# US 9,436,057 B2 · Display panel with pre-patterned images > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,436,057 B2 - Document ID: US9436057B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/486,994 - Filed: 2014-09-15 - Published: 2015-03-26 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-09-23 - Assignees: E Ink California, LLC - Applicants: E Ink California, LLC - Inventors: Yih-Ming Kang; Donald A. Schultz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9436057B2 ## CPC - G02F 1/167: by electrophoresis - G02B 26/026: {based on the rotation of particles under the influence of an external field, e.g. gyricons, twisting ball displays (based on orientable dipolar particles G02F1/172; based on electrophoresis G02F1/167)} - G02F 1/134336: {Matrix} - G02F 1/1679: Gaskets; Spacers; Sealing of cells; Filling or closing of cells - G09G 3/344: {based on particles moving in a fluid or in a gas, e.g. electrophoretic devices (electrophoretic devices per se G02F1/167)} - G02F 1/1333: Constructional arrangements; {Manufacturing methods}(G02F1/135, G02F1/136 take precedence) - G02F 1/133371: {Cells with varying thickness of the liquid crystal layer} - G02F 1/1347: Arrangement of liquid crystal layers or cells in which the final condition of one light beam is achieved by the addition of the effects of two or more layers or cells - G02F 1/1681: having two or more microcells partitioned by walls, e.g. of microcup type - 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 - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - G09G: ARRANGEMENTS OR CIRCUITS FOR CONTROL OF INDICATING DEVICES USING STATIC MEANS TO PRESENT VARIABLE INFORMATION (arrangements for transferring data between digital computers and displays G06F3/14; static indicating arrangements comprising an association of a number of separate sources or light control cells G09F9/00; static indicating arrangements comprising integral associations of a number of light sources H01J, H01K, H10H, H05B33/12; scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission, details thereof H04N1/00) ## Abstract The present invention is directed to a display panel comprising micro-containers filled with an electrophoretic fluid wherein each of the microcells has a bottom and one surface of the bottom is in contact with the electrophoretic fluid, the display panel has a first area and a second area, and the microcells in the first area have substantially the same bottom thickness and the microcells in the second area have added bottom thicknesses. Such a display panel is useful for many applications, such as bar codes, anti-counterfeiting labels, direction signages, shelf labels or watermarks. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A display panel comprising microcells filled with an electrophoretic fluid, wherein: each of the microcells has a bottom and an inner surface of the bottom is in contact with the electrophoretic fluid, the display panel has a first area and a second area, the microcells in the first area have substantially the same bottom thickness, and the microcells in the second area have thicker bottom than the microcells in the first area. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The panel of claim 1, wherein the microcells in the second area have a bottom thickness which is 0.001 micron to 9/10 of the depth of the microcells in the first area, more than the bottom thickness of the microcells in the first area. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The panel of claim 1, wherein the microcells in the second area have a bottom thickness which is 0.001 micron to ½ of the depth of the microcells in the first area, more than the bottom thickness of the microcells in the first area. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The panel of claim 1, wherein the bottom thicknesses of the microcells in the second area are not the same. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The panel of claim 1, wherein an electrophoretic fluid filled in the microcells in both the first and second areas comprises one type of charged particles dispersed in a solvent or solvent mixture. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The panel of claim 1, wherein an electrophoretic fluid filled in the microcells in the first and second areas comprises two types of charged particles dispersed in a solvent or solvent mixture. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The panel of claim 1, wherein an electrophoretic fluid filled in the microcells in the first and second areas comprises more than two types of charged particles dispersed in a solvent or solvent mixture. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The panel of claim 1, which is sandwiched between two electrode layers. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The panel of claim 8, wherein the two electrode layers are non-patterned conductive layers. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The panel of claim 8, wherein one of the electrode layers is a common electrode layer and the other electrode layer is a thin-film-transistor matrix driving system or segmented backplane driving system. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A method for preparing a display panel of claim 1, comprising: a) providing a nip roller on the surface of which has carved-out areas to form a pattern which pattern is a positive or negative image of an intended pattern for the display panel; b) coating an embossable composition over a substrate layer which is on the surface of the nip roller; and c) applying a male mold over the embossable composition. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the carved-out areas have different depths. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein said substrate layer is attached to an electrode layer. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A method for preparing a display panel of claim 1, comprising: a) providing microcells; b) filling the microcells in a pre-determined area, with a chemical composition in a solvent; c) removing the solvent; and d) optionally curing the chemical composition after removal of the solvent. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the solvent is methyl ethyl ketone, acetone, or isopropyl alcohol. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the microcells are filled with different concentrations of chemical compositions. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the concentrations are in the range of 0.01% to 90% by weight. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the concentrations are in the range of 0.01% to 50% by weight. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the chemical composition is not the same as a composition from which the microcells are formed. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the chemical composition is the same as a composition from which the microcells are formed.