Apparatus and methods for resizing electronic displays

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for resizing COTS AMLCDs or other electronic displays, as well as resized displays made using these apparatus and methods, are provided. The electronic display includes a front plate, a back plate, a perimeter seal spacing the front and back plates apart, and image-generating medium contained in an area between the front and back plates. A target portion of the display may be identified and separated from an excess portion of the display, e.g., by cutting and breaking the plates of the display, thereby creating an exposed edge along the target portion. The plates of the target portion are pressed towards one another, e.g., to stabilize or compress the target portion. An adhesive is applied to the exposed edge, and the pressure is released to draw the adhesive between the plates along the exposed edge.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A method for resizing an electronic display, the display comprising a front plate, a back plate, a perimeter seal spacing the front and back plates apart, and image-generating medium contained in an area between the front and back plates and within the borders of the perimeter seal, the front and back plates being spaced apart by a predetermined cell gap, the method comprising:
 cutting the display to separate a target portion from an excess portion, thereby creating an exposed edge along the target portion communicating with the area between the plates of the target portion;   applying adhesive along the exposed edge such that at least a portion of the adhesive extends between the plates along the exposed edge; and   removing excess adhesive along the exposed edge while the adhesive that extends between the plates maintains a substantial seal along the exposed edge.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising curing the adhesive and wherein the excess adhesive is removed after the adhesive is cured. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the excess adhesive is removed by cutting or scraping away the excess adhesive. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the excess adhesive is removed using a chemical. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the excess adhesive is removed using a mechanical device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein applying the adhesive comprises:
 stabilizing the target portion after separation such that the front and back plates are separated by a distance not greater than the predetermined cell gap;   applying adhesive along the exposed edge; and   forcing the adhesive into the region between the plates along the exposed edge.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the target portion of the display is mounted within a fixture for maintaining the plates at the predetermined cell gap. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein image-generating material is forced out from the area between the plates along the exposed edge by compressing the plates of the target portion towards one another, and wherein the plates of the target portion are at least partially released to force the adhesive between the plates. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising removing image-generating material that is forced out along the exposed edge. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the image-generating medium is removed before the adhesive is applied along the exposed edge. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the adhesive is forced into the region between the plates by pressing against the exposed edge after applying the adhesive. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the adhesive is forced into the region between the plates using a tool. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the adhesive is forced into the region between the plates using a dispenser. 
     
     
         14 . A method for resizing an electronic display, the display comprising a front plate, a back plate, a perimeter seal spacing the front and back plates apart, and image-generating medium contained in an area between the front and back plates and within the borders of the perimeter seal, the front and back plates being spaced apart by a predetermined cell gap, the method comprising:
 identifying a target portion and an excess portion of the display;   separating the target portion from the excess portion, thereby creating an exposed edge along the target portion communicating with the area between the plates of the target portion;   applying adhesive along the exposed edge; and   forcing the adhesive into the region between the plates along the exposed edge, thereby displacing at least a portion of the image-generating material between the plates.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the adhesive is forced into the region between the plates using a tool or dispenser. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein forcing the adhesive into the region between the plates causes the adhesive to mix with image-generating material between the plates. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein forcing the adhesive into the region between the plates increases the cell gap between the plates. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the exposed edge extends from one side edge of the display to an adjacent side edge of the display to remove a corner of the display. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the exposed edge extends from one side edge of the display to an opposite side edge of the display such that the excess portion is substantially rectangular. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the exposed edge extends from one side edge of the display to an opposite side edge of the display such that the target portion is substantially square.