JP2590556Y2 - Electrochromic display - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement in an electrochromic display used for a display.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The present invention is directed to use of an electrochromic display (display) which reversibly develops and decolors by an electrochemical reaction (oxidation and reduction reaction) as an optical shutter element. No. 181796 (filed on June 15, 1992).

According to the above-mentioned prior invention, the transparent electrode, the first transparent substrate on which an electrochromic material (EC material) is formed, and the electrochromic material are colored simultaneously by applying a voltage and are simultaneously erased by applying a reverse voltage. A second transparent substrate formed with a film of another electrochromic material in the relation is disposed to face in the light passing direction, and a cell in which an electrolyte is sealed therebetween is formed, and when a predetermined voltage is applied to the transparent electrode. Oxidation and reduction reactions occur on the display electrode side and the counter electrode side, and the EC material on the transparent substrate changes from colorless and transparent to a predetermined color,
By blocking the transmission of light and applying a reverse voltage, the EC material on the transparent electrode changes from a desired color to colorless and transparent by a reverse oxidation / reduction reaction.

A typical electrochromic material (abbreviated as EC material) used for the electrochromic display is a tungsten oxide (WO ₃ ) type, which is made of tungsten oxide (WO ₃ ) and Prussian blue (PB). ) Changes to blue and colorless (transparent) and has a shutter function.

Instead, the present inventors have proposed a phenanthroline type (PH type), which is a combination of phenanthroline (PH) and Prussian blue (PB), which changes from black purple to colorless (transparent) and has a shutter function. This is proposed in Japanese Patent Application No. 4-87297.

[0006] indicates an electrochemical change caused by the WO ₃ type and PH type of the display below. [WO ₃ type ]… WO ₃ (blue colorless) + PB (blue colorless)
→ Blue (background cutoff), transmission (background pattern display) [PH type]… PH (red ⇔colorless) + PB (blue ⇔colorless) → black purple (background cutoff), transmission (background pattern display)

[0007]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Both EC display bodies described above can display or hide the background plate of a pattern (picture, character, etc.) placed on the background by using a shutter function. However, two different patterns cannot be displayed alternately.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The main object of the present invention is to provide an electrochromic display capable of alternately displaying two different types of patterns.

[0009]

According to the present invention, there is provided an electrochromic display device comprising: a first transparent substrate on which a transparent electrode and a first electrochromic material are formed; and the first electrochromic material being applied with a voltage. A second transparent substrate on which a second electrochromic material of a different color different in color that is simultaneously decolored or decolored by application of a reverse voltage or a short circuit by application of a reverse voltage or short-circuit is disposed so as to face in the light transmission direction; An electrochromic display body in which an electrolyte is sealed between
A first electrochromic material is deposited except for a display pattern such as a figure, and a display pattern such as a character or a figure having a similar color to the color of the first or second electrochromic material at the time of color development is drawn on the counter electrode side. The gist is that the plate-shaped background material is arranged on the second transparent substrate with the display pattern surface in close contact with or close to the second transparent substrate.

[0010] The first, the second electrochromic materials include combinations of phenanthro <br/> Li down (PH) type and Prussian blue (PB).

[0011]

When a voltage is applied to the display electrode when the phenanthroline type is used as the EC material, the display color becomes colorless (transparent) and the counter electrode also becomes colorless (transparent).
The display pattern of the background material can be seen from the display pole side. When the voltage is reduced to zero, the display electrode turns blue and the counter electrode turns red. However, since the counter electrode is in a colored state, the display pattern of the background material cannot be seen from the display electrode side.

However, since PB is not formed on the display pattern of the display electrode, even if the periphery is colored blue, only this portion is in a transmission state. Therefore, from the display pole side, PH
Is visible only in the display pattern without film formation.

[0013]

1 is a sectional view of an EC display according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. In the figure, reference numerals 1 and 2 denote transparent substrates made of glass or the like, reference numerals 3 and 4 denote transparent electrodes made of tin oxide or indium oxide, reference numeral 5 denotes a display electrode EC film made of Prussian blue PB, and reference numeral 6 denotes phenanthroline P
H is a counter electrode EC film, 7 is background paper, 8 is a sealing material,
9 is an electrolytic solution.

In the display electrode EC film 5, the display pattern portion 5a of the character "NG" is not formed, and only the transparent electrode is formed.

The counter electrode EC film 6 is formed on the entire display portion. The background paper 7 is a white image paper, and the display pattern portion 7a of the character "OK" is colored in an arbitrary color, for example, blue, and is closely attached to the back surface of the counter electrode.

In the electrochromic display having the above configuration, when a voltage of 1.5 V is applied to the transparent electrodes 3 and 4, the display electrode EC film 5 becomes colorless (transparent) and the counter electrode EC becomes transparent.
Similarly, since the film 6 is also colorless (transparent), as shown in FIG. 3A, a blue display pattern 7a of the character "OK" on the background paper 7 can be seen from the display pole side.

Next, when the voltage is set to 0V, the display electrode EC film 5
Is blue and the counter electrode EC film 6 is red. Since the opposite pole is in a colored state, the character “O” on the background paper 7 is displayed from the display pole side.
The blue display pattern 7a due to “K” is not visible.

However, since the display pattern of the display electrode EC film 5 with the character "NG" is not formed, only the portion where the film is not formed is transparent even if the periphery is colored blue. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3B, the red color of the counter electrode EC film 6 can be seen from the display electrode side only in the portion of the character "NG". In that case, the display pole portion other than the character “NG” looks black-purple in which blue and red are mixed.

In the above embodiment, the color of the display pattern 7a of the background paper 7 is the same blue as the display electrode EC film 5, but may be the same red color as the counter electrode EC film 6. In this case, when voltage is applied, the character “OK” on the background paper 7 looks red from the display pole side. When the voltage is set to 0 V, the letters "NG" appear red and the other parts appear black-purple, as in the previous embodiment.

The character pattern of the background paper may be red or blue by using phenanthroline for the display electrode EC film and Prussian blue for the counter electrode EC film. In this case, when a voltage is applied, the character “OK” on the background paper looks red or blue. When the voltage is set to 0 V, the letters "NG" appear blue, and the other portions appear black-purple.

[0021]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, two different types of patterns can be displayed alternately. For example, as described in the embodiment, “OK” in blue on a white background and “N” in red on a black-purple background.
Since "G" can be displayed, a remarkable effect can be obtained by performing the warning on the battery checker, the gas leak indicator, and the warning indicating the amount of dust in the vacuum cleaner.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an electrochromic display according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the electrochromic display.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a change in a display pattern of an electrochromic display.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 2 Transparent substrate 3, 4 Transparent electrode 5 Display electrode EC film 6 Counter electrode EC film 7 Background paper

Claims (2)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A first transparent substrate on which a transparent electrode and a first electrochromic material are formed, and a color of the first electrochromic material are simultaneously colored or decolored by applying a voltage, and a reverse voltage is applied or short-circuited. An electrochromic display body in which a second transparent substrate on which a second electrochromic material of a different color having a relation of simultaneously decoloring or developing a color is formed is disposed to face in the light transmission direction and an electrolyte is sealed between them. A first electrochromic material is formed on the display electrode side except for a display pattern such as a character or a figure, and a color similar to the color of the first or second electrochromic material at the time of color formation is formed on the opposite electrode side. Electrochromic display in which a plate-shaped background material on which a display pattern such as a character or a figure is drawn is arranged on a second transparent substrate with a display pattern surface in close contact or close proximity body. 2. The electrochromic display according to claim 1, wherein the first and second electrochromic materials comprise a combination of Prussian blue and phenanthroline type.