Patterned light modulating device
AssigneeZBD Displays Limited
InventorsJohn C. Jones, Emma L. Wood
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A repeated pattern layer having areas for imparting different electro-optic characteristics to a light modulating device is disclosed. The repeated pattern is arranged so that any pixel area formed in the assembled device (above a certain minimum size) will contain an area of each electo-optic characteristic in the right proportions. The pattern is arranged as a two dimensional grid of areas of different characteristic with at least one area of each characteristic provided in each row and column of the grid. The patterned layer may usefully be an alignment layer for a liquid crystal device, especially a bistable device, and the different areas may be arranged to give grey scale in the device.
Claims24
An repeated pattern layer for a pixellated light modulating device having a plurality of switching regions within each repeat, wherein each switching region is arranged to impart one of at least two predetermined electro-optic characteristics to a light modulating medium wherein the regions are arranged such that any pixel area of the repeated pattern layer above a certain size contains regions of each electro-optic characteristic in substantially the same relative proportion as any other pixel area.
A method of fabricating a light modulating device comprising the steps of;
- forming a patterned layer having a plurality of switching regions, wherein each switching region is arranged to impart one of at least two predetermined electro-optic characteristics to a light modulating medium and wherein the switching regions are arranged such that any pixel area on the patterned layer above a certain size comprises switching regions of each switching characteristic in substantially the same relative proportion as any other pixel area, and
- combining said patterned layer in a cell comprising a light modulating medium and a plurality of electrodes forming a plurality of pixel areas wherein said combination step does not involve a mask alignment step.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.