Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B26/00—Optical devices or arrangements for the control of light using movable or deformable optical elements
  • G02B26/02—Optical devices or arrangements for the control of light using movable or deformable optical elements for controlling the intensity of light
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
  • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
  • G09F9/00—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements
  • G09F9/30—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements
  • G09F9/37—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements being movable elements
  • G09F9/377—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements being movable elements the positions of the elements being controlled by pneumatic means
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B26/00—Optical devices or arrangements for the control of light using movable or deformable optical elements
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G02—OPTICS
  • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
  • G02B26/00—Optical devices or arrangements for the control of light using movable or deformable optical elements
  • G02B26/004—Optical devices or arrangements for the control of light using movable or deformable optical elements based on a displacement or a deformation of a fluid
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
  • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
  • G09F13/00—Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising
  • G09F13/24—Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising using tubes or the like filled with liquid, e.g. bubbling liquid
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
  • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
  • G09F9/00—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements
  • G09F9/30—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements
  • G09F9/302—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements characterised by the form or geometrical disposition of the individual elements
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
  • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
  • G09F9/00—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements
  • G09F9/30—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements
  • G09F9/37—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements being movable elements
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
  • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
  • G09F9/00—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements
  • G09F9/30—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements
  • G09F9/37—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements being movable elements
  • G09F9/372—Indicating arrangements for variable information in which the information is built-up on a support by selection or combination of individual elements in which the desired character or characters are formed by combining individual elements being movable elements the positions of the elements being controlled by the application of an electric field
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
  • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
  • G09F13/00—Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising
  • G09F13/04—Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia
  • G09F13/0418—Constructional details
  • G09F13/0422—Reflectors

Definitions

• the invention relates to a device for displaying information which has at least one display element which comprises:
• first volume is arranged between an optically transparent cover layer and the non-transparent intermediate layer and the second volume between the intermediate layer and a terminating layer and all layers extend parallel to one another over their entire surface.
• Such systems are characterized by their bistability with respect to both intended locations of the liquid, either in one volume or the other. Consequently, no further energy input is necessary when the liquid has reached the desired volume to keep it stable there.
• Such fluidic displays are well known in the art. Basically, a plurality of display elements or pixels, also called pixels, which are usually arranged in rows and columns and can be controlled individually, are always used to display a complex image.
• a characteristic of fluidic displays is that one or more mobile liquids are used to visualize each individual pixel. Due to the fact that for the visualization of the pixel, the transport of the corresponding liquid from a reservoir into and out of a visible region of the display is necessary, the known systems often comprise pumping or realizing the liquid transport with the aid of the electrowetting effect. Since in the latter possibility, the movement of the liquid is based on the influenceability of the surface energy of a liquid by an electric field, such devices are characterized in particular by the fact that can be dispensed with the use of moving parts.
• the display elements known from the prior art display varying degrees of saturation over the display surface, which are caused by the fact that liquid layers of varying thickness are located in the visible part of the display element. Thicker layers are not only more colorful than thinner ones, but also darker.
• a further disadvantage of the known systems relates to the problem that the liquids used in the display not only move when this is actually desired, but also, for example, when mechanical forces occurring unpredictably during operation act on the display element. In the simplest case, this can already be done by tilting the display element and thus changing the influence of gravity on the liquids involved.
• WO 2009/036272 A1 discloses a device of the aforementioned type, having a visible region, a reservoir and a polar and a non-polar liquid, in which in each case one of the liquids, depending on an applied electric field, either in the visible area or the reservoir is present. Due to the comparatively low degree of symmetry of the disclosed display elements, they are not suitable for being combined in a space-saving manner to form a display device. It is thus the object of the invention to propose a display element which has an optimized use of space, has a uniform color saturation over the entire surface and is insensitive to mechanical disturbances.
• a device of the aforementioned type wherein the fluidic transition in the direction perpendicular to the visible first volume fluidly connects a lateral end of the first volume with a lateral end of the second volume; and both the first volume, the second volume, and the volume of the liquid are of equal size, so that the volume of liquid can be conveyed in a dimensionally stable manner from one volume to the other volume parallel to the layers up to the fluidic transition, wherein that portion of the volume of liquid, which is located in the visible volume, extending over the entire height between the cover layer and intermediate layer.
• Such a display element is characterized by being able to be operated in such a way that, when the liquid is transferred into the respectively emptied volume, a liquid-free space is created at the end opposite the lateral end. It follows directly in combination with the feature that the liquid always extends over the entire height during the transfer and thus is in contact both with the cover layer and with the intermediate layer that the viewer no color saturation variations are perceptible. Due to the fact that the color layer is conveyed laterally out of the visible volume or into the same with a constant thickness, only the intensity of the light reflected by the respective color decreases.
• the liquid is transported between the two volumes by means of the electric wetting effect.
• the display elements are particularly preferably arranged in columns and rows, for example in five rows and seven columns (5 ⁇ 7 matrix display).
• the display element For selectively visualizing or concealing the display liquid, the display element comprises two volumes, as seen from a viewing direction in two successively arranged planes, wherein the first volume between a transparent cover layer and a non-transparent intermediate layer, and the second volume between this intermediate layer and a Finishing layer is arranged.
• the information display device has a fluidic transition between a lateral end of the first volume and a lateral end of the second volume.
• the fluidic transition is realized in the form of a channel which produces a shortest connection between the volumes and extends perpendicular to the parallel surfaces. In this way, the channel can in the simplest case represent an opening in the non-transparent intermediate layer.
• the surrounding volume is also characterized by a high degree of symmetry. If the liquid for transport is transported from one volume to the other to the lateral end of the volume in which the liquid is located, this can take place without the geometry of the liquid volume at least in the visible range for a viewer in the visible volume changed. Consequently, the perceived color saturation during filling or emptying is constant.
• a particularly preferred device comprises a plurality of display elements and is characterized in that the respective second volume of a display element is arranged at least up to the region of the fluidic transition below the first volume of an adjacent display element.
• Equally space optimized is a device in which the volumes of a display element seen from the viewing direction are consecutive. It can be seen from the two above-mentioned embodiments that in order to obtain the best possible use of space, the first and the second volume should be identical not only with respect to their size, but also with respect to their geometry. Common to both embodiments is that one of the visible volumes each exactly covers the area that is required to arrange a second volume not visible.
• fluidic displays can be realized in which on the one hand the pixels on the image surface are arranged directly next to each other and on the other side in the dimension perpendicular to the viewing plane only as much space must be provided as actually is required for the absorption of liquids in the pixels.
• unused spaces between the volumes of the second kind can be avoided.
• the intermediate layer has at least one further fluidic transition for the fluidic pressure equalization between the two volumes.
• the further fluidic transition only has to be suitable for allowing the displaced gas to escape, significantly smaller cross sections are also sufficient in relation to the first fluidic transition.
• the cross section of this further transition corresponds approximately to the cross section of the first transition.
• the first transition are arranged according to the invention at one lateral end of a volume and the other two transitions at an opposite end of the same volume. Accordingly, the distance of the first transition from the other two is preferably to be maximized.
• a wall is arranged in at least one of the volumes.
• this wall extends at least partially over the entire height of the respective volume.
• the wall adjoins the fluidic transition is perpendicular to the intermediate layer, extends over the total height of the respective volume and has a central interruption of lesser height.
• the interruption can be realized for example in the form of one or more holes.
• the wall is dimensioned such that only by acting on the surface tension by means of an electric field, this can be changed to the extent that the liquid can overcome the wall and pass over the fluidic transition into the other volume.
• the wall adjoins the pressure compensating second fluidic transition is perpendicular to the intermediate layer, extends over only a part of the total height of the respective volume and has a central interruption.
• the wall can also be designed without interruption and have a height that is less than the height of the respective volume.
• at least one web dividing or reducing the transition is arranged.
• the thickness of the web preferably corresponds to the thickness of the intermediate layer.
• the web is incorporated in the intermediate layer itself, for example by means of punching or by providing corresponding openings in the production of the intermediate layer.
• the width of the ridge is preferably sized to cover only a small portion of the respective opening to the fluidic passage, on the one hand to increase the length of the edges of the opening and thus prevent inadvertent overflow without the intended initiated flow hinder.
• the web runs parallel to the shorter sides of an opening to the fluidic transition. It is also possible to arrange a plurality of identical or different webs in an opening in order to obtain, for example, such a structure with a correspondingly high edge length.
• the arrangement of webs is also suitable not only for the opening to the first fluidic transition, but also for the openings to the other fluidic transitions.
• the disclosed device comprises at least one electrically conductive layer and / or coating for providing at least one counterelectrode and separate control electrodes for each display element.
• electrically conductive filler such as aluminum or copper, but also of conductive materials existing coatings, such as sputtered Aluminum layers or the like, can serve as electrodes.
• the control electrodes for each display element may be separately controllable, the counter electrode may preferably be provided for all display elements of a display as a large-area common electrode.
• the device may comprise a common control electrode for at least two display elements.
• a common control electrode for at least two display elements.
• Such an embodiment of the invention is particularly useful if the selection of the display element drive is to be realized by means of a passive matrix. It is conceivable, for example, a structure in which 35 display element, a 7 rows and 5 columns are arranged, each of all display elements of a column are connected to the same drive electrode. The selection of the display elements for the individual control then takes place with the aid of the passive matrix in that the intermediate layer has counterelectrodes, one of which comprises all of the display elements arranged in one of the 7 rows and runs perpendicular to the drive electrodes.
• the counter electrodes and the control electrodes are arranged in different layers.
• the counter electrodes are arranged in the intermediate layer.
• the control electrodes are arranged both in the cover layer and in the terminating layer, forms in this way with only one counter electrode in the direction of both the upper and the lower cavity, an optimally aligned electric field.
• control electrodes it is also possible for the control electrodes to be arranged in the intermediate layer. Consequently, the at least one counterelectrode is arranged in the cover layer and / or in the terminating layer in order to achieve an optimally oriented electric field.
• the intermediate layer is designed to be reflective at least on one side, so that light incident from the viewing direction is reflected by it.
• the Visualization of an optionally located in the upper cavity volume of liquid without supplying, for example, electrical energy for an additional light source possible by this already existing ambient light is used.
• liquids for example, two different liquids. It is always important to ensure that the liquids are not miscible with each other. Particularly preferred are combinations of aqueous and oily liquids, which always have clearly perceptible boundaries to each other in contact with each other.
• the other when one of the two liquids dyed, the other, however, is transparent.
• two liquids of different colors or with different properties for example with regard to the reflection behavior.
• FIG. 1 shows a section through a schematic side view of a first embodiment of the inventive device
• Figure 2 is a section through a schematic side view of a second embodiment of the device according to the invention.
• Figure 3 is a plan view of a schematically illustrated inventive display element according to the second embodiment
• Figure 4 is an extension of the plan view of Figure 3 with structures to prevent unwanted liquid transfer;
• FIG. 1 shows a section through a schematic side view of a first embodiment of the device according to the invention.
• the device according to the invention comprises a first layer 1, which serves as a cover layer and is particularly preferably transparent or opaque in the optical wavelength range.
• a second layer 2 (intermediate layer) is arranged underneath.
• third layer 3 a finishing layer follows.
• first and second layers 1, 2 are at a constant distance from one another, one or more upper volumes 4 with a height h are formed between them. Since the first and the second layer 1, 2 are parallel to each other, the height h is the same everywhere. Accordingly, it is excluded that different thickness layers of a liquid in a volume, if it is ensured that the corresponding volume is completely filled. Analogously, one or more lower volumes 5 are formed between the second layer and the third layer 2, 3, which in turn have the same height everywhere.
• the upper volumes 4 are located in a first, upper level 6, the lower volumes 5 in a second, lower level 7. Particularly preferably, both levels 6, 7 each have the same height.
• first fluidic transitions 8 are provided. These are particularly preferably perpendicular to the intermediate layer 2.
• the belonging to a display element volumes 4, 5 are not superimposed, but offset from one another.
• This arrangement represents a likewise space-saving, alternative arrangement of the volumes 4, 5.
• both liquid F and gas G are located in the volumes 4, 5.
• the liquid F is in the upper volume 4 or in the lower volume 5.
• a Light beam Ll absorbed by the liquid located in the upper volume 4 F, so that this volume is seen as perceived by a viewer as dark.
• the light beam L2 is reflected due to the absence of liquid F at the intermediate layer 2, so that the corresponding display element as bright can be perceived.
• both volumes 4, 5 have substantially the same geometry and, accordingly, the same volume.
• the total volume of both volumes 4, 5 taken together is filled in each case in half by liquid F and gas G.
• a second liquid is used instead of the gas, which is not miscible with the first liquid F.
• the electrodes required in particular when using the electrowetting effect are not shown. These can be arranged in all three layers 1, 2 and / or 3. It is particularly preferred if the counterelectrode are arranged in the intermediate layer 2, and the control electrodes are arranged in the cover layer and / or in the terminating layer.
• FIG. 2 shows a section through a schematic side view of a second embodiment of the device according to the invention.
• the essential difference from the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is the arrangement of the upper volumes 4 in relation to the lower volumes 5 belonging to the respective display element.
• the volumes 4, 5 are arranged consecutively, as seen from the viewing direction. Otherwise, the above statements on FIG. 1 apply analogously, so that in the present case a repetition of the same can be dispensed with.
• FIG. 3 shows a plan view of a schematically illustrated inventive display element according to the second embodiment.
• the display element has a substantially rectangular shape. Shown is the upper volume 4, the intermediate layer 2, as well as visible from this perspective parts of the terminating layer 3 (shown hatched).
• the non-illustrated, essentially transparent covering layer 1 has intransparent regions in the regions of the fluidic transitions 8, 9, so that a liquid which may be present in the lower volume 5 is not visible from an observer.
• first fluidic transition 8 On one longitudinal side of the volume 4 is a first fluidic transition 8 (shown on the left in the picture). This transition 8 serves primarily to the passage of liquid (not shown) through the intermediate layer 2. At the opposite corners arranged this transition (shown in the picture above right and below) are two more fluidic Transitions 9 provided. These serve primarily to fluidic pressure equalization between the two volumes 4, 5 of a display element.
• FIG. 4 shows an enlargement of the plan view from FIG. 3 with structures for avoiding undesired liquid transfer. These are located both at the fluidic transition 8, and at the two other transitions. 9
• two symmetrical to the transition 8 arranged structures in the form of wings 10 are provided. These may extend over the entire height of the volume 4. In this case, they have an interruption, through which liquid (not shown) can pass from the upper volume 4 into the first transition 8. Due to the edges 10 'added by the vanes 10, a drop of liquid which is to leave the upper volume 4 requires a higher energy input in order to change its surface energy sufficiently to allow it to pass through the corresponding junction. A transfer by the action of mechanical energy, however, is much more difficult.
• the structures mentioned represent walls which extend over only part of the total height of the volume 4.
• the wall has a height which amounts to only 10% of the total height of the volume 4. Also in this case, the drop is effectively kept away from the transition area 8 by the wall, as long as desired. Only with the application of an electric field, the liquid can pass over the described wall and into the transition region 8.
• stopper structures 11 which are shown in dashed lines in Figure 4, which is intended to suggest that they are indeed designed throughout, but not extend over the entire height of the volume. Accordingly, the stopper structures 11 can also be described as a wall.
• the wings 10 and / or the stopper structures 11 may for example consist of a plurality of individual, extending over the entire height of the volume extending segments.
• the segments can also be connected to one another by means of one or more correspondingly less highly configured bridges. It is possible for these bridges to be adjacent to the intermediate layer or to the cover or end layer or not to touch any of these layers.
• FIG. 5 shows another extension of the plan view from FIG. 3 or 4 with alternative structures for avoiding unwanted liquid transfer. Accordingly, in order to avoid an undesired transfer of liquid from one level to the other in the region of the transitions 8, 9, at least one web 12 dividing or reducing the transition 8, 9 is arranged.
• this web 12 is arranged such that it divides the respective transition 8, 9 with minimum web length into two part transitions that have the greatest possible size and equal edge lengths.
• the narrow edge of a web 12 extends approximately perpendicularly from the edge of the intermediate layer 2 adjoining the transitions 8, 9 to the opposite wall of the cavity 4.
• the thickness of the web 12, which extends perpendicular to the plane of the drawing, corresponds to the thickness It is therefore not necessary (but also not excluded) that the web 12 has a wall or wall-like structure with a correspondingly greater thickness.
• the webs should be as thin as possible, so as not to significantly reduce the actual transition and so obstruct the (desired) flow.
• the surface energy of the liquid must change more so that it can overcome the ridges.
• more or fewer webs may be provided, wherein the number of webs or the length of the web edges should also be higher with increasing load. Accordingly, lattice-like structures or those with a plurality of holes can be provided in the region of the openings, if this should be necessary due to the load.

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• 2009
  • 2009-05-27 DE DE102009022788A patent/DE102009022788B9/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2010
  • 2010-05-14 WO PCT/DE2010/000542 patent/WO2010136013A1/de active Application Filing
  • 2010-05-14 EA EA201101676A patent/EA024264B1/ru not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2010-05-14 CN CN201080023095.9A patent/CN102449530B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2010-05-14 EP EP10737468A patent/EP2435874A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2010-05-14 KR KR1020117031200A patent/KR20120036893A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2010-05-14 US US13/261,023 patent/US8824039B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2010-05-17 TW TW099115653A patent/TWI519814B/zh not_active IP Right Cessation

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