EP0077152A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electro-optical display having graphical support members
Assignee: Eaton Corp
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Filing: 1982-09-30
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2002-09-30
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed are electro-optical displays (13) having improved optical uniformity arising from improved parallelism between the plates (1, 2) of the displays provided by a plurality of graphically shaped support members (8) disposed in the cavity (4) between the display plates containing the electro-optical material. The graphically shaped support members are adapted in combination to provide information to a viewer of the display regardless of whether the electro-optical material is in an electrically energized or electrically un-energized state and may be used in conjunction with prior-art type support members that have not heretofore conveyed information to a viewer of such displays.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth Joe Richardson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 14:29
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1339; G02F1/13394; G02F1/1335; G02F1/133509; G02F1/133374
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
223 words
An electro-optical display (13) comprising; a pair of plates (1, 2), of which at least one plate is transparent, said plates bonded together by means of a seal (31) made from a hermetic sealant composition, a cavity (41) disposed between the plates and enclosed by the seal, an electrically conductive coating (5A, 5B) disposed on the side of each of the plates adjacent the cavity, said coating disposed on at least one of the plates in the form of at least one discrete image, and said coatings adapted such that each is able to be connected to a source of electrical power outside of the cavity, an electro-optical material disposed within the cavity, said material having an ability to convey information to a viewer of the display that is dependent upon whether the electro-optical material is in an electrically energized or an electrically un-energized state imparted thereto by the conductive coatings, and a plurality of graphically shaped support members (81) disposed within the cavity made from a composition that is compatible with the electro-optical material, said support members adapted to provide support and improve parallelism between the plates across the cavity in conjunction with having the ability in combination to convey information to a viewer of the display regardless of whether the electro-optical material is in the electrically energized or electrically un-energized state.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
223 words
An electro-optical display (13) comprising; a pair of plates (1, 2), of which at least one plate is transparent, said plates bonded together by means of a seal (31) made from a hermetic sealant composition, a cavity (41) disposed between the plates and enclosed by the seal, an electrically conductive coating (5A, 5B) disposed on the side of each of the plates adjacent the cavity, said coating disposed on at least one of the plates in the form of at least one discrete image, and said coatings adapted such that each is able to be connected to a source of electrical power outside of the cavity, an electro-optical material disposed within the cavity, said material having an ability to convey information to a viewer of the display that is dependent upon whether the electro-optical material is in an electrically energized or an electrically un-energized state imparted thereto by the conductive coatings, and a plurality of graphically shaped support members (81) disposed within the cavity made from a composition that is compatible with the electro-optical material, said support members adapted to provide support and improve parallelism between the plates across the cavity in conjunction with having the ability in combination to convey information to a viewer of the display regardless of whether the electro-optical material is in the electrically energized or electrically un-energized state.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The display of Claim 1 wherein both of the plates are transparent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The display of Claims 1 or 2 including ploarizer means (11) disposed on at least one of the plates.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The display of Claim 2 including a reflector (10) disposed on the side of one of the plates facing away from the cavity, said reflector adapted to reflect light back into the cavity that has entered into the cavity through the other transparent plate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The display of Claim 1 wherein the electro-optical material is a liquid crystalline material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The display of Claim 1 wherein the electro-optical material comprises a blend of at least one liquid crystalline material with at least one homologous non-liquid crystalline material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The display of Claim 5 or 6 wherein the liquid crystalline material is a nematic material having positive dielectric anistrophy.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The display of Claim 5 or 6 wherein the liquid crystalline material is a nematic material having negative dielectric anistrophy.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The display of Claim 1 including at least one dichroic dye blended into the electro-optical material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The display of Claim 1 wherein the support members composition is the same as the sealant composition.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The display of Claim 1 wherein the support members are made from a composition that enables them to be disposed within the cavity at a temperature of from about 25°C to about 150°C.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The display of Claim 1 wherein the sealant composition comprises the thermoset product of a thermoplastic phenoxy polymer and at least one epoxy resin and a cross-linking agent.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The display of Claim 12 wherein said crosslinking agent is ethyl methyl imidizole.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The display of Claim 10 wherein both the support member composition and the sealant composition comprise the crosslinked product of a blend of a thermoplastic phenoxy polymer and at least one epoxy resin and a crosslinking agent.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The display of Claim 14 wherein the crosslinking agent is ethyl methyl imidizole.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The display of Claim 1 wherein the support members are made from a composition comprising the thermoplastic product of a thermoplastic phenoxy and at least one epoxy resin.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The display of Claim 1 wherein the support members are made from a.composition that includes a colorant.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
The display of Claim 17 wherein at least one of the support members is made from a composition that includes a different colorant than the colorant used in the other support members.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The display of Claim 1 including a rubbed coating adjacent the electro-optical material having substantially parallel marking lines disposed on the side of each of said plates facing towards the cavity.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
The display of Claim 19 wherein the rubbing lines on one of the plates is rotated from the rubbing lines on the other plate such that rotated rubbing lines impart a twist to the electro-optical material contained between the plates.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The display of Claim 1 including means for illuminating the side of the plate that is furthest from and faces away from a viewer of the display.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
34 words
The display of Claim 1 wherein one of the plates is a reflector that is adapted to reflect light back into the cavity that has entered into the cavity through the other transparent plate.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The display of Claim 1 wherein the support members aid in bonding the plates together.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
51 words
The display of Claim 1 including at least one support member disposed in the cavity that provides support and improves parallelism between the plates and which does not convey information to a viewer of the display regardless of whether then electro-optical material in in an electrically energized or electrical un-energized state.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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