Scalable Fabrication and Testing Processes for Three-Layer Multi-Color Segmented Electrowetting Display

Abstract

Colorful electrowetting displays (EWD) present many challenges, such as scalability and electro-optical performance improvement (e.g., brightness, color gamut, and contrast ratio). The first full investigation of scalable fabrication and testing processes for multi-color segmented EWD with potentially unprecedented electro-optical performance is proposed. A three-layer architecture is employed to achieve colorful EWD, where the key components are three primary color layers (cyan, magenta, and yellow), switched independently. Unlike previous reports referred to herein, which used the same fabrication and testing processes for each layer, this architecture facilitates a uniform performance, improves yield, and simplifies the process for colorful EWD. With an aperture ratio greater than 80%, National Television Standards Committee (NTSC) color gamut area greater than 63%, switching speed lower than 12 ms, and DC driving voltage below 22V, the testing results of colorful EWD are proven successfully by using our proposed processes. The processes investigated in this paper have greatly improved efficiency, suitable for a high-volume of full-color EWD.

Reflectivity enhancement of full color tri-layer electrowetting display with polymer cholesteric liquid crystal films

“…For reflective color display, the additive color mixing with red (R), green (G) and blue (B) color filter is unfavorable, since each of the color subpixels absorbs roughly 2/3 of the incident white light and thus reduce the brightness/gamut performance [17]. By contrast, subtractive color, mixing with vertical cyan (C), magenta (M) and yellow (Y) stack, is more promising for reflective EWD with wide color gamut while maintaining high reflectivity [18][19][20]. As reported by H. You et al [18], the CMY color EWD layers can be switched and are responsible for RGB light control independently in the vertical direction.…”

“…The tri-layer EWD device is fabricated by coupling three separate EWD devices together, as shown in Figure 2A. The detailed fabrication process can be found in our previous publication [20]. The pixel size of the sample is 165 μm × 165 μm with 150 μm working area and 15 μm pixel wall width.…”

An electrophoretic e‐paper device with stretchable, washable, and rewritable functions

“…[1][2][3][4] Compared with emissive displays, such as a light-emitting diode or electroluminescence, the reflective display transmits the optical information by reflecting the ambient light. [5][6][7] Among the various reflective displays, the electrophoretic display (EPD) is a paperlike display that reduces eye strain while reading. Also, EPD is a bistable display which means it only needs power input that changes the image content, and no power is needed to retain the static image information.…”

“…Advances in wearable electronics have spurred widespread research interest in optical displays with new characteristics, including stretchability, washability, and low power consumption 1–4 . Compared with emissive displays, such as a light‐emitting diode or electroluminescence, the reflective display transmits the optical information by reflecting the ambient light 5–7 . Among the various reflective displays, the electrophoretic display (EPD) is a paper‐like display that reduces eye strain while reading.…”

60‐1: Distinguished Paper: An Electrophoretic E‐Paper Device with Stretchable, Washable, and Rewritable Functions

“…The development of wearable electronics has spurred widespread research interest in optical displays with new characteristics, including stretchability, washability, and low power consumption [1][2][3][4]. Compared with the emissive displays, such as a lightemitting diode or electroluminescence, the reflective display transmits the optical information by reflecting the ambient light [5][6][7]. Among the various reflective displays, the electrophoretic display (EPD) is a kind of paper-like display that reduces eye strain while reading.…”