JP5081074B2 - Display eraser - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a display erasing apparatus that erases the display of a thin plate-like display unit that displays information by an electric field generated inside.

  Conventionally, as a display device for displaying information, a CRT display, a liquid crystal display, a plasma display, and the like are used. These are used in a television receiver to display a television image transmitted from a television station or a personal computer. It is possible to display information stored in a personal computer or information distributed via the Internet. Each of these display devices has advantages and disadvantages. For example, a CRT display has a wide viewing angle but a large depth size, and a liquid crystal display has a thin depth size but a narrow viewing angle, and a plasma display. Has a large viewing angle and a small depth size, but consumes a lot of power.

  In recent years, in addition to the display devices as described above, electronic paper that displays digital information on a thin display medium such as paper has begun to spread. Electronic paper changes the state of a substance by causing a potential difference between the two electrodes by interposing a substance whose state changes due to the charge applied to the two electrodes between two electrodes facing each other. Information is displayed using the change of the substance (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Such electronic paper is easy to carry because it is thin like paper, consumes less power, has a wide viewing angle, and can rewrite information displayed by the charge applied to the electrodes, Since the display contents can be retained even when the power is turned off, further spread in the future is expected.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a structure of general electronic paper.

  In this example, as shown in FIG. 5, a display unit 110 for displaying information, a transparent electrode 122 and a plurality of display electrodes 121 a to 121 h arranged on the front and back of the display unit 110 to face each other, and a transparent electrode 122 and the voltage controller 130 for applying a voltage to the display electrodes 121a to 121h. The display unit 110 includes a transparent substrate 111 in which a plurality of recesses 112 are formed, and a sealing layer 115 that seals the recesses 112 by being disposed on the opening side of the recesses 112. The sealed recess 112 is filled with the partition wall liquid 113 in which the chargeable particles 114 are dispersed.

  In the electronic paper configured as described above, a voltage is applied to the transparent electrode 122 by the voltage control unit 130, and a voltage having a different polarity from the display electrodes 121a to 121h is displayed in a pattern corresponding to information to be displayed. When selectively applied, a certain electric field is generated inside each of the recesses 112 of the display unit 110, and the electric field causes the chargeable particles 114 to move in the partition wall liquid 113 by the Coulomb force. It adheres to either one of 121h and the transparent electrode 122. When the partition wall liquid 113 is colored with a dye or pigment and the chargeable particles 114 include a light scattering component having a high refractive index, the region where the chargeable particles 114 are attached to the display electrode 110 side is colored. In addition, the area where the charged particles 114 are attached to the transparent electrodes 121a to 121h side is white, and the desired information is expressed by the colored area and the white area. When viewed from the transparent electrode 122 side, The expressed information becomes visible. The display information is retained even in a state where no voltage is applied to the transparent electrode 122 and the display electrodes 121a to 121h.

Thereafter, when the display information is erased, the same voltage is applied to all the display electrodes 121a to 121h, and when a voltage having a different polarity is applied to the transparent electrode 122, all the display electrodes 121a to 121h are all provided. In the recess 112, the chargeable particles 114 adhere to one of the display electrodes 121 a to 121 h and the transparent electrode 122 in the partition wall liquid 113, so that all are colored when viewed from the transparent electrode 122 side. The display information will be erased or all of it will appear white.
Japanese Patent No. 3680996

  In the electronic paper described above, display information is erased by applying voltages of different polarities to the electrodes provided on the front and back sides, so if the electrode or wiring connected to the electrode is damaged, the display is displayed. There is a problem that information cannot be erased. When the display information includes personal information or confidential information, it is not preferable because the personal information or confidential information remains displayed on the electronic paper. Therefore, display information can be erased by physically destroying the electronic paper. However, in the electronic paper, electrodes may be provided on the front and back as described above, and it is not easy to destroy the electronic paper.

  The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the conventional technology as described above, and can easily erase display information of a thin plate-like display unit that displays information by an electric field generated inside. An object of the present invention is to provide a display erasing device that can be used.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides:
A display erasing device that erases information displayed on the display unit by contacting the information display surface of the thin plate-like display unit that displays information by an electric field generated inside,
A plurality of electrodes arranged and configured to be in contact with the information display surface of the display unit;
Voltage applying means for alternately applying different voltages in the arrangement direction to the plurality of electrodes.

  In the present invention configured as described above, an electrode portion in which a plurality of electrodes are arranged is brought into contact with an information display surface of a thin plate-like display unit that displays information by an electric field generated inside, When the voltage application unit moves the information display surface of the display unit while alternately applying different voltages to the plurality of electrodes in the arrangement direction, the plurality of electrodes to which different voltages are applied in the arrangement direction are applied. Moves on the information display surface of the display unit, so that the electric field in the display unit becomes non-constant, thereby erasing the information displayed on the information display surface by the electric field generated inside.

  The plurality of electrodes are configured to be movable between a first position and a second position moved by being pushed in a direction opposite to the direction in contact with the information display surface of the display unit. By applying a voltage to the electrode when the electrode moves to the second position, safety is ensured even when the voltage applied to the electrode is high.

  As described above, in the present invention, a display erasing device that erases information displayed on the display unit by contacting the information display surface of the thin plate-like display unit that displays information by an electric field generated inside. A configuration in which a plurality of electrodes are arranged, and includes an electrode portion that abuts on the information display surface of the display unit, and a voltage applying unit that alternately applies different voltages in the arrangement direction to the plurality of electrodes. Therefore, the electric field in the display unit is not constant by moving on the information display surface of the display unit, so that the information displayed on the display unit can be easily erased.

  The plurality of electrodes are configured to be movable between a first position and a second position moved by being pushed in a direction opposite to the direction in contact with the information display surface of the display unit. In the configuration in which a voltage is applied to the electrode when the electrode moves to the second position, safety can be ensured even when the voltage applied to the electrode is high.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  First, a display unit from which display information is erased by the display erasing apparatus of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a display unit from which display information is erased by the display erasing apparatus of the present invention, where (a) is a diagram in a state in which no information is displayed, and (b) is a diagram in which information is displayed. FIG.

  An example of the display unit from which display information is erased by the display erasing apparatus of the present invention is an electronic paper 10 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the electronic paper 10 includes a transparent thin plate-like substrate 11 having a plurality of recesses 12 formed therein, and a sealing layer that seals the recesses 12 by being disposed on the opening side of the recesses 12. 15, and the recess 12 sealed by the sealing layer 15 is filled with the partition wall liquid 13 in which the chargeable particles 14 are dispersed.

  In the electronic paper 10 configured as described above, in a state where no information is displayed, as shown in FIG. 1A, the chargeable particles 14 are dispersed in each of the recesses 12. Yes. When a voltage is applied, for example, by arranging electrodes on the front and back sides, an electric field is generated inside each of the recesses 12 due to a potential difference between the front and back sides. It moves by force, and as shown in FIG. 1B, the chargeable particles 14 adhere to either the front or back. When the partition wall liquid 13 is colored with a dye or a pigment and the chargeable particles 14 include a light scattering component having a high refractive index, the region where the chargeable particles 14 adhere to the sealing layer 15 side. The region where the charged particles 14 are attached to the opposite side is white, and desired information is expressed by the colored region and the white region, which is opposite to the sealing layer 15. When viewed from the side, the expressed information becomes visible. And even in the state where the voltage is no longer applied to the front and back, the display information is held.

  2A and 2B are diagrams showing an embodiment of the display erasing apparatus of the present invention, in which FIG. 2A is a view seen from the side, FIG. 2B is a view seen from the direction of arrow A shown in FIG. (c) is a figure which shows the state by which the electrode 3 shown to (a) was pushed, (d) is a block diagram which shows a circuit structure.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, a plurality of electrodes 3 are arranged and displayed in a matrix on one plane of the exterior part 2. As shown in FIG. 2C, a voltage application unit 7 for applying a voltage to the electrode 3 is built in the exterior unit 2, and a plurality of electrodes 3 are arranged in a matrix form from the voltage application unit 7. A voltage is applied to the electrode parts 4 that are arranged.

  As shown in FIG. 2C, the voltage application unit 7 includes a power supply source 6 and an application control unit 5. As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the power supply source 6 supplies power for applying voltages having different polarities alternately in the arrangement direction to the plurality of electrodes 3. The application control unit 5 controls the application of voltage to the plurality of electrodes 3 with the power supplied from the power supply source 6. Note that the power supply source 6 may be provided outside, but in that case, the voltage applied to the plurality of electrodes 3 is changed alternately in the arrangement direction from the power supplied from the power supply source provided outside. In addition, it is necessary to provide a wiring and a control unit for controlling so as to have different polarities in the display erasing apparatus 1 as voltage applying means.

  Each of the plurality of electrodes 3 has a spring (not shown) attached to an end opposite to the exposed end, and is fixed to the exterior portion 2 via the spring, whereby FIG. ), (C), it is configured to be movable by being pushed in the direction toward the exterior part 2. In a state where no external force is applied, the first position is as shown in FIG. 2A, and when pressed in the direction toward the exterior portion 2, the spring contracts, as shown in FIG. 2C. Move to the second position.

  The application control unit 5 detects that the plurality of electrodes 3 have moved to the second position due to the contraction of the spring, for example, by detecting that the contacts provided on the exterior unit 2 and the electrodes 3 are in contact with each other. Then, when the plurality of electrodes 3 move to the second position as shown in FIG. 2C, a voltage is applied to the plurality of electrodes 3 by the power supplied from the power supply source 6.

  Hereinafter, a method of erasing display information on the electronic paper 10 shown in FIG. 1 using the display erasing apparatus 1 configured as described above will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a method of erasing display information on the electronic paper 10 shown in FIG. 1 by the display erasing apparatus 1 shown in FIG.

  When the display on the electronic paper 10 shown in FIG. 1 is erased, first, as shown in FIG. 1B, the charged particles 14 dispersed in the liquid 13 in the partition walls adhere to either one of the front and back surfaces. 2 is brought into contact with the surface opposite to the sealing layer 15 serving as an information display surface with respect to the electronic paper 10 in a state where information is displayed. The erasing device 1 is pressed against the electronic paper 10. Then, the electrode 3 that is in contact with the information display surface of the electronic paper 10 is pushed in a direction toward the exterior portion 2 that is opposite to the direction of contact with the information display surface of the electronic paper 10. As shown to a), the voltage by the electric power supplied from the electric power supply source 6 is applied to the some electrode 3 by control of the application control part 5. FIG. As described above, the voltages applied to the plurality of electrodes 3 have different polarities alternately in the arrangement direction with respect to the plurality of electrodes 3. As described above, when the display erasing apparatus 1 is pressed against the electronic paper 10 and the electrode 3 of the display erasing apparatus 1 is pressed in the direction toward the exterior portion 2, a plurality of voltages due to the power supplied from the power supply source 6 are obtained. Therefore, in the state where the display erasing device 1 is not pressed against the electronic paper 10, the voltage due to the power supplied from the power supply source 6 is not applied to the plurality of electrodes 3. Thereby, safety is ensured even when the voltage applied to the electrode 3 is high.

  In this state, when the display erasing apparatus 1 is moved on the information display surface of the electronic paper 10 as shown in FIG. 3B, the plurality of electrodes 3 that are in contact with the information display surface of the electronic paper 10 are arranged on the array. Since voltages of different polarities are applied alternately in the direction, the electric field generated in each of the recesses 12 of the electronic paper 10 is not constant depending on the moving direction and the moving speed, and thereby the inside of the partition filled in the recesses 12 The chargeable particles 14 dispersed in the liquid 13 do not adhere to either the front or back of the electronic paper 10, but are dispersed in the recess 12.

  For example, in the case where the chargeable particles 14 are charged at a negative potential, if a positive voltage applied among the plurality of electrodes 3 of the display erasing apparatus 1 faces through the base material 11, the chargeability is increased. The particles 14 try to move to the opposite side of the sealing layer 15. However, a negative voltage is applied to the electrode 3 adjacent to the electrode 3, and the display erasing apparatus 1 moves along the information display surface of the electronic paper 10. Then, the electrode 3 to which a negative voltage is applied is opposed to the concave portion 12 that is about to move to the opposite side, thereby stopping the movement of the charging particles 14. After that, the concave portion 12 of the electronic paper 10 is such that the electrode 3 to which a positive voltage is applied is opposed to the concave portion 12 and the chargeable particles 14 try to move to the side opposite to the sealing layer 15. The electric field generated in each of the first and second electrodes is not constant, and the chargeable particles 14 are dispersed in the recesses 12.

  In addition, since voltages having different polarities are alternately applied to the plurality of electrodes 3 of the display erasing apparatus 1 in the arrangement direction, the movement of the chargeable particles 14 is also constant by the electric field generated between the adjacent electrodes 3. Thus, the charged particles 14 are dispersed in the recesses 12.

  4 is a cross-sectional view showing an internal state of the electronic paper 10 after the information erasing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 2 is moved in contact with the information display surface of the electronic paper 10 shown in FIG. It is.

  When the information erasing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 2 is moved on the information display surface of the electronic paper 10 shown in FIG. 1, the electric field generated in each of the recesses 12 of the electronic paper 10 as described above. As shown in FIG. 4, the chargeable particles 14 dispersed in the partition wall liquid 13 filled in the recess 12 are dispersed in the recess 12. For this reason, even when viewed from the opposite side to the sealing layer 15 in this state, the colored region by the partition wall liquid 13 and the white region by the chargeable particles 14 are mixed, and FIG. ), The information that was visible from the side opposite to the sealing layer 15 becomes invisible, and the information displayed by the electric field generated in the recess 12 in the electronic paper 10 is erased.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the information displayed on the electronic paper 10 is erased simply by moving the information erasing apparatus 1 along the information display surface while being in contact with the information display surface of the electronic paper 10. Therefore, the display information on the electronic paper 10 can be easily erased.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the plurality of electrodes 3 are arranged in a matrix is described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and voltages having different polarities alternately in the arrangement direction of the plurality of electrodes 3 are described. As long as is applied, a plurality of electrodes 3 may be arranged in a line. However, in this case, the direction in which the display erasing device 1 is moved on the information display surface of the electronic paper 10 needs to be the arrangement direction of the plurality of electrodes 3.

  The power supply source 6 applies voltages having different polarities alternately in the arrangement direction to the plurality of electrodes 3, but the electronic paper 10 displays information when an electric field due to a potential difference is generated in the recess 12. Therefore, if different voltages are alternately applied to the plurality of electrodes 3 in the arrangement direction, the polarities do not need to be different from each other.

  In addition, as described above, the electronic paper 10 whose display is erased by the display erasing apparatus of the present invention is displayed by the charging particles 14 dispersed in the partition wall liquid 13 being moved by the electric field generated by the potential difference between the front and back surfaces. Not only the vertical type that switches, but also the cholesteric liquid crystal system that displays using two different molecular orientations by phase transition between the electrodes arranged on the front and back sides, and the organic dye is electrically reversibly oxidized / The display can be applied as long as the display is switched by applying a voltage, such as an electrochromic method in which color is developed by setting the reduction state, and then the display is maintained even after the voltage is not applied.

It is sectional drawing which shows an example of the display unit from which display information is erase | eliminated by the display erasing apparatus of this invention, (a) is a figure in the state in which information is not displayed, (b) is a figure in the state in which information was displayed. It is. It is a figure which shows one Embodiment of the display erasing apparatus of this invention, (a) is the figure seen from the side surface, (b) is the figure seen from the arrow A direction shown to (a), (c) is ( The figure which shows the state by which the electrode shown to a) was pushed, (d) is a block diagram which shows a circuit structure. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a method of erasing display information on the electronic paper shown in FIG. 1 by the display erasing apparatus shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an internal state of the electronic paper after being moved on the information display surface of the electronic paper shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows an example of the structure of common electronic paper.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Display erasing apparatus 2 Exterior part 3 Electrode 4 Electrode part 5 Application control part 6 Power supply source 7 Voltage application part 10 Electronic paper 11 Base material 12 Recessed part 13 Liquid in partition 14 Chargeable particle 15 Adhesion layer

Claims (2)

A display erasing device that erases information displayed on the display unit by contacting the information display surface of the thin plate-like display unit that displays information by an electric field generated inside,
A plurality of electrodes arranged and configured to be in contact with the information display surface of the display unit;
A display erasing apparatus comprising: a voltage applying unit that alternately applies different voltages in the arrangement direction to the plurality of electrodes. The display erasing apparatus according to claim 1,
The plurality of electrodes are configured to be movable to a first position and a second position moved by being pushed in a direction opposite to a direction in contact with the information display surface of the display unit,
The display erasing device, wherein the voltage applying means applies a voltage to the electrode when the electrode moves to the second position.

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