JP2008107614A - Electrode plate module and display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electrode plate module preventing local bend in a display device that is bent in a specified direction for use and to provide a display device having the module. <P>SOLUTION: The electrode module 3 is bent in one direction and is used, and includes an elastically deformable flexible substrate 8, a plurality of driving electrodes 2 disposed on one surface of the flexible substrate 8, and a wiring pattern 9 disposed on the other surface of the flexible substrate 8 while being electrically connected to the driving electrodes 2. The wiring pattern 9 is disposed to intersect in a direction orthogonal to the one direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrode plate module including a drive electrode and a wiring pattern, and a display device including the electrode plate module.

  Conventionally, an electrophoretic dispersion liquid containing a liquid phase dispersion medium and electrophoretic particles as a kind of electro-optical material is applied, and by applying an electric field, the distribution state of the electrophoretic particles changes, and the electrophoretic dispersion liquid 2. Description of the Related Art An electrophoretic display device that utilizes changes in optical properties is known. Since such an electrophoretic display device does not require a backlight, it is possible to reduce the cost and thickness, and in addition to having a wide viewing angle and high contrast, and having a display memory property, the next generation Has attracted attention as a display device.

In such an electrophoretic display device, an electrophoretic dispersion liquid is enclosed in a microcapsule, and the microcapsule includes, for example, a transparent substrate having a transparent electrode serving as a common electrode (counter electrode), a segment electrode, and the like. One sandwiched between a drive substrate having a drive electrode is known.
For example, Patent Document 1 proposes an electrophoretic display device in which microcapsules in which a dispersion system containing electrophoretic particles is sealed are disposed between a pair of counter electrode substrates, at least one of which is transparent. Further, in Patent Document 2, a transparent electrode is formed on each of opposing surfaces of a translucent transparent substrate and a non-translucent back substrate that are arranged to face each other, and a closed space formed between these transparent electrodes. An electrophoretic display device in which a large number of microcapsules are arranged has been proposed.
As described above, by encapsulating the dispersion containing the electrophoretic particles, it is possible to facilitate the dispersion encapsulating process and realize good display. Note that a flexible substrate made of a resin or the like is often used for the drive substrate and the transparent substrate in terms of flexibility, difficulty in cracking, weight reduction, and the like.

  By the way, in such an electrophoretic display device, when a segment electrode serving as a display portion and a background electrode serving as a background portion are used as drive electrodes, a wiring pattern for driving the segment electrodes is formed. In general, the outer surface of the substrate is formed of copper foil. In other words, the copper foil pattern formed on the outer surface of the substrate is electrically connected to the segment electrode through the through hole formed in the substrate, so that the segment electrode is driven by the wiring pattern made of the copper foil pattern.

In recent years, it has been considered to use an electrophoretic display device as an electronic paper that can be bent, for example, by using a flexible substrate such as plastic as the substrate. Furthermore, the use is also aimed at the use which becomes a curved state at the time of use like a wristwatch.
JP-A 64-86116 JP-A-10-149118

  However, in a display device that is in a curved state during use, the segment electrodes serving as the display unit and the wiring pattern connected thereto form a step with respect to the substrate. If it coincides with the direction orthogonal to the bending direction, stress is concentrated on the thin portion of the step portion when it is bent, and local bending (bending) may occur due to the concentrated load. When local bending (bending) occurs in this way, display defects such as uneven contrast and disconnection of the wiring pattern are likely to occur at this location.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to use an electrode plate module that can prevent local bending of a display device that is curved in a specific direction and uses the same. And a display device.

  In order to achieve the above object, an electrode plate module of the present invention is an electrode plate module that is used by being bent in one direction, and is an elastically deformable flexible substrate and one of the flexible substrates. A plurality of drive electrodes provided on a surface, and a wiring pattern provided on the other surface of the flexible substrate in a state of being electrically connected to the drive electrodes, the wiring pattern having the one direction It is characterized by being arranged so as to intersect with an orthogonal direction.

  According to this electrode plate module, since the wiring pattern is arranged so as to intersect the direction orthogonal to the one direction to be bent, the step formed between the wiring pattern and the flexible substrate However, it does not coincide with the direction orthogonal to the one direction. Therefore, when the flexible substrate is curved, the stress is concentrated on the thin portion of the stepped portion, and the inconvenience that local bending (bending) occurs due to the concentrated load is prevented.

In the electrode plate module, the flexible substrate may have a rectangular shape, and the one direction may be a length direction of a long side of the rectangle.
As described above, when the long side of the rectangle is bent, the direction perpendicular to the long side becomes the short side, so that a concentrated load is more easily applied when stress is concentrated. Since the step formed between the wiring pattern and the flexible substrate does not coincide with the length direction of the short side, local bending (bending) due to stress concentration is prevented.

In the electrode plate module, it is preferable that an angle of the wiring pattern intersecting with a direction orthogonal to the one direction exceeds 45 °.
When a flexible substrate is bent, a bending force acts in a direction crossing one direction, and twisting may occur. Such twisting is usually in a bending direction (one direction). It is considered that there is little tilting (twisting) by 45 ° or more. This is because the inclination of 45 ° or more means that the bending direction is strengthened not in one direction but in a direction orthogonal thereto.
Therefore, as described above, when the angle of the wiring pattern intersecting with the direction orthogonal to the one direction exceeds 45 °, the wiring pattern is always against the twist generated in the normal use state. It intersects with the direction orthogonal to the direction of bending, thereby preventing local bending as described above.

In the electrode plate module, a reinforcing wiring pattern may be provided on the other surface of the flexible substrate in a non-connected state with respect to the wiring pattern. In this way, the mechanical strength of the flexible substrate is reinforced.
In this electrode plate module, the linear portion and the substantially linear portion in the non-electrode region formed between the drive electrodes are positioned directly below a portion that intersects with the one direction by more than 45 °. It is preferable that the first portion of the reinforcing wiring pattern is formed with higher strength than the second portion which is the reinforcing wiring pattern in the vicinity thereof.

When the possibility substrate is bent, the stress is concentrated in the non-electrode region which is a thin portion in the step portion formed between the drive electrode and the flexible substrate. However, according to this electrode plate module, the first of the reinforcing wiring patterns that are located immediately below the portion of the straight portion and the substantially straight portion in the non-electrode region that intersect with each other by more than 45 °. Since the portion is formed with higher strength than the second portion which is the reinforcing wiring pattern in the vicinity thereof, the non-electrode region corresponding to the first portion is reinforced wiring compared to the vicinity corresponding to the second portion. The pattern is relatively reinforced.
Here, when the flexible substrate is bent, a force to bend in a direction intersecting one direction works, and twisting may occur. However, as described above, such twisting is usually performed. There is little tilting (twisting) by 45 ° or more with respect to the bending direction (one direction).
Therefore, as described above, the first portion of the reinforcing wiring pattern is formed with higher strength than the second portion which is the reinforcing wiring pattern in the vicinity thereof, and the non-electrode region corresponding to the first portion is formed in the second portion. Since the reinforcement wiring pattern is relatively reinforced compared to the corresponding neighboring portion, the non-electrode region corresponding to the first portion is always perpendicular to the direction in which the non-electrode region is curved with respect to the twist generated in the normal use state. To cross. Therefore, local bending in the non-electrode region corresponding to the first portion is prevented.

Further, in the electrode plate module, the second portion of the reinforcing wiring pattern is formed to have a lower strength than the first portion of the reinforcing wiring pattern by partially forming a missing portion such as a slit or a through hole. It is preferable.
In this way, by simultaneously patterning the reinforcing wiring pattern when forming the wiring pattern, both the wiring pattern and the reinforcing wiring pattern can be formed in the same process.

In the electrode plate module, it is preferable that the wiring pattern is arranged so as to intersect with a direction orthogonal to the one direction.
In this way, inconveniences such as local bending (folding) are more reliably prevented.

The display device of the present invention includes an elastically deformable first substrate having a driving electrode provided on the inner surface side, a second substrate having a counter electrode provided on the inner surface side, the first substrate and the second substrate. An electro-optic material sandwiched between a substrate and a display device that is curved and used in one direction,
The first substrate is the electrode plate module.
According to this display device, since the electrode plate module in which the local bending is prevented as described above is used, display defects such as contrast unevenness due to the local bending and disconnection of the wiring pattern are surely prevented.

In the display device, the electro-optical material is preferably an electrophoretic dispersion liquid including electrophoretic particles and a liquid phase dispersion medium in which the electrophoretic particles are dispersed.
In this way, the display device is flexible and can be easily bent.

In addition, the display device is preferably a bracelet type display device.
If it does in this way, it will be suitably used for a wristwatch, for example as a bracelet type display device.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
First, a first embodiment of the display device of the present invention will be described.
1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a display device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a first embodiment of an electrode plate module of the present invention. It is a principal part exploded perspective view shown. In the drawings used for the following description, the scales are different for each layer and each member so that each layer and each member have a size that can be recognized on the drawing.

  1 to 3, reference numeral 1 denotes a display device, and the display device 1 is a wristwatch as a bracelet type display device as shown in FIG. 1. That is, the display device 1 is a long and narrow rectangular shape, and one surface on the outer surface side is used as a display surface 1a, and the time and the like are displayed by displaying numbers and the like here. In addition, the display device 1 is configured such that the long side is the curved direction, and thus the user can bend in the long side length direction so that the display surface 1a faces outward. It is supposed to be wound around the arm of It should be noted that known display means (not shown) are provided at both ends of the display device 1 so as to detachably engage and fix one side to the other side.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the display device 1 has a driving substrate (first substrate) 3 provided with a driving electrode 2 on the inner surface side and a transparent common electrode (counter electrode) 4 provided on the inner surface side. A transparent substrate (second substrate) 5, a microcapsule 6 sandwiched between the driving substrate 3 and the transparent substrate 5, and a sealing seal 7 that covers the outer surfaces of the driving substrate 3 and the transparent substrate 5. And a drive circuit board (not shown) connected to the drive board 3.

  The driving substrate 3 is an embodiment of the electrode plate module according to the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the driving substrate 3 is an elastically deformable and elongated rectangular flexible substrate 8, and the flexible substrate 8. A plurality of the drive electrodes 2 provided on the inner surface (one surface), a wiring pattern 9 provided on the outer surface (the other surface) of the flexible substrate 8, and a reinforcing wiring pattern 10, The display device 1 is formed so as to be bendable in the bending direction (long side length direction).

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the drive electrode 2 includes a number of segment electrodes 2a formed in a numerical shape such as “1, 2, 3,...”, And surrounds the segment electrodes 2a. It is comprised from the provided background electrode 2b. As described above, the segment electrode 2a directly displays time and the like by displaying numbers and the like on the display surface 1a. Further, the background electrode 2b forms a background color of display made by the segment electrode 2a, and makes the display by the segment electrode 2a more clear. These drive electrodes 2 may be formed of, for example, the same copper foil pattern as a drive wiring pattern described later, or may be made of a general conductive material such as aluminum (Al) or ITO separately from the drive wiring pattern. It may be formed.

The wiring pattern 9 is provided in a state of being electrically connected to the drive electrode 2 through a through hole 11 formed in the flexible substrate 8 as shown in FIG. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, a large number of wiring patterns 9 are provided independently of each other so as to correspond to the segment electrode 2a and the background electrode 2b constituting the drive electrode 2, and are connected to a drive circuit board (not shown). It has been done.
The reinforcing wiring pattern 10 surrounds the numerous wiring patterns 9 described above, or is provided with a gap (not shown) between them, whereby the wiring pattern 9 is not connected (non-conductive state). For example, it is connected to the ground via a drive circuit board (not shown).

  Here, the wiring pattern 9 and the reinforcing wiring pattern 10 are formed by a copper foil pattern made of the same material in the present embodiment, and are formed to a thickness of about 18 μm by, for example, a semi-additive method. . Therefore, in particular, the wiring pattern 9 is formed with a step between the wiring pattern 9 or between the wiring pattern 9 and the reinforcing wiring pattern 10 by the thickness of the flexible substrate 8. It has become.

  The wiring pattern 9 is arranged so as to intersect with a direction orthogonal to the bending direction (one direction in the present invention) of the display device 1 described above. That is, each wiring pattern 9 intersects a direction (indicated by an arrow Y in FIG. 3) orthogonal to the bending direction (one direction) indicated by an arrow X in FIG. 3 without being parallel to this. It is formed as follows. That is, one end side of each wiring pattern 9 is connected to a drive circuit board (not shown) at one end side of the flexible substrate 8, and the other end side is a corresponding drive electrode 2 (segment electrode 2 a, background electrode 2 b). It is pulled out to just below and is conducted to the drive electrode 2 through the through hole 11.

Under such a configuration, the drive substrate 3 is arranged so that the wiring pattern 9 intersects the direction Y orthogonal to the bending direction X, so that the wiring pattern 9 and the flexible substrate 8 are The level difference formed between them is not parallel to the orthogonal direction Y and is not matched.
Here, the angle of the wiring pattern 9 intersecting the orthogonal direction Y is preferably more than 45 °. In this embodiment, all the wiring patterns 9 are always in the length direction. The angle intersecting the direction Y exceeds 45 °.

  Note that a drive circuit board (not shown) is connected to one side of the drive board 3 having such a configuration, so that the drive electrode 2 can be driven and controlled. Yes.

  In addition, as the flexible substrate 8 forming the drive substrate 3 and the transparent substrate 5 shown in FIG. 2, the display device 1 is used in a curved shape. A sheet-like or sheet-like resin substrate is used. Specifically, a transparent resin substrate (a resin substrate having high light transmittance) is used particularly for the transparent substrate 5 on the display surface 1a side. As a material for such a transparent substrate (transparent substrate 5), for example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethersulfone (PES), polycarbonate (PC) and the like are preferably used.

Further, since the flexible substrate 8 on the side of the drive substrate 3 that does not serve as a display surface does not need to be transparent (highly light transmissive), in addition to the above materials, polyimide (PI), polyethylene naphthalate Polyesters such as (PEN), polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), polypropylene (PP), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), acrylic or polyacrylates are used.
However, in the present invention, as described above, both the flexible substrate 8 and the transparent substrate 5 have flexibility (flexibility), and an elastically deformable substrate is used. In order to prepare, a material, thickness, etc. are suitably selected and used.

In the present embodiment, a polyimide substrate having a thickness of 25 μm is used as the flexible substrate 8, whereby the flexible substrate 3 is flexible and can be elastically deformed and elastically restored. .
In this embodiment, a transparent substrate made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) having a thickness of 188 μm is used as the transparent substrate 5, and a transparent electrode is formed on the inner surface of the transparent substrate (transparent substrate 5) as described above. It is formed as a common electrode 4. The transparent electrode (common electrode 4) is formed on the entire inner surface of the transparent substrate 5, and is made of conductive oxides such as ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) or electronic conductive polymers such as polyaniline. Further, it is formed of ion conductive polymers in which an ionic substance such as NaCl, LiClO ₄ , or KCl is dispersed in a matrix resin such as polyvinyl alcohol resin or polycarbonate resin. In the present embodiment, the transparent electrode (common electrode 4) is formed of an ITO film formed by a vapor deposition method or the like.

  Between the driving substrate 3 and the transparent substrate 5 having such a configuration, a microcapsule 6 is particularly disposed on the driving electrode 2. The microcapsules 6 are filled with a display material, and are all formed to have substantially the same diameter. The encapsulated display material is an electro-optical material whose optical characteristics change in response to electrical stimulation, and specifically, an electrophoretic dispersion liquid containing electrophoretic particles is used.

This electrophoretic dispersion is composed of electrophoretic particles and a liquid phase dispersion medium for dispersing the electrophoretic particles.
Examples of the liquid phase dispersion medium include water, methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, butanol, octanol, methyl cellosolve and other alcohol solvents, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate and other esters, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone and other ketones. , Aliphatic hydrocarbons such as pentane, hexane and octane, alicyclic hydrocarbons such as cyclohexane and methylcyclohexane, benzene, toluene, xylene, hexylbenzene, hebutylbenzene, octylbenzene, nonylbenzene, decyl Aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzenes having long chain alkyl groups such as benzene, undecylbenzene, dodecylbenzene, tridecylbenzene, tetradecylbenzene, etc., halo such as methylene chloride, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, 1,2-dichloroethane, etc. Emissions of hydrocarbons, can be used by blending a surfactant or the like to the carboxylate or other various oils, etc. alone or a mixture thereof.

The electrophoretic particles are organic or inorganic particles (polymer or colloid) having a property of moving by electrophoresis due to a potential difference in a liquid phase dispersion medium.
Examples of the electrophoretic particles include black pigments such as aniline black, carbon black, and titanium black, white pigments such as titanium dioxide, zinc white, and antimony trioxide, azo pigments such as monoazo, diisazone, and polyazo, and isoindolinone. Yellow pigments such as yellow lead, yellow iron oxide, cadmium yellow, titanium yellow, antimony, azo pigments such as monoazo, disazo, polyazo, red pigments such as quinacridone red, chrome vermilion, phthalocyanine blue, indanthrene blue, anthraquinone 1 type (s) or 2 or more types, such as a system pigment, blue pigments, such as bitumen, ultramarine blue, and cobalt blue, and green pigments, such as phthalocyanine green, can be used.

Furthermore, these pigments include, as necessary, charge control agents composed of particles of electrolytes, surfactants, metal soaps, resins, rubbers, oils, varnishes, compounds, titanium-based coupling agents, aluminum-based coupling agents. A dispersant such as a silane coupling agent, a lubricant, a stabilizer, and the like can be added.
As a material for forming the wall film of the microcapsule 6, a compound such as a composite film of gum arabic / gelatin, urethane resin, urea resin, urea resin can be used.

In the present embodiment, two types of electrophoretic particles are enclosed in the microcapsule 6, one being negatively charged and the other being positively charged. As these two types of electrophoretic particles, for example, titanium dioxide that is a white pigment and carbon black that is a black pigment are used. Then, by using such two types of electrophoretic particles of white and black, for example, when displaying numbers or the like, it is possible to display numbers or the like with black electrophoretic particles.
Alternatively, only one type of electrophoretic particle may be used, and this may be migrated to the common electrode 4 side or the drive electrode 2 side to display.

  These microcapsules 6 are fixed to the transparent substrate 5 by the binder 12 on the common electrode 4. As the binder 12, those having good affinity for the wall film of the microcapsule 6, excellent adhesion to the common electrode 4, and insulating properties can be used. For example, polyethylene, chlorinated polyethylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer, polypropylene, ABS resin, methyl methacrylate resin, vinyl chloride resin, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, vinyl chloride -Vinylidene chloride copolymer, vinyl chloride acrylate copolymer, vinyl chloride-methacrylic acid copolymer, vinyl chloride-acrylonitrile copolymer, ethylene-vinyl alcohol-vinyl chloride copolymer, propylene-vinyl chloride copolymer Polymer, thermoplastic resin such as vinylidene chloride resin, vinyl acetate resin, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl formal, and cellulose resin, polyamide resin, polyacetal, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polyphenyl Polymers such as oxide, polysulfone, polyamideimide, polyamino bismaleimide, polyethersulfone, polyphenylenesulfone, polyarylate, grafted polyfinylene ether, polyetheretherketone, polyetherimide, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyfluoride Fluorine resins such as ethylene propylene, tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkoxyethylene copolymer, ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer, polyvinylidene fluoride, polytrifluoroethylene chloride, fluororubber, silicone resin, silicone rubber As other silicon resins, methacrylic acid-styrene copolymer, polybutylene, methyl methacrylate-butadiene-styrene copolymer, and the like can be used.

On the other hand, these microcapsules 6 are fixed to the drive substrate 3 on the drive electrode 2 by an adhesive layer made of a double-sided adhesive sheet 13. The double-sided adhesive sheet 13 serving as an adhesive layer has a rubber or acrylic adhesive having a thickness of about 25 μm, is fixed on the drive electrode 2 of the drive substrate 3 and is a microcapsule. By fixing to 6, the microcapsule 6 is held and fixed on the drive substrate 3.
With such a configuration, the microcapsule 6 is sandwiched between the drive substrate 3 and the transparent substrate 5.

  A pair of sealing seals 7 and 7 are laminated on the outer surface sides of the drive substrate 3 and the transparent substrate 5 so as to sandwich them. Between the pair of sealing seals 7 and 7, the periphery of the driving substrate 3 and the transparent substrate 5 is bonded to each other with an adhesive (not shown) and sealed, thereby driving the driving substrate 3. And between the transparent substrate 5 and these, it seals with the sealing seals 7 and 7. FIG.

In the driving substrate 3 (electrode plate module) constituting such a display device 1, the wiring pattern 9 is arranged so as to intersect the direction Y orthogonal to the bending direction X as shown in FIG. Has been. Accordingly, the step formed between the wiring pattern 9 and the flexible substrate 8 is not parallel to the orthogonal direction Y and is not matched, so that it is curved when the display device 1 is used. Thus, when the flexible substrate 8 is also bent, the stress concentrates on the thin portion of the step portion, and the inconvenience that local bending (bending) occurs due to the concentrated load can be prevented.
In addition, since local bending due to bending is prevented, it is possible to reduce the curvature when bent, and thus the degree of freedom in use is increased.
Further, according to the display device 1, since the driving substrate 3 (electrode plate module) in which local bending is prevented is used, display defects such as unevenness of contrast due to local bending and disconnection of the wiring pattern 9 are ensured. Will be prevented.

Further, since all the wiring patterns 9 are always formed so that the angle intersecting the direction Y exceeds 45 ° in the length direction, when the display device 1 is bent, the bending direction X On the other hand, even if twisting occurs in the Y direction, local bending due to concentrated load is also prevented.
That is, it is considered that the twist as described above is not likely to be inclined (twisted) by 45 ° or more with respect to the bending direction (one direction). This is because tilting 45 ° or more means that the bending direction is strengthened not in the X direction but in the Y direction perpendicular thereto.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the display device of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the display device of the present invention, which is a cross-sectional view corresponding to the portion taken along line AA of FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is an electrode plate module (drive substrate) of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a main part of the electrode plate module (drive substrate) shown in FIG. 5.

  4 and 5, reference numeral 20 denotes a display device. The display device 20 is mainly different from the display device 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 in that the reinforcing wiring formed on the outer surface side of the flexible substrate 8 in the drive substrate 21 as shown in FIG. The first portion 22 of the pattern 10 is that it is formed with higher strength than the second portion 23 that is the reinforcing wiring pattern 10 in the vicinity thereof. The first portion 22 of the reinforcing wiring pattern 10 is 45 with respect to the bending direction X (one direction) of the straight portion and the substantially straight portion in the non-electrode region 24 formed by the gap formed between the drive electrodes 2. The reinforcing wiring pattern 10 is located immediately below the crossing point beyond the angle. The second portion 23 of the reinforcing wiring pattern 10 is the reinforcing wiring pattern 10 located in the vicinity of the first portion 22. In this embodiment, unlike the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the reinforcing wiring pattern 10 is not formed on almost the entire outer surface of the flexible substrate 8, and the first portion as described above. 22 and a second portion 23 formed in the vicinity thereof.

  The non-electrode region 24 is a gap formed between the drive electrodes 2, that is, a gap between the segment electrode 2a and the background electrode 2b. Therefore, the shape (direction) of the gap (non-electrode region 24) greatly depends on the shape of the segment electrode 2a. For example, in the segment electrode 2a indicating the number “1” as shown in FIGS. In particular, the gap (non-electrode region 24) formed on the lateral side of the vertically long portion in “1” is a straight portion, and the length direction thereof is substantially orthogonal to the bending direction X, and therefore exceeds 45 °. It becomes. Further, in the segment electrode 2a indicating the numeral “2”, a gap (non-electrode region 24) formed on the lateral side of the diagonally extending portion of “2” is a straight portion, and the length direction thereof is the curve. This is a location exceeding 45 ° with respect to the direction X.

  Note that the segment electrode 2a has a curved portion, and therefore, the gap (non-electrode region 24) corresponding to this portion also has a curved portion. For such a curved portion, for example, both ends thereof are connected in a straight line shape for each appropriate length, and this is approximated to a straight line, and is treated in the same manner as the straight line portion described above.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the first portion 22 of the reinforcing wiring pattern 10 is a portion 22a corresponding to a gap (non-electrode region 24) formed on the side of the vertically long portion of the numeral “1” in the segment electrode 2a. Or a portion 22b corresponding to a gap (non-electrode region 24) formed on the lateral side of the portion extending obliquely in the numeral “2”, and the second portion 23 of the reinforcing wiring pattern 10 is a portion of the first portion 22a. A portion 23a located in the vicinity (near) or a portion 23b located in the vicinity (near) of the first portion 22b.

  In the present embodiment, the first portion 22 is a gap S between the drive electrodes 2 (between the segment electrode 2a and the background electrode 2b), as shown in FIG. It is formed wider than the width. For example, if the width of the gap S between the drive electrodes 2 is W, the width of the first portion 22 is 3 times the width of the first portion 22, and the center line of the first portion 22 becomes the center line of the gap between the drive electrodes 2. It is formed to match. The portion outside the range of the width (3W) is the second portion 23.

  Here, the second portion 23 (23a, 23b) has a lower strength than the original auxiliary wiring pattern 10 due to, for example, stealing the auxiliary wiring pattern 10 made of copper foil. That is, since the strength of the second portion 23 is weakened in this way, the first portion 22 (22a, 22b) is formed with a relatively high strength compared to the second portion 23. It is.

  Specific methods for reducing the strength as compared with the original auxiliary wiring pattern 10 include a method of partially forming a defective portion such as a slit or a through hole, a method of etching the auxiliary wiring pattern 10 to make it thinner, and the like. Is adopted. When the auxiliary wiring pattern 10 is thinned by etching, it is desirable to form the stepped portion on a slope that is as gentle as possible so that no steep step is formed between the thinned portion and the original portion. .

  In the present embodiment, a large number of through holes 25 are formed in the auxiliary wiring pattern 10 made of copper foil in the second portion 23a, and a large number of slits 26 are formed in the second portion 23b. In addition, when the through holes 25 are formed, it is preferable that these through holes 25 are arranged so as not to line up along the direction Y orthogonal to the bending direction X. Further, when the slits 26 are formed, it is preferable that the slits 26 are arranged so that the length directions of the slits 26 are not parallel to the direction Y perpendicular to the bending direction X.

  Note that the wiring pattern 9 formed on the outer surface side of the flexible substrate 8 together with the reinforcing wiring pattern 10 is curved as shown in FIGS. It arrange | positions so that it may cross | intersect with respect to the direction Y orthogonal to the direction X (one direction). In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, such a wiring pattern 9 is formed in a non-connected state, that is, a non-conductive state, with respect to the reinforcing wiring pattern 10 including the first portion 22 and the second portion 23.

  In the drive substrate 21 (electrode plate module) constituting such a display device 1, the non-electrode region corresponding to the first portion 22, that is, the gap S between the drive electrodes 2 corresponds to the second portion 23. Since the reinforcement wiring pattern 10 is relatively reinforced compared to the vicinity, the flexible substrate 8 is formed in the gap S when the display device 1 is bent so that the flexible substrate 8 is also bent. It is possible to prevent the inconvenience that stress concentrates on a thin portion of the stepped portion and local bending (bending) occurs due to the concentrated load.

That is, since a step portion is formed between the driving electrode 2 and the flexible substrate 8 depending on the thickness of the driving electrode 2, the gap S that becomes a thin portion when the possibility substrate 8 is curved is formed. Stress is concentrated on the (non-electrode region) portion.
However, according to the drive substrate 21 (electrode plate module), the reinforcement is positioned directly below the portion where the straight portion and the substantially straight portion in the non-electrode region intersect with the bending direction X by exceeding 45 °. Since the first portion 22 of the wiring pattern 10 is formed with higher strength than the second portion 23 that is the reinforcing wiring pattern 10 in the vicinity thereof, as described above, the non-electrode region (corresponding to the first portion 22 ( The gap S) is relatively reinforced by the reinforcing wiring pattern 10 as compared with the vicinity corresponding to the second portion 23.

Here, when the flexible substrate 8 is bent, a force that bends in a direction intersecting the bending direction X works, and twisting may occur. As described above, such twisting is usually performed. Is less inclined (twisted) by 45 ° or more with respect to the bending direction X (one direction).
Therefore, as described above, the first portion 22 of the reinforcing wiring pattern 10 is formed with a higher strength than the second portion 23 that is the reinforcing wiring pattern 10 in the vicinity thereof, and the non-electrode region corresponding to the first portion 22 ( Since the gap S) is relatively reinforced by the reinforcing wiring pattern 10 as compared with the vicinity corresponding to the second portion 23, the non-electrode region (corresponding to the first portion 22) with respect to the twist generated in the normal use state. The gap S) always intersects the direction orthogonal to the direction of bending. Therefore, local bending in the non-electrode region (gap S) corresponding to the first portion 22 can be reliably prevented.

Moreover, in such a drive substrate 21, when the cross section cut | disconnected by the direction Y orthogonal to the curve direction X is seen, the area (cross-sectional area) of the drive electrode 2 which exists in the cross section, and the wiring pattern 9 In addition, it is preferable that the total of the area (cross-sectional area) of the reinforcing wiring pattern 10 is substantially constant at any cutting point, and by designing and forming the reinforcing wiring pattern 10 so as to be like this, concentrated load It is possible to more reliably prevent local bending due to.
In addition, since local bending due to bending is prevented, it is possible to reduce the curvature when bent, and thus the degree of freedom in use is increased.
In addition, according to the display device 20, since the driving substrate 21 (electrode plate module) in which local bending is prevented is used, display defects such as unevenness of contrast due to local bending and disconnection of the wiring pattern 9 are ensured. Will be prevented.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the application of the present invention.
For example, in the display device of the above-described embodiment, the electrophoretic particles or the like are used as the electro-optical material, so that the electrophoretic element is provided. Alternatively, for example, by using an organic EL material as the electro-optical material, It can be set as the display apparatus provided with the organic EL element.
Further, although the present invention is applied to a wristwatch as a display device, the present invention can be applied to other than a wristwatch as long as it is a curved display device.
Furthermore, the electrode plate module and the display device of the present invention can also be applied to an active matrix drive.

It is a perspective view which shows 1st Embodiment of the display apparatus of this invention. It is AA arrow sectional drawing of FIG. It is a principal part disassembled perspective view which shows 1st Embodiment of the electrode plate module of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows 2nd Embodiment of the display apparatus of this invention. It is a principal part disassembled perspective view which shows 2nd Embodiment of the electrode plate module of this invention. FIG. 6 is a plan perspective view of an essential part of the electrode plate module shown in FIG. 5.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 21 ... Display apparatus, 2 ... Drive electrode, 2a ... Segment electrode, 2b ... Background electrode, 3 ... Drive board (1st board | substrate, electrode plate module), 4 ... Common electrode (counter electrode), 5 ... Transparent electrode (Second substrate), 6 ... microcapsule, 7 ... sealing seal, 8 ... flexible substrate, 9 ... wiring pattern, 10 ... reinforcing wiring pattern, 22 ... first part, 23 ... second part, 24 ... Non-electrode region, 25 ... through hole (defect portion), 26 ... slit (deletion portion), S ... gap

Claims (10)

An electrode plate module used by being curved in one direction,
An elastically deformable flexible substrate; a plurality of drive electrodes provided on one surface of the flexible substrate; and the other surface of the flexible substrate provided in conduction with the drive electrode. A wiring pattern,
The electrode plate module, wherein the wiring pattern is arranged so as to intersect with a direction orthogonal to the one direction.   2. The electrode plate module according to claim 1, wherein the flexible substrate has a rectangular shape, and the one direction is a length direction of a long side of the rectangle.   3. The electrode plate module according to claim 1, wherein an angle of the wiring pattern intersecting with a direction orthogonal to the one direction exceeds 45 °.   The electrode plate according to claim 1, wherein a reinforcing wiring pattern is provided on the other surface of the flexible substrate in a non-connected state with respect to the wiring pattern. module.   A first portion of the reinforcing wiring pattern positioned directly below a portion of the non-electrode region formed between the drive electrodes in a straight line portion and a substantially straight line portion that intersects the one direction at an angle exceeding 45 °; 5. The electrode plate module according to claim 4, wherein the electrode plate module is formed with higher strength than the second portion which is a reinforcing wiring pattern in the vicinity thereof.   The second portion of the reinforcing wiring pattern is formed with a lower strength than the first portion of the reinforcing wiring pattern by partially forming a defect portion such as a slit or a through hole. Item 6. The electrode plate module according to Item 5.   The electrode plate module according to claim 5, wherein the wiring pattern is disposed so as to intersect with a direction orthogonal to the one direction. A first substrate that is elastically deformable provided with a drive electrode on the inner surface side, a second substrate that is provided with an opposing electrode on the inner surface side, and is sandwiched between the first substrate and the second substrate. A display device that is used by being bent in one direction,
The display device according to claim 1, wherein the first substrate is the electrode plate module according to claim 1.   9. The display device according to claim 8, wherein the electro-optical material is an electrophoretic dispersion liquid including electrophoretic particles and a liquid phase dispersion medium in which the electrophoretic particles are dispersed.   The display device according to claim 8, wherein the display device is a bracelet type display device.

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