JP2005208493A - Electrophoretic display body and electrophoretic display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a cost required for constructing an electrophoretic display body and an electrophoretic display device and to downsize them. <P>SOLUTION: The electrophoretic display body 11 comprises a display side electrode part 21 and a non-display side electrode part 22 paired and placed opposite to each other. A plurality of microcapsules 24,..., 24 are sealed in a region A partitioned with the display side electrode part 21, the non-display side electrode part 22 and a sealing material 23 disposed in between. Colored charged particles 25 and a dispersion medium 26 to disperse and distribute the charged particles 25 are contained inside the respective microcapsules 24. A driving device 12 attachably and detachably mounted on the electrophoretic display body 11 comprises application electrodes 41,..., 41 and a connection terminal 42 disposed on a substrate 40, contact terminals 43 disposed on surfaces of the respective application electrodes 41 and the connection terminal 42 and a power supply circuit 44 to apply a direct current voltage between the application electrodes 41,..., 41 and the connection terminal 42. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrophoretic display and an electrophoretic display device.

Conventionally, at least one of a pair of opposed electrodes is a transparent electrode, and a colored electrophoretic particle and a liquid phase dispersion medium in which a plurality of electrophoretic particles are dispersed are accommodated between the pair of electrodes. There is known an electrophoretic display device including a display unit and a driving device that applies a voltage between a pair of electrodes to cause the electrophoretic particles to be unevenly distributed toward one of the electrodes (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
In this electrophoretic display device, the display unit and the driving device are integrally formed, and a relatively low level voltage is continuously applied between the pair of electrodes in order to maintain the uneven distribution state of the electrophoretic particles. Yes.
JP 2002-357853 A

However, according to the electrophoretic display device according to the above-described prior art, for example, a low level voltage can be obtained even in a state where a desired uneven distribution state can be maintained without applying a voltage between a pair of electrodes. There is a problem that the power consumption increases excessively because the voltage is continuously applied.
In addition, since the display unit and the driving device are integrally formed, it may be difficult to reduce the cost required for the configuration of the electrophoretic display device and to reduce the size of the electrophoretic display device. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an electrophoretic display body and an electrophoretic display device that can reduce the cost required for the configuration and can be miniaturized.

  In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, the electrophoretic display of the present invention according to claim 1 includes a pair of electrode portions (display-side electrode portions 21 in embodiments described later) arranged to face each other. And a non-display side electrode portion 22) and a region (region in the embodiment described later) partitioned by a sealing material (a sealing material 23 in the embodiment described later) disposed between the pair of electrode portions A) a plurality of microcapsules (microcapsules 24 in the embodiment described later) are enclosed, and colored charged particles (charged particles 25 in the embodiment described later) and the charged particles are dispersed in the microcapsules. The dispersion medium to be disposed (dispersion medium 26 in the embodiment described later) is accommodated, and at least one of the pair of electrode portions (the display-side electrode portion 21 in the embodiment described later) is Electrophoretic display with translucency (Electrophoretic display body 11 in an embodiment to be described later), which is connected to one electrode portion (display-side electrode portion 21 in an embodiment to be described later) or the one electrode portion. Terminal portion (the connection terminal 61 of the non-display-side electrode portion 22 in a modification of the embodiment described later) and the terminal portion connected to the other electrode portion of the pair of electrode portions (the embodiment described later) The terminal portion 36 connected to the non-display side electrode portion 22 and the connection terminal 64 connected to the display side electrode portion 21 in a modification of the embodiment described later are exposed to the outside on the same plane. It is characterized by doing.

  Furthermore, in the electrophoretic display according to the second aspect of the present invention, the electrode portion exposed to the outside of the pair of electrode portions is conductive anisotropy having conductivity only in a direction opposite to the pair of electrode portions. It is characterized by comprising the conductive material (an anisotropic conductive film in the embodiment described later).

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrophoretic display device according to the present invention, wherein the electrophoretic display body according to the first or second aspect is detachably attached to the electrophoretic display body. An application terminal part (application electrode 41 and contact terminal 43 in an embodiment described later) that contacts the one electrode part of the pair of electrode parts or the terminal part connected to the one electrode part; and A contact terminal portion that contacts the terminal portion connected to the other electrode portion of the pair of electrode portions of the electrophoretic display body (a connection terminal 42 and a contact terminal 43 in an embodiment described later), And a driving device (a driving device 12 in the embodiment described later) including a power source (power supply circuit 44 in the embodiment described later) for applying a voltage between the application terminal portion and the contact terminal portion. And at least the electrophoresis The display or the driving device includes positioning members (engaging protrusions 51 and engaging portions 52 in the embodiments described later) that set the electrophoretic display body and the driving device in a predetermined relative arrangement state. It is characterized by that.

  Furthermore, in the electrophoretic display device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the application terminal portion and the contact terminal portion are made of an elastic material that can be elastically deformed (conductive rubber in an embodiment described later). It is a feature.

According to the electrophoretic display body of the present invention described in claim 1, it is possible to reduce the size while reducing the cost required for the configuration of the electrophoretic display body. In addition, it is possible to prevent troublesome work when applying a voltage from the outside.
Furthermore, according to the electrophoretic display body of the present invention as set forth in claim 2, for example, when an operator touches the electrode portion exposed to the outside from the outside or a conductive object comes into contact with the electrode portion. Even so, it is possible to suppress changes in the arrangement state of the charged particles in the microcapsule due to static electricity or the like.
According to the electrophoretic display device of the present invention described in claim 3, when the drive device is mounted on the electrophoretic display body, the predetermined electrical connection between the drive device and the electrophoretic display body is achieved. It is possible to prevent the deviation from occurring.
Furthermore, according to the electrophoretic display device of the present invention described in claim 4, when the drive device and the electrophoretic display body are relatively moved so as to be close to each other and the drive device is mounted on the electrophoretic display body, The driving device and the electrophoretic display can be easily electrically connected.

  Hereinafter, an electrophoretic display and an electrophoretic display according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The electrophoretic display device 10 according to the present embodiment includes, for example, an electrophoretic display body 11 forming so-called electronic paper and a driving device 12 as shown in FIG.
The electrophoretic display body 11 includes, for example, a pair of display-side electrode portions 21 and non-display-side electrode portions 22 that are arranged to face each other, and is sealed between the display-side electrode portion 21 and the non-display-side electrode portion 22. A plurality of microcapsules 24,..., 24 are enclosed in a region A partitioned by the stopper 23, and colored charged particles 25 and a dispersion medium 26 that disperses and arranges the charged particles 25 in each microcapsule 24. Contained and configured.
The display-side electrode portion 21 is a conductive anisotropic light-transmitting conductive material having conductivity only in the opposing direction of the pair of display-side electrode portions 21 and the non-display-side electrode portion 22, such as ITO (indium tin oxide). An anisotropic conductive film 31, and a plurality of transparent electrodes 32, ..., 32 made of ITO (indium tin oxide) or the like disposed on the back surface 31A of the anisotropic conductive film 31, The non-display side electrode portion 22 includes a light-shielding insulating sheet 33 and a counter electrode 34 facing the transparent electrodes 32,... 32 of the display side electrode portion 21.

An annular sealing material 23 made of, for example, a polyester film is disposed between the peripheral edges of the anisotropic conductive film 31 and the insulating sheet 33 that are arranged to face each other at a predetermined interval, and the anisotropic conductive film. A region A defined by 31, the insulating sheet 33, and the sealing material 23 is sealed in a sealed state.
Then, from the insulating sheet 33 toward the anisotropic conductive film 31, the counter electrode 34 arranged on the surface of the insulating sheet 33, a plurality of microcapsules 24,. , 32 and an anisotropic conductive film 31 are arranged.
Each microcapsule 24 enclosed in the region A defined by the anisotropic conductive film 31, the insulating sheet 33, and the sealing material 23 is obtained by mixing a surfactant in an insulating organic solvent, for example. As the colored charged particles 25, positively (+) charged white particles 25a,..., 25a, and negative (−) charged black particles 25b such as carbon black, for example, .., 25b are housed in an electrophoretic dispersion material obtained by dispersing them.
The plurality of microcapsules 24,..., 24 are arranged on the surface of the counter electrode 34 by, for example, applying a solvent containing the plurality of microcapsules 24,.

Further, in the region A defined by the anisotropic conductive film 31, the insulating sheet 33, and the sealing material 23, the conductive material connected to the counter electrode 34 disposed on the surface of the insulating sheet 33 is used. The connecting member 35 is accommodated, and the connecting member 35 includes, for example, a terminal portion 36 made of a conductive film or the like attached to a cutout portion 31 a formed by cutting out a part of the anisotropic conductive film 31. The surface 36A of the terminal portion 36 is exposed to the outside so as to form the same plane as the surface 31B of the anisotropic conductive film 31.
The anisotropic conductive film 31 has conductivity only in the opposing direction of the pair of display-side electrode portions 21 and the non-display-side electrode portion 22, that is, in the thickness direction of the anisotropic conductive film 31. The transparent electrodes 32,..., 32 disposed on the back surface 31A of the conductive film 31 and the terminal portion 36 attached to the cutout portion 31a of the anisotropic conductive film 31 are electrically insulated. ing.

The drive device 12 detachably attached to the electrophoretic display 11 includes, for example, application electrodes 41,..., 41 arranged on the substrate 40 so as to have a predetermined shape such as a lattice shape, and the substrate 40. A power supply that applies a DC voltage between the application terminals 41,..., 41 and the connection terminal 42, the connection terminals 42 arranged, the contact terminals 43 arranged on the surfaces of the application electrodes 41 and the connection terminals 42, The circuit 44 is provided.
The application electrodes 41,..., 41 of the drive device 12 are applied to the application electrodes 41,..., 41 and the transparent electrodes 32 of the electrophoretic display body 11 when the drive device 12 is mounted on the electrophoretic display body 11. , 32 are arranged so as to face each other through the anisotropic conductive film 31, and the connection terminal 42 of the drive device 12 is connected to the connection terminal 42 when the drive device 12 is mounted on the electrophoretic display body 11. It arrange | positions so that the terminal part 36 of the electrophoretic display body 11 may oppose.

Further, the contact terminals 43 arranged on the surfaces of the application electrodes 41 and the connection terminals 42 are made of an elastically deformable conductive elastic material (for example, conductive rubber), and the electrophoretic display of the driving device 12 is performed. When mounting on the body 11, the contact terminal 43 disposed on the surface of each application electrode 41 abuts on the surface 31 </ b> B of the anisotropic conductive film 31, thereby causing each application electrode 41 and the anisotropic conductive film 31. The transparent electrodes 32 arranged on the back surface 31A of the electrophoretic display body 11 are electrically connected to the transparent electrodes 32, and the contact terminals 43 arranged on the surface of the connection terminals 42 are arranged on the surface 36A of the terminal portion 36 of the electrophoretic display body 11. The contact terminal 42 and the counter electrode 34 connected to the terminal portion 36 are electrically connected.
Here, for example, even if some of the contact terminals 43,..., 43 are in contact with the surface 31 B of the anisotropic conductive film 31 or the surface 36 A of the terminal portion 36, these contact terminals 43,. , 43 are elastically deformed, so that all the contact terminals 43,..., 43 are in contact with the surface 31B of the anisotropic conductive film 31 or the surface 36A of the terminal portion 36, Can be moved relative to each other so that all the application electrodes 41,..., 41 of the driving device 12 and the connection terminals 42 are connected to the transparent electrodes 32,. 32 and the counter electrode 34 can be electrically connected.

The power supply circuit 44 is in a state where the driving device 12 is mounted on the electrophoretic display body 11, for example, according to an image signal stored in advance, an image signal input from the outside, or the like. An electric field is generated between the transparent electrodes 32,..., 32 of the electrophoretic display 11 and the counter electrode 34 by applying a DC voltage between the terminal 41 and the connection terminal 42.
Thereby, for example, the negatively charged black particles 25b,..., 25b move close to the transparent electrode 32 set as the positive electrode, and the area of the counter electrode 34 facing the transparent electrode 32 is positively charged. The white particles 25a, ..., 25a move close to each other. Similarly, positively charged white particles 25a,..., 25a move close to the transparent electrode 32 set as the negative electrode, and the area of the counter electrode 34 facing the transparent electrode 32 is negatively charged. The black particles 25b, ..., 25b move close to each other.
Since the uneven distribution state of the charged particles 25 is maintained even after the application of the DC voltage is stopped, the drive device 12 is detached from the electrophoretic display body 11 and is different from the outside of the electrophoretic display body 11. When the surface 31B of the directionally conductive film 31 is viewed, black is visually recognized in the region where the black particles 25b,..., 25b are unevenly distributed in the vicinity of the transparent electrode 32, and the white particles 25a,. The white color is visually recognized in the region, and an image corresponding to the uneven distribution state of the black particles 25b,..., 25b and the white particles 25a,.

In addition, at least the electrophoretic display body 11 or the driving device 12 is a positioning member that sets the electrophoretic display body 11 and the driving device 12 in a predetermined relative arrangement state when the driving device 12 is mounted on the electrophoretic display body 11. For example, the electrophoretic display body 11 is provided with an engagement protrusion 51 that protrudes outward from the end of the sealing material 23 connected to the peripheral edge of the anisotropic conductive film 31. . The engaging protrusion 51 includes, for example, an inclined surface 51A that is inclined at a substantially obtuse angle with respect to the surface 31B of the anisotropic conductive film 31.
The substrate 40 of the driving device 12 is provided with an engagement portion 52 that is formed, for example, by cutting out the peripheral edge of the substrate 40 and engages with the engagement protrusion 51 of the electrophoretic display body 11. . The engaging portion 52 includes a contact surface 52A that comes into surface contact with the inclined surface 51A of the engaging protrusion 51, for example.
That is, when the drive device 12 and the electrophoretic display body 11 are moved relative to each other when the drive device 12 is attached to the electrophoretic display body 11, the engagement protrusion 51 of the electrophoretic display body 11 is moved. When the contact surface 52A of the engaging portion 52 of the driving device 12 comes into surface contact with the inclined surface 51A, the electrophoretic display body 11 and the driving device 12 are fixed in a predetermined relative arrangement state, and the anisotropic conductive film 31. Each of the contact terminals 43 comes into contact with a predetermined position on the surface 31B of the terminal portion 36 and the surface 36A of the terminal portion 36, and the transparent electrodes 32,... A predetermined electrical connection between the application electrodes 41,..., 41 and the connection terminal 42 is prevented from being shifted.

According to the electrophoretic display device 10 having the above configuration, the electrophoretic display body 11 and the driving device 12 are integrated with each other, for example, by integrating the electrophoretic display body 11 and the driving device 12 with each other. Compared with the case of forming, it is only necessary to provide a single drive device 12 for the plurality of electrophoretic display bodies 11,..., 11, and the size of the electrophoretic display device 10 can be reduced while reducing costs. be able to.
Further, the surface 31B of the anisotropic conductive film 31 of the display-side electrode portion 21 of the electrophoretic display body 11 and the surface 36A of the terminal portion 36 connected to the non-display-side electrode portion 22 form the same plane. Thus, two terminals for applying a voltage between the pair of display-side electrode portions 21 and the non-display-side electrode portion 22 of the electrophoretic display body 11, that is, the application electrode 41 and the connection terminal are exposed to the outside. Electrophoresis is performed simply by pressing the driving device 12 having 42 on the same plane against the electrophoretic display body 11 and relatively moving the driving device 12 and the electrophoretic display body 11 close to each other. A voltage can be applied between the pair of display-side electrode portions 21 and non-display-side electrode portion 22 of the display body 11, and the electrophoretic display body 11 can be easily and quickly set to a desired display state. Thereby, even when the plurality of electrophoretic display bodies 11,..., 11 are set to the same display state, for example, compared to the case where the electrophoretic display body 11 and the driving device 12 are connected by a connector or the like. It is possible to prevent troublesome work and improve work efficiency.
In addition, since the display-side electrode unit 21 includes the anisotropic conductive film 31, for example, an operator touches the display-side electrode unit 21 from the outside, or a conductive object contacts the display-side electrode unit 21. Even if it is a case, it can suppress that the uneven distribution state of the charged particle 25 changes.

Moreover, at least the electrophoretic display body 11 or the driving device 12 is a positioning member that sets the electrophoretic display body 11 and the driving device 12 in a predetermined relative arrangement state when the driving device 12 is mounted on the electrophoretic display body 11. For example, even when the drive device 12 is mounted so as to be pressed against the electrophoretic display body 11, the transparent electrodes 32,... 32 and the counter electrode 34 of the electrophoretic display body 11 are driven and driven. It is possible to prevent a predetermined electrical connection between the application electrodes 41,..., 41 and the connection terminal 42 of the device 12 from being shifted.
Furthermore, the contact terminals 43 arranged on the surfaces of the application electrodes 41 and the connection terminals 42 of the driving device 12 are formed of a conductive elastic material (for example, conductive rubber) that can be elastically deformed. For example, when the drive device 12 is mounted so as to be pressed against the electrophoretic display body 11, some of the contact terminals 43,... Even when in contact with 36A, the contact terminals 43,..., 43 are elastically deformed so that all the contact terminals 43,. The driving device 12 and the electrophoretic display body 11 can be relatively moved so as to be close to each other until they contact the surface 36A of the portion 36, and all the application electrodes 41,... The easily, transparent electrode 32 of the electrophoretic display 11, ... can be electrically connected to the 32 and the counter electrode 34.

In the above-described embodiment, when the driving device 12 is mounted on the electrophoretic display body 11, the application electrodes 41,..., 41 and the transparent electrodes 32,. Although it arrange | positions so that it may oppose through the anisotropic conductive film 31, it is not limited to this, For example, like the modification of this embodiment shown in FIG. , 41 and the counter electrode 34 of the electrophoretic display body 11 may be disposed so as to face each other with the insulating sheet 33 interposed therebetween.
In the following, description of the same parts as those of the above-described embodiment will be simplified or omitted.
In this modification, the electrophoretic display 11 is formed on the display side electrode portion 21 including the single transparent electrode 32 disposed on the back surface 31 </ b> A of the anisotropic conductive film 31 and the surface of the insulating sheet 33. The non-display-side electrode portion 22 having a plurality of opposed electrodes 34,.
Each counter electrode 34 disposed on the surface of the insulating sheet 33 is disposed on the back surface of the insulating sheet 33 via a conductive connecting member attached to each through-hole penetrating the insulating sheet 33. Connected to each connection terminal 61.
Further, in the region A defined by the anisotropic conductive film 31, the insulating sheet 33, and the sealing material 23, the single transparent electrode 32 disposed on the back surface 31 </ b> A of the anisotropic conductive film 31 is provided. The connected conductive connection member 62 is accommodated, and a connection terminal 63 disposed on the surface of the insulating sheet 33 is connected to the connection member 62. Further, the connection terminals 63 arranged on the surface of the insulating sheet 33 are arranged on the back surface of the insulating sheet 33 through conductive connecting members attached to the respective through holes penetrating the insulating sheet 33. The connection terminal 64 is connected.

The connection terminals 61,..., 61 arranged on the back surface of the insulating sheet 33 are applied to the application electrodes 41,..., 41 of the drive device 12 when the drive device 12 is mounted on the electrophoretic display 11. , 61 of the electrophoretic display body 11 are arranged so as to face each other, and the connection terminal 64 disposed on the back surface of the insulating sheet 33 makes the drive device 12 to the electrophoretic display body 11. When mounted, the connection terminal 42 of the driving device 12 and the connection terminal 64 of the electrophoretic display body 11 are arranged to face each other.
In this modification, when the driving device 12 is mounted on the electrophoretic display body 11, the contact terminals 43 arranged on the surfaces of the application electrodes 41 of the driving device 12 are connected to the connection terminals 61 of the electrophoretic display body 11. Each of the application electrodes 41 and each of the counter electrodes 34 disposed on the surface of the insulating sheet 33 are electrically connected to each other by being in contact with the surface 61 </ b> A, and are disposed on the surface of the connection terminal 42 of the driving device 12. When the contact terminal 43 contacts the surface 64A of the connection terminal 64 of the electrophoretic display body 11, the connection terminal 42 and the transparent electrode 32 disposed on the back surface 31A of the anisotropic conductive film 31 are electrically connected. Connected.
Further, the electrophoretic display body 11 is provided with an engaging protrusion 65 protruding outward from the peripheral edge of the insulating sheet 33, and the engaging protrusion 65 is engaged with the substrate 40 of the driving device 12. An inclined surface 65A that is in surface contact with the contact surface 52A of the portion 52 is provided.

  In the above-described modification, the non-display side electrode portion 22 includes the insulating sheet 33. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and instead of the insulating sheet 33, the pair of display side electrode portions 21 and the non-display side are provided. An anisotropic conductive film having conductivity only in the opposing direction of the side electrode portion 22 may be used. In this case, a plurality of counter electrodes 34,..., 34 are arranged on the surface of the anisotropic conductive film to form the non-display side electrode portion 22, and further connected to the surface of the anisotropic conductive film. The terminals 63 may be disposed, and the connection terminals 61 and the connection terminals 64 in the above-described modification can be omitted.

1 is a configuration diagram of an electrophoretic display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram of the electrophoretic display device which concerns on the modification of this Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Electrophoretic display device 11 Electrophoretic display body 12 Drive apparatus 21 Display side electrode part 22 Non-display side electrode part 23 Sealing material 24 Microcapsule 25 Charged particle 25a White particle 25b Black particle 26 Dispersion medium 31 Anisotropic conductive film 31A Back surface of anisotropic conductive film 31B Surface of anisotropic conductive film 31a Notch 32 Transparent electrode 33 Insulating sheet 34 Counter electrode 35, 62 Connecting member 36 Terminal portion 36A Surface of terminal portion 40 Substrate 41 Applied electrode 42, 61, 63, 64 connection terminal 43 contact terminal 44 power supply circuit 51, 65 engagement protrusion 51A, 65A inclined surface 52 engagement portion 52A contact surface 61A, 64A surface of connection terminal

Claims (4)

A plurality of microcapsules are enclosed in a region defined by a pair of electrode portions disposed opposite to each other and a sealing material disposed between the pair of electrode portions, and colored charged particles and the charged particles are contained in the microcapsules. And an electrophoretic display body having translucency, wherein at least any one of the pair of electrode portions is housed in a dispersion medium.
One electrode part of the pair of electrode parts or a terminal part connected to the one electrode part and a terminal part connected to the other electrode part of the pair of electrode parts are externally on the same plane. An electrophoretic display body characterized by being exposed. 2. The electricity according to claim 1, wherein an electrode portion exposed to the outside of the pair of electrode portions is made of a conductive anisotropic conductive material having conductivity only in a direction opposite to the pair of electrode portions. Electrophoretic display. The electrophoretic display according to claim 1 or 2,
Removably attached to the electrophoretic display,
An application terminal portion that contacts the one electrode portion of the pair of electrode portions of the electrophoretic display body or the terminal portion connected to the one electrode portion, and the pair of electrode portions of the electrophoretic display body A contact terminal portion that contacts the terminal portion connected to the other electrode portion, and a drive device including a power source that applies a voltage between the application terminal portion and the contact terminal portion. ,
At least the electrophoretic display body or the drive device includes a positioning member that sets the electrophoretic display body and the drive device in a predetermined relative arrangement state. The electrophoretic display device according to claim 3, wherein the application terminal portion and the contact terminal portion are made of an elastically deformable elastic material.

Images