JP2009165226A - Non-contact charging electronic paper - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide non-contact charging electronic paper for charging a secondary battery without opening an enclosure to take out the secondary battery and transmitting and rewriting information to be displayed on a screen. <P>SOLUTION: The non-contact electronic paper 1 is composed at least of: a display unit panel 6 having two substrates 2 and 3 filled with a display medium 4 therebetween, at least either of which is transparent and displays information, such as an image, by driving the display medium; a non-contact charging rechargeable battery function unit 7 provided on the back face of the display unit panel; and an electromagnetic wave shielding layer 8 provided between the display unit panel and the non-contact charging rechargeable battery function unit 7. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electronic paper for reversible information display, and more particularly to a non-contact charging electronic paper that can be rewritten and displayed in a room or water that requires a high degree of cleanliness, such as a semiconductor factory.

  Conventional production factories have used paper for production directives and production instructions. Since paper fibers and fillers generate dust from paper, the use of electronic paper (repeated rewritable information display device) instead of paper has been proposed in production processes that require cleanliness (for example, , See Patent Document 1). Since information to be displayed on these electronic papers is rewritten using electric power, it is necessary to provide mobility as in the case of conventional paper, and therefore, power supply type electronic papers such as primary batteries and secondary batteries are used.

In recent years, production processes that require cleanliness (such as semiconductor production processes, precision electronic equipment, food and pharmaceutical production processes, etc.) are rapidly increasing, and production directives and instructions that can be used in these production processes. There is a growing expectation for electronic paper that can be used as a book. In addition, although there is high expectation for reversible information display electronic paper as an information display board used in water or in a high-humidity environment, it does not exist at present.
JP 2003-167274 A

  As a power supply type electronic paper such as a primary battery or a secondary battery, in addition to a method of moving dry-type charged particles described in Patent Document 1 in a gas, a method using liquid crystal, a method of using charged particles in a liquid Various methods such as moving (electrophoresis) and electrochromic methods have been proposed, but batteries that have consumed power had to be replaced or recharged for reuse. . In either case, it is necessary to take out the used battery from the electronic paper and recharge a new or charged battery, or connect it to an appropriate power source and charge it. There was a problem that the part became a dust generation source in the clean room.

  In the lid structure, no matter how the mechanism for opening and closing the lid is configured, dust is generated due to friction between the lid and the fitting portion, and this becomes a dust generation source in the clean room. In addition, if power is supplied via a cable without using a battery, it is not necessary to open the electronic paper case and replace the battery, or in the case of a secondary battery, take it out and charge it. Electronic paper cannot be carried and cannot be applied to production directives and production instructions that require portability and mobility, and cannot be used as an information display board in water or in a high humidity environment. there were.

  The object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems, and as an example, in a secondary battery-mounted electronic paper that is always used in a clean room or in water, without opening the casing one by one and taking out the secondary battery for charging. An object of the present invention is to provide a non-contact charging type electronic paper that can charge a secondary battery and can transmit and rewrite information displayed on a screen.

  The non-contact charging electronic paper of the present invention includes a display unit panel that encloses a display medium between two substrates, at least one of which is transparent, and displays information such as an image by driving the display medium. It is composed of at least a non-contact charging type rechargeable battery function unit provided on the back surface, and an electromagnetic wave shielding layer provided between the display unit panel and the non-contact charging type rechargeable battery function unit. To do.

  In addition, as a suitable example of the non-contact charging system electronic paper of the present invention, a display unit panel driving device unit and a rewrite signal receiving function unit for receiving a rewrite signal from the outside are provided on the back of the display unit panel and the electromagnetic wave shielding layer. And a data signal storing function unit for reading and storing a rewritten data signal from the outside, and a data reading function unit for reading data of the data signal storing function unit, a rechargeable battery function unit of a non-contact charging method, A power receiving coil that receives a power signal from an external charging device, a charging unit that controls the power signal received by the power receiving coil, a rechargeable battery that stores power by controlling the charging unit, and a drive that controls the power of the rechargeable battery Power supply unit that supplies voltage to the device unit, rechargeable battery voltage detection unit that detects the voltage of the rechargeable battery, and a signal when the battery needs to be charged according to the voltage detection result of the rechargeable battery voltage detection unit A main charging notification driver to emit, actually the main charging signal notifying unit which notifies the main charging signal, be comprised of, there is.

  In the present invention, a display medium is sealed between two substrates, at least one of which is transparent, and the display medium is driven to display information such as an image, and a non-contact provided on the back of the display panel Rechargeable battery function unit and electromagnetic shielding layer provided between display panel and non-contact charge type rechargeable battery function unit to open the casing one by one and recharge the secondary battery It is possible to obtain a non-contact charging type electronic paper that can charge the secondary battery without taking out the battery and can rewrite the information displayed on the screen.

<About the configuration of non-contact charging electronic paper>
FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are diagrams for explaining an example of the non-contact charging type electronic paper of the present invention.

  The example shown in FIG. 1 shows an example of a rechargeable battery-mounted electronic paper that is always used in a clean room. A non-contact charging electronic paper 1 is placed between two substrates 2 and 3 at least one of which is transparent. A group of particles containing chargeable particles is enclosed as a display medium 4, and an electric field is applied to the display medium 4 through a counter electrode provided on the substrate, whereby the display medium 4 is moved (driven) to obtain information such as an image. Between the display unit panel 6, the non-contact charging type rechargeable battery function unit 7 provided on the back of the display unit panel 6, and the non-contact charging type rechargeable battery function unit 7. And at least an electromagnetic wave shielding layer 8 provided.

  Moreover, in the example shown in FIG. 1, in addition to the rechargeable battery function part 7 of a non-contact charge system on the back surface of the display part panel 6 and the electromagnetic wave shielding layer 8, the driving device part 11 of the display part panel 6 and the outside A rewrite signal receiving function unit 12 for receiving a rewrite signal, a data signal storing function unit 13 for reading and storing a rewritten data signal from the outside, and a data reading function unit 14 for reading data in the data signal storing function unit are opened and closed. It is housed and provided in a housing 15 having no space. The casing 15 having no opening / closing portion may be configured as a mesh shape or a perforated shape so that the casing 15 has a heat dissipation function. A sealing material is disposed on the joint surface between the display unit panel 6 and the housing 15 so that there is no gap.

  The example shown in FIG. 2 shows an example of a rechargeable battery-mounted electronic paper as an information display board used in water or in a high humidity environment. As in FIG. 1, at least one of the non-contact charging electronic paper 1 is used. The display medium 4 is encapsulated with a group of particles containing charged particles between two transparent substrates 2 and 3, and an electric field is applied to the display medium 4 through a counter electrode provided on the substrate. 4, a display unit panel 6 for displaying information such as an image, a non-contact charging type rechargeable battery function unit 7 provided on the back of the display unit panel 6, and a non-contact charging type display unit 6. And at least an electromagnetic wave shielding layer 8 provided between the rechargeable battery function unit 7.

  In addition, in the example shown in FIG. 2, in addition to the rechargeable battery function unit 7 of the non-contact charging method on the back surface of the display unit panel 6 and the electromagnetic wave shielding layer 8, the driving device unit 11 of the display unit panel 6 and the outside A rewrite signal reception function unit 12 that receives a rewrite signal, a data signal storage function unit 13 that reads and stores a rewrite data signal from the outside, and a data read function unit 14 that reads data from the data signal storage function unit are hermetically sealed. It is housed in the housing 16 and provided.

  A sealing material is disposed on the joint surface between the display unit panel 6 and the housing 16 so that there is no gap. Further, the housing 16 is configured as a sealed housing, and the electronic paper module other than the display unit panel 6 is accommodated in the housing. As a result, the electronic paper can be used even underwater. Also, underwater or the like by a method of completely sealing the entire electronic paper module including the display panel 6 with a transparent film (for example, a method of vacuum-wrapping a heat-melt film and then heat-sealing and sealing). It can be used electronic paper.

  In the non-contact charging type electronic paper 1 of the present invention having the above-described configuration, the rechargeable battery provided in the rechargeable battery function unit 7 mounted on the electronic paper can be charged without taking out the rechargeable battery from the electronic paper 1. There is no need to provide a rechargeable battery or a battery outlet in the case 15 and the case 16 without any friction, and since there is no frictional part such as an opening / closing mechanism required for the outlet, a dust generation source can be eliminated. Electronic paper that can be used can be obtained. In addition, since it is not necessary to provide a rechargeable battery or a battery outlet in the case of the electronic paper 1, the case of the electronic paper 1 can be used in an underwater or high-humidity environment by using the sealed case 16. It is possible to prevent moisture from entering the electronic paper, and to obtain electronic paper that can be used in water or in a high humidity environment.

  Furthermore, in the non-contact power receiving type electronic paper 1 of the present invention having the above-described configuration, the drive unit 11 of the display unit panel 6, the rewrite signal receiving function unit 12 that receives a rewrite signal from the outside, and the rewrite data from the outside Since the data signal storing function unit 13 for reading and storing signals and the data reading function unit 14 for reading data of the data signal storing function unit are provided, rewriting of information displayed on both sides is performed by radio such as infrared rays or radio waves. Therefore, there is no need for a rewriting switch, no dust is generated by the frictional sliding part as in the case of a mechanical switch, and it can be completely sealed easily, and it can be used in a clean room, underwater or in a high humidity environment.

<About non-contact charging operation of rechargeable battery>
Next, the charging operation of the rechargeable battery in the non-contact charging type electronic paper of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a detailed configuration of the rechargeable battery function unit 7 in the non-contact charging electronic paper of the present invention. In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, the rechargeable battery function unit 7 of the non-contact charging method includes a power receiving coil 21 that receives a power signal from an external charging device, a charging unit 22 that controls a power signal received by the power receiving coil 21, A rechargeable battery 23 that stores electric power under the control of the charging unit 22, a power supply unit 24 that controls the electric power of the rechargeable battery 23 to supply a voltage to the drive unit 11, and a rechargeable battery voltage detection that detects the voltage of the rechargeable battery 23. Unit 25, required charge notification drive unit 26 that emits a signal when the state of charge is required based on the voltage detection result of rechargeable battery voltage detection unit 25, and required charge signal notification unit 27 that actually notifies the required charge signal. It is configured. The external charging device 31 includes a control unit 32, a power transmission unit 33, and a power transmission coil 34, and the conductive unit 33 supplies power to the power transmission coil 34 based on a signal generated by the control unit 32.
ing.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a charging operation using the rechargeable battery function unit 7 and the charging device 31 having the above-described configuration. As shown in FIG. 4, the electronic paper 1 is placed on the charging device 31 and charged so that the power receiving coil 21 of the rechargeable battery function unit 7 and the power transmission coil 34 of the charging device 31 overlap. Charging may be performed in a clean room or moved to another location. The underwater electronic paper is charged in a general room after wiping off the water around the electronic paper 1.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when the electronic paper 1 is placed on the charging device 31, power is supplied to the power receiving coil 21 by electromagnetic induction with the power transmission coil 34 of the charging device 31, and this power is supplied to the charging unit 22. The The rechargeable battery 23 is provided with a rechargeable battery voltage detection unit 25. The rechargeable battery voltage detection unit 25 operates the charge required notification driving unit 26 to charge that the electronic paper 1 is in a required charge state. This is notified by the signal notification unit 27. The user who is informed by the notification that charging is necessary performs charging of the rechargeable battery mounted on the electronic paper.

  Compared with the contact charging method in which the current path is electrically connected to supply power for charging, this non-contact charging method does not expose the charging electrode to the outside. For example, it is difficult to cause device failure or abnormal operation due to application of static electricity, or charging failure due to deterioration of the charging electrode section.

<About the display panel used for non-contact charging electronic paper>
Next, the structure of the display panel used for the non-contact charging type electronic paper will be described.

  As the display unit panel 6, a system in which particles containing charged particles are driven in a gas as a display medium, a system in which particles containing charged particles are driven in a liquid as a display medium, and a liquid crystal as a display medium There are display medium drive methods such as a drive method, a drive method using an electrochromic material as a display medium, and an electroluminescence method. However, for electronic paper applications, a chargeable particle drive method and a cholesteric liquid crystal drive method are suitable for display memory ( It is preferably used because it has a bistable property.

  The display memory property (bistable property) refers to the property that power is used only when the display medium is driven (display is rewritten), and the displayed image is retained as it is even when power supply is stopped. Such a display panel uses electric power only when it is rewritten, and it can continue to display the rewritten information without turning off the power and supplying power. It is suitable as an electronic paper used as a book.

  Next, as an example of a basic configuration of a display panel used in the non-contact charging electronic paper of the present invention, a display panel using a particle group including a chargeable particle as a display medium will be described. In the display panel, an electric field is applied to at least one type of display medium sealed in a space between two opposing substrates. Along with the applied electric field direction, the display medium is attracted by an electric field force or a Coulomb force, and the display medium is moved by a change in the electric field direction, whereby information such as an image is displayed. Therefore, it is necessary to design the display panel so that the display medium can move uniformly and maintain stability when rewriting the display repeatedly or when displaying the display information continuously. Here, as the force applied to the particles constituting the display medium, in addition to the force attracting each other by the Coulomb force between the particles, an electric mirror image force between the electrode and the substrate, an intermolecular force, a liquid cross-linking force, gravity and the like can be considered.

  The example shown in FIG. 5 shows an example of a display panel of a black-and-white dot matrix display of an electric field driving method in charged particle gas, which is composed of particles having at least optical reflectivity and chargeability, and is optically reflective to each other. At least two kinds of display media 43 having different rates and charging characteristics (here, a white display medium 43W composed of a group of white negatively chargeable particles for display 43Wa and a black display composed of a group of particles of black positively charged particles for display 43Ba) Medium 43 </ b> B) is generated by applying a voltage between the line-shaped electrode 45 provided on the substrate 41 and the line-shaped electrode 46 provided on the substrate 42 in each cell formed by the partition walls 44. The substrate is moved perpendicularly to the substrates 41 and 42 according to the electric field. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, for each display unit, the white display medium 43W is visually recognized by the observer and white dots are displayed, or the black display medium 43B is visually recognized by the observer and black dots are displayed. The white / black dot display state is shown. Here, an example is shown in which cells corresponding to each display unit are formed by quadrangular grid partitions.

  In the example shown in FIG. 5, the line-shaped electrode 46 disposed on the display surface side is transparent, but the line-shaped electrode 45 disposed on the back surface side does not necessarily have to be transparent. Further, in the example shown in FIG. 5, a dot matrix type display unit panel using line-shaped electrodes 45 and 46 is shown, but a display unit panel in which individual electrode pairs are arranged in a matrix as a display unit or a display in which segments are arranged It can also be a part panel. These modifications can be similarly applied to the following embodiments.

  In the example shown in FIG. 6, an example of a display panel of a color display of an electric field driving method in a charged particle gas is shown. In addition to the panel having the structure shown in FIG. 5, cells 51-1 to 51- are used as display media. 3 is filled with a white display medium 43W configured to include white chargeable particles and a black display medium 43B configured to include black chargeable particles, and a red color is formed on the viewer side of the first cell 51-1. A filter 52R is provided, a green color filter 52G is provided on the observer side of the second cell 51-2, a blue color filter 52BL is provided on the observer side of the third cell 51-3, and the first cell 51-1 is provided. A display unit (one dot) is constituted by three cells, the second cell 51-2 and the third cell 51-3. In this example, when performing color display, as shown in FIG. 6, by moving the white display medium 43 </ b> W in all of the first cell 51-1 to the third cell 51-3 to the viewer side, White dot display can be performed for the observer. Alternatively, black dots can be displayed to the viewer by moving the black display medium 43B in all of the first cell 51-1 to the third cell 51-3 on the viewer side. In FIG. 6, multicolor dot display can be performed by moving the display medium in each cell. Here, the white chargeable particles and the black chargeable particles are made to have opposite charging polarities.

  In the example shown in FIG. 7, an example of a display panel of a color display of a charged particle gas electric field driving system is shown, and the first cell 51-1 includes a white display configured to include white chargeable particles 43Wa. The medium 43W and the red display medium 43R configured to include the red chargeable particles 43Ra are filled, and the white display medium 43W configured to include the white chargeable particles 43Wa and the blue chargeability are filled in the second cell 51-2. The blue display medium 43BL configured to include the particles 43BLa is filled, and the third cell 51-3 includes the white display medium 43W configured to include the white chargeable particles 43Wa and the green chargeable particles 43Ga. The green display medium 43G is filled. In the display unit (1 dot) shown in FIG.

  The example shown in FIG. 8 shows an example of a display panel of a black-and-white dot matrix display of a microcapsule-type charged particle liquid electric field drive method, in which white chargeable particles 43Wa and black chargeable particles 43Ba are combined with an insulating liquid 55. The filled microcapsules 56 are arranged to constitute a display panel. In the example shown in FIG. 8, the counter electrode and the microcapsule are arranged in correspondence with each other and the white / black dots are displayed. The positions of the counter electrode and the microcapsule need not correspond to each other. In this case, the display medium at the position corresponding to the position of the counter electrode moves within the microcapsule and displays white / black.

  FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are diagrams showing an example of a display panel for area color display of an electric field driving method in charged particle gas. In the example shown in FIG. 9, area color display is performed using two upper and lower display areas including a display area in which the white display medium 43W / black display medium 43B is arranged and a display area in which the white display medium 43W / red display medium 43R is arranged. It is configured to do. In the example shown in FIG. 10, the display area in which the white display medium 43W / red display medium 43R is arranged, the display area in which the white display medium 43W / black display medium 43B is arranged, and the white display medium 43W and the blue display medium 43BL. It is configured to display area color using three display areas.

<Electromagnetic wave shielding layer used for non-contact charging electronic paper>
Next, the structure of the electromagnetic wave shielding layer 8 used for the non-contact charging type electronic paper will be described.

  In the non-contact charging type electronic paper of the present invention, the electromagnetic wave shielding layer 8 includes a rechargeable battery function unit 7, a drive device unit 11, a rewrite signal reception function unit 12, a data signal storage function unit 13, and a display on the display unit panel 6. The data reading function unit 14 is provided so as not to be affected by the electromagnetic wave, particularly the electromagnetic wave. As the electromagnetic wave shielding layer 8, (1) a film provided with a conductive thin film containing metallic silver, (2) a film provided with a conductive mesh made of a metal wire or conductive fiber, (3) a copper foil on the film And the like, which are formed by etching a layer such as a net and having openings, and (4) a conductive ink printed on a film in a mesh shape, etc. are known, and any of them can be used. .

  The conductive thin film of (1) is, for example, one in which a high refractive index transparent thin film and a silver thin film are alternately laminated by sputtering, and the conductive mesh of (2) is, for example, a copper-plated organic fiber net, The (3) reticulated copper foil is obtained by, for example, attaching copper foil to PET (polyethylene terephthalate), applying a resist material to the copper foil, exposing and developing the resist through a photomask having a specific shape, and exposing exposed copper. It was obtained by etching the foil. The conductive film (4) is obtained by printing ink in which conductive fine particles are dispersed in a binder in a mesh pattern on the film.

  Such an electromagnetic wave shielding layer 8 is manufactured as follows, for example. A copper foil is bonded to the film with an adhesive. Next, the copper foil surface is covered with a mesh-like pattern by printing on the copper foil surface a material that protects copper from etching on the copper foil surface that is not on the adhesive side. The copper foil in the uncovered portion is removed by etching or the like, and the surface of the adhesive is exposed in that portion (opening portion). On the other hand, from the remaining copper foil portion, the material that protects copper from the previous etching is removed. Thus, a conductive layer having a fine mesh structure is formed. In the obtained electromagnetic wave shielding layer 8, electromagnetic waves are shielded by this conductive mesh portion.

  In addition, injection molding of conductive resin composition in which conductive powder such as metal powder or carbon powder, or conductive filler such as carbon fiber or metal coated glass fiber is dispersed and mixed in thermoplastic resin such as polyethylene or polypropylene. A conductive resin film formed by the above method is also used as the electromagnetic wave shielding layer.

The non-contact charging type electronic paper of the present invention can be an electronic paper that can be applied in various environments as a reversible information display device that does not require battery replacement or rechargeable battery replacement.
Especially in production processes that require cleanliness (for example, semiconductor production processes, precision electronic equipment production processes, etc.) in production papers, production instructions, information display boards, and other electronic paper, and in water and high humidity environments In addition to the information display boards used (electronic advertising, electronic shelf labels, electronic price tags, electronic POP: Point of presence / Point of Purchase advertising), display units for mobile devices such as notebook computers, PDAs, mobile phones, handy terminals, electronic books, etc. , Electronic newspapers such as electronic newspapers, electronic manuals (instruction manuals), signboards, posters, bulletin boards such as blackboards, calculators, home appliances, display parts for automobiles, card displays such as point cards and IC cards, electronic advertisements , Electronic POP (Point of Presnece, Point of Purchase advertising), electronic price tag, electronic shelf label, electronic score, and display unit for RF-ID equipment It is done.

It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the non-contact charge system electronic paper of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the other example of the non-contact charge system electronic paper of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the detailed structure of the rechargeable battery function part in the non-contact charge system electronic paper of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the charging operation using a charging battery function part and a charging device in the non-contact charge system electronic paper of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of a structure of the display part panel used for the non-contact charge system electronic paper of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the other example of a structure of the display part panel used for the non-contact charge system electronic paper of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the further another example of a structure of the display part panel used for the non-contact charge system electronic paper of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the further another example of a structure of the display part panel used for the non-contact charge system electronic paper of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the further another example of a structure of the display part panel used for the non-contact charge system electronic paper of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the further another example of a structure of the display part panel used for the non-contact charge system electronic paper of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Non-contact charge system electronic paper 2, 3 Board | substrate 4 Display medium 6 Display part panel 7 Rechargeable battery function part 8 Non-contact charge system Electromagnetic wave shield layer 11 Drive apparatus part 12 Rewrite signal reception function part 13 Data signal storage function part 14 Data Read function unit 15 Case without opening / closing part 16 Sealed case 21 Power receiving coil 22 Charging unit 23 Rechargeable battery 24 Power supply unit 25 Rechargeable battery voltage detection unit 26 Charge required notification drive unit 27 Charge required signal notification unit 31 Charging device 32 Control Unit 33 Power transmission unit 34 Power transmission coil 41, 42 Substrate 43 Display medium (particle group)
43W white display medium
43B Black display medium 43R Red display medium 43G Green display medium 43BL Blue display medium 43Wa White display particles
43Ba Black display particles 43Ra Red display particles 43Ga Green display particles 43BLa Blue display particles 44 Bulkhead 45, 46 Electrode 51-1, 51-2, 51-3 Cell 52R Red color filter 52G Green color filter 52BL Blue color filter 55 Insulating liquid 56 Microcapsule

Claims (3)

  A display medium is sealed between two substrates, at least one of which is transparent, and the display medium is driven to display information such as an image, and a non-contact charging method provided on the back of the display panel. A non-contact charging type electronic paper comprising at least a battery function unit and an electromagnetic wave shielding layer provided between a display unit panel and a non-contact charging type charging battery function unit.   On the back of the display panel and the electromagnetic wave shield layer, the display panel drive unit, a rewrite signal receiving function unit for receiving a rewrite signal from the outside, and a data signal storing function unit for reading and storing a rewrite data signal from the outside The non-contact charging electronic paper according to claim 1, further comprising: a data reading function unit that reads data of the data signal storage function unit.   Rechargeable battery function unit of non-contact charging method receives a power signal from an external charging device, a charging unit that controls a power signal received by the receiving coil, and a rechargeable battery that stores power by controlling the charging unit A power supply unit that controls the power of the rechargeable battery and supplies a voltage to the drive unit, a rechargeable battery voltage detection unit that detects the voltage of the rechargeable battery, 3. The non-contact charge system electronic device according to claim 1, comprising a charge-required notification drive unit that emits a signal in some cases and a charge-required signal notification unit that actually notifies a required charge signal. paper.

Images