JP2006317621A - Method for manufacturing panel for information display - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for manufacturing a panel for information display, with which a step to remove a display medium from a partition wall can be omitted by charging the partition wall forming a cell with polarity identical to that of the display medium with which the cell is to be filled. <P>SOLUTION: In the method for manufacturing the panel for information display to display information such as an image by: sealing at least one or more kinds of display media constructed with at least one or more kinds of particles having an optical reflectance and an electrostatic property in the cells, formed with partition walls between two sheets of substrates of which at least one is transparent and which are placed opposite to each other; and transferring the display media by imparting an electric field thereto, by conducting a step to fill the inside of the cell with the display media in the state in which the partition wall forming the cell is charged with the polarity identical to that of the display medium with which the cell is to be filled, a substrate alignment step is conducted without conducting the step to remove the display media from the partition wall, and consequently productivity is improved. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention provides at least one or more kinds of optical reflectance and chargeability composed of at least one kind of particles in a cell formed by a partition between two opposing substrates, at least one of which is transparent. The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an information display panel that encloses a display medium and applies an electric field to the display medium to move the display medium to display information such as an image.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, information display devices that use technologies such as electrophoresis, toner (particle) transfer, electrochromic, thermal, and two-color particle rotation have been proposed as information displays that replace liquid crystal (LCD). Yes.

  Compared to LCDs, these conventional technologies have advantages such as a wide viewing angle close to that of ordinary printed materials, low power consumption, and a memory function. It is considered as a technology that can be used for mobile phones, and is expected to expand to information display for mobile terminals, electronic paper, and the like. In particular, recently, an electrophoretic method (for example, see Non-Patent Document 1) in which a dispersion liquid composed of dispersion particles and a colored solution is microencapsulated and disposed between opposing substrates has been proposed and expected. It has been.

  However, the electrophoresis method has a problem that the response speed becomes slow due to the viscous resistance of the liquid because the particles migrate in the liquid. In addition, since particles with high specific gravity such as titanium oxide are dispersed in a solution with low specific gravity, it is easy to settle, and it is difficult to maintain the stability of the dispersed state, and there is a problem that the stability of repeated information display is lacking. ing. Even when microencapsulation is performed, the cell size is set to the microcapsule level, and the above-described drawbacks are hardly made to appear, and the essential problems are not solved at all.

  On the other hand, a method in which conductive particles and a charge transport layer are incorporated into a part of a substrate without using a solution is proposed instead of an electrophoresis method using behavior in a solution (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1). ). However, this method has a problem that the structure is complicated because the charge transport layer and further the charge generation layer are arranged, and that it is difficult to inject the charges into the conductive particles, so that the stability is lacking. .

  In order to solve the above-mentioned various problems, at least one of the optical reflectivity and charging property composed of at least one kind of particles in a cell formed by a partition between two opposing substrates that are transparent. 2. Description of the Related Art An information display panel that displays information such as an image by moving a display medium by enclosing at least one type of display medium having the above and applying an electric field to the display medium is known.

趙 Kuniaki and three others, “New Toner Display Device (I)”, July 21, 1999, Annual Meeting of the Imaging Society of Japan (83 times in total) “Japan Hardcopy’99” Proceedings, p.249-252

As a method for enclosing a display medium (in other words, display medium particles constituting the display medium) in a cell provided between the substrates when manufacturing an information display panel, for example, a substrate to be filled with the display medium There has been an attempt to fill the display medium by applying a potential having a polarity opposite to that of the display medium filled on the backside of the substrate so as to guide charged particles for the display medium into the cells of the substrate.
However, when the display medium is filled in the cells provided between the substrates by the above method, the display medium adheres to the partition walls forming the cells, and when another substrate is bonded as it is, the display medium is attached to the substrate. There is a problem in that the distance between the tops of the partition walls is not constant and the distance between the panel substrates is not constant. Therefore, in order to solve the above problem, it is necessary to perform an extra step of removing the display medium placed on the partition and the display medium attached to the partition before bonding the substrates. In addition, a display medium charged with one polarity is placed on a transfer medium disposed above the cell on the substrate, and the display medium is moved from the transfer medium by flying and charged particles in the cell on the substrate. When the display medium is filled so as to guide the display medium and when the display medium charged by the particle dispersion method is sprayed, the same problem occurs.

  The present invention provides a method for manufacturing an information display panel in which the display medium removing step of removing the display medium from the partition walls can be omitted by charging in accordance with the display medium filling the partition walls forming the cells. With the goal.

  In order to achieve the above object, the method for producing an information display panel of the present invention comprises at least one kind of particles in a cell formed by a partition between two opposing substrates, at least one of which is transparent. Of 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 In the method, the display medium filling step of filling the display medium into the cell is performed in a state where the partition walls forming the cells have the same polarity as the charged display medium to be charged.

  As a preferred example of the method for producing the information display panel of the present invention, the display medium filling step of filling the display medium into the cell includes a charged display in which the partition wall forming the cell is filled using a partition charging member. A partition charging step for charging the same polarity as the medium, a substrate moving step for moving a substrate having a charged partition to a transfer position, and a display medium charging supporting step for supporting a display medium charged by a charging device on a photosensitive roller. And a display medium flying filling step of causing the display medium carried on the photosensitive roller to fly into the cells of the substrate located below by the operation of a transfer device provided on the back side of the substrate at the transfer position, and The display medium filling step of filling the display medium into the cell has the same polarity as the charged display medium to be filled with the partition wall forming member using the partition wall charging member. A partition charging step for charging the substrate, a substrate moving step for moving the substrate having the charged partition to the transfer position, a display medium charging supporting step for supporting the display medium charged by the charging device on the photosensitive roller, A display medium arranging step for arranging a charged display medium on a transfer medium arranged above the cell, and a display medium for transferring and filling the arranged display medium into the cell on the substrate by flying from the transfer medium The display medium filling step of filling the display medium in the cell with the same polarity as the charged display medium to be filled using the partition charging member. A partition charging step for charging, a substrate moving step for moving a substrate having a charged partition to a transfer position, a feeder unit for supplying a charged display medium in an aerosol state, and A charging mechanism for charging the medium and a display medium charging supply step including a nozzle unit for uniformly spraying the charged display medium to the substrate, and the partition charging member is disposed on the partition. A roller-like member used for rolling, a flat plate-like member or belt-like member used for pressing on the partition, an electrostatic wire-like member used in a non-contact manner with the partition, and the display medium May be a group of particles or a pulverulent fluid.

  According to the method for manufacturing an information display panel of the present invention, an optical reflection composed of at least one kind of particles in a cell formed by a partition wall between two opposing substrates, at least one of which is transparent. Display medium in a method for manufacturing an information display panel, in which at least one type of display medium having rate and chargeability is encapsulated and an electric field is applied to the display medium to display information such as images by moving the display medium Since the filling step is performed in a state where the partition walls forming the cells have the same polarity as the charged display medium to be filled, the charged display medium approaching the partition walls forming the cells is the same as the partition wall charged to the same polarity. Therefore, the display medium does not adhere to the partition walls forming the cells, and the charged display medium is filled in the cells of the substrate. . Therefore, it is possible to provide a method for manufacturing an information display panel that can omit the display medium removing step of removing the display medium from the partition walls.

  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 of the present invention will be described. In the information display panel of the present invention, an electric field is applied by some means in the substrate of the information display panel in which the display medium is sealed between the opposing substrates. The display medium charged in accordance with the electric field direction is attracted by the force of the electric field or the Coulomb force, and the display medium changes its moving direction by switching the electric field direction, thereby displaying information. Therefore, it is necessary to design an information display panel so that the display medium can move uniformly and maintain stability when rewriting display repeatedly or when information is continuously displayed and stored. Here, as the force applied to the particles constituting the display medium, in addition to the force attracted by the Coulomb force between the particles, an electric image force with the electrode, an intermolecular force, a liquid cross-linking force, gravity and the like can be considered.

An example of an information display panel applicable to the information display device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 (a) and (b) to FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b).
In the example shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b), at least two or more types of display media 3 (here, composed of a group of particles) each having at least one or more types of particles and having different optical reflectance and charging characteristics. The white display medium 3W and the black display medium 3B composed of particles are shown) are moved perpendicularly to the substrates 1 and 2 according to the electric field applied from the outside of the substrates 1 and 2, and the black display medium 3B is moved to the observer. A black display is performed for visual recognition, or a white display is performed by allowing an observer to visually recognize the white display medium 3W. In the example shown in FIG. 1B, in addition to the example shown in FIG. 1A, a partition 4 is provided between the substrates 1 and 2 to form a cell, for example.
In the example shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b), at least two or more types of display media 3 (here, composed of a group of particles) each having at least one or more types of particles and having different optical reflectance and charging characteristics. In accordance with 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, a white display medium 3W and a black display medium 3B composed of a particle group are shown) The black display medium 3B is moved vertically to the substrates 1 and 2 so that the observer can visually recognize the black display, or the white display medium 3W is visually recognized by the observer and the white display is performed. In the example shown in FIG. 2 (b), in addition to the example shown in FIG. 2 (a), a partition 4 is provided between the substrates 1 and 2 to form cells, for example.
In the example shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, one type of display medium 3 having optical reflectivity and chargeability composed of at least one type of particles (here, a white display medium 3W composed of a group of particles). Is moved in a direction parallel to the substrates 1 and 2 in accordance with an electric field generated by applying a voltage between the electrode 5 and the electrode 6 provided on the substrate 1, and the white display medium 3W is observed. The color of the electrode 6 or the substrate 1 is displayed by the viewer, or the color of the electrode 6 or the substrate 1 is visually recognized by the viewer. In the example shown in FIG. 3B, in addition to the example shown in FIG. 3A, for example, a lattice-shaped partition wall 4 is provided between the substrates 1 and 2 to form a cell.
The above description also applies to the case where the white display medium 3W made of the particle group is replaced with the white display medium 3W made of the powder fluid, and the black display medium 3B made of the particle group is replaced with the black display medium 3B made of the powder fluid. Can be applied.

  Hereinafter, a method for manufacturing an information display panel, which is a feature of the present invention, will be described in detail. The information display panel of the present invention has an optical reflectance and a charging property composed of at least one kind of particles in a cell formed by a partition between two opposing substrates, at least one of which is transparent. It is an information display panel that displays information such as an image by moving the display medium by enclosing at least one type of display medium and applying an electric field to the display medium. The manufacturing method of the information display panel of the present invention for producing this information display panel includes the step of filling the display medium into the cell with a display medium filling step, and dividing the partition wall to form cells with the same polarity as the charged display medium to be filled. It is characterized in that it is carried out in a charged state.

That is, when a positively charged display medium is filled, first, as shown in FIG. 4 (a) or FIG. 5 (a), along the upper surface of the partition wall 4 forming the cell provided on the substrate. By rolling the roller-shaped partition wall charging member 11, a partition wall charging step for charging the same polarity (in this case, positive) as the display medium filling the partition wall 4 is performed, and then the substrate having the charged partition wall 4 is formed. A substrate moving step of moving to a transfer position (a position where the transfer device 12 is installed) is performed. Thereafter, after performing a display medium charge carrying process for carrying the positively charged display medium 3 on the photosensitive roller 14 negatively charged by the charging device 13, the transfer apparatus is disposed on the back side of the substrate at the transfer position. The positively charged display medium 3 carried on the photosensitive roller 14 by applying a potential of a polarity opposite to that of the display medium to be filled by the operation 12 (in this case, negative) is placed in the cell of the substrate located below. A display medium flying filling process is performed in which the flying medium is filled so as to be guided.
On the other hand, when filling a negatively charged display medium, first, as shown in FIG. 4B or FIG. 5B, along the upper surface of the partition wall 4 forming the cell provided on the substrate. By rolling the roller-shaped partition wall charging member 11, a partition wall charging step for charging the same polarity (in this case, negative) as the display medium filling the partition wall 4 is performed, and then the substrate having the charged partition wall 4 is formed. A substrate moving step of moving to a transfer position (a position where the transfer device 12 is installed) is performed. Thereafter, after performing a display medium charge carrying step for carrying the negatively charged display medium 3 on the photosensitive roller 14 positively charged by the charging device 13, the transfer device is disposed on the back side of the substrate at the transfer position. The negatively charged display medium 3 carried on the photosensitive roller 14 by applying a potential of the opposite polarity (in this case, positive) to the display medium to be filled by the operation of 12 is placed in the cell of the substrate located below. A display medium flying filling process is performed in which the flying medium is filled so as to be guided.

In the above, the display medium filling step of filling the display medium into the cell is configured using the “transfer filling method by a transfer device arranged on the back side of the substrate”, but the present invention is not limited to this. As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, after the partition charging step and the substrate moving step similar to the above, the charged display medium 3 is supplied from the display medium supply device 15 to the display medium carrying roller 16. A display medium charging and carrying process for carrying, a display medium arranging process for arranging the display medium 3 charged on the display medium carrying roller 16 by moving the display medium 3 on the photosensitive roller 14 disposed above the cell on the substrate, and arrangement The display medium 3 is transferred and filled in the cells on the substrate by causing the display medium 3 to fly from the photosensitive rollers 14 to transfer and fill the cells on the substrate. “By the transfer medium (photosensitive roller) disposed above the cells on the substrate” Roll 7 or a feeder unit 17 for supplying a charged display medium in an aerosol state after performing the same partition charging step and substrate moving step as in FIG. 4A, as shown in FIG. A display medium charge supply process is performed, which includes a charging mechanism 18 for charging the display medium and a nozzle unit 19 for spraying the charged display medium uniformly onto the substrate. After performing the process and the substrate moving process, a feeder unit 17 for supplying the charged display medium in an aerosol state, a charging mechanism 18 for charging the display medium, and a nozzle unit 19 for spraying the charged display medium uniformly on the substrate, The “filling method of spraying charged display medium particles” that performs the display medium charge supply step configured by the above can be used.
In the above description, the roller charging member 11 used to roll on the partition is used as the partition charging member 11. However, a flat plate member or a belt-shaped member used to press on the partition may be used. Alternatively, charging may be performed in a non-contact manner with respect to the partition using an electrostatic wire.
Further, the charge amount of the partition wall when charging the partition wall forming the cell may be slightly charged.

  According to the method for manufacturing an information display panel of the present invention, the display medium filling step of filling the display medium into the cell is performed in a state where the partition walls forming the cells are charged with the same polarity as the charged display medium to be filled. Therefore, since the charged display medium approaching the partition wall forming the cell moves away from the partition wall due to repulsion with the same polarity charged partition wall, the display medium does not adhere to the partition wall charged with the same polarity, and the cell of the substrate. It is filled so that it may be led in. Therefore, the substrate bonding step can be performed without performing the display medium removing step of removing the display medium placed on the partition walls and the display medium attached to the partition walls, and productivity is improved.

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

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

  As an electrode forming material when an electrode is provided on a substrate of an information display panel, metals such as aluminum, silver, nickel, copper and gold, and conductive metals such as ITO, indium oxide, conductive tin oxide and conductive zinc oxide Examples thereof include conductive polymers such as oxides, polyaniline, polypyrrole, and polythiophene, which are appropriately selected and used. As a method for forming an electrode, a method of forming the above-described materials into a thin film by sputtering, vacuum deposition, CVD (chemical vapor deposition), coating, or the like, or mixing a conductive agent with a solvent or a synthetic resin binder. The method of apply | coating is used. In many cases, the electrode provided on the display surface side substrate needs to be transparent, but the electrode provided on the back surface side substrate does not need to be transparent. In any case, the material that can be patterned and is electrically conductive can be preferably 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.

For the partition 4 provided on the substrate, the volume resistivity of the partition material is preferably 1 × 10 ⁻¹⁰ Ω · cm or less, and the shape is appropriately set appropriately depending on the type of display medium involved in the display. The width of the partition wall is adjusted to 2 to 100 μm, preferably 3 to 50 μm, and the height of the partition wall is adjusted to 10 to 500 μm, preferably 10 to 200 μm. In forming the partition walls, a both-rib method in which ribs are formed on each of the opposing substrates and then bonded, and a one-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. 8, the cells formed by the partition walls made of these ribs are exemplified by a square shape, a triangular shape, a line shape, a circular shape, and a hexagonal shape as viewed from the plane of the substrate. And a mesh shape. It is better to make the portion corresponding to the cross section of the partition wall visible from the display surface side (the area of the cell frame) as small as possible, and the clearness of information display increases. Here, 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. Among these, a photolithography method using a resist film and a mold transfer method are preferably used.

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

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

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

The information display panel of the present invention encloses a powder fluid that exhibits high fluidity in an aerosol state in which solid particles are stably suspended as a dispersoid, for example, as a display medium, between opposing substrates, at least one of which is transparent. Such a powder fluid can be easily and stably moved by a Coulomb force or the like by applying a low voltage.
As described above, for example, the powder fluid used as the display medium in the present invention is a substance in the intermediate state between the fluid and particles that exhibits fluidity by itself without borrowing the force of gas or liquid. It is. This powder fluid can be in an aerosol state in particular, and in the information display panel of the present invention, a solid substance is used in a state of relatively stably floating as a dispersoid in the gas.

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

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

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

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

Examples of the black colorant include carbon black, copper oxide, manganese dioxide, aniline black, activated carbon and the like.
Examples of blue colorants include C.I. I. Pigment blue 15: 3, C.I. I. Pigment Blue 15, Bituminous Blue, Cobalt Blue, Alkaline Blue Lake, Victoria Blue Lake, Phthalocyanine Blue, Metal-free Phthalocyanine Blue, Phthalocyanine Blue Partial Chlorides, Fast Sky Blue, Indanthrene Blue BC, and the like.
Examples of red colorants include bengara, cadmium red, red lead, mercury sulfide, cadmium, permanent red 4R, risor 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.

  Further, the particles of the present invention preferably have an average particle diameter d (0.5) in the range of 0.1 to 20 μm, and are uniform and uniform. If the average particle diameter d (0.5) is larger than this range, the display is not clear, and if it is smaller than this range, the cohesive force between the particles becomes too large, which hinders the movement of the particles.

Furthermore, in the present invention, regarding the particle size distribution of each particle, the particle size distribution Span represented by the following formula is set to 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 indicating 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 size of 90% or less.)
By keeping Span within a range of 5 or less, the size of each particle is uniform and uniform particle movement is possible.

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

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

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

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

Further, when the present invention is used for a dry information display panel, it is important to manage the gas in the gap surrounding the display medium between the substrates, which contributes to improved display stability. Specifically, it is important that the relative humidity at 25 ° C. is 60% RH or less, preferably 50% RH or less, more preferably 35% RH or less with respect to the humidity of the gas in the gap.
1A, 1B, 3A, and 3B, the gaps are defined as electrodes 5 and 6 (electrodes are formed on the inner side of the substrate) from portions sandwiched between the opposing substrates 1 and 2. Gas portion in contact with a so-called display medium, excluding the occupied portion of the display medium (particle group or powdered fluid) 3, the occupied portion of the partition wall 4 (when provided with the partition wall), and the seal portion of the information display panel. Shall be pointed to.
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 of the present invention is not limited as long as the display medium can be moved and the contrast can be maintained, but is usually adjusted to 10 to 500 μm, preferably 10 to 200 μm.
In the case of a dry information display panel, the volume occupancy of the display medium in the space between the opposing substrates is preferably 5 to 70%, more preferably 5 to 60%. When it exceeds 70%, the movement of the display medium is hindered, and when it is less than 5%, the contrast tends to be unclear.

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to examples and comparative examples of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the following.
In addition, the information display panel of an Example and a comparative example evaluated what produced by the following method according to the following reference | standard.

"Preparation of display media"
In Examples and Comparative Examples, black and white two-color display media (particle group A and particle group B) having different charging characteristics were used as display media.
Particle group A consists of acrylic urethane resin EAU53B (manufactured by Asia Industry Co., Ltd.) / IPDI crosslinking agent Excel Hardener HX (manufactured by Asia Industry Co., Ltd.), carbon black (MA100, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation), 4 parts by weight, charged Add 2 parts by weight of the control agent Bontron E89 (Orient Chemical Co., Ltd.), knead, pulverize with a jet mill, and mechanical impact force using a hybridizer device (Nara Machinery Co., Ltd.) To make a substantially spherical shape, and then classified. The produced particle group A was an approximately spherical and negatively charged black particle group having an average particle diameter of 9.1 μm.
Particle group B was prepared by dissolving 0.5 parts by weight of AIBN (azobisisobutyronitrile) in 80 parts by weight of tertiary butyl methacrylate monomer and 20 parts by weight of 2- (diethylamino) ethyl methacrylate. The liquid obtained by dispersing 20 parts by weight of titanium oxide made lipophilic by treatment with an agent is suspended and polymerized in an aqueous solution of 0.5% surfactant (sodium lauryl sulfate), filtered, dried. Then, it was prepared using a classifier (MDS-2: Nippon Numatic Industries). The produced particle group B was a positively charged spherical white particle having an average particle diameter of 8.5 μm.

"Production of panel substrate"
Glass transparent substrates with ITO electrodes (7 cm × 7 cm □) were prepared, ribs with a height of 25 μm were formed on both substrates, and square-shaped and grid-shaped partition walls were formed.
The partition wall was formed as follows. A dry film photoresist NIT250 made by Nichigo Morton, which is a photosensitive film, was laminated on a glass with ITO, and a partition wall having desired lines of 30 μm, spaces of 320 μm, and pitch of 350 μm was formed by exposure and development.

<Example 1>
A cell of a substrate on which partition walls are formed by two types of particle groups (particle group A, particle group B) having different optical reflectance and charging characteristics by the display medium filling process shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b). The inside and the inside of the cell of the other substrate on which the partition walls were formed were filled separately. At that time, the partition wall charging member (partition wall charging roller) 11 charged the partition wall 4 with the same polarity as the display medium to be filled, and then the display medium was filled.
The packing arrangement amount of the particle group A and the particle group B was set to the same volume amount, and the volume occupation ratio of both particle groups with respect to the space between the substrates formed by bonding the two substrates was adjusted to 25 vol%.

<Comparative Example 1>
Two types of particle groups (particle group A and particle group B) having different optical reflectivities and charging characteristics were used in the same manner as in Example 1 in the cell of the substrate on which the partition walls were formed, and on the other side where the partition walls were formed. The substrate cells were filled separately, but the process of charging the partition walls 4 was not performed.

"Evaluation of information display panel"
When the state after filling the display medium was observed and evaluated using a stereomicroscope, the information display panel of Example 1 charged with the same polarity as the display medium filled with the partition walls and filled with the display medium was When the display medium is filled in the cells formed by the partition walls between the substrates of the display panel, the filling amount of the display medium does not occur and the display medium does not adhere to the partition walls. I found out that
On the other hand, in the information display panel of Comparative Example 1 in which the display medium is filled without being charged with the same polarity as the display medium filling the partition walls, the display medium adheres to the top of the partition walls or the display medium is filled. There were no cells, or there was a problem of filling.

  The information display panel produced by the manufacturing method of the present invention is a display unit for mobile devices such as notebook computers, PDAs, mobile phones, handy terminals, electronic papers such as electronic books and electronic newspapers, bulletin boards such as signboards, posters, and blackboards. Suitable for display units for calculators, home appliances, automotive products, card display units such as point cards and IC cards, electronic advertisements, electronic POPs, electronic shelf labels, electronic price tags, electronic musical scores, and display units for RF-ID devices Used for.

(A), (b) is a figure which shows an example of the information display panel of this invention. (A), (b) is a figure which shows the other example of the information display panel of this invention. (A), (b) is a figure which shows the further another example of the information display panel of this invention. (A), (b) is a figure which shows an example of the manufacturing method of the information display panel of this invention. (A), (b) is a figure which shows the other example of the manufacturing method of the information display panel of this invention. (A), (b) is a figure which shows the other example of the manufacturing method of the information display panel of this invention. It is a figure which shows the other example of the manufacturing method of the information display panel of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the shape of the partition in the information display panel of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Substrate 2 Substrate 3 Display medium (particle group, powder fluid)
3W White display medium 3B Black display medium 4 Partition 5 Electrode 6 Electrode 11 Partition charging member 12 Transfer device 13 Charging device 14 Photosensitive roller 15 Display medium supply device 16 Display medium carrying roller 17 Feeder unit 18 Charging mechanism 19 Nozzle unit

Claims (6)

At least one type of display medium having optical reflectivity and chargeability composed of at least one type of particles is enclosed in a cell formed by a partition between two opposing substrates, at least one of which is transparent. In the method of manufacturing an information display panel for displaying information such as an image by moving the display medium by applying an electric field to the display medium,
A method of manufacturing an information display panel, wherein a display medium filling step of filling a display medium into a cell is carried out in a state where a partition wall forming a cell is charged with the same polarity as a charged display medium to be filled.   The display medium filling step of filling the display medium into the cell includes a partition charging step of charging the partition forming the cell to the same polarity as the charged display medium to be filled using a partition charging member, and the charged partition A substrate moving step for moving a substrate having a transfer position to a transfer position, a display medium charging carrying step for carrying a display medium charged by a charging device on a photosensitive roller, and an operation of a transfer device provided on the back side of the substrate at the transfer position 2. The information display according to claim 1, further comprising: a display medium flying filling step of filling the display medium carried on the photosensitive roller by flying into the cells of the substrate located below. Panel manufacturing method.   The display medium filling step of filling the display medium into the cell includes a partition charging step of charging the partition forming the cell to the same polarity as the charged display medium to be filled using a partition charging member, and the charged partition A substrate moving step for moving a substrate having a transfer position to a transfer position, a display medium charging carrying step for carrying a display medium charged by a charging device on a photosensitive roller, and a transfer medium disposed above a cell on the substrate. A display medium arranging step for arranging charged display media, and a display medium transfer filling step for transferring and arranging the arranged display media into cells on the substrate by flying and moving from the transfer medium. The method for manufacturing an information display panel according to claim 1.   The display medium filling step of filling the display medium into the cell includes a partition charging step of charging the partition forming the cell to the same polarity as the charged display medium to be filled using a partition charging member, and the charged partition Substrate moving step for moving a substrate having a transfer position to a transfer position, a feeder unit for supplying a charged display medium in an aerosol state, a charging mechanism for charging the display medium, and a nozzle unit for uniformly spraying the charged display medium to the substrate The method for manufacturing an information display panel according to claim 1, further comprising: a display medium charging supply step configured by:   Any of a roller-like member used for rolling the partition wall charging member, a flat plate-like member or a belt-like member used for pressing against the partition wall, and an electrostatic wire-like member used without contact with the partition wall The method for manufacturing an information display panel according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein   The method for manufacturing an information display panel according to claim 1, wherein the display medium is a particle group or a powder fluid.

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