JP2013037190A - Electro-optic device, method for manufacturing electro-optic device, and electronic equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electro-optic device having a sealed structure with high reliability, in which an electro-optic material can be sealed in good conditions between substrates even when external force due to bending is applied to the device, and to provide a method for manufacturing an electro-optic device, and electronic equipment.SOLUTION: An electro-optic device 100 includes a first substrate 300 and a second substrate 310 each having flexibility and disposed to oppose to each other, an electro-optic layer 32A disposed between the first substrate 300 and the second substrate 310, an injection hole H formed in one of the first substrate 300 and the second substrate 310 and for injecting the electro-optic layer 32A, and a sealing material 110 sealing the electro-optic layer 32A injected through the injection hole H between the first substrate 300 and the second substrate 310. The sealing material 110 is formed in a state of reaching the other substrate 310 where the injection hole H is not formed.

Description

  The present invention relates to an electro-optical device, a method for manufacturing the electro-optical device, and an electronic apparatus.

  In recent years, a display device having a thin and lightweight device called electronic paper has been put into practical use. Such an electronic paper uses a flexible electro-optical device. A liquid crystal device is known as an electro-optical device having such flexibility (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This liquid crystal device is configured by injecting a liquid crystal layer (electro-optical material), which is a liquid material, between plastic substrates having flexibility, and then sealing with a sealing material.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 07-64037

  However, a liquid crystal device in which a liquid material is sandwiched between substrates as in the prior art described above may cause a problem that when the liquid crystal device is bent, a load is applied to the sealing portion and the liquid crystal layer leaks due to peeling off.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and has a highly reliable sealing structure that can satisfactorily seal an electro-optic material between substrates even when an external force due to bending is applied. An object is to provide an electro-optical device, a method for manufacturing the electro-optical device, and an electronic apparatus.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, an electro-optical device according to an aspect of the invention includes a first substrate and a second substrate, which are arranged to face each other and have flexibility, and between the first substrate and the second substrate. An electro-optical layer disposed on the first substrate or the second substrate, an injection hole for injecting the electro-optical layer, and the first substrate and the first substrate through the injection hole. A sealing material that seals the electro-optic layer injected between two substrates, and the sealing material is provided in a state of reaching the other substrate side where the injection hole is not formed, To do.

  According to the electro-optical device of the present invention, since the first substrate and the second substrate having flexibility are provided, the entire device has flexibility. Moreover, since the sealing material is provided so as to reach the other substrate side where the injection hole is not formed, the sealing material is firmly held. Therefore, even when the electro-optical device is bent, it is possible to prevent a problem that the sealing material is peeled off, and the electro-optical device having a highly reliable sealing structure that can satisfactorily seal the electro-optical material. Equipment can be provided.

  In the electro-optical device, it is preferable that a display surface is set on a surface of the second substrate opposite to the electro-optical layer, and the injection hole is formed in the first substrate.

  According to this configuration, since the injection hole is formed on the first substrate side that does not constitute the display surface, the occurrence of the problem that the injection hole and the sealing material injected into the injection hole overlap the display image on the display surface is prevented. Can be prevented.

  In the electro-optical device, the first substrate has a multi-layer structure in which a plurality of base materials are stacked and the injection hole is formed. It is preferable that the electronic component is embedded in the substrate body by sandwiching the electronic component.

    According to this configuration, since the first substrate has a multilayer structure and the electronic components are embedded therein, the electro-optical device can be reduced in size.

  In the electro-optical device, the injection hole is provided on the side opposite to the electro-optical layer with respect to the injection hole, and communicates with a counterbore portion having a hole diameter larger than the hole diameter of the injection hole. It is preferable.

  According to this configuration, when injecting the electro-optical layer between the substrates, the counterbore portion prevents the electro-optical layer from overflowing to the surface of the substrate where the injection hole is formed, and the surface of the substrate is prevented from being contaminated. It will be a thing. Further, the counterbore part prevents the sealing material from overflowing, so that the surface of the sealing material can be prevented from protruding from the substrate surface. Thereby, it is possible to eliminate the problem that the sealing material protrudes from the surface of the substrate and gets in the way.

  In the electro-optical device, it is preferable that a plurality of the injection holes are formed.

  According to this configuration, since a plurality of injection holes are formed, the electro-optic material can be satisfactorily arranged over the entire area between the substrates when the apparatus is assembled.

  Further, in the electro-optical device, a partition partitioning the electro-optical layer arrangement region is provided between the first substrate and the second substrate, and the injection hole corresponds to the electro-optical layer arrangement region. It is preferable to be formed as follows.

  According to this configuration, a plurality of electro-optic layer arrangement regions can be provided, and different electro-optic layers can be injected into the plurality of regions through the injection holes. Therefore, for example, it is possible to provide an electro-optical layer including electro-optical layers having different colors and capable of color display.

  In the electro-optical device, it is preferable that a part of the partition also serves as a sealing member that seals the electro-optical layer between the first substrate and the second substrate.

  According to this configuration, there is no need to separately provide a seal member, the number of parts of the apparatus can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  In the electro-optical device, the electro-optical layer is preferably an electrophoretic layer.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to provide an electro-optical device that is flexible and suitable as electronic paper.

  The electro-optical device manufacturing method according to the present invention is a method for manufacturing an electro-optical device in which an electro-optical layer is sandwiched between a flexible first substrate and a second substrate, which are arranged to face each other. Injecting the electro-optic layer between the substrates through an injection hole provided in one of the first substrate and the second substrate, and sealing the injection hole with a sealing material; In the sealing step, the sealing material is arranged so as to reach the other substrate side where the injection hole is not formed through the injection hole.

  According to the electro-optical device manufacturing method of the present invention, since the sealing material is injected from the injection hole so as to reach the other substrate side where the injection hole is not formed, the sealing material is reliably injected. be able to. Accordingly, even when the electro-optical device is bent, it is possible to prevent a problem that the sealing material is peeled off, and an electric device having a highly reliable sealing structure that well seals the electro-optical material. Optical devices can be manufactured.

  An electronic apparatus according to the present invention includes the electro-optical device.

  Since the electronic apparatus of the present invention includes the above-described electro-optical device, the electronic apparatus itself has excellent durability and high reliability even when a structure that can be bent is employed.

(A) is a figure which shows the planar structure of an electrophoretic display device, (b) is sectional drawing by the AA arrow of (a). Sectional drawing which shows the principal part structure of an electrophoretic display device. (A), (b) is a figure for demonstrating the manufacturing process of an electrophoretic display device. (A), (b) is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the electrophoretic display device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. (A), (b) is a figure for demonstrating the manufacturing process of an electrophoretic display device. The figure which shows the structure which concerns on the modification of the electrophoretic display device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. (A) is the schematic which expands and shows a part of pixel structure in the image display part which concerns on 3rd Embodiment, (b) is a top view which shows the structure of a partition. Sectional drawing of the electrophoretic display device of 3rd Embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the principal part structure of an electrophoretic display device. The conceptual diagram of the sub pixel shown about the difference in the gradation by the area of the colored particle visually recognized when it sees from the observation side. (A) is a figure which shows the distribution state of the particle | grains at the time of white display, (b) is a figure which shows the distribution state of the particle | grains at the time of red display, (c) is a figure which shows the distribution state of the particle | grains at the time of blue display. (D) is a figure which shows the distribution state of the particle | grains at the time of black display. The figure which shows the distribution state of the particle | grains at the time of green display. (A) is a figure which shows the distribution state of the particle | grains in dark green display, (b) is a figure which shows the distribution state of the particle | grains in dark red display, (c) is a figure which shows the distribution state of the particle | grains in dark blue display. . The figure which shows the structure which concerns on the 1st modification of 3rd Embodiment. The figure which shows the structure which concerns on the 2nd modification of 3rd Embodiment. The figure which shows the structure which applied this invention to the liquid crystal display device. FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating a specific example of an electronic device to which the electrophoretic display device of the invention is applied.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each drawing used for the following description, the scale of each member is appropriately changed to make each member a recognizable size.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration when the electro-optical device of the present invention is applied to an electrophoretic display device, and FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a main configuration of the electrophoretic display device.

  As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, an electrophoretic display device 100 according to the present embodiment is disposed so as to face an element substrate (first substrate) 300 having flexibility and the element substrate 300, thereby providing flexibility. And a counter substrate (second substrate) 310 having an electrophoretic layer (electro-optical layer) 32A sandwiched between the element substrate 300 and the counter substrate 310. Thus, the electrophoretic display device 100 has flexibility as a whole.

  Between the peripheral portions of the element substrate 300 and the counter substrate 310, a sealing material 65 is provided so as to surround the periphery of the electrophoretic layer 32A in order to ensure moisture resistance to the electrophoretic layer 32A and hold the electrophoretic layer 32A. Is arranged. The inner area surrounded by the sealing material 65 constitutes the image display unit 5. For example, the sealing material 65 is made of an epoxy resin.

  In the element substrate 300, an injection hole H for injecting the electrophoretic layer 32A into the image display unit 5 surrounded by the sealing material 65 is formed. The injection hole H is formed so as to penetrate the element substrate 300 and is sealed with the sealing material 110 after the injection of the electrophoretic layer 32A. The sealing material 110 is made of, for example, an epoxy resin, and is used for preventing the entry of external materials such as moisture and oxygen into the electrophoretic layer 32A through the injection hole H and holding the electrophoretic material 28. It is. The sealing material 110 is provided in a state of reaching the counter substrate 310 side where the injection hole H is not formed and in contact with the counter substrate 310. Here, the cell gap of the electrophoretic layer 32A is set to about 30 μm, for example. Therefore, the sealing material 110 is firmly held by entering from the surface of the element substrate 300 to the inside of the electrophoretic display device 100 with certainty.

  Since the electrophoretic display device 100 has flexibility as described above, it may be used in a folded state. At this time, a load is applied to the sealing material 110. According to this embodiment, since the sealing material 110 is firmly held by being injected up to the counter substrate 310 side, peeling of the sealing material 110 due to a load due to bending is prevented, and bending resistance is improved. It has become highly reliable.

  Further, in the electrophoretic display device 100, an image displayed on the image display unit 5 is visually recognized from the counter substrate 310 side. Therefore, the problem that the sealing material 110 injected into the injection hole H overlaps the display image of the image display unit 5 is prevented.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view specifically showing the main configuration of the electrophoretic display device 100. As shown in FIG. 2, the element substrate 300 mainly includes the first substrate 30 and the drive circuit layer 24 formed on the surface thereof.

  The first substrate 30 is formed by laminating three base materials 30A, 30B, and 30C having flexibility, and a driving IC (electronic component) 51, various wirings, and the like are embedded therein. As a result, there is no need to provide a printed circuit board or the like on which electronic components such as ICs are mounted, and the first substrate 30 can be downsized. Furthermore, high definition can be realized by forming a part of the drive circuit layer 24 in the first substrate 30. The first substrate 30 is reduced in size. Various wirings embedded in the first substrate 30 are made of Cu having a thickness of 10 μm, for example. Each of the base materials 30A to 30C is a flexible substrate made of polyimide having a thickness of 50 μm.

  The user preferably forms the first substrate 30 with a non-transparent substrate in order to view the image from the counter substrate 310 side as described above. Specifically, it is preferable to use a non-transparent substrate for the base material 30A in which the driving IC 51 is embedded, which is an electronic component. In this way, by providing light shielding properties to the base material around the drive IC 51, malfunction of the drive IC 51 due to light leakage can be suppressed. Here, the driving IC 51 is embedded and held in the substrate 30A, but the present invention is not limited thereto. It may be held anywhere in the element substrate 300.

  The drive circuit layer 24 includes a pixel electrode 35 for each of a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix constituting the image display unit 5 of the electrophoretic display device 100, a pixel transistor TRs that controls the pixel electrode 35, and a built-in driver Dr. And including. The built-in driver Dr includes a data line driving driver, a scanning line driving driver, a gate line driving driver, or the like.

  The driving IC 51 is electrically connected to the connecting portion 51a embedded in the contact hole CH1 penetrating between the base materials 30B and 30C and the connecting portion 51a, and is connected to the built-in driver Dr via the wiring portion 51b drawn on the base material 30C. And are electrically connected.

  The pixel transistor TRs is provided at each of the intersections of the plurality of scanning lines 66 and the plurality of data lines 68. In the pixel transistor TRs, the gate electrode 41e is disposed so as to face the channel region of the semiconductor layer 41a, and a part of the scanning line 66 is connected. The pixel transistor TRs is an organic TFT having a bottom gate / top contact structure and having an organic semiconductor layer. The built-in driver Dr is formed on the first substrate 30 in the same process as the pixel transistor TRs.

  The gate electrode 41e is made of Cu having a thickness of 0.3 μm, and a gate insulating film 41b is provided on the entire surface of the first substrate 30 so as to cover the gate electrode 41e. The gate insulating film 41b is made of acrylic having a thickness of 0.5 μm, and a semiconductor layer 41a made of pentacene having a thickness of 0.05 μm is formed thereon. On the gate insulating film 41b, a source electrode 41c and a drain electrode 41d made of Au having a thickness of 0.3 μm are provided so as to partially run on the peripheral edge of the semiconductor layer 41a. The semiconductor layer 41a, the source electrode 41c, and the drain electrode 41d are covered with a protective layer 42 made of acrylic having a thickness of 1 μm, and the pixel electrode 35 is connected via a contact hole CH2 that penetrates the protective layer 42 in the thickness direction. Is electrically connected to the lower drain electrode 41d. Thus, the pixel transistors TRs are formed by sequentially forming a thin film from the first substrate 30 side.

  The data line 68 inputs an image signal to the source electrode 41c of the pixel transistor TRs via the built-in driver Dr. Here, the image signals to be written to the data lines 68 may be supplied line-sequentially, or may be supplied to the adjacent data lines 68 for each group or for each data line.

  A scanning line 66 is electrically connected to the gate electrode 41e of the pixel transistor TRs, and a selection signal (scanning signal) is sequentially applied in a pulse manner at a predetermined timing.

  The pixel electrode 35 formed on the surface of the first substrate 30 is electrically connected to the drain electrode 41d of the pixel transistor TRs. By opening the pixel transistor TRs, which is a switching element, the data electrode 68 The supplied image signal is written to the electrophoretic layer 32A at a predetermined timing.

  The electrophoretic layer 32A includes two types of black and white electrophoretic particles (positively charged particles 26 and negatively charged particles 27) that are positively or negatively charged, and a dispersion medium 21 made of silicon oil. In the electrophoretic layer 32A, the electrophoretic particles (positively charged particles 26 and negatively charged particles 27) are arranged on the counter electrode 37 side or the pixel electrode 35 due to a potential difference between the pixel electrode 35 and the counter electrode 37 formed by a storage capacitor (not shown). Thus, an image is formed according to the distribution state of the electrophoretic particles visually recognized when the electrophoretic layer 32A is viewed from the counter substrate 310 side.

  The electrophoretic layer 32A in which the electrophoretic particles 26 and 27 are dispersed in the dispersion medium 21 is not limited to the example, and for example, a capsule type in which the electrophoretic particles and the dispersion medium are encapsulated may be used. Alternatively, a particle configuration other than black and white particles charged to different polarities may be employed.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the drive IC 51 and the built-in driver Dr are not arranged around the image display unit 5 but are embedded in the first substrate 30 within the range of the image display unit 5, so that the frame width, that is, The non-display area may be narrowed.

  On the other hand, the counter substrate 310 is formed by forming a counter electrode 37 made of carbon nanotubes having a thickness of 0.1 μm on a transparent second substrate 31 made of PET having a thickness of 0.2 mm. A transparent substrate is used as the second substrate 31 in order to observe the electrophoretic layer 32A. Application of a voltage to the counter electrode 37 is performed by a driving IC 51 embedded in the first substrate 30. The drive IC 51 is electrically connected to the counter electrode 37 via a vertical conduction part (not shown), and is configured to be able to input a predetermined voltage to the counter electrode 37.

Next, as a method of manufacturing the electrophoretic display device 100, a method of injecting the electrophoretic layer 32A between the substrates 300 and 310 will be described with reference to FIG.
First, a substrate body 150 is prepared which is an element substrate 300 and a counter substrate 310 bonded together with a sealing material 65 and in which an injection hole H is formed in the element substrate 300. Then, as shown in FIG. 3A, the substrate main body 150 is arranged so that the injection hole of the injection hole H faces upward, held under reduced pressure, and the electrophoretic material 28 constituting the electrophoretic layer 32A is injected. Apply to the inlet. As a method for applying the electrophoretic material 28, a known technique such as a dispenser or an ink jet method can be appropriately used.

  After a certain period of time has elapsed since the electrophoretic material 28 was applied, the substrate body 150 is placed under atmospheric pressure. Thereby, the injection speed of the electrophoretic material 28 injected from the injection port can be accelerated, and the region surrounded by the sealing material 65 between the counter substrate 310 and the element substrate 300 can be satisfactorily filled. .

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 3B, a UV curable resin 110a made of epoxy is applied to the injection hole H. At this time, it is desirable to inject the UV curable resin 110a so that it is wider than the injection hole H in the cell gap. Then, the injection is performed so as to reach the counter substrate 30. According to this, the UV curable resin 110 a injected through the injection hole H can be brought into contact with the inner surface of the counter substrate 310.

  Then, the UV curable resin 110a is cured by irradiating ultraviolet rays (UV), and the sealing material 110 that seals the injection hole H is formed. As described above, the substrate body 150 is in a state where the sealing material 110 is in contact with the inner surface of the counter substrate 310 (see FIG. 1B), and thus the sealing material 110 is firmly held by the substrate body 150. Become. As shown in FIG. 1B, the sealing material 110 protrudes to the back side of the element substrate 300, but there is no practical problem because the element substrate 300 is opposite to the display surface. Note that only the sealing material 110 protruding from the surface of the element substrate 300 may be partially removed.

  As described above, the electrophoretic display device 100 according to the present embodiment is mainly composed of the substrate body 150 including the flexible element substrate 300 and the counter substrate 310, and thus has flexibility as a whole. Will be. Further, since the sealing material 110 is provided so as to reach the counter substrate 310 side where the injection hole H is not formed, the sealing material 110 is firmly held. Therefore, even when the electrophoretic display device 100 is bent, the sealing material 110 is prevented from peeling off, and the electro-optical device having a highly reliable sealing structure that can seal the electrophoretic layer 32A satisfactorily. Equipment can be provided.

In the present embodiment, the sealing material 65 and the sealing material 110 made of epoxy resin are used, but an organic material such as acrylic may be used. In addition to black and white particles, color particles may be used as the charged particles.
Further, the configuration of the pixel transistor TRs is not limited to the bottom gate structure. The pixel transistor TRs may be either an organic or inorganic transistor. The materials used for the pixel transistor TRs, the first substrate 30, the second substrate 31, and the counter electrode 37 are not limited to those described above.

Furthermore, the material used for the first substrate 30 constituting the element substrate 300 and the second substrate 31 of the counter substrate 310 may be a flexible polyester or other organic or inorganic material. The material used for the first substrate 30 and the second substrate 31 may be a stretchable material. Thereby, the flexibility including an expansion-contraction state is realizable. For example, a soft organic material such as acrylic, a non-woven fabric coated with these materials, a woven fabric, or rubber may be used. With elasticity, the electro-optical device is not only installed on a material with a large deformation like a cloth such as clothes or a complicated surface shape so that there is no gap, but also when it is deformed and used. Can be reduced.
Further, the number of base materials constituting the first substrate 30 is not limited to the above.
Further, the material of the pixel transistor TRs is not limited to the above.
In addition, as materials used for the pixel electrode 35, the counter electrode 37, the scanning line 66, the data line 68, the connection wiring 22, and the like, other metal pastes other than Cu, conductive materials such as metal and carbon nanotubes, inorganic conductivity, etc. A material, an organic conductive material, a transparent electrode, or a conductive paste may be used.
In FIG. 3A, the electrophoretic display device 150 is held under reduced pressure and the electrophoretic material 28 is injected. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the electrophoretic material 28 may be performed under atmospheric pressure, for example.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, the configuration of the electrophoretic display device according to the second embodiment will be described. The difference between this embodiment and 1st Embodiment is the shape of the injection hole for inject | pouring the sealing material 110 (UV curable resin 110a), About other structures, it is common in 1st Embodiment. In the following description, the same reference numerals are given to the same configurations or members as those in the above embodiment, and the detailed description is omitted or simplified.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of the electrophoretic display device 200 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 4, the counter substrate 310 is shown on the upper side in order to make the drawing easier to see.
As shown in FIG. 4, the electrophoretic display device 200 of the present embodiment includes an element substrate 300 and a counter substrate 310 that are bonded together with a sealing material 65 interposed therebetween, and an electricity that is sandwiched between the element substrate 300 and the counter substrate 310. Electrophoretic layer 32A.

  Also in this embodiment, the injection hole H <b> 2 is formed in the counter substrate 310. The injection hole H <b> 2 according to the present embodiment is formed so as to penetrate the base material 30 </ b> C of the first substrate 30. In the present embodiment, a counterbore ZG provided in a state of penetrating the base materials 30A and 30B of the first substrate 30 is provided, and one end side (the side opposite to the electrophoretic layer 32A) of the injection hole H2 communicates. ing. The counterbore part ZG has a hole diameter larger than the injection hole H2. Thus, the workability of the injection hole H2 is improved by forming the counterbore part ZG in the interface of the base materials 30A to 30C.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the hole diameters of the counterbore ZG and the injection hole H2 are made different at the interface between the base material 30A and the base material 30B has been described as an example, but the hole diameter is changed in the middle of the base materials 30A to 30C. You may employ | adopt the structure to change. Moreover, although the thing of the multilayer structure which laminated | stacked base material 30A-30C was illustrated as the 1st board | substrate 30, you may make it form the injection hole H2 and the counterbore part ZG with respect to the 1st board | substrate 30 which is not a multilayer board | substrate.

  As in the first embodiment, the sealing material 110 is provided in a state where it reaches the counter substrate 310 side where the injection hole H2 is not formed and contacts the counter substrate 310. In the present embodiment, the sealing material 110 injected into the injection hole H <b> 2 is recessed with respect to the surface of the element substrate 300.

  Next, as a method for manufacturing the electro-optical device 200, a method for injecting the electrophoretic layer 32A between the substrates 300 and 310 will be described with reference to FIG. First, a substrate body 250 in which an injection hole H2 is formed in the element substrate 300 is prepared. Then, as shown in FIG. 5A, the substrate body 150 is arranged so that the injection hole H2 faces upward, and is held under reduced pressure, and the electrophoretic material 28 is applied in the counterbore part ZG of the injection hole H2. . The counterbore part ZG has a hole diameter larger than that of the injection hole H2 as described above, so that the applied electrophoretic material 28 is well held without overflowing the surface of the element substrate 300.

  Then, after a certain period of time has elapsed since the electrophoretic material 28 is applied, the substrate body 150 is placed under atmospheric pressure, and the electrophoretic material 28 is placed in a region surrounded by the sealing material 65 between the counter substrate 310 and the element substrate 300. Can be satisfactorily filled. At this time, as described above, since the electrophoretic material 28 is filled between the substrates 300 and 310 without overflowing from the counterbore ZG to the surface of the element substrate 300, the surface of the element substrate 300 is stained with the electrophoretic material 28. Can be prevented.

  Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 5B, a UV curable resin 110a made of epoxy is applied in the counterbore ZG of the injection hole H2. At this time, as in the first embodiment, the UV curable resin 110a injected through the injection hole H2 is brought into contact with the inner surface of the counter substrate 310. Then, the UV curable resin 110a is cured by irradiating ultraviolet rays (UV), and the sealing material 110 that seals the injection hole H2 is formed.

  In this embodiment, since the sealing material 110 is filled between the substrates 300 and 310 through the counterbore part ZG provided in the injection hole H2, the sealing material 110 (UV curable resin 110a) is used similarly to the electrophoretic material 28. ) Does not contaminate the surface of the element substrate 300. That is, the sealing material 110 disposed in the injection hole H2 can be prevented from protruding from the surface of the element substrate 300.

  Also in the present embodiment, the substrate body 250 is in a state where the sealing material 110 is in contact with the inner surface of the counter substrate 310, so that the sealing material 110 is firmly held by the substrate body 250. In addition, according to the present embodiment, by providing the counterbore part ZG, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a problem such that the surface of the element substrate 300 becomes a defective product by being stained with the electrophoretic display material. In particular, black electrophoretic particles have a small particle size, and once adhered, it is difficult to remove them even after washing, and therefore, they may be regarded as defective products due to contamination. Therefore, the configuration according to the present embodiment can obtain particularly remarkable effects.

(Modification)
Subsequently, a modification of the electrophoretic display device 200 according to the second embodiment described above will be described. In addition, this modification differs in the shape of the injection hole H2 from the structure which concerns on 2nd Embodiment, and a structure other than that is common. Therefore, in the following description, the shape of the injection hole H2 will be described. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of an electrophoretic display device 200 according to this modification. FIG. 6A is a plan view of the electrophoretic display device 200, and FIG. Sectional drawing by A line arrow is shown. FIG. 6 shows the substrate body 250 in a state where the electrophoretic layer 32A is not injected for the sake of simplicity.

  As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the electrophoretic display device 200 has three injection holes H2. The counterbore part ZG is formed along the long side direction of the element substrate 300, and is provided in a state where the three injection holes H2 communicate with each other. Thus, in this modification, the injection hole H2 is configured to communicate with the common counterbore part ZG.

  Next, a process of filling the electrophoretic material 28 between the substrates 300 and 310 in the configuration according to this modification will be described. First, the substrate body 250 is disposed so that the injection hole H2 faces upward, and is held under reduced pressure, and the electrophoretic material 28 is applied in the counterbore part ZG. Since the counterbore part ZG according to the present embodiment is formed along the long side direction of the element substrate 300 as described above, more electrophoretic material 28 can be held as compared with the configuration according to the second embodiment. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the electrophoretic material 28 from overflowing to the surface of the element substrate 300.

  Then, after the electrophoretic material 28 is applied and a predetermined time has elapsed, the substrate body 250 is placed under atmospheric pressure, and the electrophoretic material 28 is filled between the substrates 300 and 310 via the injection hole H2. At this time, in the present modification, a plurality of injection holes H2 (three in this modification) are provided as described above, so that the electrophoretic material 28 does not overflow from the counterbore ZG to the surface of the element substrate 300. Good filling between 300 and 310 in a short time.

  Subsequently, the UV curable resin 110a is applied in the counterbore part ZG of the injection hole H2, and the UV curable resin 110a injected through the injection hole H2 is brought into contact with the inner surface of the counter substrate 310 as in the first embodiment. Let them pull in. Then, the UV curable resin 110a is cured by irradiating ultraviolet rays (UV), and the sealing material 110 that seals the injection hole H2 is formed. As described above, also in this modification, the substrate body 250 is in a state where the sealing material 110 is in contact with the inner surface of the counter substrate 310, so that the sealing material 110 is firmly held by the substrate body 250.

(Third embodiment)
Next, the configuration of the electrophoretic display device according to the third embodiment will be described. The difference between this embodiment and the first and second embodiments is the pixel structure and the shape of the injection hole in the pixel display section, and the other configurations are the same as those of the first and second embodiments. In the following description, the same reference numerals are given to the same configurations or members as those in the above embodiment, and the detailed description is omitted or simplified.

  FIG. 7A is a schematic diagram showing an enlarged part of the pixel configuration in the image display unit, and FIG. 7B is a plan view showing the configuration of the partition walls. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the electrophoretic display device.

  As shown in FIG. 7A, one pixel 40 in the present embodiment is composed of two sub-pixels 40A and sub-pixels 40B. These two subpixels 40A and 40B are alternately present along the extending direction of the scanning line 66, and the same subpixels 40A and 40B are continuously present in the extending direction of the data line 68. A partition wall 64 exists between the sub-pixels 40A and 40B constituting one pixel. The partition wall 64 is disposed between the element substrate 300 and the counter substrate 310 and separates at least the image display region (image display unit 5) into two regions as shown in FIG. 7B. Specifically, the space between the element substrate 300 and the counter substrate 310 corresponding to the image display unit 5 is partitioned into two spaces 5a and 5b. The sub-pixels 40A and 40B existing on both sides of the partition wall 64 constitute one pixel 40 that performs display. The sub-pixel 40A and the sub-pixel 40B respectively present in the spaces 5a and 5b defined by the partition wall 64 constitute different pixels 40.

  The specific configuration of the partition wall 64 will be described. A pair of L-shaped outer wall portions 64A arranged opposite to each other to form the outer shape of the partition wall 64 into a frame shape, and a region surrounded by these outer wall portions 64A is divided into two parts. It is comprised from the corrugated inner wall part 64C to divide. The spaces 5a and 5b are formed between the outer wall portion 64A and the inner wall portion 64C. Different electrophoretic materials are enclosed in these spaces 5a and 5b, and an electrophoretic layer 32A is formed. A sealing material 65 is provided so as to surround the outer periphery of the partition wall 64. Thereby, the partition wall 64 can prevent the elution of impurities from the seal to the electrophoretic layer 32A.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 7B and 8, an injection hole H3 for injecting an electrophoretic layer 32A described later into the space 5a and an electrophoretic layer 32A described later in the space 5b are provided. And an injection hole H4 for injection. Specifically, in this embodiment, three injection holes H3 and H4 are formed in the non-display portion 6 set outside the image display portion 5 in the element substrate 300. Further, in the present embodiment, counterbore parts ZG1 and ZG2 are provided along the extending direction of the non-display part 6. The injection hole H3 communicates with the counterbore part ZG, and the injection hole H4 communicates with the counterbore part ZG2. Each injection hole H3, H4 is sealed with a sealing material 110.

As a material of the partition wall 64, for example, polyimide is used. The arrangement area of the partition walls 64 is an area that does not relate to display. Therefore, the color is preferably non-transparent, black, or an achromatic color with low brightness.
For this reason, a decrease in contrast is unlikely to occur.

  In the conventional partition configuration, a partition is also provided between the sub-pixels 40A and 40B in the spaces 5a and 5b. Therefore, the number of barrier ribs is twice as many as that in this embodiment. Since the area occupied by the partition wall of this embodiment is smaller than the area occupied by the partition wall, it is possible to display bright and high contrast images. Further, it is effective for a display device that requires high-definition image display. The shape of the partition wall 64 is not limited to the above.

Here, the step of injecting the electrophoretic material among the steps of forming the electrophoretic layer at the time of manufacturing the electrophoretic display device 350 will be mainly described.
First, a partition wall forming material made of polyimide is applied onto the element substrate 300 to form a film having a predetermined thickness, and the partition wall 64 is formed by patterning using photolithography. The height of the partition wall 64 is, for example, 10 to 30 μm. Subsequently, an ultraviolet curable resin made of epoxy is applied onto the partition wall 64 by screen printing or the like.

  Subsequently, the counter substrate 310 is bonded onto the element substrate 300 via the partition wall 64, and ultraviolet rays are irradiated while applying pressure to both the substrates 300 and 310 to cure the ultraviolet curable resin. Thereby, the partition wall 64 connects the element substrate 300 and the counter substrate 310 via the partition wall 64. In the present embodiment, since color display is performed by the electrophoretic layer 32A, a color filter is not used unlike a liquid crystal display device, so that the bonding accuracy of the element substrate 300 and the counter substrate 310 is not required. This is because the positional accuracy of the partition wall 64 is important in the configuration according to this embodiment.

  Subsequently, the substrate main body is arranged so that the injection holes H3 and H4 face upward, and held under reduced pressure, and the electrophoretic material 28 of the electrophoretic layer 32A is applied to the counterbore portions ZG1 and G2. The counterbore parts ZG1 and ZG2 have a larger inner diameter than the hole diameters of the injection holes H3 and H4 as described above, so that the constituent material of the applied electrophoretic layer 32A can be held well without overflowing the surface of the element substrate 300. Will be.

  Then, after a certain time has elapsed since the electrophoresis layer 32A (electrophoretic material 28) is applied, the substrate body 150 is placed under atmospheric pressure, and the regions 5a and 5b are filled with the electrophoresis layer 32A satisfactorily. To do. At this time, the constituent material of the electrophoretic layer 32A is filled between the substrates 300 and 310 without overflowing from the counterbore portions ZG1 and ZG2 to the surface of the element substrate 300 as described above, so that the surface of the element substrate 300 is electrophoresed. It is possible to prevent contamination with display materials.

  Subsequently, a UV curable resin 110a is applied in the counterbore portions ZG1 and ZG2 of the injection holes H3 and H4, and the sealing material 110 injected through the injection holes H3 and H4 is applied to the counter substrate 310 as in the first embodiment. Pull it in until it touches the inner surface. Then, the UV curable resin 110a is cured by irradiating ultraviolet rays (UV), and the sealing material 110 that seals the injection holes H3 and H4 is formed. Thereby, the electrophoresis layer 32A is formed in the space 5a, and the electrophoresis layer 32A is formed in the space 5b. As described above, the substrate body 150 is in a state where the sealing material 110 is in contact with the inner surface of the counter substrate 310, and thus the sealing material 110 is firmly held by the substrate body 150.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the main configuration of the electrophoretic display device 350 according to this embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 9, two pixel electrodes 35A, a pixel electrode 35B, a counter electrode 37, and a reflective electrode 13 are provided in each of the sub-pixels 40A and 40B. The pixel electrodes 35 </ b> A and 35 </ b> B are driven by different transistors, and can be independently applied with a voltage between the counter electrode 37. In addition, a voltage having substantially the same potential as that of the counter electrode 37 is applied to the reflective electrode 13. The reflective electrode 13 has reflectivity on at least its surface (surface on the electrophoretic layer 32A side).

  The electrophoretic layer 32A corresponding to the sub-pixel 40A includes blue negatively charged particles 26B and red positively-charged particles 27R, and the electrophoretic layer 32A corresponding to the sub-pixel 40B includes green positively-charged particles 27G. And black negatively charged particles 26Bk. For this reason, four types (four colors) of particles are held in one pixel.

  Here, it is assumed that any two colors of red, blue, and green (in this embodiment, red and blue) are selected as the colors of the two types of charged particles in the electrophoretic layer 32A of the sub-pixel 40A. As the colors of the two types of charged particles in the electrophoretic layer 32A of the pixel 40B, a color different from the color of each particle in the sub-pixel 40A (green in the present embodiment) and black are selected among red, blue, and green. ing. In addition to black, any color that is complementary to the color of the other charged particle can be selected.

  The material of the dispersion medium 21 is preferably substantially colorless and transparent. As such a dispersion medium 21, a medium having a relatively high insulating property is preferably used. In addition to the above, the material of the dispersion medium 21 includes, for example, each type (distilled water, pure water, ion exchange water, etc.), alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, butanol, cellosolves such as methyl cellosolve, methyl acetate, Esters such as ethyl acetate, ketones such as acetone and methyl ethyl ketone, aliphatic hydrocarbons such as pentane, alicyclic hydrocarbons such as cyclohexane, benzenes having a long-chain alkyl group such as benzene and toluene Aromatic hydrocarbons such as methylene chloride, chloroform, aromatic heterocycles such as pyridine and pyrazine, nitriles such as acetonitrile and propionitrile, and amides such as N, N-dimethylformamide , Carboxylic acid salts, mineral oils such as liquid paraffin, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, oleic acid, etc. Physical oils, silicone oils such as dimethyl silicone oil, methylphenyl silicone oil and methyl hydrogen silicone oil, fluorine-based liquids such as hydrofluoroethers and other various oils, etc., which are used alone or as a mixture be able to. Gas or vacuum may be used as the dispersion medium 21.

  In addition, in the dispersion medium 21, for example, a charge control agent composed of particles such as an electrolyte, a surfactant, a metal soap, a resin material, a rubber material, oils, a varnish, a compound, etc. Various additives such as a coupling agent such as a ring agent, an aluminum coupling agent, and a silane coupling agent, and other dispersants, lubricants, and stabilizers may be added.

  Any kind of charged particles, uncharged particles and transparent particles contained in the dispersion medium 21 can be used, and are not particularly limited, but are not limited to dye particles, pigment particles, resin particles, ceramic particles, metal particles, metal particles. At least one of oxide particles or composite particles thereof is preferably used. These particles have the advantage that they are easy to manufacture and the charge can be controlled relatively easily.

Examples of pigments constituting the pigment particles include black pigments such as aniline black, carbon black, and titanium black, white pigments such as titanium dioxide, antimony trioxide, zinc sulfide, and zinc white, and azo series such as monoazo, disazo, and polyazo. Pigments, yellow pigments such as isoindolinone, yellow lead, yellow iron oxide, cadmium yellow and titanium yellow, azo pigments such as monoazo, disazo and polyazo, red pigments such as quinacridone red and chrome vermilion, phthalocyanine blue and indanthrene Blue pigments such as blue, bitumen, ultramarine, and cobalt blue, green pigments such as phthalocyanine green, cyan pigments such as ferric ferrocyanide, and magenta pigments such as inorganic iron oxide. Inorganic pigments and organic pigments can also be used.
One or more of these can be used in combination.

  Dye particles can be formed using a dye instead of the pigment. In this case, the white pigment may be mixed with a dye, or may be used by mixing with a colored pigment. For example, a dye such as carbonium-based magenta can be used.

  Examples of the resin material constituting the resin particles include acrylic resin, urethane resin, urea resin, epoxy resin, rosin resin, polystyrene, polyester, AS resin copolymerized with styrene and acrylonitrile, and the like. These can be used alone or in combination of two or more.

  The composite particles are, for example, composed of pigment particles whose surfaces are coated with a resin material, resin particles whose surfaces are coated with a pigment, or a mixture of a pigment and a resin material mixed in an appropriate composition ratio. Particles and the like. Further, as the various particles contained in the dispersion medium 21, particles having a structure in which the center of the particle is hollow may be used. According to such a configuration, in addition to scattering light on the surface of the particle, light can also be scattered on the wall surface forming the cavity inside the particle, and light scattering efficiency can be improved. It becomes. Therefore, the color development of white and other colors can be improved.

  In addition, for the purpose of improving the dispersibility of the electrophoretic particles in the dispersion medium 21, a polymer highly compatible with the dispersion medium 21 is physically adsorbed on the surface of each particle, or chemically. Can be combined. Among these, those in which a polymer is chemically bonded are particularly preferable because of the problem of detachment from the surface of the electrophoretic particles. With such a configuration, it is possible to improve the affinity, that is, dispersibility, of the electrophoretic particles in the dispersion medium 21 by acting in a direction in which the apparent specific gravity of the electrophoretic particles is reduced.

  Examples of such a polymer include a polymer having a group reactive with the electrophoretic particle and a chargeable functional group, a group reactive with the electrophoretic particle, a long chain alkyl chain, a long chain ethylene oxide chain, and a long chain. Polymers having a chain fluorinated alkyl chain, a long dimethylsilicone chain, etc., groups having reactivity with electrophoretic particles, a chargeable functional group, a long alkyl chain, a long ethylene oxide chain, a long fluorinated alkyl chain And a polymer having a long-chain dimethyl silicone chain.

  In the polymer as described above, examples of the group having reactivity with the electrophoretic particles include an epoxy group, a thioepoxy group, an alkoxysilane group, a silanol group, an alkylamide group, an aziridine group, an oxazone group, and an isocyanate group. One or two or more of these can be selected and used, but may be selected according to the type of electrophoretic particles used.

  Based on such a configuration, the electrophoretic display device according to the present embodiment can realize various expressions by combining these displays by performing different displays on the sub-pixels 40A and 40B constituting one pixel. ing.

Next, the operation principle of the electrophoretic display device of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
Here, description will be given focusing on one sub-pixel. Note that although the pixel electrode and the reflective electrode are actually formed in different layers, for the sake of easy understanding, the reflective electrode is shown in the same layer as the pixel electrode in FIG. In the following description, for the sake of convenience, the voltage applied to the pixel electrode will be described with reference numerals VL, Vl, VH, Vh2, and Vl2.

  Although not shown, a negative voltage VL is first applied to the pixel electrode 35A to collect the red positively charged particles 27R on the pixel electrode 35A, and a positive voltage VH is applied to the pixel electrode 35B to apply the blue negatively charged particles 26B to the pixel. The electrode 35B is assembled.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 9, when a negative voltage VL having the same magnitude is applied to the pixel electrode 35A and the pixel electrode 35B, for example, a plurality of red positively charged particles 27R are adsorbed on the pixel electrode 35A and face each other. A plurality of blue negatively charged particles 26 </ b> B can be distributed on the electrode 37. On the other hand, when a positive voltage VH having the same magnitude is applied to the pixel electrode 35A and the pixel electrode 35B, for example, a plurality of blue negatively charged particles 26B are adsorbed on the pixel electrode 35B, and a red positive charge is applied on the counter electrode 37. A plurality of particles 27R can be distributed.

  In this manner, display can be controlled by distributing each charged particle to the pixel electrodes 35A and 35B and the counter electrode 37 side in a non-target manner through the voltages applied to the pixel electrodes 35A and 35B. .

FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram of sub-pixels showing the difference in gradation depending on the area of the colored particles viewed when viewed from the observation side (opposite substrate side). Here, for the sake of simplicity, description will be made using only red particles.
FIG. 10A shows a state where the red positively charged particles 27R are adsorbed on the pixel electrode 35A to which the negative voltage VL is applied. When viewed from the counter substrate 310 side in this state, it appears as a slightly reddish white display due to the small red dots corresponding to the distribution area of the red particles and the white color expressed by the reflective electrode 13.

  In FIG. 10B, a negative voltage Vl (lower than the negative voltage applied at Vl <VL) is applied to the pixel electrode 35A, and the pixel electrode 35A is adsorbed on the pixel electrode 35A in the state of FIG. In this state, a part of the positively charged particles 27R is moved to the counter electrode 37 side. In this state, when viewed from the counter substrate 310 side, the red dots larger than the state of FIG. 10A are distributed, and a light red color is expressed.

FIG. 10C shows a state in which all of the plurality of positively charged particles 27R on the electrophoretic layer 32A side are moved to the counter electrode 37 side. In this state, when viewed from the counter substrate 310 side, the entire sub-pixel 40A appears red.
As described above, the electrophoretic display device is configured to control the gradation based on the area of the colored particles visually recognized when viewed from the counter substrate 310 side.

Next, the operation (display method) in the electrophoretic display device of this embodiment will be described.
FIG. 11A is a diagram illustrating a particle distribution state during white display.
A negative voltage VL is applied to each pixel electrode 35A in the sub-pixels 40A and 40B, and a positive voltage VH is applied to each pixel electrode 35B. As a result, the red positively charged particles 27R are adsorbed on the pixel electrode 35A in the sub-pixel 40A, the blue negatively charged particles 26B are adsorbed on the pixel electrode 35B, and the green color on the pixel electrode 35A in the sub-pixel 40B. The positively charged particles 27G are adsorbed and the black negatively charged particles 26Bk are adsorbed on the pixel electrode 35B.

  Thus, by gathering all the charged particles on the pixel electrodes 35A and 35B in the sub-pixels 40A and 40B, the external light incident on the electrophoretic layer 32A from the counter substrate 310 side is not adsorbed by the particles. The light is reflected by the reflective electrode 13 and emitted from the counter substrate 310 side to the observer side. Thereby, a bright display, that is, a bright white display can be realized.

  Here, by forming the surface of the reflective electrode 13 with an oxide formed by oxidation or forming an oxide film on the surface of the reflective electrode 13, not only the reflectance is improved, but also the reflective Light can be irregularly reflected. As a result, white display closer to white like paper can be realized instead of metallic reflection.

  This state is also a preset state when the display image of the electrophoretic display device 100 is switched. Since the electrophoretic material has a memory property, when the display image is rewritten, it is necessary to perform a preset operation for once clearing the entire display in the image display unit 5 to reset the particle distribution state. On the basis of the reset state (preset state), a new display image rewriting operation is performed therefrom.

FIG.11 (b) is a figure which shows the distribution state of the particle | grains at the time of red display.
First, after performing the preset operation described above to display the pixels 40 (the respective sub-pixels 40A and 40B) in white, a positive voltage VH is applied to the pixel electrode 35A in the sub-pixel 40A, and the pixel electrode 35B is also applied. A positive voltage VH was also applied. Thus, the blue negatively charged particles 26B are held on the pixel electrode 35B continuously from the preset state, and all the red positively charged particles 27R adsorbed on the pixel electrode 35A at the time of the preset are counter electrodes. Moving to the 37 side, the sub-pixel 40A is displayed in red. On the other hand, a negative voltage VL is applied to each of the pixel electrodes 35A and 35B of the sub-pixel 40B to keep all the charged particles 26G on the pixel electrode 35A, and the charged particles 27Bk to the counter electrode 37 side. As a result, the sub-pixel 40B becomes black.

  Here, since the red positively charged particles 27R in the sub-pixel 40A are transparent particles (transmitting particles), external light incident from the counter substrate 310 side is reflected on the element substrate 300 side after passing through the positively charged particles 27R. The light is reflected by the electrode 13 and again passes through the positively charged particles 27R to be emitted to the outside. At this time, a part of the light other than red is absorbed by the positively charged particles 27 </ b> R that are transmitted first, and the light including red is reflected by the reflective electrode 13. Then, since the reflected light is incident on the positively charged particles 27R again, light other than red is absorbed again, so that only clear red light exits from the counter substrate 310 side. For this reason, the sub-pixel 40A is displayed in red.

  The brightness of the emitted light (display image) at this time is proportional to the area of the reflective electrode 13. For this reason, it is preferable to provide reflectivity (scattering property) to the region where the pixel electrodes 35A and 35B exist. That is, like the reflective electrode 13, the pixel electrodes 35A and 35B may be provided with reflectivity and the surface thereof may be composed of a metal oxide, or the surface of the metal layer may be separately oxidized to form an oxide film. Also good.

  Here, the transparent particles are particles that absorb light of a specific wavelength region in the visible light region and scatter or transmit light of other wavelengths. In the present embodiment, red light of about 600 to 800 nm is scattered or transmitted. It should be noted that areas other than visible light are not questioned.

  As described above, when the sub-pixel 40A is displayed in red and the sub-pixel 40B is displayed in black, the entire pixel 40 is displayed in red.

FIG.11 (c) is a figure which shows the distribution state of the particle | grains at the time of blue display.
First, after executing the preset operation, a negative voltage VL is applied to the pixel electrodes 35A and 35B in the sub-pixel 40A to keep the red positively charged particles 27R on the pixel electrode 35A and the preset operation. The sub-pixel 40A is displayed in blue by moving all the blue negatively charged particles 26B adsorbed on the pixel electrode 35B to the counter electrode 37 side. On the other hand, after the preset operation, the pixel electrodes 35A and 35B in the sub-pixel 40B are displayed in black by the same operation as in FIG. 11B.

  Here, the blue negatively charged particles 26B are reflective particles, and a part of the light incident from the counter substrate 310 side is reflected by the negatively charged particles 26B. Specifically, light other than blue light is absorbed by the negatively charged particles 26B, and only blue light is reflected by the negatively charged particles 26B and emitted from the counter substrate 310 side. The brightness of the blue display at this time is proportional to the effective distribution area of the blue negatively charged particles 26 </ b> B distributed on the counter electrode 37. Therefore, it is preferable that the blue particles are distributed two-dimensionally or three-dimensionally on the counter electrode 37 within a range (thickness) where sufficient blue light can be reflected.

The reflectance of blue light in the blue negatively charged particles 26B is desirably as high as possible, and has a reflectance of at least 60% or more, more preferably 90% or more. Further, the reflectance of light other than blue is preferably as low as possible, preferably 10% or less, more preferably 5% or less.
In addition, it is desirable that at least the reflection has a component of diffuse reflection (irregular reflection). Here, the reflective particles refer to particles that absorb light of a specific wavelength region in the visible light region and scatter or reflect light of other wavelengths. In the present embodiment, light having a blue wavelength of about 400 to 500 nm is scattered or reflected. It should be noted that the area other than the visible light region is not required.

The green positively charged particles 27G may be either reflective particles or transmissive particles, but are transparent particles in this embodiment.
In the case of reflecting particles, it is desirable that the reflectance of green light is as high as possible. Like the blue particles, the reflectance is at least 60% or more, more preferably 90% or more, The reflectance of light other than green is better as low as possible, preferably 10% or less, more preferably 5% or less.

  As described above, when the sub pixel 40A is displayed in blue and the sub pixel 40B is displayed in black, the entire pixel 40 is displayed in blue.

FIG. 11D is a diagram showing a particle distribution state during black display.
Even when black display is performed, a preset operation is first executed. After performing the preset operation to display the pixels 40 (the respective sub-pixels 40A and 40B) in white, a positive voltage VH is applied to the pixel electrode 35A of the sub-pixel 40A to apply red positively charged particles 27R to the counter electrode 37 side. Move everything. The plurality of positively charged particles 27R that have moved are distributed so as to cover the surface of the counter electrode 37.

  Thereafter, after a predetermined time, a negative voltage VL is applied to the pixel electrode 35B to move all the blue negatively charged particles 26B to the counter electrode 37 side. The blue negatively charged particles 26B that have moved to the counter electrode 37 side are arranged below the red positively charged particles 27R distributed on the surface of the counter electrode 37, and overlap the positively charged particles 27R. Distributed three-dimensionally. In this manner, first, the red positively charged particles 27R are disposed immediately below the counter electrode 37, and then the negatively charged particles 26B are disposed immediately below these positively charged particles 27R.

  In this state, the light incident from the counter substrate 310 is first absorbed by the red positively charged particles 27R, which are transmissive particles, and a part of the light other than red is absorbed and reaches the blue negatively charged particles 26B. Of the light reaching the negatively charged particles 26B, light other than blue light, that is, red light is absorbed by the negatively charged particles 26B. In addition, outside light that has directly reached the negatively charged particle 26B without passing through the positively charged particle 27R, only blue light is reflected by the negatively charged particle 26B, and light of other colors is absorbed. Blue light reflected by the negatively charged particles 26B is absorbed by the positively charged particles 27R. This results in black display.

  In one sub-pixel 40B, black display is performed after the preset operation, as in FIG. Further, the time lag for starting the movement of the positively charged particles 27R and the negatively charged particles 26B for displaying the subpixel 40A in black is not limited to the above. The movement of the positively charged particles 27R may be started, and the movement of the negatively charged particles 26B may be started when the positively charged particles 27R have not yet moved to the counter electrode 37 side.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a particle distribution state during green display.
First, after executing a preset operation to display the pixel 40 (sub-pixels 40A and 40B) in white, a predetermined voltage for displaying the sub-pixel 40A in black with respect to the pixel electrodes 35A and 35B of the sub-pixel 40A, The voltage is applied with a time difference, and a positive voltage VH is applied to the pixel electrodes 35A and 35B of the sub-pixel 40B.

As a result, in the sub-pixel 40A, the blue negatively charged particles 26B are arranged directly below the red positively charged particles 27R distributed on the counter electrode 37, thereby displaying black. In the sub-pixel 40B, the black negatively charged particles 26Bk are adsorbed on the pixel electrode 35B, and the green positively charged particles 27G are widely distributed on the counter electrode 37, resulting in a green display.
That is, in the sub-pixel 40B, external light is incident on the transparent green positively charged particles 27G widely distributed on the counter electrode 37, and a part of light other than green is absorbed. The light containing green light transmitted through the positively charged particles 27R) is incident again on the positively charged particles 27G reflected by the reflecting electrode 13, and light other than green is absorbed and only green light is emitted to the outside. Thereby, a green display is obtained.
Here, although the green particles are the transmission particles, the reflection particles may be used.

Next, a method of displaying low brightness (dark color) of each RGB will be shown.
FIG. 13A is a diagram showing a particle distribution state in a dark green display.
After the preset operation, a voltage for realizing black display is applied to the pixel electrodes 35A and 35B of the sub-pixel 40A, and Vh2 (0 <Vh2 <VH) is applied to the pixel electrode 35A of the sub-pixel 40B. Then, a part of the green positively charged particles 27G is moved to the counter electrode 37 side, and Vl2 (VL <Vl2 <0) is further applied to the pixel electrode 35B so that the black negatively charged particles 26Bk are moved to the counter electrode 37 side. Moved to. Here, the magnitude of the voltage applied to each of the pixel electrodes 35A and 35B is adjusted so that the green particles moving to the counter electrode 37 side are larger than the black particles.

  In this state, when viewed from the counter substrate 310 side, black dots are present in green in the sub-pixel 40B, and as a result, a dark green display is obtained. Arbitrary brightness can be expressed by controlling the green and black areas. Further, the area of each color can be controlled by the magnitude of the voltage applied to the pixel electrodes 35A and 35B, the length of the application time, and the timing of applying the voltage. This area is an effective area observed from the observer side (external) in consideration of all the two-dimensional and three-dimensional expansions including the vicinity of the counter electrode 37 or the solvent. As described above, the gradation display can be performed because the sub-pixels 40A and 40B are each composed of a plurality of pixel electrodes 35A and 35B, and the pixel electrodes 35A and 35B are controlled independently. It is.

Next, a display when gradation control using red particles and blue particles is performed is shown.
FIG. 13B is a diagram showing a particle distribution state in dark red display.
After the preset operation, first, a positive voltage VH is applied to the pixel electrode 35B of the sub-pixel 40A to move all the red positively charged particles 27R to the counter electrode 37 side. Thereafter, a negative voltage Vl (VL <Vl <0) is applied to the pixel electrode 35B of the sub-pixel 40A to move a part of the blue negatively charged particles 26B toward the counter electrode 37, so that Black dots can be formed. As a result, the sub-pixel 40A has a dark red display.
On the other hand, a voltage for black display is applied to the pixel electrodes 35A and 35B of the sub-pixel 40B.

FIG.13 (c) is a figure which shows the distribution state of the particle | grains in dark blue display.
After the preset operation, first, a positive voltage Vh (0 <Vh <VH) is applied to the pixel electrode 35A of the sub-pixel 40A to move a part of the red positively charged particles 27R to the counter electrode 37 side. Thereafter, a negative voltage VL is applied to the pixel electrode 35B of the sub-pixel 40A to move all the blue negatively charged particles 26B toward the counter electrode 37, whereby black dots exist in blue. As a result, the sub-pixel 40A has a dark blue display.
On the other hand, a voltage for black display is applied to the pixel electrodes 35A and 35B of the sub-pixel 40B.

The above is an example, and the distribution area and distribution state of each particle are controlled by the magnitude of voltage applied to the pixel electrodes 35A and 35B, the application time, and the application timing.
In addition, each area in the red display area and the black display area is observed from the counter substrate 310 side in consideration of all the two-dimensional or three-dimensional spread of charged particles of each color on the counter substrate 310 side (on the counter electrode 37). Effective area.

  As described above, in the electrophoretic display device 100 according to the present embodiment, by controlling the distribution state of each charged particle in the sub-pixels 40A and 40B, different display can be performed in the sub-pixel 40A and the sub-pixel 40B. It is possible to realize various expressions by combining these different displays. Moreover, since the sealing material 110 is firmly held by the substrate body as in the above-described embodiment, it is highly reliable with bending resistance.

(First Modification of Third Embodiment)
In the above embodiment, the case where the counterbore parts ZG1 and ZG2 are formed one by one along the extending direction of the non-display part 6 has been described, but the shape and the arrangement position of the counterbore part are not limited to this. . For example, as shown in FIG. 14, the counterbore ZG1 may be formed corresponding to each of the injection holes H3, and the counterbore ZG2 may be formed corresponding to each of the injection holes H4. According to this configuration, since the formation area of the counterbore portions ZG1 and ZG2 occupying the entire element substrate 300 can be reduced, the mechanical strength of the element substrate 300 can be increased, and the bending resistance of the electro-optical device can be improved. .

(Second Modification of Third Embodiment)
In the third embodiment, the case where at least the image display area (image display unit 5) is separated into two areas by the partition wall 64 has been described as an example. However, the image display area is separated into three areas. Also good. FIG. 15 is a plan view showing a configuration in which the image display region (image display unit 5) is separated into three spaces 5c to 5e by the partition wall 64. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the partition wall 64 according to the present embodiment includes a frame-shaped outer wall portion 64 </ b> D that forms the outer shape of the partition wall 64 in a frame shape, and a corrugated shape that equally divides the region surrounded by the frame-shaped outer wall portion 64 </ b> D The first inner wall portion 64E and the second inner wall portion 64F. The space 5c is formed between the first inner wall portion 64E and the frame-shaped outer wall portion 64D, the space 5d is formed between the first inner wall portion 64E and the second inner wall portion 64F, and the second inner wall portion 64F The space 5e is formed between the frame-shaped outer wall portion 64D. Different electrophoretic materials are sealed in the spaces 5c to 5e, and electrophoretic layers 32C to 32E are formed. The electrophoretic layer 32C is constituted by injecting black particles together with red charged particles, the electrophoretic layer 32D is constituted by injecting black particles together with green charged particles, and the electrophoretic layer 32E is blue charged. It is configured by injecting black particles together with particles.

  In the present modification, a large number of pixels 40 including three sub-pixels 40A, 40B, and 40C are provided in the image display area (image display unit 5). The sub-pixels 40A, 40B, and 40C correspond to the electrophoretic layers 32C, 32D, and 32E, respectively, and perform R (red) display, G (green) display, and B (blue) display, respectively. The pixels 40 are arranged in the long side direction of the image display unit 5 so that the order of RGB and BGR is repeated when the arrangement order of the sub-pixels 40A, 40B, and 40C is denoted as RGB. Further, the sub-pixel 40 </ b> A and the sub-pixel 40 </ b> C are configured such that a partition with the adjacent pixel 40 is not provided in the long side direction of the image display unit 5.

  In the present modification, an injection hole H10 corresponding to the space 5c, an injection hole H11 corresponding to the space 5d, and an injection hole H12 corresponding to the space 5e are provided. Specifically, three injection holes H10 and H12 are formed along the extending direction of the non-display portion 6. In addition, a total of two injection holes H11 are formed at both ends of the element substrate 300 constituting the space 5d. Further, in the present modification, the counterbore ZG is formed so as to correspond to the injection holes H10 to H12. Thereby, also in this modification, an electro-optical device having bending resistance can be provided by injecting the sealing material 110 well into the injection holes H10 to H12.

  Here, when a high-viscosity liquid crystal material is injected into a narrow space having a cell gap of about 3 μm as in a liquid crystal display device, a long path pattern as shown in FIG. Not right. However, when the cell gap is thick, such as an electrophoretic display device, for example, having a cell gap of 10 μm or more, an electrophoretic material having a low viscosity can be injected in a short time and is productive. Become a practical method.

  In the present embodiment, the partition wall 64 also serves as a sealing material. According to this, it is not necessary to separately provide a sealing material, the number of parts of the electrophoretic display device can be reduced, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

In the above embodiment and the modification, the case where the electrophoretic layer is sandwiched as the electro-optical layer between the element substrate 300 and the counter substrate 310 has been described as an example. However, as shown in FIG. 16, a liquid crystal layer is used as the electro-optical layer. The present invention can also be applied to a sandwiched liquid crystal display device. FIG. 16 shows a configuration in which the electro-optic layer is replaced with the liquid crystal layer 50 in the configuration according to the second embodiment. Since the element substrate 300 and the counter substrate 310 have flexibility as described above, the cell gap is likely to change when the liquid crystal display device is bent. Therefore, it is preferable to use a liquid crystal layer 50 having a small influence on display characteristics even when the cell gap changes, such as a polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC), a polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PNLC), or the like. The present invention can also be applied to an electrochromic display device using an electrochromic material in addition to a liquid crystal layer as an electro-optic layer.
The first substrate 30 used in the present invention is not necessarily a multilayer substrate. The sealing material 110 is not limited to the ultraviolet curable resin, and a thermosetting resin or a mixture thereof may be used. As shown in FIG. 7B and the like, the sealing material 110 is preferably provided in the image area of the image display section 5.

(Electronics)
Next, a case where the electrophoretic display device of each of the above embodiments is applied to an electronic device will be described.
FIG. 17 is a perspective view illustrating a specific example of an electronic apparatus to which the electrophoretic display device of the invention is applied.
FIG. 17A is a perspective view illustrating an electronic book which is an example of the electronic apparatus. The electronic book (electronic device) 1000 includes a book-shaped frame 1001, a cover 1002 that can be rotated (openable and closable) with respect to the frame 1001, an operation unit 1003, and the electrophoretic display of the present invention. And a display unit 1004 configured by the apparatus.

  FIG. 17B is a perspective view illustrating a wrist watch that is an example of an electronic apparatus. The wristwatch (electronic device) 1100 includes a display unit 1101 constituted by the electrophoretic display device of the present invention.

  FIG. 17C is a perspective view illustrating an electronic paper which is an example of the electronic apparatus. This electronic paper (electronic device) 1200 includes a main body 1201 formed of a rewritable sheet having the same texture and flexibility as paper, and a display unit 1202 configured by the electrophoretic display device of the present invention.

For example, electronic books, electronic papers, and the like are supposed to be used for repeatedly writing characters on a white background, and therefore it is necessary to eliminate afterimages at the time of erasure and afterimages over time.
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.

  According to the above-described electronic book 1000, wristwatch 1100, and electronic paper 1200, since the electrophoretic display device according to the present invention is employed, the electronic book 1000, the wristwatch 1100, and the electronic paper 1200 have bending resistance and excellent reliability capable of displaying near full color. High-quality electronic equipment.

  In addition, said electronic device illustrates the electronic device which concerns on this invention, Comprising: The technical scope of this invention is not limited. For example, the electrophoretic display device according to the present invention can be suitably used for display units of electronic devices such as mobile phones and portable audio devices, business sheets such as manuals, textbooks, problem collections, information sheets, and the like. it can.

H, H2, H3, H4, H10, H11, H12 ... injection hole, ZG, ZG1, ZG2 ... counterbore part, 32A ... electrophoretic layer (electro-optic layer), 50 ... liquid crystal layer (electro-optic layer), 51 ... drive IC (electronic component), 64 ... partition wall, 65 ... sealing material, 100, 200, 350 ... electrophoretic display device (electro-optical device), 110 ... sealing material, 300 ... element substrate (first substrate), 310 ... opposite Substrate (second substrate), 400 ... Liquid crystal display device (electro-optical device), 1000 ... Electronic book (electronic device), 1100 ... Wristwatch (electronic device), 1200 ... Electronic paper (electronic device)

Claims (10)

A first substrate and a second substrate that are arranged to face each other and each has flexibility;
An electro-optic layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate;
An injection hole formed on one of the first substrate and the second substrate for injecting the electro-optic layer;
A sealing material for sealing the electro-optic layer injected between the first substrate and the second substrate through the injection hole,
The electro-optical device, wherein the sealing material is provided in a state of reaching the other substrate side where the injection hole is not formed. A display surface is set on a surface of the second substrate opposite to the electro-optical layer;
The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein the injection hole is formed in the first substrate. The first substrate is composed of a multilayer structure in which a plurality of base materials are laminated, and the injection hole is formed,
3. The electricity according to claim 1, wherein the electronic component is embedded in the substrate body by sandwiching the electronic component between any of the plurality of base materials. Optical device.   The injection hole is provided on a side opposite to the electro-optic layer with respect to the injection hole, and communicates with a counterbore portion having a hole diameter larger than the hole diameter of the injection hole. The electro-optical device according to claim 1.   The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the injection holes are formed. A partition is provided between the first substrate and the second substrate to partition the electro-optic layer placement region,
The electro-optical device according to claim 5, wherein the injection hole is formed so as to correspond to an arrangement region of the electro-optical layer.   The electro-optical device according to claim 6, wherein a part of the partition also serves as a sealing member that seals the electro-optical layer between the first substrate and the second substrate.   The electro-optical device according to claim 1, wherein the electro-optical layer is an electrophoretic layer. In a method of manufacturing an electro-optical device in which an electro-optical layer is sandwiched between a first substrate and a second substrate that are arranged to face each other and have flexibility,
Injecting the electro-optic layer between the substrates through an injection hole provided in one of the first substrate and the second substrate bonded together;
Sealing the injection hole with a sealing material,
In the sealing step, the sealing material is disposed so as to reach the other substrate side where the injection hole is not formed through the injection hole.   An electronic apparatus comprising the electro-optical device according to claim 1.

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