• and
• e) filling the thus-formed array of microcups with LC..

A process for the preparation of well-defined cells of substantially uniform size and shape to be used in a LC display, which process comprises the steps of:

• a) coating a layer of radiation curable composition on a conductor film;
• b) imagewise exposing the radiation curable layer;
• c) removing the unexposed areas by a developer or solvent to reveal an array of microcups;
• and
• d) filling the microcups with LC preferably with a guest dye.

A process for the manufacture of a LC display, which process comprises the steps of:

• a) preparing microcups by first coating a layer of thermoplastic or thermoset precursor on a conductor film followed by embossing the thermoplastic or thermoset precursor layer with a male mold or by imagewise exposing the thermoset precursor layer and removing the unexposed areas;
• b) filling in the thus-formed array of microcups with LC;
• c) sealing the microcups;
• and
• d) laminating the sealed array of LC cells with a second conductor film preferably pre-coated with an adhesive layer.

A process for the manufacture of a multi-color LC display, which process comprises the steps of:

• a) preparing microcups by first coating a layer of thermoplastic or thermoset precursor on a conductor film followed by embossing the thermoplastic or thermoset precursor layer with a male mode or by imagewise exposing the thermoset precursor layer and removing the unexposed areas;
• b) laminating the thus formed array of microcups with a layer of positive photoresist;
• c) imagewise exposing the positive photoresist to selectively open the microcups in a predetermined area;
• d) filling in the opened microcups with LC with guest dye(s) of the first color;
• e) sealing the microcups to form closed LC with guest dye(s) of the first color;
• f) repeating Steps c) to e), if necessary, in different areas to generate groups of microcups containing LC fluid of different colors;
• g) removing residual positive photoresist, if any;
• and
• h) laminating the sealed array of LC cells with a second transparent conductor film precoated with an adhesive layer.