JP2008102188A - Information display module - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information display module with high visibility, the entire module made thin by using a sheet type battery as a power supply. <P>SOLUTION: The information display module of the present invention mounts an information display panel 1 that is produced by forming a plurality of cells in a space between two substrates at least one of which is transparent and sealing at least one kind of display medium comprising at least one kind of colored particles for display and having an optical reflectance and charging property in the cells and that displays information such as an image by applying an electric field to the display medium to move the display medium. The module is made thin by disposing a sheet type solar battery as a sheet type battery 12 on the back face of the information display panel 11 and disposing circuit boards 13, 14 on the back face of the sheet type battery 12. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention provides a display medium in which a plurality of cells are formed in a space between two substrates, at least one of which is transparent, and which has at least one or more kinds of colored particles for display and has optical reflectivity and chargeability. The present invention relates to an information display module equipped with an information display panel that displays information such as an image by moving the display medium by applying at least one kind of the above and applying an electric field to the display medium.

  Dry-type information that displays information such as images by moving the display medium by applying an electric field to the display medium having optical reflectivity and chargeability enclosed in a cell formed in the space between the two substrates. A conventional example of an information display module equipped with a display panel is configured as shown in FIGS. 12A, 12B, 13A, and 13B, for example. The information display module shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B includes an information display panel 51 composed of two glass substrates, circuit boards 52 and 53 arranged on the back of the information display panel 51, and a circuit board. The information display module shown in FIGS. 13 (a) and 13 (b) is formed by laminating a battery 54 disposed on the back surface of 53, and an information display panel 55 composed of two flexible substrates, and an information display panel. The circuit board 56 disposed on the side surface 55 and the battery 57 disposed on the back surface of the circuit board 56 are laminated. Examples of the batteries 54 and 57 used as a power source in the conventional information display modules include detachable batteries such as a button-type battery and a cylindrical battery.

A detachable battery such as a button-type battery or a cylindrical battery has a certain battery thickness. Therefore, an information display module equipped with such a battery as a power source has a limit in thinness when it is thinned.
In the above conventional example, an electric field is applied to a display medium having optical reflectivity and chargeability enclosed in a cell formed in a space between two substrates, thereby moving the display medium to display an image or the like. Since a dry information display panel for displaying information is used, the information display panel can be configured using a glass substrate as two substrates as shown in FIGS. 12 (a) and 12 (b). Even when an information display panel is configured using a flexible substrate (for example, a film substrate) as two substrates as in (a) and (b), it is impossible to block all the light incident from the back side. For example, when the display image of the information display panel of the information display module is viewed with the sun behind, a decrease in contrast of the display image is inevitable.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a highly visible information display module in which the entire module is thinned by using a sheet battery as a power source.

  In order to achieve the above object, an information display module according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of cells formed in a space between two substrates, at least one of which is transparent, and at least one kind of display colored particles in the cell. An information display panel for displaying information such as an image by moving the display medium by enclosing at least one type of display medium having optical reflectivity and chargeability and applying an electric field to the display medium is mounted. In the information display module, a sheet-like battery is disposed on the back surface of the information display panel.

  In order to achieve the above object, the information display module of the second invention is formed of a plurality of cells in a space between two substrates, at least one of which is transparent, and at least one kind of colored particles for display in the cells. An information display panel for displaying information such as an image by moving the display medium by enclosing at least one type of display medium having optical reflectivity and chargeability and applying an electric field to the display medium is mounted. In the information display module, a sheet-like solar cell is arranged on the back surface of the information display panel.

  As a suitable example of the information display module of the present invention, a sheet-like secondary battery is disposed on the back surface of the sheet-like solar cell, the two substrates are glass substrates, and the two substrates are It may be a flexible substrate.

  According to the information display module of the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of cells are formed in a space between two substrates, at least one of which is transparent, and the cell has an optical reflectance comprising at least one kind of colored particles for display. And an information display module including an information display panel that displays information such as an image by moving the display medium by enclosing at least one kind of display medium having charging properties and applying an electric field to the display medium. Since the sheet-like battery is disposed on the back surface of the information display panel, an information display module in which the entire module is thinned can be provided. In addition, by reducing the color of the sheet-like battery to a low-lightness color such as black, it is possible to avoid a decrease in contrast of the display image when viewing the display image of the information display panel of the information display module with the sun behind, for example. An information display module with good visibility can be provided.

  According to the information display module of the second invention, a plurality of cells are formed in a space between two substrates, at least one of which is transparent, and the cell is composed of at least one kind of display colored particles. And an information display module including an information display panel that displays information such as an image by moving the display medium by enclosing at least one kind of display medium having charging properties and applying an electric field to the display medium. Since the sheet-like solar cell is disposed on the back surface of the information display panel, an information display module in which the entire module is thinned can be provided. Moreover, since the sheet-like solar cell used as the power source of the information display module does not need to be charged, it does not need to be detachable and can be built in the module, so that the degree of freedom in module design can be improved. Furthermore, by reducing the color of the sheet-like solar cell to a color with low brightness such as black, it is possible to avoid a decrease in contrast of the display image when the display image of the information display panel of the information display module is viewed with the sun behind, for example. Therefore, an information display module with good visibility can be provided.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  First, the configuration of the information display panel mounted on the information display module of the present invention will be described. In this information display panel, an electric field is applied to a display medium sealed between two opposing substrates. Along with the applied electric field direction, the charged display medium is attracted by the force of the electric field 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 the stability when the display information is rewritten or when the display information is continuously displayed. 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.

  Examples of information display panels mounted on the information display module of the present invention are shown in FIGS. 1 (a), (b), 2 (a), (b), 3 (a), (b), FIG. This will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the example shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b), at least two or more types of display media 3 (here, display white particles 3Wa) having different optical reflectivity and charging characteristics composed of at least one type of particles are used. A white display medium 3W made of a particle group and a black display medium 3B made of a particle group of black particles for display 3Ba), each of the cells formed by the partition walls 4, and electrodes 5 (individual electrodes) provided on the substrate 1; The substrate is moved perpendicularly to the substrates 1 and 2 in accordance with an electric field generated by applying a voltage between the electrodes 6 (individual electrodes) provided on the substrate 2. 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. The electrode provided on the substrate can be provided inside the substrate, outside the substrate, or embedded in the substrate.

  In the example shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, at least two types of display media 3 (here, the display white particles 3Wa) having different optical reflectance and charging characteristics composed of at least one type of particles are used. A white display medium 3W made of a particle group and a black display medium 3B made of a particle group of display black particles 3Ba), each of the cells formed by the partition walls 4, and the electrode 5 (line electrode) provided on the substrate 1; The substrate 6 is moved perpendicularly to the substrates 1 and 2 in accordance with an electric field generated by applying a voltage between the electrode 6 (line electrode) provided on the substrate 2 that is opposed to and orthogonal to the substrate 6. 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. The electrode provided on the substrate can be provided inside the substrate, outside the substrate, or embedded in the substrate.

  In the example shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, one type of display medium 3 (here, a group of particles of white particles for display 3Wa) having optical reflectivity and chargeability composed of at least one type of particles. The white display medium 3W is shown in FIG. 2) in each cell formed by the partition walls 4 in accordance with an electric field generated by applying a voltage between the electrode 5 and the black electrode 6 provided on the substrate 1. Move in the direction parallel to 1 and 2. Then, as shown in FIG. 3A, the white display medium 3W is visually recognized by the observer to display white, or as shown in FIG. 3B, the black electrode 6 is visually recognized by the observer. The display is black. In addition, in FIG. 3 (a), (b), the partition in front is abbreviate | omitted. The electrode provided on the substrate can be provided inside the substrate, outside the substrate, or embedded in the substrate.

  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. be able to. The powder fluid will be described later.

  In the example shown in FIG. 4, a microcapsule 8 in which a white display medium 3 </ b> W and a black display medium 3 </ b> B are filled as a display medium together with an insulating liquid 7 is disposed in the space between the substrates 1 and 2. In this example, as shown in FIG. 4, a white display medium is provided on the viewer side according to the electric field generated by applying a voltage between the electrode 5 provided on the substrate 1 and the electrode 6 provided on the substrate 2. By arranging 3W, white display is performed for the observer, or by inverting the state of FIG. 4 and disposing the black display medium 3B on the observer side, black display is performed for the observer. ing. In FIG. 4, the front partition is omitted. The electrode provided on the substrate can be provided inside the substrate, outside the substrate, or embedded in the substrate.

  In the example shown in FIG. 5, a microcapsule 8 is disposed in the space between the substrates 1 and 2. The microcapsule 8 is filled with a rotating ball 9 having two polarities, each of which is white and black as a display medium. In this example, the rotating ball 9 in the microcapsule 8 is rotationally driven according to the electric field generated by applying a voltage between the electrode 5 provided on the substrate 1 and the electrode 6 provided on the substrate 2, As shown in FIG. 5, the white portion of the rotating ball 9 is visually recognized by the observer to display white, or the state of FIG. 5 is reversed and the black portion of the rotating ball 9 is visually recognized by the observer. The display is black. In FIG. 5, the partition in front is omitted. The electrode provided on the substrate can be provided inside the substrate, outside the substrate, or embedded in the substrate.

Hereinafter, the information display module of the present invention will be described in detail. As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the information display module according to the first configuration example of the present invention has an information display panel 11 formed of two glass substrates and a back surface of the information display panel 11. The sheet-shaped battery 12 disposed and the circuit boards 13 and 14 disposed on the back surface of the sheet-shaped battery 12 are laminated.
As the information display panel 11, the information display panels shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4 and 5 are used. In any one of the above, it is assumed that the two substrates 1 and 2 are glass substrates.
As the sheet-like battery 12, a sheet-like battery that does not need to be attached / detached is used. As the sheet-like battery that does not need to be attached / detached, a sheet-like solar battery can be preferably used, but it is not necessary to attach / detach. A sheet-like secondary battery may be used as the sheet-like battery. Moreover, as the said sheet-like battery 12, it is preferable to use the sheet-like battery of the color with low brightness, such as black, in order to improve the visibility of an information display module. After all, as the sheet-like battery 12, it is most preferable to use a black sheet-like solar battery.

The information display module of the second configuration example of the present invention is obtained by adding a sheet-like secondary battery 15 to the information display module of the first configuration example, as shown in FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b). A sheet-like secondary battery 15 is detachably disposed, for example, on a portion of the back surface of the sheet-like battery 12 that is not covered with the circuit boards 13 and 14. The sheet-like secondary battery 15 is provided to retain electricity generated by the sheet-like solar battery when a sheet-like solar battery is used as the sheet-like battery 12. It may be provided independently.
When a sheet-like secondary battery having a low brightness such as black is used as the sheet-like secondary battery 15, the sheet-like solar battery suitably used as the sheet-like battery 12 is a color having a low brightness such as black. Or any other color.

As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the information display module of the third configuration example of the present invention includes a flexible information display panel 16 constituted by two flexible substrates (for example, a film substrate), and information. A sheet battery 17 disposed on the back surface of the display panel 16 is laminated, and a circuit board 18 is disposed on the side surface of the sheet battery 17.
As the information display panel 16, the information display panels shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4 and 5 are used. In any one of the above, it is assumed that the two substrates 1 and 2 are flexible substrates (for example, film substrates).
As the sheet-like battery 17, a sheet-like battery that does not need to be attached / detached is used, and as a sheet-like battery that does not need to be attached / detached, a sheet-like solar battery can be suitably used, but it is not necessary to attach / detach. A sheet-like secondary battery may be used as the sheet-like battery. Further, as the sheet-like battery 17, it is preferable to use a sheet-like battery having a low brightness such as black in order to improve the visibility of the information display module. After all, as the sheet-like battery 17, it is most preferable to use a black sheet-like solar battery.

The information display module of the fourth configuration example of the present invention is obtained by adding a sheet-like secondary battery 19 to the information display module of the third configuration example, as shown in FIGS. 9 (a) and 9 (b). The sheet-like secondary battery 19 is detachably disposed on the back surface of the sheet-like battery 17, for example.
In addition, when a sheet-like secondary battery having a low brightness such as black is used as the sheet-like secondary battery 19, a sheet-like solar battery suitably used as the sheet-like battery 17 is a color having a low brightness such as black. Or any other color.

According to the information display modules of the first configuration example to the fourth configuration example of the present invention, since the sheet-like battery, preferably the sheet-like solar cell, is arranged on the back surface of the information display panel, the information display in which the entire module is thinned. Modules can be provided. In particular, when a flexible information display panel is used as in the third configuration example and the fourth configuration example, it is necessary to provide a battery around the panel in order to ensure flexibility. Although the size or size tends to increase, the entire module can be effectively thinned by using a sheet battery.
Moreover, when using a sheet-like solar cell as the sheet-like battery 12 serving as a power source for the information display module in the first to fourth configuration examples of the present invention, the sheet-like solar cell is detachable because it does not require charging. Therefore, the degree of freedom in designing the module including the exterior can be improved. Moreover, since the information display panel used in the information display module of the present invention is dry, the amount of transmitted light from the display surface to the back surface is large (transmittance of 5% or more). By using it as a power source for the battery, an information display panel that does not require battery replacement and charging is provided.
Furthermore, by reducing the color of the sheet-like solar cell to a color with low brightness such as black, it is possible to avoid a decrease in contrast of the display image when the display image of the information display panel of the information display module is viewed with the sun behind, for example. Therefore, an information display module with good visibility can be provided.

  Hereinafter, each member which comprises the information display panel mounted in the information display module of this invention, and another structural member are demonstrated.

  Regarding the substrate of the information display panel, at least one of the substrates is a transparent substrate capable of confirming the color of the display medium from the outside of the panel, and a material having high visible light transmittance and good heat resistance is preferable. The back substrate and the flexible circuit substrate which are the other substrates 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.

  Electrode forming materials for electrodes provided on the substrate include metals such as aluminum, silver, nickel, copper, and gold, indium tin oxide (ITO), indium oxide, conductive tin oxide, and antimony tin oxide (ATO) conductive oxidation. Examples include conductive metal oxides such as zinc, and conductive polymers such as polyaniline, polypyrrole, and polythiophene, which are appropriately selected and used. The electrode can be formed by patterning the above-described materials into a thin film by sputtering, vacuum deposition, CVD (chemical vapor deposition), coating, or the like, or by mixing a conductive agent with a solvent or synthetic resin binder. A method of applying and patterning is used. The electrode provided on the viewing side (display surface side) substrate needs to be transparent, but the electrode provided on the back side substrate does not need to be transparent. In any case, the above-mentioned material that is conductive and capable of pattern formation 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 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 wall 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, but the width of the partition wall is 2 to 100 μm, preferably 3 to 50 μm. The height of the partition wall is adjusted 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. 10, the cells formed by the partition walls made of these ribs are illustrated in a square shape, a triangular shape, a line shape, a circular shape, and a hexagonal shape as viewed from the substrate plane direction. 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 an information display panel mounted on the information display device 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 that is composed of colored particles for display and used as a display medium in the information display panel will be described. As for the name of the powder fluid used in the information display panel, the present applicant has obtained the right of “Electronic Powder Fluid (registered trademark): Registration No. 4636931”.

  The “powder fluid” used as a display medium is a substance in an intermediate state between fluid and particles 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 liquid powder used as the display medium is an intermediate state having both the characteristics of particles and liquid, as in the definition of liquid crystal (liquid and solid intermediate phase). It is a substance that shows a peculiar 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 a solid substance is used as a dispersoid in an information display panel. is there.

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

A method of charging the particles negatively or positively is not particularly limited, and a method of charging the particles such as a corona discharge method, an electrode injection method, and a friction method is used. It is preferable that the charge amount of particles measured by a blow-off method using a carrier is 10 to 100 μC / g in absolute value. When the absolute value of the charge amount is lower than this range, the response speed with respect to the change in the electric field is slowed, and the memory property is also lowered. If the absolute value of the charge amount is higher than this range, the image force on the electrode or the substrate is too strong, and the memory property is good, but the reversal followability of the display medium when the electric field is reversed becomes poor.
In the present invention, the charge amount was measured as follows.
<Blow-off measurement principle and measurement method>
In the blow-off method, a mixture of colored particles for display and a carrier is put into a cylindrical container with nets at both ends, and high-pressure gas is blown from one end to separate the colored particles for display and carriers from the mesh opening. Blow off only the colored particles for display. At this time, the charge amount equivalent to the charge amount of the colored particles for display taken away from the container remains in the carrier. All of the electric flux due to this charge is collected by the Faraday cage, and the capacitor is charged by this amount. Therefore, by measuring the potential across the capacitor, the charge amount Q of the colored particles for display is
Q = CV (C: capacitor capacity, V: voltage across the capacitor)
As required.
As a blow-off charge amount measuring device, TB-200 manufactured by Toshiba Chemical Corporation was used. In the present invention, a ferrite carrier is used to measure the charge amount of the particles to be measured. The information display panel is composed of, for example, a display medium composed of positively charged colored particles for display and negatively charged colored particles for display. When two types of display media are used in combination with the display medium to be used, the same type of carrier is used when measuring the charge amount of the display colored particles constituting each display medium. Specifically, the charge amount (μC / g) of the particles was measured using a DFC100 wrinkle (Mn—Mg-containing ferrite system) manufactured by Dowa Iron Powder Industry Co., Ltd. as a carrier.

Since the particles need to retain their charged charges, insulating particles having a volume resistivity of 1 × 10 ¹⁰ Ω · cm or more are preferable, and in particular, insulating particles having a volume resistivity of 1 × 10 ¹² Ω · cm or more. Is preferred. Further, particles having a slow charge decay property are more preferable.

Next, colored particles for display (hereinafter also referred to as particles) constituting the display medium in the information display panel will be described. The colored particles for display are composed of the colored particles for display as they are to form a display medium, or are combined with other particles 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 addition, a resin polymerized in advance may be used, or a resin may be polymerized at the time of particle formation. Furthermore, it is good also as a copolymer using several types of resin raw materials at the time of superposition | polymerization. In particular, an acrylic resin, an acrylic fluororesin, a polystyrene resin, and a styrene acrylic resin are suitable from the viewpoint of controlling the adhesive force with the substrate and the ease of suspension polymerization.

  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), nitroimidazole derivatives, and styrene acrylic resins having negatively charged functional groups. Examples of the positive charge control agent include nigrosine dyes, triphenylmethane compounds, quaternary ammonium salt compounds, polyamine resins, imidazole derivatives, and styrene acrylic resins having positively charged functional groups. 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, colored particles for display having a desired color can be produced.

  Further, the colored particles for display (hereinafter also referred to as particles) have an average particle diameter d (0.5) in the range of 1 to 20 μm, and are preferably 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.

Furthermore, in a dry information display panel that drives a display medium (particle group or powdered fluid) in the air space, it is important to manage the gas in the gap surrounding the display medium between the substrates, and to improve display stability. Contribute. 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.
The voids are the opposing substrate 1 and substrate 2 in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4 and 5, respectively. From the portion sandwiched between the electrodes 5, 6 (when the electrode is provided inside the substrate), the occupied portion of the display medium (particle group or powdered fluid) 3, the occupied portion of the partition wall 4, and the seal portion of the information display panel Excluded gas portions that are in contact with a so-called display medium.
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 from entering from the outside.

The distance between the substrates in the information display panel may be adjusted to 10 to 500 μm, preferably 10 to 200 μm, as long as the display medium can move and maintain the contrast.
When a particle group or a powder fluid is used as the display medium, the volume occupancy of the display medium in the cell air 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.

  EXAMPLES Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to examples of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the following.

<Example 1>
While using the information display panel shown in FIG. 2 and using a sheet-like solar cell as the sheet-like battery 12, the information display module of Example 1 shown in FIG.

<Measurement of main sensitivity transmittance>
Using a spectrophotometer (manufactured by Hitachi, U-4000) as a measuring device, setting the light source: D65, field of view: 2 ° field of view, wavelength: 350 nm, 1250 nm, main sensitivity transmittance Y of the information display module of Example 1 When measured, the wavelength-transmittance characteristics shown in FIG. 11 were obtained. As a result of the measurement, the main sensitivity transmittance Y was 5% or more over almost the entire wavelength region.

  As a result of actually using the information display module of Example 1 indoors (lighting environment 2000 lux), display rewriting could be performed without any problem.

The information display module of the present invention includes a notebook computer, an electronic notebook, a portable information device called PDA (Personal Digital Assistants), a display unit of a mobile device such as a mobile phone and a handy terminal, an electronic book, an electronic newspaper, an electronic manual (electronic Electronic paper such as instruction manuals), signboards, posters, bulletin boards such as blackboards and whiteboards, electronic desk calculators, display units such as home appliances and automobile supplies, card display units such as point cards and IC cards, electronic advertisements, information Display of various electronic devices such as POS terminals, car navigation devices, watches, etc., as well as boards, electronic POP (Point Of Presence, Point Of Purchase advertising), electronic price tags, electronic shelf labels, electronic musical scores, and display units for RF-ID devices It is suitably used for the part.
As for the driving method of the information display panel used in the information display module of the present invention, a simple matrix driving method and a static driving method in which no switching element is used in the panel itself, or three-terminal switching represented by a thin film transistor (TFT). Various types of driving methods such as an active matrix driving method using a two-terminal switching element typified by an element or a thin film diode (TFD) can be applied.

(A), (b) is a figure which shows the fundamental structure of the information display panel mounted in the information display module of this invention. (A), (b) is a figure which shows the fundamental structure of the information display panel mounted in the information display module of this invention. (A), (b) is a figure which shows the fundamental structure of the information display panel mounted in the information display module of this invention. It is a figure which shows the principle structure of the information display panel mounted in the information display module of this invention. It is a figure which shows the principle structure of the information display panel mounted in the information display module of this invention. (A), (b) is a figure which shows the information display module of the 1st structural example of this invention. (A), (b) is a figure which shows the information display module of the 2nd structural example of this invention. (A), (b) is a figure which shows the information display module of the 3rd structural example of this invention. (A), (b) is a figure which shows the information display module of the 4th structural example of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the shape of the partition in the information display panel mounted in the information display module of this invention. It is a figure which shows the wavelength-transmittance characteristic of the information display module of the Example of this invention. (A), (b) is a figure which shows the prior art example of the information display module which mounts the dry information display panel. (A), (b) is a figure which shows the prior art example of the information display module which mounts the dry information display panel.

Explanation of symbols

1, 2 Substrate 3 Display medium (particle group, powder fluid)
3W White display medium 3B Black display medium 3Wa White particles for display 3Ba Black particles for display 4 Bulkhead 5, 6 Electrode 7 Insulating liquid 8 Microcapsule 9 Rotating ball 11, 16 Information display panel 12, 17 Sheet cell (sheet solar cell) battery)
13, 14, 18 Circuit board 15, 19 Sheet-like secondary battery

Claims (5)

A plurality of cells are formed in a space between two substrates at least one of which is transparent, and at least one display medium having at least one type of colored particles for display and having optical reflectivity and chargeability is formed in the cell. An information display module including an information display panel that encapsulates and displays an information such as an image by moving the display medium by applying an electric field to the display medium,
An information display module, wherein a sheet-like battery is disposed on the back surface of the information display panel. A plurality of cells are formed in a space between two substrates at least one of which is transparent, and at least one display medium having at least one type of colored particles for display and having optical reflectivity and chargeability is formed in the cell. An information display module including an information display panel that encapsulates and displays an information such as an image by moving the display medium by applying an electric field to the display medium,
An information display module, wherein a sheet-like solar cell is disposed on the back surface of the information display panel.   The information display module according to claim 2, wherein a sheet-like secondary battery is disposed on a back surface of the sheet-like solar battery.   The information display module according to claim 2, wherein the two substrates are glass substrates.   The information display module according to claim 2, wherein the two substrates are flexible substrates.

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