JP2007133202A - Electrophoresis display device and electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electrophoresis display device having an improved water-proof property. <P>SOLUTION: The electrophoresis display device is provided with: a semiconductor circuit board 100 in which a plurality of pixel electrodes are formed on a surface thereof; a transparent substrate 200 in which a transparent electrode layer 201 is formed on a surface and is arranged so as to oppose to the pixel electrodes; an electrophoresis layer 300 which is disposed between the semiconductor circuit board 100 and the transparent substrate 200 and comprises a dispersion system containing electrophoresis particles; and a conductive sealing part 400 disposed so as to surround the whole of outer periphery of the electrophoresis layer 300, wherein the semiconductor circuit board 100 and the transparent substrate 200 are adhered to each other via the conductive sealing part 400 and are electrically connected to each other. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

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

An electrophoretic display device has attracted attention as a display device that is excellent in terms of lightness, flexibility, low power consumption, and the like. The electrophoretic display device has little influence on display quality even when it is curved, and is suitable for use in a display device having a curved surface shape.
An electrophoretic display device is an electric device comprising a dispersion medium containing electrophoretic particles between a transparent substrate having a transparent electrode layer and a substrate having a pixel electrode and a pixel driving circuit provided facing the transparent electrode layer. It has a structure with an electrophoresis layer in between. When moisture enters the electrophoretic layer, there is a problem that the characteristics deteriorate and the display performance deteriorates. In the vertical direction, both substrates play a role of waterproofing, but it is necessary to provide a sealing structure for intrusion of moisture from the side surface.
A technique related to a waterproof structure of an electrophoretic display device is disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1 and the like.

JP 2005-114820 A

As described above, the electrophoretic display device is suitable for application to a curved surface, but in that case, it is difficult to seal the peripheral portion, and the waterproofness of the device tends to be incomplete.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to improve the waterproofness of an electrophoretic display device.

  The electrophoretic display device of the present invention includes a first substrate having a plurality of pixel electrodes formed on one surface, a transparent electrode layer formed on one surface, and the transparent electrode layer disposed so as to face the pixel electrode. A second substrate, an electrophoretic layer that is disposed between the pixel electrode and the transparent electrode layer and includes a dispersion containing electrophoretic particles, and a conductive layer that surrounds the entire outer periphery of the electrophoretic layer. The first substrate and the second substrate are in close contact with each other via the conductive sealing portion and are electrically connected to each other.

  Adhering the first substrate and the second substrate with a conductive sealing portion that surrounds the entire periphery of the electrophoretic layer enhances the sealing performance at the side surface and improves the waterproofness of the electrophoretic display device. Can do. In addition, the thickness of the entire apparatus can be kept constant as compared with the case where a conducting member is provided at a specific location. In addition, since the electrical conduction is established over the entire outer periphery of the electrophoretic layer, the resistance value can be lowered.

  In addition, even when the first substrate, the second substrate, and the electrophoretic layer are integrally formed to form a curved surface, the sealing of the side surface portion is improved because the entire outer periphery of the electrophoretic layer is sealed. In addition, the waterproofness of the electrophoretic display device can be improved.

  The electronic device of the present invention includes all devices including the above-described electrophoretic display device as a display unit, and includes a display device, a television device, an electronic paper, a clock, a calculator, a mobile phone, a portable information terminal, and the like. . Also, things that deviate from the concept of “equipment”, for example, flexible paper / film-like objects, belonging to real estate such as wall surfaces to which these objects are attached, moving objects such as vehicles, flying objects, ships, etc. Including those belonging to.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an electrophoretic display device 10 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The electrophoretic display device 10 includes an electrophoretic layer 300 between a semiconductor circuit substrate (first substrate) 100 and a transparent substrate (second substrate) 200. The semiconductor circuit substrate 100 and the transparent substrate 200 are bonded via the conductive sealing portion 400, and the electrophoretic layer 300 is formed in a space formed by the semiconductor circuit substrate 100, the transparent substrate 200, and the conductive sealing portion 400. It is sealed.
As shown in the figure, the electrophoretic display device 10 is formed in a curved shape. The upper side of the figure is the display surface.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion A in FIG.
The semiconductor circuit substrate 100 includes a semiconductor circuit layer 101, a substrate 102, and a conductive layer 103 for electrical connection to the outside.

  The semiconductor circuit layer 101 includes a wiring group, a pixel electrode group, a pixel driving circuit, a connection terminal, a row decoder and a column decoder for selecting driving pixels, etc. arranged in a plurality in the row direction and the column direction. The pixel drive circuit includes a circuit element such as a thin film transistor (TFT).

  The substrate 102 is a flexible insulating substrate such as polycarbonate. The conductive layer 103 is made of a conductive material such as copper, for example. Note that end portions of the substrate 102 and the conductive layer 103 protrude outward from the transparent substrate 200 to form a lead electrode portion 104.

  The transparent substrate 200 includes a transparent electrode layer 201 and a transparent resin film 202. The transparent electrode layer 201 is, for example, an indium oxide film (ITO film) doped with tin. The transparent resin film 202 is formed of an insulating synthetic resin base material that is transparent and waterproof. For example, a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film is used.

  In addition, a non-transparent region 203 is provided by printing or the like in a region that does not overlap the display portion at the end of the surface opposite to the surface in contact with the transparent electrode layer 201 of the transparent resin film 202. Thereby, it is possible to cover the internal structure such as the conductive sealing portion 400 so that it cannot be seen from the outside.

The electrophoretic layer 300 is formed, for example, by fixing a large number of microcapsules containing electrophoretic particles dispersed in an electrophoretic dispersion medium with a binder.
In the electrophoretic display device 10, the electrophoretic particles migrate when a voltage is supplied to the pixel electrode and the transparent electrode of the semiconductor circuit layer 101 to perform image display.

  The conductive sealing portion 400 is formed so as to surround the entire circumference of the electrophoretic layer 300 with a material having conductivity and waterproofness.

  A method for bonding the semiconductor circuit substrate 100 and the transparent substrate 200 through the conductive sealing portion 400 will be described.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a method for forming an electrophoretic display device according to the first embodiment.
First, in a state where the transparent substrate 200 and the electrophoretic layer 300 are bonded together, a sheet-like conductive material that has been punched according to the shape of the electrophoretic layer 300 is set so as to surround the periphery of the electrophoretic layer 300. The conductive sealing part 400 is formed.

  As the sheet-like conductive material, for example, a conductive acrylic sheet or the like coated with a conductive adhesive, or an insulating nonwoven fabric kneaded with a carbon powder conductive filler can be used. . The resistance of these sheet-like conductive materials can be several tens of ohms per square inch.

  After the conductive sealing portion 400 is temporarily attached to the transparent substrate 200, the semiconductor circuit substrate 100 is further attached.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another example of the method for forming the electrophoretic display device according to the first embodiment.
In this example, with the transparent substrate 200 and the electrophoretic layer 300 bonded together, a conductive adhesive is enclosed around the electrophoretic layer 300 on the transparent electrode layer 201 of the transparent substrate 200 using a dispenser or the like. Thus, the conductive sealing portion 400 is formed.

As the conductive adhesive, for example, a high-purity fine graphite powder kneaded into a silicon-based adhesive (epoxy system, polyisobutylene system, etc.) can be used.
After the conductive sealing portion 400 is formed on the transparent substrate 200, the semiconductor circuit substrate 100 is bonded.

  When the semiconductor circuit substrate 100 and the transparent substrate 200 are bonded together via the conductive sealing portion 400 and the electrophoretic layer 300 is sealed, the electrophoretic display device 10 is formed in a curved shape.

FIG. 5A to FIG. 5C are diagrams illustrating a curved surface forming method of the electrophoretic display device 10.
First, as shown in FIG. 5A, the electrophoretic display device 10 is installed in accordance with a mold 500 having a curved surface shape. The mold 500 includes a heating unit 501 and a suction tube 502.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5 (B), the electrophoretic display device 10 is applied to the electrophoretic display device 10 by performing heating by the heating unit 501 and suction from the suction tube 502. It is deformed according to 500 and a curved surface shape is formed. At the same time, the semiconductor circuit substrate 100 and the transparent substrate 200 are in close contact with each other, and the adhesion in the conductive sealing portion 400 is strengthened.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5C, the electrophoretic display device 10 is removed from the mold 500, and unnecessary portions at both ends of the transparent substrate 200 are cut off. At this time, the extraction electrode portion 104 is formed while leaving the end portion of the semiconductor circuit substrate 100.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the electrophoretic display device 10 formed as described above. The lower side in the figure is the display surface.
The electrophoretic display device has little influence on the display quality even when it is curved, and is suitable for use in a display device having a curved surface shape. However, when the curved surface shape is formed, Adhesion of the transparent substrate 200 was difficult. For this reason, the waterproof structure in the side surface portion tends to be insufficient.
According to the first embodiment, since the conductive sealing portion 400 is provided so as to surround the entire circumference of the electrophoretic layer 300 and the semiconductor circuit substrate 100 and the transparent substrate 200 are bonded, the sealing performance at the side surface portion is achieved. The waterproof property of the electrophoretic display device 10 can be improved. In addition, the thickness of the entire apparatus can be kept constant as compared with the case where a conducting member is provided at a specific location.

  In addition, since the entire outer periphery of the electrophoretic layer 300 is conductive, the resistance value can be reduced.

Electronic Device FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a specific example of an electronic device to which the electrophoretic display device of the present invention is applied. FIG. 7A is a perspective view illustrating an electronic book that is an example of the electronic apparatus. The electronic book 1000 includes a book-shaped frame 1001, a cover 1002 that can be rotated (opened and closed) with respect to the frame 1001, an operation unit 1003, and the electrophoretic display device of the present invention. Display unit 1004.

  FIG. 7B is a perspective view illustrating a wrist watch that is an example of an electronic apparatus. The wristwatch 1100 includes a display unit 1101 configured by the electrophoretic display device of the present invention.

  FIG. 7C is a perspective view illustrating electronic paper which is an example of the electronic apparatus. This electronic paper 1200 includes a main body portion 1201 formed of a rewritable sheet having the same texture and flexibility as paper, and a display portion 1202 formed of an electrophoretic display device of the present invention.

  Note that the range of electronic devices to which the electrophoretic display device of the present invention can be applied is not limited to this, and includes a wide range of devices that utilize changes in visual color tone accompanying the movement of charged particles.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an electrophoretic display device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion A in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a method for forming an electrophoretic display device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating another example of the method for forming the electrophoretic display device according to the first embodiment. 5A to 5C are diagrams illustrating a method of forming a curved surface of the electrophoretic display device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the electrophoretic display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 7A to 7C are diagrams illustrating examples of electronic devices according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Electrophoretic display apparatus, 100 Semiconductor circuit board, 101 Semiconductor circuit layer, 102 board | substrate, 103 Conductive layer, 104 Extraction electrode part, 200 Transparent substrate, 201 Transparent electrode layer, 202 Transparent resin film, 203 Non-transmissive area | region, 300 Electrophoresis Layer, 400 conductive sealing part, 500 type, 501 heating part, 502 suction tube

Claims (3)

A first substrate having a plurality of pixel electrodes formed on one surface;
A second substrate in which a transparent electrode layer is formed on one surface, and the transparent electrode layer is disposed so as to face the pixel electrode;
An electrophoretic layer including a dispersion system disposed between the pixel electrode and the transparent electrode layer and containing electrophoretic particles;
A conductive sealing portion provided so as to surround the entire outer periphery of the electrophoretic layer,
The electrophoretic display device, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate are in close contact with each other via the conductive sealing portion and are electrically connected.   The electrophoretic display device according to claim 1, wherein the first substrate, the second substrate, and the electrophoretic layer are integrated to form a curved surface. An electronic apparatus comprising the electrophoretic display device according to claim 1.

Images