JP3518001B2 - Electrochromic display device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrochromic display device for displaying by utilizing an electrochemical redox reaction, and to an electrochromic display device capable of dot display by an XY matrix.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, for example, a liquid crystal display device (LC
D: liquid crystal display) or an electrochromic display device (ECD: electrochromic display) or the like,
Various display devices are used according to the application. Especially E
Compared to LCD, CD does not require a polarizing plate, so that the display is clear and has no viewing angle dependency.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of a solution type ECD. In the solution type ECD shown in this figure, for example, a display electrode and a counter electrode are arranged in a container such as glass or plastic, and in contact with these electrodes, an aqueous solution of an active material such as a viologen compound is placed. It is filled.

In this figure, 21 and 22 are glass substrates, 23 and
Reference numeral 23 denotes a spacer that supports the glass substrates 21 and 22. Reference numerals 24 and 25 denote electrodes formed on the glass substrates 21 and 22, respectively. For example, the electrode 24 is a display electrode and the electrode 25 is a counter electrode. Further, terminals 24a and 25a for supplying a driving voltage for display are extended from these electrodes. Insulating layers 26 and 27 are formed on the electrodes 24 and 25, and are provided with through holes 26a and 27a.
Indicates an EC solution such as a viologen compound filled in a container formed by the glass substrates 21 and 22 and the spacers 21 and 22 so as to contact each electrode.

The solution type ECD is constructed as shown in the figure. When a negative voltage is applied to the display electrode 24 with respect to the counter electrode 25, a pigment is deposited on the display electrode 24 to be colored, and similarly, a positive voltage is applied. When the electrode is applied, the dye deposited on the display electrode 24 is eluted and the color is erased. When a predetermined drive voltage is applied to the counter electrode 25 in this way, the EC solution 28 exhibits a redox reaction, and the display electrode 24
It is possible to display by repeating the above-mentioned color wearing and erasing.

In addition to this, as shown in FIG. 12, an ECD using a solid-phase active material such as tungsten oxide is also known. In FIG. 12, 31 is a transparent substrate, 32 is a transparent electrode formed in a thin film on the transparent substrate 31, and 33 is a solid-phase electrochromic substance formed in a thin film on the transparent electrode 32. 34 is the transparent substrate 3
1, transparent electrode 32, solid phase electrochromic material 33
2 shows a counter substrate which is arranged so as to face the display electrode substrate made of. Reference numeral 35 denotes an electrode, 36 denotes a counter electrode, and the counter substrate 3
A counter display electrode is formed on the surface 4. Reference numeral 37 denotes an electrolyte sealed between the transparent electrode 32 and the counter electrode 36.
Further, a background plate 38 is enclosed if necessary.

The solid phase type ECD shown in this figure also
When a negative voltage is applied to the display electrode side with respect to the counter display electrode, the solid-phase electrochromic substance 33 is reduced to a colored state so that display can be performed. Similarly, when a positive voltage is applied to the display electrode side, the colored color disappears and the color is erased.

[0008]

As described above, the EC
Since a current flows through the EC solution sealed between the display electrode and the counter display electrode in D, the entire surface of the electrode is colored and displayed. Therefore, as a matrix display in which only a specific place is colored and erased, it is considered that the lead wire is taken out corresponding to each electrode and a drive voltage is applied. However, the method of taking out the lead wire becomes more complicated as the number of electrodes increases, and it is very difficult to wire easily. Also, for example, TFT, T
Even if the drive voltage is applied by active drive using an FD or the like, the price of each element is expensive and, as a result, the device itself is expensive.

[0009]

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and fills an EC solution into a display electrode formed on a display substrate and a groove formed on an insulating substrate. By doing so, an electrochromic display device capable of dot display is realized.

As an electrochromic display device according to a first aspect of the present invention, a display substrate having a plurality of transparent display electrodes linearly formed so as to cross a central portion and transparently formed, and facing the display substrate. An insulating substrate having a plurality of grooves formed on the surface facing the display electrode so as to cross the transparent display electrode ;
At the end face of the display substrate, the transparent display electrode is
And a counter electrode formed in a direction orthogonal to each other, and the groove is filled with an electrochromic solution to form an electrochromic display device.

As an electrochromic display device according to a second aspect of the present invention, the electrochromic display device is linearly formed so as to cross the central portion.
A plurality of transparent display electrodes are arranged and formed transparently.
The display substrate and the display substrate facing each other.
The transparent display electrode on the surface facing the display electrode.
An insulating substrate with multiple grooves
Formed on the end of the partition wall of the groove formed on the insulating substrate
And a counter substrate that is
An electrochromic display device is constructed by filling a rochromic solution .

As an electrochromic display device according to a third aspect of the present invention, the electrochromic display device is formed in a linear shape so as to cross the central portion.
A plurality of transparent display electrodes are arranged and formed transparently.
The display substrate and the display substrate facing each other.
The transparent display electrode on the surface facing the display electrode.
An insulating substrate with multiple grooves
Formed at the end of the bottom surface of the groove formed in the insulating substrate
And a counter substrate that is
An electrochromic display device is constructed by filling a rochromic solution .

In the electrochromic display device according to claim 4, the counter electrode is provided on the transparent display electrode side.
An electrochromic display device is constructed by forming the tip portion with a curved line .

As an electrochromic display device according to a fifth aspect, the electrochromic display device is formed in a linear shape so as to cross the central portion.
A plurality of transparent display electrodes are arranged and formed transparently.
The display substrate and the display substrate facing each other.
The transparent display electrode on the surface facing the display electrode.
The multiple grooves are shaped so that their bottom surfaces are curved
The insulating substrate is made of
An electrochromic display device is constructed by filling the electrochromic solution .

As an electrochromic display device according to a sixth aspect, one of the display substrate and the insulating substrate is provided.
One is composed of an opaque substrate to form an electrochromic display device.

As an electrochromic display device according to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the top of the partition wall is black-processed to form an electrochromic display device.

[0017]

[0018]

The present invention provides a display electrode substrate on which a plurality of linear electrodes are formed, and an insulating substrate in which a plurality of grooves are formed so as to be orthogonal to the linear electrodes, and the grooves are filled with an EC solution. And dot display at a predetermined location of a predetermined electrode among a plurality of linear electrodes formed by disposing a counter electrode corresponding to the groove on one of the substrates. Will be able to.

[0019]

EXAMPLES Examples of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the display device of this embodiment.
Shows the whole, and the same figure (b) has expanded and shown a part. In addition, the putty P is shown with a part cut away in FIG. In these figures, 1 is a transparent display electrode substrate made of, for example, glass or plastic, and 2 is a display electrode plate 1.
Display electrodes 3a, 3b formed in a linear shape crossing the
Is the EC in the groove 5 orthogonal to the display electrode 2, as will be described later.
It is a counter electrode for applying a voltage to the solution, and is transparent like the display electrode substrate 1. These electrodes will be described later in detail with reference to FIG.

Reference numeral 4 denotes an insulating substrate attached to the display electrode substrate 1. On the surface of the insulating substrate 4 facing the display electrode substrate 1, the above-mentioned plurality of grooves 5 are formed so as to cross the display electrodes 2 at right angles, and the EC solution is filled in the grooves 5. After that, it is sealed with putty P or the like. The groove 5 is formed corresponding to the counter substrate 3 a (3 b) of the insulating substrate 4 and is separated by the wall 6, as shown in FIG. Then, an adhesive layer is formed on the upper surface of the wall 6 to fix the display electrode substrate 1 and the insulating substrate 4. This insulating substrate 4 is also the display electrode substrate 1
It is also formed transparently.

Next, the display electrode substrate 1 and the insulating substrate 4 constituting the display device of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 2A is a front view showing the display electrode substrate 1 from the side where each electrode is formed. As described above, the display electrode 2 is formed in a linear shape so as to cross the central portion of the display electrode substrate 1. On the other hand, the counter electrodes 3a and 3b are formed so as to be orthogonal to the display electrode 2 in their peripheral portions. Then, the display electrode 2 and the counter electrodes 3a and 3b
When a drive voltage (positive) is applied to any of the electrodes, the display electrodes 2 corresponding to the counter electrodes 3a and 3b will be described later.
The dye of the EC solution filled in the groove 5 is deposited and colored at a predetermined position. Further, when a driving voltage (negative) is applied, the dye of the EC solution filled in the groove 5 is eluted at a predetermined position of the display electrode 2 corresponding to the counter electrodes 3a and 3b to be erased. That is, according to the present invention, matrix display can be performed by the display electrode 2 and the counter electrodes 3a and 3b.

The EC solution may also be deposited on the ends of the counter electrodes 3a and 3b on the display electrode 2 side. Therefore, in order to conceal the EC solution, the actual display portion is surrounded by a broken line, for example. Within E. Further, since the electric field is concentrated on the corners of the tips of the counter electrodes 3a and 3b, when a driving voltage is applied, the electrodes are concentrated in this portion, and when this is repeated, the deposited dye becomes a scab. It may be peeled off. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 2B, it is preferable to form the tips of the counter electrodes 3a and 3b in a non-cornered shape such as a semicircular shape.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the insulating substrate 4 from the surface in which the groove 5 is formed. FIG. 3 (a) shows the whole, and FIG. 3 (b) shows a partially enlarged view. The groove 5 is formed so as to correspond to the counter electrodes 3a and 3b of the display electrode substrate 1, and when the display electrode substrate 1 and the insulating substrate 4 are fixed, the groove 5 and the display electrode 2 are fixed so as to be orthogonal to each other. . The fixing to the display electrode substrate 1 is performed by forming an adhesive layer 7 by applying an adhesive or the like on the upper surface portion of the wall 6 that insulates each groove 5 as shown in FIG. 5 and counter electrode 3
A and 3b are made to correspond and abut. And groove 5
The EC solution is filled in and filled with EC solution, for example, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. That is, one of the display electrode 2 and the counter electrodes 3a and 3b,
Alternatively, when a driving voltage is applied to both of them, a current flows in the EC solution filled in the groove 5 and the dye is deposited at a predetermined portion of the display electrode 2.

Next, the coloring / decoloring of the display device of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a view showing the display device shown in FIG. 1A from the front, and the grooves 5 and the display electrodes 2 formed in the lower layer on the insulating substrate 4 are shown by thin lines. That is, the square portion surrounded by the thin line (the point intersecting with the groove 5 in the display electrode 2) becomes the dots D ₁ and D ₂ for displaying a character graphic or the like. Also in FIG.
(A) and (b) are counter electrodes 3a and 3 to which a drive voltage is applied.
It is the figure which showed the vicinity of the groove | channel 5 corresponding to b in the cross section. In FIG. 5, 8 indicates the EC solution filled in the groove 5.

For example, the display electrode 2a and the counter electrode 3a
₁ , when a negative driving voltage is applied to the counter electrode 3b ₁ , the groove 5
The point where a and the display electrode 2 intersect, that is, the dot D ₁ is colored. At this time, for example, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 5A, the EC filled in the groove 5a
An electric current flows through the solution 8 and the dot D _{1 on the} display substrate 2
At this position, the dye is deposited and colored. Also,
When a positive drive voltage is applied to the display electrode 2a, the counter electrode 3a ₁ and the counter electrode 3b ₁ from this state, the dye deposited on the dot D ₁ is eluted and erased.

Further, for example, when a negative drive voltage is applied to the display electrode 2b, the counter electrode 3a ₂ and the counter electrode 3b ₂ ,
The point where the groove 5b and the display electrode 2b intersect, that is, the dot D
₂ will be colored. At this time, for example, in FIG.
As indicated by an arrow in (b), an electric current flows in the EC solution filled in the groove 5b, and the dye is deposited and colored at the dot D ₁ on the display substrate 2. From this state, the display electrode 2b and the counter electrode 3a ₂ ,
When a positive drive voltage is applied to the counter electrode 3b ₂ , the dot D ₂
The dye that has been deposited on the film will be eluted and the color will be erased.

Thus, the display electrode 2 and the counter electrode 3
By applying a drive voltage (positive or negative) to a and 3b, it is possible to repeatedly perform coloration / decoloration at a predetermined dot D on the display electrode 2 and display, for example, characters or figures in a matrix. Become. Since this display device is composed of two transparent substrates, a transmissive display such as a projector device or OHP can be performed.
Further, if necessary, a background plate can be used to enable direct-view display. Further, the dots D can be made fine by setting the widths of the display substrate 2 and the grooves 5 to be narrow. Furthermore, EC that deposits different dyes in each groove 5
By enclosing the solution 8, the display color can be diversified.

Next, the display electrode 2, the groove 5, the counter electrode 3a,
A modified example of 3b will be described. FIGS. 6A and 6B are views showing a modified example of the display electrode 2. FIG. 3A shows an example in which the display electrode 2 is divided and formed in the central portion. When the display electrodes are divided into two parts as described above, it is possible to separately drive the right and left in the duty (on / off) driving, and the duty ratio can be halved. Therefore, it becomes possible to deal with higher image quality. Further, FIG. 2B is an example in which the display electrode 2 is formed in a comb shape. By thus forming the display electrodes 2 in a comb shape, the lead-out intervals of the terminals t can be widened and the terminals can be easily attached.

FIG. 7 shows a bottom surface 1 of the groove 5 as a modification of the groove 5.
It is a figure which shows the example which formed 0 by a curved surface. As described above, the bottom surface 10 is formed into a curved surface, and the corner of the connecting portion between the bottom surface 10 and the wall 6 is removed, so that the corner is not conspicuous in the display portion and the visibility is improved.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are views showing a modification of the counter electrodes 3a and 3b. In the above embodiment, the counter electrode 3a,
Although 3b is formed on the display substrate 2, it may be formed on the insulating substrate 4 side as shown in FIGS.
For example, as shown in FIG. 3A, a wall 6 separating the groove 5 is formed.
A pair of counter electrodes 3a ₁ and 3a ₂ may be formed at the end portions of. Although not shown, a pair of electrodes, such as a pair of counter electrodes 3b ₁ and 3b ₂ , is similarly formed at the other end of the groove 5. In this case, the drive voltage is applied to the counter electrodes 3a ₁ and 3a ₂ at the same time. Even if only _{one of} the counter electrodes 3a ₁ and 3a ₂ is provided, coloration / decoloration is possible.
It is desirable to provide a pair in consideration of the area ratio with and the response speed of color fading and erasing. Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, the bottom surface 10 may be provided on the wall 6 of the groove 5 having a curved surface.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9, it is possible to provide the counter electrode 3a (3b) on the bottom surface of the groove 5. In this case, although not shown, the counter electrode 3a (3
b) A porous white diffuser plate will be placed on top.

Further, also when the counter electrodes 3a and 3b are provided on the wall 6 as shown in these figures, the end portion on the display electrode 2 side has, for example, a semicircular shape for the reason explained in FIG. 3B. It is also possible to make a shape having no corners. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, by coloring the upper edge portion of the wall 6 black, the contrast in the display portion can be improved.

It is also possible to construct a direct-view type or a reflection type display device by constructing either one of the display electrode substrate 1 and the insulating substrate 4 by a non-transparent substrate.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It is composed of a display substrate on which a plurality of linearly formed display electrodes are formed and an insulating substrate on which grooves are formed so as to be orthogonal to the display electrodes. By filling the grooves with an EC solution, matrix display can be achieved. It is possible to realize a possible electrochromic display device. Therefore, expensive TF
Matrix display can be performed by an inexpensive electrochromic display device without the need for active driving using T, TFD, or the like. Further, the counter electrode can be formed on either the display electrode side or the insulating substrate depending on the situation. Further, by forming either the display substrate or the insulating substrate opaque, there is an advantage that a direct-view type or a reflection type display device can be configured.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of an electrochromic display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display electrode substrate that constitutes an electrochromic display device of an example.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an insulating substrate that constitutes an electrochromic display device of an example.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating matrix display of the electrochromic display device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating matrix display of the electrochromic display device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a modification of the display electrode of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a modification of the groove formed in the insulating substrate of the example.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a modification of the counter electrode of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a modified example of the counter electrode of the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a view showing an example in which the upper edge of the partition wall of the embodiment is black processed.

FIG. 11 is a view showing a conventional solution type electrochromic display device.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a conventional solid-phase type electrochromic display device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Display electrode substrate 2 Display electrode 3, 3a, 3b Counter electrode 4 insulating substrate 5 grooves 6 partitions 7 Adhesive layer 8 EC solution D dot t terminal

Front page continuation (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G09F 9/30 380

Claims (7)

(57) [Claims] 1. A display substrate transparently formed by arranging a plurality of transparent display electrodes formed in a line so as to cross a central portion, and a display substrate facing the display substrate and at the same time as the display electrode. An insulating substrate having a plurality of grooves formed so as to traverse the transparent display electrode on opposite surfaces, and an end face portion of the display substrate facing the transparent display electrode.
And an opposite electrode formed in a direction orthogonal to each other, and the groove is filled with an electrochromic solution. 2. A linear shape formed so as to cross the central portion.
A plurality of transparent display electrodes are arranged and formed transparently.
And a display substrate facing the display substrate and the display electrode.
A plurality of electrodes on the surface facing the transparent display electrode across the transparent display electrode.
Groove is formed on the insulating substrate, and the groove formed on the insulating substrate is formed at the end of the partition wall.
And a counter substrate that is
An electrochromic display device, which is filled with a trochromic solution . 3. Formed linearly so as to cross the central portion.
A plurality of transparent display electrodes are arranged and formed transparently.
And a display substrate facing the display substrate and the display electrode.
A plurality of electrodes on the surface facing the transparent display electrode across the transparent display electrode.
Of the groove formed on the insulating substrate and the end of the bottom surface of the groove formed on the insulating substrate.
And a counter substrate that is
An electrochromic display device, which is filled with a trochromic solution . 4. The electrochromic display according to claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the counter electrode has a curved end portion on the transparent display electrode side. apparatus. 5. A linear shape is formed so as to cross the central portion.
Multiple transparent display electrodes are arranged and formed transparent
The display substrate and the display electrode are arranged to face the display substrate.
A plurality of electrodes on the surface facing the transparent display electrode across the transparent display electrode.
Insulation whose groove is formed so that its bottom surface is curved
The substrate and the electrochromic solution in the groove , which is composed of
An electrochromic display device characterized by being filled with . 6. The electrochromic display device according to claim 1, wherein one of the display substrate and the insulating substrate is an opaque substrate. 7. The electrochromic display device according to claim 1, wherein the top of the partition wall is black-processed.