Methods of customizing the physical size and shape of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) electronic displays

A method of changing the physical shape of an electronic display, wherein the display comprises a front plate, a back plate, and a perimeter seal spacing apart the plates, and wherein image-generating medium is contained in an area between the plates and within the borders of the perimeter seal, the method comprising the steps of:

• cutting the display along desired dimensions resulting in a target display portion and an excess display portion;
• applying a first seal between the plates along an exposed edge of the target display portion, the first seat creating a barrier to prevent the image-generating medium from escaping out of the area between the plates, the first seal comprising an adhesive having mechanical properties for preserving cell spacing between the front and back plates;
• and
• applying a second seal along the exposed edge, the second seal comprising silicone;
• wherein the silicone is substantially black-colored.

A method of changing the physical shape of an electronic display, wherein the display comprises a front plate, a back plant, and a perimeter seal spacing apart the plates, and wherein image-generating medium is contained in an area between the plates, and within the borders of the perimeter seal the method comprising the steps of:

• cutting the display along desired dimensions resulting in a target display portion and an excess display portion;
• applying a first seal between the plates along an exposed edge of the target display portion, the first seal creating a barrier to prevent the image-generating medium from escaping out of the area between the plates, the first seal comprising an adhesive having mechanical properties for preserving cell spacing between the front and back plates;
• applying a second seal along the exposed edge, the second seal comprising silicone;
• and
• scoring a polarizer attached to an upper surface of the front plate resulting in a target polarizer portion and an excess polarizer portion.

A method of changing the physical shape of an electronic display, wherein the display comprises a front plate, a back plate, and a perimeter seal spacing apart the plates, and wherein image-generating medium is contained in an area between the plates and within the borders of the perimeter seal, the method comprising the steps of:

• cutting the display along desired dimensions resulting in a target display portion and an excess display portion;
• applying a first seal between the plates along an exposed edge of the target display portion, the first seal creating a barrier to prevent the image-generating medium from escaping out of the area between the plates, the first seal comprising an adhesive having mechanical properties for preserving cell spacing between the front and back plates;
• applying a second seal along the exposed edge;
• and
• applying a light mask over the second seal and up to an outer perimeter of a target display image area on the target display portion.

A method of changing the physical shape of an electronic display, wherein the display comprises a front plate and a back plate, the method comprising the steps of:

• cutting the display along desired dimensions resulting in a target display portion and an excess display portion, the target display portion comprising a polarizer attached to an upper surface of the front plate;
• applying a first seal along an exposed edge of the target display portion between the plates;
• applying a second seal over the exposed edge sealed by the first seal, the second seal comprising silicone;
• applying a silicone bead over an edge of the polarizer;
• and
• applying a third seal over the second seal, wherein the third seal extends onto the upper surface of the front plate and up to an edge of a target display image area.

A method of changing the physical shape of a COTS LCD comprising the steps of:

• cutting the display along desired dimensions resulting in a target display portion and an excess display portion;
• applying a first seal along an exposed edge of the target display portion between the plates;
• applying a second seal over the first seal;
• replacing an original TAB on the target display portion with a new TAB;
• and
• electrically connecting the new TAB to corresponding electrical leads within the target display portion.

An electronic display comprising:

• a substantially flat front plate having an upper surface and a lower surface;
• a substantially flat back plate having an upper surface and a lower surface, said back plate positioned behind said front plate and substantially parallel thereto;
• a perimeter seal located between said plates and forming an enclosed cell area defined by the lower surface of the front plate, the upper surface of the back plate, and the perimeter seal;
• an image-generating medium contained within said cell area;
• electrical conductors distributed throughout said image-generating medium;
• a substantially flat first polarizer attached to the upper surface of said front plate, said first polarizer having a perimeter;
• a second humidity seal positioned over the perimeter seal;
• a first silicone bead positioned over the perimeter of the first polarizer;
• and
• a third seal positioned over the perimeter seal, the second seal, and the first silicone bead, said third seal extending onto the upper surface of the front plate up to an outer edge of a display image area thereon.

An electronic display comprising:

• substantially flat front plate having an upper surface and a lower surface;
• a substantially flat back plate having an upper surface and a lower surface, said back plate positioned behind said front plate and substantially parallel thereto;
• a perimeter seal located between said plates and forming an enclosed cell area defined by the lower surface of the front plate, the upper surface of the back plate, and the perimeter seal;
• an image-generating medium contained within said cell area;
• electrical conductors distributed throughout said image-generating medium;
• a substantially flat first polarizer attached to the upper surface of said front plate, said first polarizer having a perimeter;
• a second seal positioned over the perimeter seal, the second seal comprising silicone;
• a first silicone bead positioned over the perimeter of the first polarizer;
• and
• a substantially flat second polarize attached to the lower surface of the back plate, the second polarizer having a perimeter, and wherein a second silicone bead is positioned over the perimeter of the second polarizer;
• and
• a third seal positioned over the perimeter seal, the second seal, and the first and second silicone beads, said third seal extending onto the upper surface of the front plate up to an edge of a display image area thereon, and extending onto the lower surface of the back plate up to an outer edge of a display image area thereon.

A method of changing the physical shape of an electronic display, wherein the display comprises a front plate, a back plate, and a perimeter seal spacing apart the plates, and wherein image-generating medium is contained in an area between the plates and within the borders of the perimeter seal, the display further comprising electronic circuits for operating the display, the method comprising the steps:

• cutting the display along desired dimensions resulting in a target display portion and an excess display portion, thereby cutting at least some of the electronic circuits;
• and
• applying a first seal between the plates along an exposed edge of the target display portion;
• wherein the target display portion retains the basic functionality of the display.

A method of changing the physical shape of an electronic display, wherein the display comprises a front plate, a back plate, a perimeter seal spacing apart the plates, and wherein image-generating medium is contained in an area between the plates and within the borders of the perimeter seal, the method comprising the steps of:

• cutting the display along desired dimensions resulting in a target display portion and an excess display portion, the desired dimensions not intersecting with the perimeter seal;
• applying a first seal between the plates along an exposed edge of the target display portion;
• applying a second seal along the exposed edge, the second seal comprising silicone;
• and applying a light mask over the second seal and up to an outer perimeter of a target display image area on the target display portion;
• wherein the target display portion retains the basic functionality of the display.

A method of changing the physical shape of an electronic display, wherein the display comprises front and back plates, a perimeter seal spacing apart the plates, image-generating medium contained in an area between the plates and within the borders of the perimeter seal, and a plurality of films on an outer surface of at least one of the front and back plates, the method comprising the steps of:

• cutting the display along desired dimensions resulting in a target display portion and an excess display portion;
• removing excess portions of the plurality of films from the outer surface along the desired dimension;
• and
• applying a first seal between the plates along an exposed edge of the target display portion, the first seal creating a barrier to prevent the image-generating medium from escaping out of the area between the plates.

A method of changing the physical shape of an electronic display, wherein the display comprise a front plate and a back plate, the method comprising the steps of:

• cutting the display along desired dimensions resulting in a target display portion and an excess display potion, the target display portion comprising a polarizer attached to an upper surface of the front plate;
• applying a first seal along an exposed edge of the target display portion between the plates;
• applying a second seal over the exposed edge sealed by the first seal;
• and
• applying a third masking seal over the second seal for preventing back light from passing through the exposed edge.

A method of changing the physical shape of an electronic display, wherein the display comprises a front plate, a back plate, and a film on at least one of the front and back plates, the method comprising the steps of:

• cutting the display along desired dimensions resulting in a target display portion and an excess display portion;
• removing at least a portion of the film;
• and
• applying a first seal along an exposed edge of the target display portion between the plates.