The invention relates to a method of forming a display comprising the steps of
(a) providing a substrate; (b) forming a plurality of first conductors over the
substrate; (c) depositing a layer of cholesteric liquid-crystal material, in the
form of droplets of liquid crystal in a liquid carrier, over a preselected area
of each of said first conductors so that a preselected portion of each of said
first conductors is uncoated; (d) drying the liquid carrier to form a layer of
polymer-dispersed cholesteric-liquid-crystal domains in a continuous matrix; and
(e) forming a plurality of second conductors, electrically isolated from the first
conductors, over the layer of polymer-dispersed liquid-crystal domains so that
an electric field between the second conductors and the uncoated portions of the
first conductors is capable of changing the optical state of the polymer-dispersed
cholesteric liquid-crystal material. The absence of a coating over the second conductors
permits connection to the first conductors without additional processing steps.
The invention is also directed to a display element made by the method and to an
array of display elements that represent an intermediate in the production of the
final form of the display elements.
