JP2008064779A - Panel for information display - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a panel for information display which can be fixed by using a fixing tool such as a screw and filed by using a stapler, a string and the like. <P>SOLUTION: In the panel for information display wherein a display medium is encapsulated between two substrates at least one of which is transparent and which are opposed to each other and the display medium is moved by an electric field generated in the substrates to display information such as an image, a through hole 11 is provided at a non-display region part on the periphery of a display region. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information display panel for enclosing a display medium between two opposing substrates, at least one of which is transparent, and displaying information such as images by moving the display medium by an electric field generated in the substrate. Is.

Conventionally, a display medium is sealed between two opposing substrates, at least one of which is transparent, and an image is generated by moving the display medium by an electric field generated in the substrate by applying a voltage between electrodes provided on the substrate. An information display panel that displays such information is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).
International Publication WO2003 / 050606 Pamphlet

  21A to 21C are diagrams for explaining the configuration of a conventional information display panel. The example shown in FIG. 21A shows an example in which line electrodes are used. The back side line electrode 102 is provided on the back side substrate 101, and the back side is provided on the display side substrate (not shown because it is transparent). A display surface side line electrode 103 (transparent but illustrated so as to understand the positional relationship) is provided so as to be orthogonal to the line electrode 102, and an information display panel is configured by bonding the back side substrate and the display surface side substrate together. Yes. The example shown in FIG. 21B shows an example using an individual electrode, and an individual electrode (hidden by an individual electrode on the display surface side) is placed on a back side substrate (hidden by an individual electrode on the display surface side). An information display panel is configured by providing individual electrodes 105 on a display surface side substrate (not shown because it is transparent), and bonding the back side substrate and the display surface side substrate together. In the example shown in FIG. 21B, 104 is a partition, but a configuration without the partition 104 is possible.

  The information display panel using the line electrodes shown in FIG. 21A and the information display panel using the individual electrodes shown in FIG. 21B are orthogonal to each other as shown in FIG. A display region 111 in which an overlapping portion of line electrodes (in the case of line electrodes) or a portion formed by opposing individual electrodes (in the case of individual electrodes) constitutes a pixel, a line electrode around the display region 111, and An information display panel 113 is configured from a non-display area 112 configured by the absence of individual electrodes or the absence of a display medium.

  Since the conventional information display panel having the above-described configuration is not an information display panel having a through hole, the information display panel is fixed using a fixing tool such as a screw, or information display is performed using a stepper or a string. There was a problem that it was not possible to bind the panels.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and to fix an information display panel using a fixing tool such as a screw, or to bind an information display panel using a stepper or a string It is intended to provide a display panel.

  The information display panel of the present invention encloses a display medium between two opposing substrates, at least one of which is transparent, and displays information such as images by moving the display medium by an electric field generated in the substrate. In the information display panel, a through hole is provided in a non-display area around the display area.

  As a preferred example of the information display panel of the present invention, the through hole is formed by an inter-substrate gap holding rib, and an adhesive is applied to the top of the inter-substrate gap holding rib when two substrates are bonded together. Sealing agent for preventing moisture (moisture) from entering from the outside around the inside of the rib for holding the gap between the substrates forming the through hole, which is arranged and formed together with the bonding of the substrates The two holes are pasted together in a state where the inter-substrate gap retaining rib is disposed in advance at the position where the through-hole is to be provided, and then the inside of the inter-substrate gap retaining rib is processed to form the through-hole. Have been configured to form.

  According to the present invention, by providing a through hole in the non-display area portion around the display area, the information display panel is fixed using a fixing tool such as a screw, or the information display is performed using a stepper or a string. An information display panel capable of binding a display panel can be obtained.

  First, a basic configuration of an information display panel that is an object of the present invention will be described. In the information display panel which is an object of the present invention, an electric field is applied to a display medium sealed between two opposing substrates. In accordance with the applied electric field direction, the charged display medium is attracted by the electric field force or the Coulomb force, and the display medium is moved by the change in the electric field direction, whereby information such as an image is displayed. Therefore, it is necessary to design the information display panel so that the display medium can move uniformly and maintain stability when rewriting the display repeatedly or when displaying the display information continuously. Here, as the force applied to the particles constituting the display medium, in addition to the force attracting each other by the Coulomb force between the particles, an electric mirror image force between the electrode and the substrate, an intermolecular force, a liquid cross-linking force, gravity and the like can be considered.

  An example of an information display panel that is an object of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In the example shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, at least two kinds of display media 3 (here, white display medium particles 3Wa) having at least one kind of particles and having different optical reflectance and charging characteristics are used. The electrode 5 (individual electrode) provided on the substrate 1 in each cell formed by the partition walls 4 is provided with a white display medium 3W composed of a plurality of particle groups and a black display medium 3B composed of a particle group of black display medium particles 3Ba. ) And an electrode 6 (individual electrode) provided on the substrate 2, the substrate is moved perpendicularly to the substrates 1 and 2 in accordance with an electric field generated by applying a voltage. Then, the white display medium 3W is visually recognized by the observer as shown in FIG. 1A, or white display is performed, or the black display medium 3B is visually recognized by the observer as shown in FIG. 1B. The display is black. In addition, in FIG. 1 (a), (b), the partition in front is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the example shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, at least two or more types of display media 3 (here, white display medium particles 3Wa) having different optical reflectance and charging characteristics composed of at least one type of particles. The electrode 5 (line electrode) provided on the substrate 1 in each cell formed by the partition walls 4 is provided with a white display medium 3W composed of a plurality of particle groups and a black display medium 3B composed of a particle group of black display medium particles 3Ba. ) And an electrode 6 (line electrode) provided on the substrate 2, and is moved perpendicularly to the substrates 1 and 2 according to an electric field generated by applying a voltage. Then, the white display medium 3W is visually recognized by the observer as shown in FIG. 2A, or white display is performed, or the black display medium 3B is visually recognized by the observer as shown in FIG. 2B. The display is black. In addition, in FIG. 2 (a), (b), the partition in front is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the example shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the display medium 3 (in this case, from the particle group of white display medium particles 3Wa) having at least an optical reflectance and a charging property composed of at least one kind of particles. In each cell formed by the partition walls 4 in accordance with the electric field generated by applying a voltage between the electrode 5 and the electrode 6 (transparent electrode) provided on the substrate 1. And move in a direction parallel to the substrates 1 and 2. Then, as shown in FIG. 3 (a), the white display medium 3W is visually recognized by the observer to display white, or as shown in FIG. 3 (b), the color of the black plate 7 is changed to the observer. Is displayed in black. In addition, in the example shown to Fig.3 (a), (b), the partition in front is abbreviate | omitted. The electrode may be provided inside the substrate, outside the substrate, or may be provided so as to be embedded inside the substrate.

  In the example shown in FIGS. 4A to 4D, first, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4C, at least the optical reflectivity and charging characteristics of at least one kind of particles are different. Two or more types of display media 3 (here, a white display medium 3W composed of particles of white display medium particles 3Wa and a black display medium 3B composed of particles of black display medium particles 3Ba are shown) are formed by partition walls 4. In each of the formed cells, the substrate 1 corresponds to the electric field generated by applying a voltage between the external electric field forming means 61 provided outside the substrate 1 and the external electric field forming means 62 provided outside the substrate 2. 2 and move vertically. Then, the white display medium 3W is visually recognized by the observer as shown in FIG. 4B, or white display is performed, or the black display medium 3B is visually recognized by the observer as shown in FIG. 2D. The display is black. In addition, in FIG. 4 (a)-(d), the partition in front is abbreviate | omitted. In addition, a conductive member 63 is provided inside the substrate 1, and a conductive member 64 is provided inside the substrate 2.

  The above description is similarly applied to the case where the white display medium 3W including the particle group is replaced with the white display medium including the powder fluid and the black display medium 3B including the particle group is replaced with the black display medium including the powder fluid. I can do it. The powder fluid will be described later.

  In the example shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, another example in which black and white display is performed using the line electrodes 5 and 6 is described, similar to the example shown in FIGS. In the example shown in FIG. 5, the white display medium 3W and the black display medium are used instead of the cells formed by the partition walls 4 filled with the white display medium 3W and the black display medium 3B shown in FIGS. A microcapsule 9 filled with 3B together with the insulating liquid 8 is used. In the example shown in FIG. 6, instead of filling the white display medium 3 </ b> W and the black display medium 3 </ b> B shown in FIGS. A microcapsule 9 filled inside with an insulating liquid 8 is used as a display medium. In any of the examples shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, monochrome display can be performed as in the example shown in FIG.

  A feature of the information display panel of the present invention is that a through hole is provided in a non-display area around which a line electrode or individual electrode does not exist, around a display area constituted by using line electrodes or individual electrodes. Various specific examples will be described below.

  FIGS. 7A, 7B, 8A, 8B, and 9 are diagrams for explaining the configuration of an example of the information display panel of the present invention. Here, FIG. 7A shows a plane of one panel substrate (for example, the substrate 2 on the display surface side), and FIG. 7B shows a cross section taken along the line AA in FIG. FIG. 8A shows a plane of the other panel substrate (for example, the substrate 1 on the back side), and FIG. 8B shows a cross section taken along the line AA in FIG. Further, FIG. 9 shows a cross section taken along line AA shown in FIGS. 5B and 6B when the substrates 1 and 2 are bonded together.

  In this example, first, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, a through-hole 11 and an inter-substrate gap around the through-hole 11 are formed in a non-display area where no electrode exists on the substrate 2 on the display surface side. A holding rib 12 is provided, and an adhesive 14 is disposed at the tip of the inter-substrate gap holding rib 12. At the same time, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, when the panel is formed by bonding the substrates 1 and 2 to each other in the non-display area where no electrode is present on the substrate 1 on the back side, A through hole 13 is provided at a position corresponding to the through hole 11 on the side, and an inter-substrate gap holding rib adhesive portion 15 is provided at a position corresponding to the inter-substrate gap holding rib 12 on the display surface side. Then, the display surface side substrate 2 shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B and the back side substrate 1 shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B are bonded together (when the display region is formed). As shown in FIG. 9, an information display panel 16 having a through hole 11 (13) is formed at the same time as the substrates 1 and 2 are bonded together.

  10 (a), 10 (b), 11 (a), 11 (b) and 12 are diagrams for explaining the configuration of another example of the information display panel of the present invention. Here, FIG. 10A shows a plane of one panel substrate (for example, the substrate 2 on the display surface side), and FIG. 10B shows a cross section taken along the line AA in FIG. FIG. 11A shows a plane of another panel substrate (for example, the substrate 1 on the back side), and FIG. 11B shows a cross section taken along the line AA in FIG. Further, FIG. 12 shows a cross section taken along line AA shown in FIGS. 10B and 11B when the substrates 1 and 2 are bonded together.

  In this example shown in FIGS. 10 (a), 10 (b), 11 (a), 11 (b) and 12, FIGS. 7 (a), (b), 8 (a), (b) and FIG. The same members as in the example shown in FIG. In this example, in addition to the configuration shown in FIGS. 7A, 7B, 8A, 8B, and 9, the inner side of the inter-substrate gap holding rib 12 that forms the through hole 11 is used. The sealing agent 17 for preventing moisture (moisture) from entering from the outside is arranged around the periphery.

  FIGS. 13A and 13B are views for explaining the configuration of still another example of the information display panel of the present invention. In this example, first, as shown in FIG. 13 (a), the two substrates 1 and 2 are bonded together in a state in which the inter-substrate gap holding rib 12 is arranged in advance at the location where the through hole is to be provided. Prepare the panel before processing the through hole. Thereafter, as shown in 13 (b), the through-hole 11 (13) is provided by processing the inside of the inter-substrate gap holding rib 12 in the prepared panel. Here, any processing method can be used as long as the through hole can be formed, but it is preferable to use laser processing or punching processing. In the example shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, the display area of the panel is surrounded by the sealant 21, and the white display medium 3W and the black display medium 3B are filled in the cells formed by the partition walls 4. Although the configuration using line electrodes is shown, it goes without saying that other configurations can be adopted.

  In the configuration of the information display panel of the present invention described above, it is preferable that the through holes are provided in advance at predetermined positions on both the panel substrates (examples illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B to 12). In an information display panel using a resin panel substrate, a through hole can be provided by laser processing or punching after the panel is assembled (after the panel substrate is bonded). Even when a through hole is formed by processing later, it is preferable that a substrate gap holding member is set in advance at a predetermined position and a through hole is formed in the substrate gap holding member (FIG. 13A). (Example described in (b)). In this case, sufficient moisture (moisture) entry prevention can be achieved without arranging a sealant around the through hole.

  FIGS. 14A to 14D are diagrams for explaining an example of through hole formation in the information display panel of the present invention. The example shown in FIG. 14A shows an example in which circular through-holes 11 are provided at two end portions of a non-display area at the top of the display panel. The example shown in FIG. 14B shows an example in which circular through holes 11 are provided at the four corners of the non-display area of the display panel. In the example shown in FIG. 14C, an example in which a rectangular through hole 11 is provided in a non-display area at the top of the display panel is shown. The example shown in FIG. 14D shows an example in which a circular triple through hole is provided in the non-display area at the left end of the display panel. FIGS. 15A and 15B are diagrams for explaining other examples of through hole formation in the information display panel of the present invention. The example shown in FIG. 15A shows an example in which circular through holes 11 are provided in five non-display areas in an information display panel in which the display area 1 and the display area 2 are configured by two display panels. . The example shown in FIG. 15B shows an example in which rectangular through holes 11 are provided in three non-display areas in an information display panel in which the display area 1 and the display area 2 are configured by two display panels. .

  FIGS. 16A and 16B are diagrams for explaining an example in which the information display panel of the present invention is applied to a watch. In the example shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B, a clock is displayed from an information display panel 31 composed of two display panels constituting the display area 1 and the display area 2 and a circular dial 32 around it. It is composed. Then, using the through hole provided in the non-display area between the display area 1 and the display area 2 of the information display panel 31, the rotation shaft 33 is displayed on the display surface from a drive mechanism (not shown) on the back surface of the watch. The hour hand composed of the long hand 34 and the short hand 35 is connected to the rotating shaft 33 so that the long hand 34 and the short hand 35 can be driven as a clock. In this example, the information display panel 31 of the present invention is used for information display, such as changing the flower picture display shown in FIG. 16A to another flower picture shown in FIG. The image displayed on the panel 31 can be arbitrarily changed as desired.

  FIGS. 17A and 17B are diagrams for explaining an example in which the information display panel of the present invention is applied to the background display of a speedometer. In the example shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B, in a speedometer of an automobile, a rectangular through hole 11 is provided in a non-display area, and a linear drive mechanism (not shown) provided on the back surface is connected to a shaft 41. Then, by providing the pointer 42 on the shaft 41 and moving the pointer 42 according to the speed, the speed can be notified by reading a speed display formed in advance. In this example, by using the information display panel 43 of the present invention, the display image of the information display panel 43 can be arbitrarily changed as desired as shown in FIGS. 17 (a) and 17 (b). It becomes. Here, the numerical value indicating the speed is printed in the non-display area of the information display panel.

  18 (a), 18 (b), 19 (a), and 19 (b) are diagrams for explaining an example of a specific configuration of the information display panel of the present invention. 18 (a), 18 (b) and FIGS. 19 (a), 19 (b), the same members as the examples shown in FIGS. 1 (a), 1 (b) to 3 (a), 3 (b) Are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

  In the example shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B, an example of color display in which a unit pixel is configured by three cells is shown. In the examples shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B, as the display medium 3, the red display medium 3R and the white display medium 3W are filled in the first cell 51-1, and the blue display medium 3BL and the white display medium 3 are filled. The display cell 3W is filled in the second cell 51-2, the green display medium 3G and the white display medium 3W are filled in the third cell 51-3, the first cell 51-1 and the second cell. A unit pixel is composed of three cells 51-2 and the third cell 51-3. In the examples shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B, the red display medium 3R is provided in the first cell 51-1, the second cell 51-2, and the third cell 51- in the observer side. 3, the white display medium 3 </ b> W is arranged to display red for the observer. FIG. 18A shows an example of line electrodes, and FIG. 18B shows an example of individual electrodes.

  In the example shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B, as in the example shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B, an example of color display in which a unit pixel is configured by three cells is shown. In the example shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B, unlike the example shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B, the white display medium 3W and the black color are displayed in all the cells 51-1 to 51-3 as the display medium. The display medium 3B is filled, a red color filter 52R is provided on the viewer side of the first cell 51-1, a green color filter 52G is provided on the viewer side of the second cell 51-2, and the third cell A blue color filter 52BL is provided on the viewer side of 51-3, and a unit pixel is configured by three cells of the first cell 51-1, the second cell 51-2, and the third cell 51-3. Yes. In the examples shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B, the black display medium 3B is displayed on the viewer side in the first cell 51-1 and the second cell 51-2, and the third cell 51-3. Then, by arranging the white display medium 3W, blue display is performed for the observer. FIG. 19A shows an example of line electrodes, and FIG. 19B shows an example of individual electrodes.

  In the information display panel of the present invention configured as described above, it is necessary to provide a transparent electrode on the display surface side substrate, and the electrode is formed by a transparent conductive material such as indium tin oxide (ITO). Since the electrode provided on the substrate may not be transparent, a highly conductive metal material such as aluminum or copper can be used. In addition, in a display panel in which line electrodes are arranged, it is preferable that neither electrodes nor display media be arranged in a non-display area where through holes are provided. However, even if electrodes are arranged, the electrodes are arranged if no voltage is applied. It does not matter. Furthermore, a member for holding the gap between the substrates is provided around the through hole, and is fixed to both panel substrates without any gap. Furthermore, it is preferable to dispose a sealing agent around the through-holes around the inter-substrate gap retaining material in order to prevent moisture (moisture) from entering from the outside. The position where the through hole is provided is not limited as long as it is a non-display area of the display panel, and the shape, size, and number of the through holes are not limited. Furthermore, the present invention can also be applied to a display panel having a plurality of display areas. That is, even in a single display panel constituted by a plurality of display panels, through holes can be provided in the non-display areas where the display panels (display areas) are not arranged.

  Hereinafter, each member which comprises the information display panel of this invention is demonstrated.

  As for the substrate, at least one substrate is the transparent substrate 2 from which the color of the display medium can be confirmed from the outside of the information display panel, and a material having high visible light transmittance and good heat resistance is preferable. The substrate 1 may be transparent or opaque. Examples of substrate materials include polymer sheets such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polyethersulfone, polyethylene, polycarbonate, polyimide, and acrylic, flexible materials such as metal sheets, and glass and quartz. An inorganic sheet having no flexibility is mentioned. The thickness of the substrate is preferably from 2 to 5000 μm, more preferably from 5 to 2000 μm. If it is too thin, it will be difficult to maintain the strength and the spacing uniformity between the substrates, and if it is thicker than 5000 μm, it will be a thin information display panel. Is inconvenient.

  As the electrode forming material in the case of providing an electrode, metals such as aluminum, silver, nickel, copper and gold, indium tin oxide (ITO), indium oxide, antimony tin oxide (ATO), conductive tin oxide, conductive Conductive metal oxides such as zinc oxide, and conductive polymers such as polyaniline, polypyrrole, and polythiophene are exemplified and appropriately selected and used. As a method for forming an electrode, a method of forming the above-described materials into a thin film by sputtering, vacuum deposition, CVD (chemical vapor deposition), coating, or the like, or mixing a conductive agent with a solvent or a synthetic resin binder. The method of apply | coating is used. The electrode provided on the display surface side substrate 2 which is on the viewing side and needs to be transparent needs to be transparent, but the electrode provided on the back side substrate 1 does not need to be transparent. In any case, the above-mentioned material that can be patterned and is electrically conductive can be suitably used. Note that the electrode thickness is not particularly limited as long as the conductivity can be secured and the light transmittance is not hindered, and is preferably 3 to 1000 nm, preferably 5 to 400 nm. The material and thickness of the electrode provided on the back side substrate 1 are the same as those of the electrode provided on the display surface side substrate described above, but need not be transparent. In this case, the external voltage input may be superimposed with direct current or alternating current.

The shape of the partition walls 4 provided on the substrate as required is appropriately set appropriately depending on the type of display medium involved in display, the shape and arrangement of electrodes to be arranged, and is not limited in general. The height of the partition is adjusted to 100 to 100 μm, preferably 3 to 50 μm, and the height of the partition wall to 10 to 100 μm, preferably 10 to 50 μm.
In forming the partition wall, a both-rib method in which ribs are formed on each of the opposing substrates 1 and 2 and then bonded, and a single-rib method in which ribs are formed only on one substrate are conceivable. In the present invention, any method is preferably used.
As shown in FIG. 20, the cells formed by the partition walls made up of these ribs are exemplified by a square shape, a triangular shape, a line shape, a circular shape, and a hexagonal shape as viewed from the plane of the substrate. And a mesh shape. It is better to make the portion corresponding to the cross section of the partition wall visible from the display surface side (the area of the cell frame) as small as possible, and the display becomes clearer.
Examples of the method for forming the partition include a mold transfer method, a screen printing method, a sand blast method, a photolithography method, and an additive method. Any of these methods can be suitably used for the information display panel of the present invention, and among these, a photolithography method using a resist film and a mold transfer method are suitably used.

  Next, the powder fluid used as a display medium used for the information display panel according to the present invention will be described. As for the name of the powder fluid used in the information display panel of the present invention, the present applicant has obtained the right of “Electronic Powder Fluid (registered trademark): Registration No. 4636931”.

  The “powder fluid” in the present invention is a substance in an intermediate state of both fluid and particle characteristics that exhibits fluidity by itself without borrowing the force of gas or liquid. For example, liquid crystal is defined as an intermediate phase between a liquid and a solid, and has fluidity that is a characteristic of liquid and anisotropy (optical properties) that is a characteristic of solid (Heibonsha: Encyclopedia) . On the other hand, the definition of particle is an object with a finite mass even if it is negligible, and is said to be affected by gravity (Maruzen: Physics Encyclopedia). Here, even in the case of particles, there are special states of gas-solid fluidized bed and liquid-solid fluids. When gas is flowed from the bottom plate to the particles, upward force is applied to the particles according to the velocity of the gas. Is a gas-solid fluidized bed that is in a state where it can easily flow when it balances with gravity, and it is also called a liquid-solid fluidized state that is fluidized by a fluid (ordinary) Company: Encyclopedia). As described above, the gas-solid fluidized bed body and the liquid-solid fluid are in a state of using a gas or liquid flow. In the present invention, it has been found that a substance in a state of fluidity can be produced specifically without borrowing the force of such gas and liquid, and this is defined as powder fluid.

  That is, the pulverulent fluid in the present invention is in an intermediate state having both the characteristics of particles and liquid, as in the definition of liquid crystal (liquid and solid intermediate phase), and is the characteristic of the above-mentioned particles. It is a substance that is extremely unaffected and exhibits a unique state with high fluidity. Such a substance can be obtained in an aerosol state, that is, in a dispersion system in which a solid or liquid substance is stably suspended as a dispersoid in a gas, and the solid substance is regarded as a dispersoid in the information display panel of the present invention. To do.

The information display panel to which the present invention is applied encloses a powder fluid that exhibits high fluidity in an aerosol state in which at least one is transparent, between opposed substrates, for example, solid particles in gas are stably suspended as a dispersoid Such pulverulent fluid is so fluid that it cannot measure the angle of repose, which is an index indicating the fluidity of the powder, and it can be easily and stably moved by Coulomb force with a small electric field force. Can be made.
As described above, for example, the powder fluid used as the display medium in the present invention is a substance in the intermediate state between the fluid and particles that exhibits fluidity by itself without borrowing the force of gas or liquid. It is. This powder fluid can be in an aerosol state in particular, and in the information display panel of the present invention, it is used as a display medium in a state where a solid substance floats relatively stably as a dispersoid in the gas.

Next, display medium particles (hereinafter also referred to as particles) constituting the display medium in the information display panel of the present invention will be described. The display medium particles are composed of the display medium particles as they are to form a display medium, or are combined with other particles to form a display medium, or adjusted and configured to become a powder fluid to form a display medium. Or used.
The particles can contain a charge control agent, a colorant, an inorganic additive, and the like, if necessary, in the resin as the main component, as in the conventional case. Examples of resins, charge control agents, colorants, and other additives will be given below.

  Examples of the resin include urethane resin, urea resin, acrylic resin, polyester resin, acrylic urethane resin, acrylic urethane silicone resin, acrylic urethane fluororesin, acrylic fluororesin, silicone resin, acrylic silicone resin, epoxy resin, polystyrene resin, styrene Acrylic resin, polyolefin resin, butyral resin, vinylidene chloride resin, melamine resin, phenol resin, fluororesin, polycarbonate resin, polysulfone resin, polyether resin, polyamide resin and the like can be mentioned, and two or more kinds can be mixed. In particular, acrylic urethane resin, acrylic silicone resin, acrylic fluororesin, acrylic urethane silicone resin, acrylic urethane fluororesin, fluororesin, and silicone resin are suitable from the viewpoint of controlling the adhesive force with the substrate.

  The charge control agent is not particularly limited. Examples of the negative charge control agent include salicylic acid metal complexes, metal-containing azo dyes, metal-containing oil-soluble dyes (including metal ions and metal atoms), and quaternary ammonium salt systems. Examples thereof include compounds, calixarene compounds, boron-containing compounds (benzyl acid boron complexes), and nitroimidazole derivatives. Examples of the positive charge control agent include nigrosine dyes, triphenylmethane compounds, quaternary ammonium salt compounds, polyamine resins, imidazole derivatives, and the like. In addition, metal oxides such as ultrafine silica, ultrafine titanium oxide, ultrafine alumina, nitrogen-containing cyclic compounds such as pyridine and derivatives and salts thereof, various organic pigments, resins containing fluorine, chlorine, nitrogen, etc. are also charged. It can also be used as a control agent.

  As the colorant, various organic or inorganic pigments and dyes as exemplified below can be used.

Examples of the black colorant include carbon black, copper oxide, manganese dioxide, aniline black, activated carbon and the like.
Examples of blue colorants include C.I. I. Pigment blue 15: 3, C.I. I. Pigment Blue 15, Bituminous Blue, Cobalt Blue, Alkaline Blue Lake, Victoria Blue Lake, Phthalocyanine Blue, Metal-free Phthalocyanine Blue, Phthalocyanine Blue Partial Chlorides, Fast Sky Blue, Indanthrene Blue BC, and the like.
Examples of red colorants include bengara, cadmium red, red lead, mercury sulfide, cadmium, permanent red 4R, resol red, pyrazolone red, watching red, calcium salt, lake red D, brilliant carmine 6B, eosin lake, rhodamine lake B, Alizarin Lake, Brilliant Carmine 3B, C.I. I. Pigment Red 2 etc.

Yellow colorants include chrome yellow, zinc yellow, cadmium yellow, yellow iron oxide, mineral first yellow, nickel titanium yellow, navel yellow, naphthol yellow S, Hansa Yellow G, Hansa Yellow 10G, Benzidine Yellow G, Benzidine Yellow GR, Quinoline Yellow Lake, Permanent Yellow NCG, Tartrazine Lake, C.I. I. Pigment Yellow 12 etc.
Examples of green colorants include chrome green, chromium oxide, pigment green B, C.I. I. Pigment Green 7, Malachite Green Lake, Final Yellow Green G, etc.
Examples of the orange colorant include red chrome yellow, molybdenum orange, permanent orange GTR, pyrazolone orange, Vulcan orange, indanthrene brilliant orange RK, benzidine orange G, indanthrene brilliant orange GK, C.I. I. Pigment Orange 31 etc.
Examples of purple colorants include manganese purple, first violet B, and methyl violet lake.
Examples of white colorants include zinc white, titanium oxide, antimony white, and zinc sulfide.

  Examples of extender pigments include barite powder, barium carbonate, clay, silica, white carbon, talc, and alumina white. Examples of various dyes such as basic, acidic, disperse, and direct dyes include nigrosine, methylene blue, rose bengal, quinoline yellow, and ultramarine blue.

Examples of inorganic additives include titanium oxide, zinc white, zinc sulfide, antimony oxide, calcium carbonate, lead white, talc, silica, calcium silicate, alumina white, cadmium yellow, cadmium red, cadmium orange, titanium yellow, Examples include bitumen, ultramarine blue, cobalt blue, cobalt green, cobalt violet, iron oxide, carbon black, manganese ferrite black, cobalt ferrite black, copper powder, and aluminum powder.
These pigments and inorganic additives can be used alone or in combination. Of these, carbon black is particularly preferable as the black pigment, and titanium oxide is preferable as the white pigment.
By blending the colorant, particles for a display medium having a desired color can be produced.

  The display medium particles (hereinafter also referred to as particles) used in the present invention preferably have an average particle diameter d (0.5) in the range of 1 to 20 μm and are uniform and uniform. If the average particle diameter d (0.5) is larger than this range, the display is not clear. If the average particle diameter d (0.5) is smaller than this range, the cohesive force between the particles becomes too large, which hinders movement as a display medium.

Furthermore, in the present invention, regarding the particle size distribution of each particle, the particle size distribution Span represented by the following formula is less than 5, preferably less than 3.
Span = (d (0.9) −d (0.1)) / d (0.5)
(However, d (0.5) is a numerical value expressing the particle diameter in μm that 50% of the particles are larger than this and 50% is smaller than this, and d (0.1) is a particle in which the ratio of the smaller particles is 10%. (Numerical value expressed in μm, and d (0.9) is a numerical value expressed in μm for a particle diameter of 90% or less.)
By keeping Span within a range of 5 or less, the size of each particle is uniform, and movement as a uniform display medium becomes possible.

  Furthermore, regarding the correlation between the particles, the ratio of d (0.5) of the particles having the minimum diameter to d (0.5) of the particles having the maximum diameter among the used particles is set to 50 or less, preferably 10 or less. It is essential. Even if the particle size distribution Span is reduced, particles with different charging characteristics move in opposite directions, so that the particle size is close to each other and each particle can be easily moved in the opposite direction by the equivalent amount. This is within this range.

The particle size distribution and the particle size can be obtained from a laser diffraction / scattering method or the like. When laser light is irradiated onto particles to be measured, a light intensity distribution pattern of diffracted / scattered light is spatially generated, and this light intensity pattern has a corresponding relationship with the particle diameter, so that the particle diameter and particle diameter distribution can be measured. .
Here, the particle size and particle size distribution in the present invention are obtained from a volume-based distribution. Specifically, using a Mastersizer2000 (Malvern Instruments Ltd.) measuring instrument, particles are introduced into a nitrogen stream, and the attached analysis software (software based on volume-based distribution using Mie theory) The diameter and particle size distribution can be measured.

  The charge amount of the display medium particles naturally depends on the measurement conditions, but the charge amount of the display medium particles in the information display panel is almost the same as the initial charge amount, the contact with the partition walls, the contact with the substrate, and the elapsed time. It was found that depending on the charge decay, the saturation value of the charging behavior of the particles for the display medium is a dominant factor.

  As a result of intensive studies, the present inventors have been able to evaluate the range of proper charging characteristics of display medium particles by measuring the charge amount of the particles used in the display medium using the same carrier particles in the blow-off method. I found.

Furthermore, in the case of applying a display medium such as a particle group composed of display medium particles or a powdered fluid to an information display panel in which the air space is driven, the gas in the gap surrounding the display medium between the substrates can be managed. It is important and contributes to improved display stability. Specifically, it is important that the relative humidity at 25 ° C. is 60% RH or less, and preferably 50% RH or less for the humidity of the gas in the gap.
For example, in FIG. 1 (a), (b) to FIG. 3 (a), (b), the void portion refers to electrodes 5 and 6 (electrodes of the substrate) from the portion sandwiched between the opposing substrate 1 and substrate 2. It refers to a gas portion in contact with a so-called display medium excluding an occupied portion of the display medium 3, an occupied portion of the partition wall 4 (when a partition wall is provided), and a seal portion of the information display panel. .
The gas in the gap is not limited as long as it is in the humidity region described above, but dry air, dry nitrogen, dry argon, dry helium, dry carbon dioxide, dry methane, and the like are preferable. This gas needs to be sealed in an information display panel so that the humidity is maintained, for example, filling a display medium, assembling an information display panel, etc. in a predetermined humidity environment, It is important to apply a sealing material and a sealing method that prevent moisture (moisture) from entering from the outside.

The distance between the substrates in the information display panel that is the subject of the present invention is not limited as long as the display medium can be moved and the contrast can be maintained, but is usually adjusted to 10 to 500 μm, preferably 10 to 200 μm.
The volume occupation ratio of the display medium in the space between the opposing substrates is preferably 5 to 70%, more preferably 5 to 60%. If it exceeds 70%, the movement of the display medium is hindered, and if it is less than 5%, the contrast tends to be unclear.

  General information display panels subject to the present invention include notebook computers, electronic notebooks, portable information devices called PDA (Personal Digital Assistants), display units of mobile devices such as mobile phones and handy terminals, electronic books, Electronic paper such as electronic newspapers, signboards, posters, bulletin boards such as blackboards (whiteboards), electronic desk calculators, display units for home appliances, automobile supplies, card display units such as point cards and IC cards, electronic advertisements, information boards In addition to electronic POP (Point Of Presence, Point Of Purchase advertising), electronic price tag, electronic shelf label, electronic score, display part of RF-ID equipment, display part of various electronic equipment such as POS terminal, car navigation device, clock, etc. Is preferably used. In addition, it is also suitably used as a rewritable paper (which can be rewritten using an external electric field forming means).

  The information display panel having a through hole according to the present invention is particularly mounted on a display type dial (background plate) of an analog type timepiece, a display type background plate such as a pointer type thermometer / hygrometer, and an automobile front panel. It is suitably used as a display unit for a speedometer or a tachometer, a display type background board, a display type decoration for an automobile front panel, or the like.

  The information display panel driving method to which the present invention is applied includes various methods such as a simple matrix driving method and a static driving method that do not use a switching element in the panel itself, and an external electric field driving method that uses an external electric field. This type of driving method can be applied.

(A), (b) is a figure which shows an example of the information display panel used as the object of this invention, respectively. (A), (b) is a figure which shows the other example of the information display panel used as the object of this invention, respectively. (A), (b) is a figure which shows the further another example of the information display panel used as the object of this invention, respectively. (A)-(d) is a figure which shows the further another example of the information display panel used as the object of this invention, respectively. It is a figure which shows the further another example of the information display panel used as the object of this invention. It is a figure which shows the further another example of the information display panel used as the object of this invention. (A), (b) is a figure for demonstrating the structure of an example of the information display panel of this invention, respectively. (A), (b) is a figure for demonstrating the structure of an example of the information display panel of this invention, respectively. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of an example of the information display panel of this invention. (A), (b) is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the other example of the information display panel of this invention, respectively. (A), (b) is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the other example of the information display panel of this invention, respectively. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of an example of the information display panel of this invention. (A), (b) is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the further another example of the information display panel of this invention, respectively. (A)-(d) is a figure for demonstrating an example of the through-hole formation example in the information display panel of this invention, respectively. (A), (b) is a figure for demonstrating the other example of the through-hole formation example in the information display panel of this invention, respectively. (A), (b) is a figure for demonstrating the example which applied the information display panel of this invention to the timepiece, respectively. (A), (b) is a figure for demonstrating the example which applied the information display panel of this invention to the background display of a speedometer, respectively. (A), (b) is a figure for demonstrating an example of the specific structure of the information display panel of this invention, respectively. (A), (b) is a figure for demonstrating the other example of the specific structure of the information display panel of this invention, respectively. It is a figure which shows an example of the shape of the partition in the information display panel used as the object of this invention. (A)-(c) is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the conventional information display panel, respectively.

Explanation of symbols

1, 2 Substrate 3 Display medium (particle group, powder fluid)
3W White display medium 3Wa White display medium particle 3B Black display medium 3Ba Black display medium particle 3R Red display medium 3BL Blue display medium 4 Bulkhead 5, 6 Electrode 7 Black plate 8 Insulating liquid 9 Microcapsule 10 Rotating ball 11, 13 Through Hole 12 Rib for holding gap between substrates 14 Adhesive 15 Adhesive rib for holding gap between substrates 16, 31, 43 Information display panel 17, 21 Sealing agent 32 Dial 33 Rotating shaft 34 Long needle 35 Short needle 41 Axis 42 Pointer 51- DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 1st cell 51-2 2nd cell 51-3 3rd cell 52R Red color filter 52G Green color filter 52B Blue color filter 61, 62 External electric field formation means 63, 64 Conductive member

Claims (4)

  In an information display panel in which a display medium is sealed between two opposing substrates, at least one of which is transparent, and the display medium is moved by an electric field generated in the substrate to display information such as an image. An information display panel comprising a through hole in a surrounding non-display area.   The through hole is formed with a rib for holding the gap between substrates, and when two substrates are bonded, an adhesive is placed on the top of the rib for holding the gap between the substrates and is formed together with the bonding of the substrates. The information display panel according to claim 1.   3. The information display according to claim 2, wherein a sealing agent for preventing moisture (moisture) from entering from outside is disposed around the inside of the inter-substrate gap holding rib forming the through hole. Panel.   The two substrates are bonded together in a state where the inter-substrate gap holding rib is disposed in advance at the location where the through-hole is to be provided, and then the through-hole is formed by processing the inside of the inter-substrate gap holding rib. The information display panel according to claim 1.

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