Method of manufacturing a base

This application claims priority to Taiwan application No. 098135589 filed on Oct. 21, 2009.

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates a method of manufacturing a carrying element, and more particularly to a method of manufacturing a base.

2. Description of the Related Art

FIG. 1 is a schematic three-dimensional exploded view of a conventional electrophoretic display. Referring to FIG. 1 , the conventional electrophoretic display 100 includes an electrophoretic display panel 110 , a base 120 and a top frame 130 . The top frame 130 is assembled to the base 120 . The electrophoretic display panel 110 is disposed between the top frame 130 and the base 120 . The view area 112 of the electrophoretic display panel 110 is exposed by the top frame 130 .

However, the sizes of the electrophoretic display panels can be changed according to different requirements of the different designers. For example, the size of the rigid electrophoretic display panel is usually different from that of the flexible electrophoretic display panel. Therefore, in the conventional art, the manufacturer must re-make the corresponding bases respectively for the electrophoretic display panels of different sizes such that the electrophoretic display panels of different sizes can be disposed at the corresponding bases, respectively. Accordingly, in the conventional art, the cost of manufacturing the bases of different sizes is relatively high and the complexity of manufacturing the bases of different sizes is relatively great.

The present invention is directed to provide a method of manufacturing a base. In the method of manufacturing a base, a bottom frame of one size can be machined, and a first base applicable to a first display panel of a first size or a second base applicable to a second display panel of a second size is manufactured from the bottom frame.

The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a base including the following steps. First, a plate is provided. Next, the plate is machined to form a bottom frame. The bottom frame has a bottom portion and a plurality of side walls disposed at the bottom portion. The side walls and the bottom portion together form a first accommodating space. Next, whether the bottom frame is designed for being assembled to a first display panel or a second display panel is determined. The thickness of the first display panel is smaller than that of the second display panel. The length of the first display panel is larger than that of the second display panel. The width of the first display panel is larger than that of the second display panel.

Next, if the bottom frame is designed for being assembled to the first display panel, at least one pad is formed at the bottom portion of the bottom frame such that a first base adapted to be assembled to the first display panel is formed. The first display panel is adapted to be disposed on the pad and located in the first accommodating space. Next, if the bottom frame is designed for being assembled to the second display panel, the bottom portion of the bottom frame is punched to form a plurality of barricades such that a second base adapted to be assembled to the second display panel is formed. The barricades are arranged along the side walls. Each of the barricades maintains a distance from the corresponding side wall. The barricades and the bottom portion together form a second accommodating space in the first accommodating space. The second display panel is adapted to be disposed in the second accommodating space.

In an embodiment of the present invention, after the barricades are formed, a buffer is disposed between each of the barricades and the corresponding side wall.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the bottom frame further has at least one arc-shaped connection portion. The side walls and the arc-shaped connection portion are disposed on the bottom portion. The arc-shaped connection portion connects two of the side walls and is bendingly disposed between the corresponding two of the side walls.

According to an aspect of an embodiment, the bottom frame of one size can be machined, and the first base applicable to the first display panel of the first size or the second base applicable to the second display panel of the second size is manufactured from the bottom frame. Therefore, compared to the conventional art, the cost of selectively manufacturing the different bases according to the method of the embodiment of the present invention is relatively low. In addition, the complexity of selectively manufacturing the different bases according to the method of the embodiment of the present invention is relatively little.

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic three-dimensional exploded view of a conventional electrophoretic display.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method of manufacturing a base according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 3A to 3E are schematic views of manufacturing a base according to the method illustrated in FIG. 2 .

FIG. 4 is a schematic three-dimensional view of a first display panel of the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic three-dimensional view of a second display panel of the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic three-dimensional view of a top frame of the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method of manufacturing a base according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 3A to 3E are schematic views of manufacturing a base according to the method illustrated in FIG. 2 . FIG. 4 is a schematic three-dimensional view of a first display panel of the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a schematic three-dimensional view of a second display panel of the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a schematic three-dimensional view of a top frame of the present embodiment. The method of manufacturing a base of the present embodiment includes the following steps. First, referring to FIGS. 2 and 3A , at step S 001 , a plate P 1 is provided. The plate P 1 may be composed of a metal. Next, referring to FIGS. 2 and 3B , at step S 002 , the plate P 1 is machined to form a bottom frame F 1 . The bottom frame F 1 has a bottom portion F 11 and a plurality of side walls F 12 . The side walls F 12 are disposed at the bottom portion F 11 . The side walls F 12 and the bottom portion F 11 together form a first accommodating space S 1 .

In the present embodiment, the bottom frame F 1 may further have at least one arc-shaped connection portion F 13 (a plurality of arc-shaped connection portions F 13 are schematically shown in FIG. 3B ). The side walls F 12 and the arc-shaped connection portions F 13 are disposed on the bottom portion F 11 . Each of the arc-shaped connection portions F 13 connects two of the side walls F 12 and is bendingly disposed between the two corresponding side walls F 12 . Because the bottom frame F 1 has arc-shaped connection portions F 13 , the structural strength of the bottom frame F 1 as a whole is improved.

Next, referring to FIGS. 2 , 4 and 5 , at step S 003 , whether the bottom frame F 1 is designed for being assembled to a first display panel D 1 or a second display panel D 2 is determined. In a practical production process, the first display panel D 1 and the second display panel D 2 may be manufactured in advanced through two independent production lines. The first display panel D 1 may be a flexible electrophoretic display panel and the second display panel D 2 may be a rigid electrophoretic display panel.

In the present embodiment, the first display panel D 1 , such as the flexible electrophoretic display panel, includes a flexible carrying substrate (not shown) which is, for example, a plastic substrate. The flexible carrying substrate can carry an electrophoresis layer (not shown) and other related elements. The second display panel D 2 , such as the rigid electrophoretic display panel, includes a rigid carrying substrate (not shown) which is difficult to be bent. The rigid carrying substrate is, for example, a glass substrate. The rigid carrying substrate can carry an electrophoresis layer (not shown) and other related elements. In the present embodiment, the thickness D 11 of the first display panel D 1 is smaller than the thickness D 21 of the second display panel D 2 . The length D 12 of the first display panel D 1 is larger than the length D 22 of the second display panel D 2 . The width D 13 of the first display panel D 1 is larger than the width D 23 of the second display panel D 2 .

Next, referring to FIGS. 2 , 3 C and 4 , at step S 004 , at least one pad A 1 is formed on the bottom portion F 11 of the bottom frame F 1 such that a first base B 1 adapted to be assembled to the first display panel D 1 is formed if the bottom frame F 1 is designed for being assembled to the first display panel D 1 . A plurality of the pads A 1 are schematically shown in FIG. 3D . In other words, the first base B 1 includes the bottom frame F 1 and the pads A 1 . In the present embodiment, each of the pads A 1 may be a tape. Particularly, the first display panel D 1 may be disposed on the pads A 1 and located in the first accommodating space S 1 . The corresponding top frame T 1 ( FIG. 6 ) may be assembled to the first base B 1 by means of fixing screws or clasping. The view area D 14 of the first display panel D 1 is exposed by the top frame T 1 ( FIG. 6 ). Accordingly, the relative position of the first base B 1 , the top frame T 1 ( FIG. 6 ) and the first display panel D 1 is fixed such that a first display device (not shown) is formed.

Next, referring to FIGS. 2 , 3 D and 5 , at step S 005 , the bottom portion F 11 of the bottom frame F 1 is punched to form a plurality of barricades C 1 if the bottom frame F 1 is designed for being assembled to the second display panel D 2 . The barricades C 1 are arranged along the side walls F 12 . Each of the barricades C 1 maintains a distance E 1 from the corresponding side wall F 12 . The barricades C 1 and the bottom portion F 11 together form a second accommodating space S 2 in the first accommodating space S 1 ( FIG. 3B ).

Finally, referring to FIGS. 2 and 3E , in the present embodiment, at step S 006 , a buffer R 1 is disposed between each of the barricades C 1 and the corresponding side wall F 12 such that the structural strength of the structure composed of each of the barricades C 1 , the corresponding buffer R 1 and the corresponding side wall F 12 is improved. At this point, a second base B 2 of the present embodiment adapted to be assembled to the second display panel D 2 is formed. In other words, the second base B 2 of the present embodiment includes the bottom frame F 1 , the barricades C 1 and the buffers R 1 .

Particularly, the second display panel D 2 may be disposed on the bottom portion F 11 of the second base B 2 and located in the second accommodating space S 2 . The corresponding top frame T 1 ( FIG. 6 ) may be assembled to the second base B 2 by means of fixing screws or clasping. The view area D 24 of the second display panel D 2 is exposed by the top frame T 1 ( FIG. 6 ). Accordingly, the relative position of the second base B 2 , the top frame T 1 ( FIG. 6 ) and the second display panel D 2 is fixed such that a second display device (not shown) is formed.

It should be noted that in another embodiment, if the structural strength of the barricades C 1 is strong enough to satisfy the designer's requirement, the buffers R 1 of the second base B 2 may be omitted.

Accordingly, the method of manufacturing a base of the embodiment of the present invention at least has one of the following advantages or other advantages.

First, the bottom frame of one size can be machined, and the first base applicable to the first display panel of the first size or the second base applicable to the second display panel of the second size is manufactured from the bottom frame. Therefore, compared to the conventional art, the cost of selectively manufacturing the different bases according to the method of the embodiment of the present invention is relatively low. In addition, the complexity of selectively manufacturing the different bases according to the method of the embodiment of the present invention is relatively little.

Second, because the bottom frame has the arc-shaped connection portion, therefore the structural strength of the bottom frame as a whole is improved.

Third, each of the buffers is disposed between the corresponding barricade and the corresponding side wall. Therefore, regarding the second base, the structural strength of each of the barricades, the corresponding buffer and the corresponding side wall is improved.

The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention disclosed herein, including configurations ways of the recessed portions and materials and/or designs of the attaching structures. Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.