Abstract: A robotic grommet installer includes a robotic arm and an installation unit. The installation unit includes a rotary grommet holder rotatively coupled to the robotic arm and an installer coupled to the robotic arm. The rotary grommet holder includes a plurality of grommet chambers spaced circumferentially about a rotational axis of the rotary grommet holder. Each grommet chamber of the plurality of grommet chambers is configured to hold a plurality of grommets. The installer is configured to retrieve a grommet from the rotary grommet holder, wherein the rotary grommet holder is configured to rotate to align the installer with an available grommet positioned within one of the plurality of grommet chambers.

Abstract: A robotic grommet installer includes a robotic arm and an installation unit. The installation unit includes a rotary grommet holder rotatively coupled to the robotic arm and an installer coupled to the robotic arm. The rotary grommet holder includes a plurality of grommet chambers spaced circumferentially about a rotational axis of the rotary grommet holder. Each grommet chamber of the plurality of grommet chambers is configured to hold a plurality of grommets. The installer is configured to retrieve a grommet from the rotary grommet holder, wherein the rotary grommet holder is configured to rotate to align the installer with an available grommet positioned within one of the plurality of grommet chambers.

Abstract: A front plane laminate useful in the manufacture of electro-optic displays comprises, in order, a light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer, a layer of an electro-optic medium in electrical contact with the electrically-conductive layer, an adhesive layer and a release sheet. This front plane laminate can be prepared as a continuous web, cut to size, the release sheet removed and the laminate laminated to a backplane to form a display. Methods for providing conductive vias through the electro-optic medium and for testing the front plane laminate are also described.

Abstract: A sub-assembly for use in forming an electro-optic display comprises (in this order) a light-transmissive substrate (120); discrete areas (204) of electro-optic material separated by gutter areas (205) essentially free from the electro-optic material; and an adhesive layer (122) and/or a release layer (124) peelable from the sub-assembly. A second sub-assembly comprises (in this order) a peelable release sheet (102); discrete areas of electro-optic material (204) separated by gutter areas (205) essentially free from the electro-optic material, and an adhesive layer (206) and/or a peelable release layer (208). Processes for producing these sub-assemblies and for using them to form electro-optic displays are also described.

Abstract: A color filter array is provided in an electro-optic display by ink jet printing a plurality of colored areas (22R, 22G, 22B) on one surface of a layer of electro-optic material (12), an adhesive layer or a protective layer. Alternatively, the ink jet printing may be effected on the same layers in various sub-assemblies used to produce electro-optic displays.

Abstract: A coating of an encapsulated electrophoretic medium is formed on a substrate (106) by dispersing in a fluid (104) a plurality of electrophoretic capsules (102), contacting at least a portion of a substrate (106) with the fluid (104); and applying a potential difference between at least a part of the portion of the substrate (106) contacting the fluid (104) and a counter-electrode (110) in electrical contact with the fluid (104), thereby causing capsules (102) to be deposited upon at least part of the portion of the substrate (106) contacting the fluid (102). Patterned coatings of capsules containing different colors may be deposited in registration with electrodes using multiple capsule deposition steps. Alternatively, patterned coatings of capsules may be formed by applying a fluid form of an electrophoretic medium to a substrate, and applying a temporally varying voltage between an electrode and the substrate. The process may be repeated to allow for deposition of full color displays.

Abstract: An electro-optic display comprises a layer of solid electro-optic material; a backplane comprising at least one electrode; and an adhesive layer disposed between the layer of electro-optic material and the backplane and adhesively securing the layer of electro-optic material to the backplane, the adhesive layer comprising a thermally-activated cross-linking agent comprising an epoxidized vegetable oil fatty acid or an epoxidized ester of such a fatty acid. The cross-linking agent reduces void growth when the display is subjected to temperature changes.

Abstract: A front plane laminate (see U.S. Pat. No. 6,982,178) is produced by forming a sub-assembly comprising a lamination adhesive layer and an electro-optic layer, forming an aperture through the sub-assembly, and securing a light-transmissive electrode layer to the sub-assembly so that the electrode layer extends across the aperture. Alternatively, formation of the aperture is omitted, and the electrode layer has a tab portion extending beyond the edges of the lamination adhesive and electro-optic layers. When a front plane laminate is secured to a backplane to form an electro-optic display, a stiffening layer may be attached to either part to increase its stiffness, then removed after the lamination. An electro-optic display or front plane laminate may use an adhesive layer comprising separate layers of cross-linked and non-cross-linked adhesive.

Abstract: A front plane laminate useful in the manufacture of electro-optic displays comprises, in order, a light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer, a layer of an electro-optic medium in electrical contact with the electrically-conductive layer, an adhesive layer and a release sheet. This front plane laminate can be prepared as a continuous web, cut to size, the release sheet removed and the laminate laminated to a backplane to form a display. Methods for providing conductive vias through the electro-optic medium and for testing the front plane laminate are also described.

Abstract: A laminate comprising a solid electro-optic medium and an electrically conductive layer is tested by passing it over a pair of electrodes at different potentials, with the electrically conductive layer lying on the opposed side of the electro-optic medium from the electrodes. An article which can be tested by this method, and which is useful in the manufacture of electro-optic displays, comprises a layer of a solid electro-optic medium and a release sheet comprising an electrically conductive layer.

Abstract: Various types of edge seals for protecting electro-optic displays against environmental contaminants are described. In one type of seal, the electro-optic layer is sandwiched between a backplane and a protective sheet and a sealing material extends between the backplane and the protective sheet. In other seals, the protective sheet is secured to the backplane or to a second protective sheet adjacent the backplane. The electro-optic layer can also be sealed between two layers of adhesive or between one layer of adhesive and the backplane. Other seals make use of flexible tapes extending around the periphery of the display.

Abstract: An electro-optic display comprises, in order, a backplane comprising a plurality of pixel electrodes; a layer of a solid electro-optic medium; a main adhesive layer; and at least one of a light-transmissive protective layer and a light-transmissive electrically-conductive layer. The electro-optic layer may be in direct contact with the backplane or separated therefrom by a thin auxiliary layer of adhesive. The main adhesive layer may be colored to provide a color filter array. An inverted front plane laminate useful in forming such a display comprises the same layers except that the backplane is replaced by a release sheet. The display combines good low temperature performance and good resolution at higher temperatures.

Abstract: A method for addressing a bistable electro-optic display having at least one pixel comprises applying an addressing pulse to drive the pixel to a first optical state; leaving the pixel undriven for a period of time, thereby permitting the pixel to assume a second optical state different from the first optical state; and applying to the pixel a refresh pulse which substantially restores the pixel to the first optical state, the refresh pulse being short relative to the addressing pulse.

Abstract: An electrophoretic medium comprises discrete droplets of an electrophoretic internal phase comprising a fluid and carbon black particles in the fluid. The droplets are surrounded by a polyurethane binder formed by a diisocyanate and a polyether diol, at least 20 mole per cent of the diisocyanate being an aromatic diisocyanate.

Abstract: A non-linear element is formed on a flexible substrate by securing the substrate to a rigid carrier, forming the non-linear element, and then separating the flexible substrate from the carrier. The process allows flexible substrates to be processed in a conventional fab intended to process rigid substrates. In a second method, a transistor is formed on a insulating substrate by forming gate electrodes, depositing a dielectric layer, a semiconductor layer and a conductive layer, patterning the conductive layer to form source, drain and pixel electrodes, covering the channel region of the resultant transistor with an etch-resistant material and etching using the etch-resistant material and the conductive layer as a mask, the etching extending substantially through the semiconductor layer between adjacent transistors.

Abstract: Various improvements are provided in gas-based electrophoretic displays, including (a) the use of water getters to remove water from the gas; (b) the use of electron accepting or donating gases; (c) the use of electrophoretic polymer particles having high glass transition temperatures; (d) lateral movement of electrophoretic particles within the display; and (e) the use of variable thickness coatings on electrodes to provide for gray scale.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and materials for controlling stability and color intensity in an electrophoretic display element. Filler particles in the electrophoretic display element, serves as a medium that the electrophoretic particles must travel through during switching between optical states of the display. The filler particles provide improved control over the color intensity of the electrophoretic display element. In addition, the filler particles create resistance to the migration of the electrophoretic particles, thereby improving the bistability of the electrophoretic displays and inhibiting settling of the electrophoretic particles. Also, migration resistance provided by the filler particles can enable threshold addressing of an electrophoretic display.

Abstract: A method for addressing a bistable electro-optic display having at least one pixel comprises applying an addressing pulse to drive the pixel to a first optical state; leaving the pixel undriven for a period of time, thereby permitting the pixel to assume a second optical state different from the first optical state; and applying to the pixel a refresh pulse which substantially restores the pixel to the first optical state, the refresh pulse being short relative to the addressing pulse.

Abstract: A backplane for an electro-optic display comprises a plurality of pixel electrodes, and an adhesive layer disposed adjacent the backplane, the adhesive layer comprising a plurality of pixel regions disposed adjacent the pixel electrodes of the backplane, and at least one inter-pixel region disposed between two pixels of the backplane, the at least one inter-pixel region having at least one of a lower dielectric constant and a higher volume resistivity than the pixel regions of the adhesive layer.

Abstract: The invention provides materials and methods (including driving methods) for reducing the effects of remnant voltages in electro-optic displays.