JP4701764B2 - Image display medium - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image display medium, and more particularly to an image display medium that can be rewritten repeatedly to display an image by moving colored particles by applying a voltage between substrates.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image display medium using colored particles is known as an image display medium that has memory characteristics and can be rewritten repeatedly (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Such an image display medium includes, for example, a pair of substrates and a plurality of types of particle groups that are sealed between the substrates so as to be movable between the substrates by an applied electric field and have different colors and charging characteristics. Further, a gap member for partitioning the substrates into a plurality of cells for the purpose of maintaining the distance between the substrates and preventing the particles from being biased to a partial region in the substrate. Is provided.

  In such an image display medium, particles are moved by applying a voltage corresponding to the image between the pair of substrates, and an image is displayed as the contrast of particles of different colors. Even after the application of the voltage is stopped, the particles remain attached to the substrate by van der Waals force or mirror image force, and the image display is maintained.

  Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3 propose an image display medium in which the color of the back substrate and the color of the particle group are different, and an image is displayed with the contrast between the color of the particle and the color of the back substrate. Yes.

  In this image display medium, for example, for a pixel for which the color of a particle is to be displayed, the particle is moved to the display substrate side by applying a DC voltage between the substrates at that position. On the other hand, for a pixel whose color is to be displayed on the back substrate, an alternating voltage is applied between the substrates at that position to move the particles to the region of the other pixel and expose the back substrate.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 11A, a display substrate 104 in which a plurality of line-shaped scanning electrodes 102 are formed on a glass substrate 100, and a predetermined shape so as to be orthogonal to the scanning electrodes 102 as shown in FIG. A plurality of line-shaped data electrodes 106 colored in color (for example, red) are formed on a substrate 108, a back substrate 110, positively charged black particles 112 enclosed between the substrates, and negatively charged The movement of the particles when displaying an image on the image display medium 120 including the white particles 114 and the gap members 118 that partition the substrates into a plurality of cells 116 as shown in FIG. 12 will be described. 11A to 11C are cross-sectional views taken along line AA for one cell in FIG. In FIGS. 11A to 11C, the data electrodes 106A, 106B, and 106C are sequentially arranged from the left in the drawing.

  For example, when the center pixel of the cell 116 (in the direction orthogonal to the scanning direction S, that is, the center pixel in the longitudinal direction of the scanning electrode 102) is to be displayed in black, the scanning electrode 102 and the center of the cell in the white display state are displayed. A predetermined negative voltage with respect to the data electrode is applied to the scan electrode 102 between the data electrode 106B. As a result, as shown in FIG. 11A, the positively charged black particles 112 on the data electrode 106B move to the display substrate 104 side, and the white particles 114 move to the back substrate side, thereby displaying black.

  When the center pixel of the cell 116 is displayed in red, for example, the data electrodes 106A and 106C and the scanning electrode 102 are grounded, and a predetermined alternating voltage (for example, ± 200 V) is applied to the data electrode 106B. Thereby, the particles on the data electrode 106B reciprocate between the substrates, and the particles on the data electrodes 106A and 106C do not move, but the particles on the data electrode 106B move between the data electrode 106B and the data electrode 106A. The edge electric field formed between the electrode 106B and the data electrode 106C moves to the region of another adjacent pixel while reciprocating between the substrates. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11B, the pixel on the data electrode 106B is removed and displayed in red.

  Similarly, when the pixel adjacent to the gap member 118, for example, the pixel at the left end in FIG. 11C is displayed in red, the data electrodes 106B and 106C and the scan electrode 102 are grounded, and the data electrode 106A has a predetermined alternating current. Although voltage is applied, the movement of the particles on the data electrode 106A is limited by the gap member 118, so that the particles remain on the data electrode 106A as shown in FIG. For this reason, the area in which red is displayed is reduced, and the color may become muddy red.

  Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 13, when the red line along the scanning direction S is displayed every other pixel in the direction orthogonal to the scanning direction S, the pixel on the center of the cell 116, that is, on the data electrode 106B. While the line is clearly displayed in red, the pixels adjacent to the gap member 118 of the cell 116, that is, the lines on the data electrodes 106A and 106C (the areas hatched with thick lines in the figure) are displayed in turbid red, and the display quality Will fall.

As shown in FIG. 14, when the gap member 118 has a brick shape, a red line along the scanning direction S is displayed every other pixel in a direction orthogonal to the scanning direction S. Red and muddy red are alternately repeated for each pixel, and the display quality is further deteriorated.
JP 2001-31225 A JP 2002-169191 A JP 2004-86095 A

  In this way, in the pixel that is not adjacent to the gap member, that is, the pixel near the center of the cell, the particle at that position is quickly moved and removed to the area of the adjacent pixel, and the color of the back substrate can be displayed well. However, in the pixel adjacent to the gap member, the direction in which the particles move is limited by the gap member. Therefore, the particles cannot be sufficiently removed unless the application time of the alternating voltage is sufficiently long.

  Therefore, there is a problem that if priority is given to increasing display quality, the display speed will be extremely slow, and if priority is given to increasing display speed, the display quality will be extremely degraded.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described facts, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image display medium capable of preventing display quality from being deteriorated without reducing display speed.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the invention described in claim 1 is a display substrate having at least translucency, a rear substrate facing the display substrate with a gap, and a plurality of first substrates arranged in parallel along a predetermined direction. A voltage corresponding to an image is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode arranged to face the first electrode, thereby forming a gap between the display substrate and the rear substrate. and one type of particles even without least sealed between the substrates so as to move in accordance with an electric field was an image between the substrate provided with a spacing member for partitioning said first electrode into a plurality including cells In the display medium, the plurality of first electrodes are colored in a color different from the color of the particle group, and the gap member and a first of the plurality of first electrodes in the cell that are adjacent to the gap member. and electrodes, during, wearing the color of the first electrode Characterized in that a particle removal area which is not.

According to the present invention, the image display medium, a display substrate having at least translucency, a rear substrate that face each other with a display substrate and a gap between the substrates of one type of particles even without least is sealed, the substrate The space is partitioned into cells by a gap member.

In the particle group, a voltage corresponding to an image is applied between a plurality of first electrodes juxtaposed along a predetermined direction and a second electrode arranged to face the first electrode. By this, it moves according to the electric field formed between the substrates . The plurality of first electrodes are colored in a color different from the color of the particle group.

  The gap member partitions the substrate into cells including a plurality of first electrodes. Thereby, a plurality of pixels are included in one cell.

In such an image display medium, the color of the particles can be displayed by applying a voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode so that the particles move to the display substrate side. The color of the first electrode can be displayed by applying an alternating voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode so as to move to an adjacent pixel region while reciprocating between the first electrode and the second electrode. In addition, about the application method of a voltage, the method described in Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2004-86095 can be used, for example.

Here, when the color of the back substrate is displayed on the pixel adjacent to the gap member, the movement of the particles is limited by the gap member, but the gap member and the gap member among the plurality of first electrodes in the cell are adjacent to the gap member. Since a particle removal region that is not colored in the color of the first electrode is provided between the first electrode and the first electrode , particles can be collected in this region. For this reason, it is possible to prevent particles from remaining in the pixels adjacent to the gap member, and it is possible to display the color of the first electrode satisfactorily.

  In addition, as described in claim 2, the particle removal region may be a region where the first electrode does not exist.

  In addition, as described in claim 3, the particle removal region may include a particle removal electrode. Thereby, the movement of the particles can be easily controlled.

  In this case, as described in claim 4, the particle removal electrode may be an electrode having a width wider than the width of the gap member. That is, the particle removal electrode is configured to protrude from the gap member.

  Thus, when the electrode for particle removal is an electrode having a width wider than the width of the gap member, when the gap member has a brick shape, for example, there is a portion where the gap member does not continue in a certain direction. It will be. In this case, if the discontinuous portion of the gap member is included in any adjacent pixel, the pixel size becomes non-uniform, which is not preferable.

  Therefore, as described in claim 5, the particle removal electrode may be a pair of electrodes provided on both sides of the gap member. In this case, by setting each electrode as a set with the first electrode on both sides of the gap member, even if the gap member has a discontinuous portion in a certain direction, the discontinuous portion can be used as a pixel. At the same time, the pixel size can be prevented from becoming non-uniform.

  The plurality of first electrodes is a data electrode group in which a plurality of line-shaped data electrodes are juxtaposed, and the second electrode intersects with the data electrodes. It can be set as the structure which is the scanning electrode group in which the several scanning electrode of the line form was juxtaposed. That is, the electrode arrangement has a simple matrix structure.

  Further, as described in claim 7, the particle group can be a plurality of types of particle groups having different colors and charging characteristics. In this case, an image can also be displayed by contrast between a plurality of types of particle groups having different colors.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the display quality from being lowered without reducing the display speed.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of an image display medium 10 according to the present embodiment. The image display medium 10 holds a translucent display substrate 12 on the image display side, a back substrate 14 facing the display substrate 12 with a predetermined interval, and holds the substrate at a predetermined interval. The gap member 18 is divided into a plurality of cells, and the black particles 20 and the white particles 22 having different charging characteristics are enclosed in each cell.

  The display substrate 12 has a configuration in which a plurality of line-shaped scanning electrodes 26 are formed on a glass substrate 24. The back substrate 14 has a configuration in which a plurality of line-shaped data electrodes 32 of a predetermined color (in this embodiment, red is used as an example) are formed on a substrate 30. Each electrode is made of, for example, an ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) electrode, and all have the same width.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the plurality of line-shaped scanning electrodes 26 are juxtaposed in the vertical direction (scanning direction S) in FIG. 2, and the plurality of line-shaped data electrodes 32 juxtaposed in the left-right direction in FIG. Are arranged so as to be orthogonal to each other. The intersection position of each scanning electrode 26 and each data electrode 32 constitutes a pixel.

  The gap member 18 includes one scanning electrode 26 and a plurality of data electrodes 32, and has a grid-like shape in which a plurality of rectangular cells 36 having a longitudinal direction in a direction orthogonal to the scanning direction S are formed. Has been. In FIG. 2, as an example, each cell 36 has a configuration in which one scanning electrode 26 and three data electrodes 32 are arranged, that is, a configuration of 1 × 3 pixels per cell, but this is not a limitation. Absent.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA for one cell in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 1, the left data electrode of each cell is the data electrode 32A, and the central data electrode is the data electrode 32B. The right data electrode is defined as a data electrode 32C. Further, these are collectively referred to simply as the data electrode 32.

  In each cell 36, a group of particles having different colors and charging characteristics and different colors from the data electrode 32, positively charged black particles 20 and negatively charged white particles 22 are enclosed. . As described above, the substrates are partitioned by the gap member 18 and the particles are enclosed in each cell 36, so that the movement of the particles is limited in each cell and the particles can be prevented from being biased. The black particles 20 may be negatively charged and the white particles 22 may be positively charged. As each particle, for example, insulating particles, conductive particles, and the like can be used.

  In addition, the back substrate 14 at both ends in the direction orthogonal to the scanning direction S of each cell 36 is provided with an electrode absent portion 38 where the data electrode 32 is not present. That is, the back substrate 14 is provided with the data electrodes 32 in areas excluding the predetermined areas at both ends in the direction orthogonal to the scanning direction S of each cell 36. In FIG. 2, the hatched area is represented as an electrode absent portion 38.

  In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, for simplicity of explanation, the electrodes are arranged in a simple matrix structure of 8 rows × 6 columns, but actually, the number of electrodes corresponding to the number of pixels necessary for image display is each substrate. Needless to say, it is formed. That is, if m rows × n columns of pixels are required, m scanning electrodes 26 are formed on the glass substrate 24, and n data electrodes 32 are formed on the substrate 30.

  In this embodiment, the scanning electrode 26 is provided on the display substrate side and the data electrode 32 is provided on the rear substrate side. Conversely, the data electrode 32 is provided on the display substrate side. Alternatively, the scanning electrode 26 may be formed on the side.

  Further, the scanning electrode 26 and the data electrode 32 may be formed not on the surface on the side where the display substrate 12 and the back substrate 14 face each other but on the surface on the opposite side. They may be arranged separately and independently on the outside of the back substrate 14. In this case, a colored layer having the same shape as the data electrode 32 may be provided on the surface of the back substrate 14 facing the display substrate 12. When the electrodes are provided separately from the image display medium, an electric field can be formed between the substrates by configuring the substrates with a dielectric member.

Each member constituting the image display medium 10, it is possible to use those described in, for example, JP 2001-3122 2 5 JP.

  In such an image display medium 10, the scanning electrode 26 has a predetermined voltage (for example, ± 140 V) that is necessary for generating a potential difference that can move at least particles between the substrates and that can secure a necessary concentration. And the data electrode 32, the black particles 20 and the white particles 22 at the positions move between the substrates. For example, when a predetermined voltage (for example, +140 V) at which the potential of the scanning electrode 26 is positive with respect to the data electrode 32 is applied between the electrodes, the positively charged black particles 20 on the display substrate 12 side are transferred to the rear substrate. The negatively charged white particles 22 on the back substrate 14 side move to the display substrate 12 side. On the other hand, when a predetermined voltage (for example, −140 V) at which the potential of the scanning electrode 26 is negative with respect to the data electrode 32 is applied between the electrodes, the negatively charged white particles 22 on the display substrate 12 side are The positively charged black particles 20 that move to the substrate 14 side move to the display substrate 12 side.

  Accordingly, by applying a positive or negative predetermined voltage between the data electrode 32 and the scanning electrode 26 at a position corresponding to the pixel to which the particle is to be moved, the particle is moved according to the image and the image is displayed. Can do. Even after the voltage application is stopped, the black particles 20 or the white particles 22 remain attached to the display substrate 12 or the back substrate 14 due to van der Waals force, mirror image force, or the like, and the image display is maintained.

  In the present embodiment, as an example, the case where the density characteristics of the image display medium 10 are characteristics as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B will be described. That is, when the voltage applied to the scanning electrode 26 with respect to the data electrode 32 is set to −140 V or 140 V, the black particles 20 or the white particles 22 move to the display substrate 12 side and a sufficient concentration can be obtained. In addition, when the voltage applied to the scanning electrode 26 with respect to the data electrode 32 is set to −70 V or 70 V, the particle movement can be prohibited. In the figure, the case where the pulse width of the applied voltage is 10 msec and the number of pulses is 1 is shown.

  Various values can be set for the values of the ON voltage and the OFF voltage applied to the scan electrode 26 and the data electrode 32. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. The ON voltage for the scan electrode applied to 0V, the OFF voltage for the scan electrode to 70V, the ON voltage for the data electrode applied to the data electrode 32 to 140V, twice the ON voltage for the scan electrode, and the OFF voltage for the data electrode. Are each set to 70V. For example, the pulse width of each voltage is 10 msec and the number of pulses is 1.

  When the ON voltage and the OFF voltage are set in this way, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the ON voltage is applied to both the scanning electrode 26 and the data electrode 32, the scanning electrode 26 for the data electrode 32 is applied. The applied voltage becomes −140 V, and the black particles 20 of the pixel (image portion) move to the display substrate 12 side.

  When the scan electrode ON voltage is applied to the scan electrode 26 and the data electrode OFF voltage is applied to the data electrode 32, the applied voltage to the scan electrode 26 with respect to the data electrode 32 is -70V, and the pixel (non-image portion) is applied. ) Particles do not move. Similarly, when the scan electrode OFF voltage is applied to the scan electrode 26 and the data electrode ON voltage is applied to the data electrode 32, the applied voltage to the scan electrode 26 with respect to the data electrode 32 is -70V, and the particle of the pixel is When the scan electrode 26 is not moved, and the scan electrode OFF voltage is applied to the scan electrode 26 and the data electrode OFF voltage is applied to the data electrode 32, the applied voltage to the scan electrode 26 with respect to the data electrode 32 is 0V, and the particles of the pixel are Do not move.

  In addition, in the case of performing initialization driving in which the arrangement of the particles in the cell 36, that is, the particle density is made uniform and finally the white display is performed, an initialization driving voltage is applied between the scanning electrode 26 and the data electrode 32. Apply the alternating voltage. For example, the first scan electrode initialization voltage is set to 140 V, the second scan electrode initialization voltage is set to 0 V, and these are alternately applied to the scan electrode 26 with a predetermined pulse width. The initializing voltage for one data electrode is set to 0V, the initializing voltage for the second data electrode is set to 140V, and these are alternately applied to the data electrode 32 with the predetermined pulse width. As a result, an alternating voltage is applied between the scan electrode 26 and the data electrode 32. Then, this is executed for a predetermined number of pulses, and finally the first scan electrode initialization voltage is applied to the scan electrode 26 and the first data electrode initialization voltage is applied to the data electrode 32 in order to display white. To do. At this time, application with a pulse width longer than the predetermined pulse width is preferable because white display with more stable density can be performed. The predetermined number of pulses is set to a number that can sufficiently uniformize the arrangement of particles.

  Further, when displaying red, which is a color other than particles, for the predetermined pixel in the cell, that is, the color of the data electrode 32, alternating voltages for scanning electrodes (for example, voltages of 0 V and 140 V are alternately applied to the scanning electrodes 26. (Alternating voltage), the data electrode OFF voltage (70V) is applied to the data electrode 32 of a pixel other than the predetermined pixel in the cell, and data of a predetermined frequency (for example, 200 Hz) and a predetermined voltage value is applied to the data electrode 32 of the predetermined pixel. A predetermined number of pulses (for example, 30 pulses) of an alternating voltage for electrodes (for example, an alternating voltage in which voltages of 140 V and 0 V are alternately applied and having a 180-degree phase difference from the alternating voltage for scanning electrodes) are applied. As a result, particles in a predetermined pixel region move back and forth between the substrates, and move to other pixel regions in the cell by an edge electric field (an electric field parallel to the substrate surface) formed between adjacent data electrodes. The data electrode 32 is exposed and displayed in red.

  FIG. 5 shows a schematic configuration of the driving device 40 for displaying an image on the image display medium 10 based on the image data.

  The drive device 40 includes a scan electrode drive circuit 42, a data electrode drive circuit 44, power supply circuits 46 and 48, and a control device 50.

  The scan electrode driving circuit 42 is connected to each of the scan electrodes 26 and is supplied with various voltages supplied from the power supply circuit 46, that is, the first scan electrode initialization voltage, the second scan electrode initialization voltage, and the scan electrode. The ON voltage for scanning and the OFF voltage for scanning electrode are applied to each scanning electrode 26 in accordance with instructions from the control device 50.

  The data electrode drive circuit 44 is connected to each data electrode 32 and is supplied with various voltages supplied from the power supply circuit 48, that is, a first data electrode initialization voltage, a second data electrode initialization voltage, and a data electrode. The ON voltage for data, the OFF voltage for data electrode, and the voltage for particle removal are applied to each data electrode 32 in accordance with instructions from the controller 50.

  Scan electrode drive circuit 42 is connected to each scan electrode 26 and applies various voltages supplied from power supply circuit 46 to each scan electrode 26 in accordance with instructions from control device 50.

  The data electrode drive circuit 44 is connected to each data electrode 32 and applies various voltages supplied from the power supply circuit 48 to each data electrode 32 in accordance with instructions from the control device 50.

  Image data corresponding to an image to be displayed on the image display medium 10 is input to the control device 50. The control device 50 outputs a scan electrode designating signal for designating the scan electrode 26 to be scanned to the scan electrode drive circuit 42 based on the input image data. At the same time, a data electrode designation signal for designating the data electrode 32 of the image portion (pixels for black display and pixels for red display) of the line image corresponding to the scan electrode 26 designated by the scan electrode designation signal. Is output to the data electrode driving circuit 44.

  The scan electrode drive circuit 42 applies a scan electrode ON voltage to the scan electrode 26 designated by the control electrode 50 from the scan electrode designation signal, and scan electrodes other than the scan electrode 26 designated by the scan electrode designation signal. The data electrode driving circuit 44 applies data to the data electrode 32 of the pixel to be displayed black among the data electrodes 32 designated by the data electrode designation signal from the control device 50. An electrode ON voltage is applied, a particle removal voltage is applied to the data electrode 32 of the pixel to be displayed in red, and a data electrode is applied to the data electrode 32 other than the data electrode 32 designated by the data electrode designation signal. Apply the OFF voltage.

  As a result, in the image portion at the intersection position between the scanning electrode 26 and the data electrode 32 designated by the control device 50, the black particles 20 are displayed on the display substrate 12 side and the white particles 22 are displayed on the rear substrate 14 for the pixels that display black. It moves to the side and is displayed in black. In addition, regarding the pixel that displays red, the particle moves to the area of another pixel while reciprocating between the substrates, and the data electrode 32 of the pixel is exposed, so that the pixel is displayed in red. The particles in the non-image area do not move between the substrates. By executing this for each line, that is, for each scanning electrode 26, an image can be displayed.

  Here, for example, when the pixel on the left side of the cell 36 in FIG. 1 is designated as a pixel that displays red, a particle removal voltage is applied to the data electrode 32A. At this time, the movement of the particles is restricted by the gap member 18. However, the particles move on a portion where no electrode exists, that is, on the electrode absent portion 38 where the electric field is weak. For this reason, no particles remain on the data electrode 32A, and a clear red display can be achieved. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the application time of the voltage for removing particles as compared with the conventional case, increase the display speed and improve the display quality.

  The width W of the electrode absent portion 38 is sufficiently smaller than the width of the data electrode 32, for example, 1/3 or less of the width of the data electrode 32, and the particles can sufficiently move on the electrode absent portion 38. It is preferable to set the width or more.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same part as 1st Embodiment, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the image display medium 10A according to the present embodiment. In the image display medium 10A, as shown in FIG. 6, a particle removal electrode 60 is provided between a data electrode 32A and a data electrode 32C on the substrate 30 of the back substrate 14. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the particle removing electrode 60 has a width wider than the width of the gap member 18 and is provided so as to protrude from both sides of the gap member 18 in the width direction. The rest is the same as the image display medium 10 of FIG.

  Here, for example, in the case where the pixel on the left side of the cell 36 is displayed in red in FIG. 6, the driving device 40 applies a particle removal voltage to the data electrode 32 </ b> A and applies a constant voltage to the particle removal electrode 60, for example. This voltage is set to a voltage value that facilitates movement of particles on the particle removal electrode 60. Further, the same voltage as that of the data electrodes 32B and 32C may be applied to the particle removal electrode 60. Thereby, the particles can be moved onto the particle removal electrode 60 more quickly and reliably. For example, when the black particles 20 on the particle removal electrode 60 are to be returned to the data electrode 32 (when initialization is desired), the data electrodes 32A, 32B, 32C and the particles, for example, as in the above-described initialization drive. The same alternating voltage can be applied to the removal electrode 60, and the initialization drive can be performed quickly. Further, an alternating voltage for removing particles is applied between the particle removing electrode 60 and the scanning electrode 26, or a positive predetermined voltage is applied to the data electrode 32A with respect to the particle removing electrode 60. The movement of the particles can be finely controlled.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same part as said each embodiment, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the second embodiment, the configuration in which the particle removing electrode 60 having a width wider than the width of the gap member 18 is described. For example, when the gap member 18 has a brick shape as shown in FIG. A region 62 where the gap member 18 does not exist on the particle removal electrode 60 (typically, a region hatched with a halftone dot in FIG. 8) cannot be used as an image portion. That is, if the particle removal electrode 60 in the region 62 and the data electrode 32 adjacent thereto are set and the same voltage is applied, the particles can be moved to perform black display or white display. This is because the pixel size is increased by the amount of the electrode 60 and the display quality is deteriorated.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, the image display medium 10 </ b> B according to the present embodiment has a configuration in which particle removal electrodes 60 </ b> A and 60 </ b> B are provided on both sides in the width direction of the gap member 18. Other than this, the configuration is the same as that shown in FIG.

  In this case, when the pixel adjacent to the gap member 18 displays red, a particle removal voltage is applied to the data electrode 32 of this pixel, and a constant voltage is applied to the particle removal electrode 60A (or 60B) adjacent thereto. Apply. In the case of black display or white display, the particle removal electrode 60A (or 60B) and the data electrode 32 adjacent thereto are set, and the same voltage is applied to them. As a result, even when the gap member 18 has a brick shape as shown in FIG. 9, a region where the gap member 18 does not exist on the electrode for particle removal can be used as an image portion, and the pixel size is substantially reduced. It can be made uniform.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the data electrode 32 is red is described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and two or more colors may be used. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the red data electrode 32 </ b> R, the green data electrode 32 </ b> G, and the blue data electrode 32 </ b> B may be arranged side by side, and the electrode absence portion 38 may be provided in the vicinity of the gap member 18. This makes it possible to display more colors.

  In each of the above embodiments, the case where an image is displayed on an image display medium having a simple matrix structure has been described. However, for example, even if the electrode arrangement is an image display medium having an active matrix structure, a plurality of cells are provided. The present invention can be applied to any configuration including any electrode.

It is sectional drawing of the image display medium which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a top view which shows arrangement | positioning of an electrode and the shape of a gap | interval member. (A) is a diagram showing density characteristics when displaying from black to white, and (B) is black display? (A) is a figure for demonstrating the ON voltage and OFF voltage applied to each electrode, (B) is for demonstrating the voltage applied to each position when ON voltage or OFF voltage is applied to each electrode. FIG. It is a schematic block diagram of an image display apparatus. It is sectional drawing of the image display medium which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a top view which shows arrangement | positioning of the electrode of the image display medium which concerns on 2nd Embodiment, and the shape of a gap | interval member. It is a top view which shows arrangement | positioning of the electrode which concerns on the modification of the image display medium which concerns on 2nd Embodiment, and the shape of a gap | interval member. It is a top view which shows arrangement | positioning of the electrode of the image display medium which concerns on 3rd Embodiment, and the shape of a gap | interval member. It is a top view which shows arrangement | positioning of the electrode of the image display medium which concerns on a modification, and the shape of a gap | interval member. It is sectional drawing of the image display medium which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a top view which shows arrangement | positioning of an electrode and the shape of a gap | interval member. It is sectional drawing of the image display medium which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a top view which shows arrangement | positioning of an electrode and the shape of a gap | interval member.

Explanation of symbols

10, 10A, 10B Image display medium 12 Display substrate 14 Back substrate 18 Gap member 20 Black particles 22 White particles 24 Glass substrate 26 Scan electrode 30 Substrate 32 Data electrode 36 Cell 38 Electrode absent portion 40 Drive device 42 Scan electrode drive circuit 44 Data Electrode drive circuit 46, 48 Power supply circuit 50 Control device 60, 60A Particle removal electrode

Claims (7)

A display substrate having at least translucency, a rear substrate facing the display substrate with a gap, a plurality of first electrodes juxtaposed along a predetermined direction, and the first electrode. A voltage corresponding to an image is applied between the second electrode and the second electrode so that the display electrode and the rear substrate are sealed between the substrates so as to move according to an electric field formed between the substrates. and one type of particles even without least is, between the substrate, an image display medium and a spacing member for partitioning said first electrode into a plurality including cells,
The plurality of first electrodes are colored in a color different from the color of the particle group, the gap member, and the first electrode adjacent to the gap member among the plurality of first electrodes in the cell ; An image display medium comprising a particle removal region that is not colored in the color of the first electrode .   The image display medium according to claim 1, wherein the particle removal region is a region where the first electrode does not exist.   The image display medium according to claim 1, further comprising a particle removal electrode in the particle removal region.   The image display medium according to claim 3, wherein the particle removing electrode is an electrode having a width wider than a width of the gap member.   The image display medium according to claim 3, wherein the particle removing electrodes are a pair of electrodes provided on both sides of the gap member.   The plurality of first electrodes is a data electrode group in which a plurality of line-shaped data electrodes are juxtaposed, and the second electrode has a plurality of line-shaped scan electrodes intersecting the data electrodes. 6. The image display medium according to claim 1, wherein the image display medium is a scan electrode group.   The image display medium according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the particle groups are a plurality of types of particle groups having different colors and charging characteristics.

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