JPH06186594A - Display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a display device capable of stabilizing the retainment of a dielectric at a prescribed position and consequently stabilizing display itself. CONSTITUTION:Sealed space M is formed by arranging by confronting plates 11, 12 holding a gap member 13 between them. A segment electrode 14a divided into plural parts, etc., is arranged on the inner plane of the plate 11 in serial shape, while, a common electrode 15 is arranged on the inner plane of the plate 12 in confronting with the segment electrode 14a, etc., and a liquid dropping type dielectric 18 is held between those opposed electrodes and is retained. Furthermore, a recessed step part is comprised at every electrode position by providing step parts 19, 20 protruding over an electrode surface between the respective segment electrodes and on the common electrodes corresponding to them. A contact angle theta to make the inner plane including each electrode in the plates 11, 12 with the dielectric 18 is set at 90 deg.<theta<=180 deg., and in such a case, the recessed step part functions as a retaining means to surely retain the dielectric 18 at the prescribed position.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a display device used, for example, as a part of a display function of a measuring instrument or a clock or a calculator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, for example, a liquid crystal display device is often used as a scale display in a measuring instrument or an audio device, and a display device in a clock, a calculator, and the like.

This liquid crystal display device uses an organic compound called a thermotropic liquid crystal which is liquid in appearance but which optically exhibits anisotropy like a crystal and becomes a liquid crystal in a certain temperature range. . That is, since the liquid crystal has anisotropy in permittivity, conductivity, magnetic susceptibility, viscosity coefficient, etc., it has various properties by utilizing the property that the array direction is easily controlled by an electric field, a magnetic field, or other external force. Is displayed. In general, the structure of a liquid crystal cell is such that liquid crystal is sandwiched between two glass plates facing each other to a thickness of about 10 μm, and electrodes for displaying respective images are provided on the inner surface of the glass plate. The electrode group is electrically connected to an external terminal and led out.

However, in this liquid crystal display device, since it is necessary to provide an independent voltage supply terminal for each electrode corresponding to each portion to be displayed, the number of control terminals becomes very large, which hinders miniaturization. It is the cause. Further, in the vicinity of the maximum viewing angle or in the range exceeding the maximum viewing angle, the contrast is extremely deteriorated and the visibility is deteriorated. Furthermore, when this liquid crystal display device is used as a display device such as an output level meter for an audio device which requires a high response, it is difficult to make the display moving speed sufficiently follow the change of the measurement level. is there.

Therefore, in order to solve such a problem, the inventors of the present application newly proposed a display device as shown in FIG. 13 (see Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 61-196282). As shown in FIG. 13B, this display device has a configuration in which a pair of flat plates 1 and 2 made of a transparent glass plate or the like are arranged in parallel and opposed to each other at a predetermined interval with a gap member 3 interposed therebetween. One, two
And the gap member 3 forms the sealed space M. Segment electrodes 4a, 4b, 4c, ..., 4h, which are divided into a plurality (here, divided into 8 as an example), are arranged in series on the inner surface of one of the pair of flat plates 1 and 2. , The plurality of segment electrodes 4a, 4b, 4c, ..., 4h on the inner surface of the other flat plate 2.
The common electrode 5 is arranged in parallel with and opposite to each other, and both form a counter electrode. As shown in FIG. 13A, one end portion of the one flat plate 1 extending to the outside of the sealed space M is provided with 3
Two display control terminals 6a, 6b, 6c are arranged, and these are arranged in sequence every two segment electrodes 4a, 4b, as shown by wirings 7a, 7b, 7c schematically drawn by broken lines.
···It is connected to the. Further, in the sealed space M, the segment electrodes 4a, 4b, ...
In the state of being sandwiched between the two, for example, a droplet-shaped dielectric 8 made of colored water, glycerin, methyl alcohol, or the like.
Is held and the rest of the space is kept in a vacuum,
Alternatively, gas or the like is enclosed.

In the display device having such a structure, when the permittivity of the dielectric 8 is ε ₁ and the permittivity of other spaces is ε ₂ (ε ₁ > ε ₂ ), an electric field E is generated in the mutual interface direction. If given, the interface thereof, toward the larger side of the dielectric constant to a smaller side of the dielectric _{constant, F = (ε 1 -ε 2} ) E 2/2 becomes a force F is utilized to generate each Segment electrode 4
By sequentially applying an electric field between the common electrode 5 and a, 4b, ..., The dielectric 8 is controlled to move corresponding to the electrode position to which the electric field is applied. That is, with the common electrode 5 kept grounded, the display control terminals 6a, 6b,
By sequentially applying a voltage to 6c, the dielectric 8 corresponding to the electrode position to which the electric field is applied.
Can be moved sequentially. When the dielectric 8 reaches the target display position, the stopped display state can be achieved by continuously applying the voltage only to the display control terminal corresponding to the electrode. According to such a display device, it can be expected that all the problems of the liquid crystal display device can be solved.

[0007]

However, in the display device of such a system, there is a problem to be improved in terms of holding the dielectric 8 to be moved. That is, in this display device, the dielectric 8 is held between the counter electrodes by applying a voltage to the counter electrodes, but the gap between the counter electrodes, that is, the gap between the flat plates 1 and 2 is substantially uniform. Therefore, although each electrode is drawn with a certain thickness in FIG. 13B, the thickness is actually negligible or each electrode is embedded in the flat plates 1 and 2. By doing so, the electrode surface and the inner surface of the flat plate form substantially the same plane.)
Becomes unstable, and as a result, it becomes difficult to reliably hold the dielectric 8 between the individual counter electrodes or move it along a desired path, resulting in unstable or unclear display. there were. That is, the dielectric 8 in the state where no voltage is applied deviates from the space between the individual counter electrodes due to its own interfacial tension, gravity, etc., and can move freely. There is a possibility that the drive becomes impossible (inoperative or malfunction) due to the distance from the vehicle.

In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a display device capable of stabilizing the holding of the dielectric at a predetermined position and thus stabilizing the display itself with a simple structure. To do.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention forms a closed space by a pair of flat plates facing each other with a gap member at a predetermined interval, and the closed space has a dielectric constant and visibility. Are filled with two types of dielectrics different from each other, and at least one of the plurality of opposed electrodes is provided on each inner surface of the flat plate, and the high dielectric constant of the dielectrics is sandwiched between the opposed electrodes. Of the counter electrode and sequentially applies an electric field between a plurality of divided electrodes of the counter electrode and an electrode opposed to the counter electrode so that the high dielectric constant dielectric film is formed at a position corresponding to an electrode position to which the electric field is applied. In the display device to move,
At least one inner surface of the flat plate including the counter electrode is provided with step-like holding means for sandwiching the high-dielectric-constant dielectric, the predetermined interval being different from the surrounding and intersecting the moving direction of the dielectric. Characterize.

[0010]

The dielectric having a high dielectric constant moves in the pair of flat plates corresponding to the position of the electrode to which the electric field is applied, and has a step-like shape in the predetermined movement path in the direction intersecting the movement direction. Since the holding means is provided, due to the nature of the general dielectric body, the dielectric body moves while being held so as to be sandwiched by the holding means, and does not deviate from the predetermined moving path. That is, by moving the above-mentioned dielectric while surely holding it by the holding means,
Stable display operation is possible.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1A, 1B, and 1C are plan views of the display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, respectively.
It is B sectional drawing and CC sectional drawing.

In this display device, as shown in FIG. 1B, a pair of flat plates 11 and 12 made of a transparent glass plate or the like are arranged in parallel to each other with a gap member 13 sandwiched therebetween at a predetermined interval of, for example, about 100 μm. Has a configuration, these flat plates 1
A sealed space M is formed by the first and the second gap members 13. A plurality of segment electrodes 1 are provided on the inner surface of one of the pair of flat plates 11 and 12.
, 14h, ... are arranged in series, and a common electrode facing the plurality of segment electrodes 14a, 14b ,. 15 are provided, and these two electrodes form a counter electrode.

As shown in FIG. 1 (a), three display control terminals 16a, 16b, 16c are arranged at one end of the one flat plate 11 extending to the outside of the sealed space M, and these display control terminals 16a, 16b, 16c are shown by broken lines. Wirings 17a, 17b, 17 schematically drawn in
The segment electrodes 14 are arranged alternately every two as shown by c.
a, 14b, 14c, ..., That is, the first display control terminal 16a is connected to the segment electrodes 14a, 14d, 14g, ... By the wiring 17a, and the second display control terminal 16b. Are connected to the segment electrodes 14b, 14e, 14h, ... By the wiring 17b, and the third display control terminal 16c is connected to the segment electrodes 14c, 14f ,.
On the other hand, one display control terminal 16d is arranged at one end of the other flat plate 12 extending to the outside of the sealed space M, and this is connected to the common electrode 15 by a wiring 17d schematically drawn by a broken line. Has been done.

Further, in the sealed space M, for example, colored water, glycerin, methyl alcohol, dimethylformamide or the like is sandwiched between the segment electrodes 14a, 14b, ... And the common electrode 15. A droplet-shaped dielectric 18 having a diameter of, for example, about 1 mm is held, and the remaining space is kept in a substantially vacuum, or a gas or the like is filled therein. That is, the sealed space M is filled with two types of dielectrics (dielectric 18 having a high dielectric constant and peripheral space having a dielectric constant lower than that) having different dielectric constants and visibility. There is.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b),
On the flat plate 11, in the direction of partitioning the individual segment electrodes (that is, the direction intersecting the moving direction of the dielectric 18),
A step portion 19 protruding from the electrode surface is provided, and
The common electrode 15 on the other flat plate 12 is also provided with a step portion 20 projecting from the electrode surface at a position facing the step portion 19, and the step portion 19 is more than the distance between the opposing electrodes.
The distance between the 20 is narrower. Ie 1
A stepped portion 19 is formed by sandwiching each segment electrode from both sides, and a stepped portion 20 is also formed on the common electrode 15 by the stepped portion 20 so as to face the recessed stepped portion. The pair of upper and lower concave steps constitutes a holding means for holding the dielectric 18 from both sides in the moving direction.

In this embodiment, the contact angle θ between the inner surfaces of the flat plates 11 and 12 including the electrodes and the dielectric 18 is 90 °.
This is an example in the case of <θ ≦ 180 °, and the relationship between the contact angle θ and the step shape (concave step portion here) of the holding means will be described later.

The principle of driving the dielectric 18 in the display device having the above structure is the same as that shown in FIG. 13, but it will be described in more detail here. First, FIG. 2, which is a simplified view of the display device for explaining the driving principle.
As shown in (a) and (b), let the dielectric constant of the dielectric 18 be ε.
₁ , the permittivity of the other space is ε ₂ (<ε ₁ ), the maximum width of the dielectric 18 between one segment electrode (shown here as the segment electrode 14) and the common electrode 15 is L, and the dielectric is Electrode 1 with a part 18 sandwiched between
Consider a state in which a voltage V is applied between 4 and 15 to give an electric field E. From this state, as shown in FIG.
Assuming that the interface between the space and the other space shifts to the right by Δx, the electrostatic energy W ₁ changes due to the change in the electrostatic energy density of the portion of the shifted a, W ₁ = (ε ₁ E _{1 ^{2 -ε 2 E 2 2) LΔx}} / 2 (1) only changes.

The charges existing on the electrodes 14 and 15 are
Since the electric flux density of the portion where the dielectric 18 has moved, that is, the portion of LΔx changes, the charge density changes from ε ₂ E ₂ to ε ₁ E ₁
Change to. Therefore, assuming that the potential difference V between the electrodes 14 and 15 is constant, the electric energy W ₂ supplied from the outside due to this change in charge is W ₂ = V (ε ₁ E ₁ −ε ₂ E ₂ ). It is LΔx (2). The electric field strength is E ₁ = E ₂ , and when this is E, V = Ed. Note that d is the distance between the electrodes 14 and 15. Therefore, it can be said that V (ε ₁ E ₁ −ε ₂ E ₂ ) LΔx = E (ε ₁ E ₁ −ε ₂ E ₂ ) dLΔx (3). Therefore, F = (W ₂ −W ₁ ) / Δx = E (ε ₁ E ₁ −ε ₂ E ₂ ) dL − (ε ₁ E ₁ ² −ε ₂ E ₂ ² ) dL / 2 = A force F of (ε ₁ E ₁ ² −ε ₂ E ₂ ² ) dL / 2 = (ε ₁ −ε ₂ ) E ² dL / 2 [N] (4) is generated. This is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG.
Of the contact angle θ between the inner surface including the and the dielectric 18 is 90 ° <θ ≦ 1
The same applies to the case of 80 ° and the case where the contact angle θ is 0 ° ≦ θ <90 ° as shown in FIGS. 3D and 3E. Therefore, by utilizing the above, each segment electrode 14a, 14b, 14c,
.. and the common electrode 15 are appropriately applied to generate a force F to drive the dielectric 18.

Next, the holding means (FIG. 1) which is a feature of the present invention.
Now, the holding force of the dielectric 18 will be described with reference to the concave step portion formed by the step portions 19 and 20. Figure 4
In (a) and (b), the contact angle θ is 90 ° <θ ≦ 180.
FIG. 2A is a plan view of the dielectric 18 and FIG. 6D is a cross-sectional view taken along line DD of FIG. Here, as shown in the figure, the pressure inside the liquid-phase dielectric material 18 is p ₁ , the pressure in the other space is p _0, and FIG.
The radius of the dielectric 18 in the inside is R, the radius of curvature of the side surface is r, the surface tension is γ, and the segment electrodes 14 (14a, 14a).
b, 14c, ...) And the distance between the common electrode 15 is d
And Laplace's formula Δp = p ₁ −p ₀ = γ (1 / R ₁ + 1 / R ₂ ) [N / m ² ] From (5) (note that R ₁ and R ₂ are the main radii of curvature of the liquid surface), Δp = p ₁ −p ₀ = γ (1 / R + 1 / r) [N / m ² ] (6) holds.

6 (a) and 6 (b) are plan views showing a part of the liquid-phase dielectric material 18 at the step portion and its E--
It is an E sectional view. In such a case, when the right side of FIG. 6B is taken as the positive direction of the x-axis, in the area of A ₁ corresponding to the lower part of the step (vertical space d ₁ ), the positive direction of the x-axis (p ₀ −p ₁ ) ×
A force of 2 sin (α / 2) × d ₁ works, and the force in the x-axis direction is ± 0 in the area of A ₂ corresponding to the step and the vicinity thereof, and A ₃ corresponding to the step upper portion (vertical distance d ₂ ). In the region of, in the negative direction of the x-axis, (p ₀ −p ₁ ) × 2 sin (α / 2)
A force of × d ₂ works. Therefore, when the sum of _{these, (p 0 -p 1) d} 1 × 2sin (α / 2) - (p 0 -p 1) d 2 × 2sin (α / 2) = (p 0 -p 1) × ( The liquid-state dielectric 18 is driven in the x-axis direction by a force of d ₁ −d ₂ ) × ₂ sin (α / 2) (7). Here, d ₁ −d ₂ > 0 (8) is clear, and in the case of FIG. 6 (b), p ₀ −p ₁ <0 (9), so equation (7) becomes negative, The dielectric 18 is self-driven in the negative direction of the x-axis, that is, in the direction in which the vertical gap in the step is wider, that is, from the d ₂ side to the d ₁ side.

Then, in FIG. 6B, the dielectric 18
If the contact angle between the flat plate 11 and the flat plate 11 and 12 is θ, r = d / 2cos (180 ° −θ) = − d / 2cosθ (10) is established by a simple geometric condition. Therefore, the condition for p ₀ −p ₁ <0 is: p ₁ −p ₀ = γ (1 / R−2 cos θ / d)> 0 [N / m ² ] (11 ), 90 ° <θ ≦ 180 ° (12). Therefore, in the case of the first embodiment in which the contact angle θ is set within the range of the expression (12), the dielectric 18 is driven toward the wider interval, that is, in FIG. From the narrow step portions 19 and 20, the segment electrodes 14a, 14b, ...
The dielectric 18 is stably held at a predetermined position between the electrodes by being driven toward the space between the electrodes 5.

The movement control of the dielectric 18 in the display device constructed as described above is the same as that of the conventional display device shown in FIG. That is, for example, when the display device is used as a scale for displaying the calculation data of the measuring instrument, etc., each display control terminal 16a as shown in FIG. 7 with the display control terminal 16d (FIG. 1) being grounded. ,
16b, by slide into a voltage is applied sequentially repeated to 16c (t ₁ ~t _i), as shown in FIG. 8, sequentially moving the dielectric 18 so as to correspond to the electrode positions applied with the electric field (t ₁ ~t _i). When the dielectric 18 reaches the target display position, the electrode (here, electrode 1
4i) is applied with a voltage only to the display control terminal (display control terminal 16a in this case) to enter the stop display state (t _i to t _n ).

Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to obtain a display function that realistically follows the measured value. Further, in particular, since the concave stepped portion formed by the step portions 19 and 20 as described above is configured as the holding means for the dielectric 18, the dielectric 18 can be reliably held at a predetermined inter-electrode position corresponding to each segment electrode. it can.

Next, FIG. 9 shows the structure of the display device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the above-mentioned first embodiment, FIG.
As is clear from the above, the inner surface of the flat plate 11 and the segment electrode 14 are
The surfaces of a, 14b, ... Compose substantially the same plane, and the inner surface of the flat plate 12 and the surface of the common electrode 15 also compose substantially the same plane. This embodiment is shown in FIG. As shown, the segment electrodes 14a, 14b, ...
.. by providing a step so that the surface of the common electrode 15 is slightly lower than the inner surface of the flat plate 12,
Along with 20, a dielectric step portion is formed so as to surround the dielectric material 18 from all sides.

With such a structure, the distance between the individual segment electrodes 14a, 14b, ... And the common electrode 15 becomes wider than any of the surrounding portions. Therefore, since a holding force is applied to the dielectric 18 from the periphery by the same principle as in the first embodiment, the dielectric 18 can be reliably held at a predetermined interelectrode position even when no electric field is applied. It is possible to realize a stable display operation along a predetermined movement path.

Next, FIG. 10 shows the structure of the display device of the third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the contact angle θ between the inner surfaces of the flat plates 11 and 12 including the electrodes and the dielectric 18 is 0 ° ≦.
This is an example in the case of θ <90 °, and in place of the step portions 19 and 20 in FIG. 1, step portions 21 and 22 that are lower than the electrode surface are provided, so that a convex shape is provided as a holding means for the dielectric 18. This is a step portion.

Also in this embodiment, the driving principle of the dielectric 18 is the same as that of the above embodiment, and each segment electrode 14
An electric field is appropriately applied between a, 14b, 14c, ... And the common electrode 15 to generate the force F of the above-described formula (4) to drive the dielectric 18. In addition, the step portion 21,
The holding force of the dielectric 18 by the convex step portions each configured by 22 can be explained as follows based on FIG. 5, FIG. 6C and the like. That is, when the contact angle θ is 0 ° ≦ θ <90 ° as in the present embodiment, the above equation (6) can be rewritten as follows.

Δp = p ₁ −p ₀ = γ (1 / R−1 / r) [N / m ² ] (6 ′) Here, 1 / r is negative as shown in FIG. This is because, as is clear from (1), another space bites into the liquid-phase dielectric material 18 on the side surface. Therefore, in this case, since p ₀ −p ₁ > 0 (9 ′) in the expression (7), the expression (7) is positive, and the dielectric 18 is positive in the x-axis direction in FIG. 6C. In other words, the self-driving is performed in the direction in which the vertical gap in the step is narrower, that is, in the direction from d ₁ to d ₂ . The condition that p ₀ −p ₁ > 0 is 0 ° ≦ θ <90 ° (12 ′) according to the equation (11). Therefore, in the case of the third embodiment in which the contact angle θ is set within the range of the expression (12 ′), it becomes possible to stably guide the liquid-phase dielectric 18 by the convex step portion of FIG. The same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

Next, FIG. 11 shows the configuration of the display device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment described above, FIG.
As is apparent from (c), the inner surface of the flat plate 11 and the surfaces of the segment electrodes 14a, 14b, ... Form substantially the same surface, and the inner surface of the flat plate 12 and the surface of the common electrode 15 also form substantially the same surface. However, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11C, the segment electrodes 14a, 1
.. are provided so that the surface of the common electrode 15 is higher than the inner surface of the flat plate 12 by a step. 22 and 22 form a convex step having a structure surrounding the dielectric 18 from four sides.

With such a structure, the distance between the individual segment electrodes 14a, 14b, ... And the common electrode 15 becomes narrower than that of any surrounding portion. Therefore, since a holding force is applied to the dielectric 18 from the periphery by the same principle as that of the third embodiment, the dielectric 18 is fixed to a predetermined inter-electrode position even when no electric field is applied, as in the second embodiment. Therefore, it is possible to securely hold it, and it is possible to realize a stable display operation along a predetermined movement path.

In the present invention, the dielectric 1 is used as described above.
Since it is possible to stably guide 8 along the moving path, the dielectric 18 can be guided from this moving path even if the counter electrode is arranged in a curved shape by arranging the counter electrode in a curved shape by taking advantage of its advantage. It is possible to move stably without protruding. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, it is possible to realize a simple timepiece display by using a circular movement path Q as a whole and using 12 segment electrodes as a whole. Since it can be applied to various types of movement routes in this manner, the range of application as various display bodies can be greatly expanded.

Further, in forming the holding means composed of the convex or concave step portion, the height of the step is sharply formed in each of the above embodiments, but the step is tapered to gradually increase the height difference. You may choose to continue.

Further, in the above embodiment, an example in which transparent glass plates or the like are used as the flat plates 11 and 12 is shown.
Usually, it is sufficient if at least one flat plate is transparent. Similarly, for each electrode that constitutes the counter electrode,
It is sufficient that at least the electrode provided on the transparent flat plate side is transparent.

In addition, in the above embodiments, the holding means composed of the convex or concave stepped portion is provided on both the segment electrode side and the common electrode side, but it may be provided on either one. Further, the common electrode side can also be divided into a plurality of segments to form segment electrodes.

[0035]

According to the present invention, since the holding means for holding the dielectric at the position between the predetermined electrodes is provided, the dielectric can be held securely by this holding means while the dielectric is moved along the desired movement path. Can be moved stably, and thus very stable display is possible. Moreover, since the dielectric can be moved stably as described above, not only a linear moving path but also a curved moving path can be constructed, and therefore, the range of application as various display bodies can be greatly expanded. Can be expanded.

[Brief description of drawings]

1A and 1B are diagrams showing a configuration of a display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is a plan view, FIG.
(C) is CC sectional drawing.

2A and 2B are simplified views showing a display device of the present invention for explaining a driving principle, in which FIG. 2A is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 1C, and FIG. It is a corresponding sectional view.

FIG. 3 is a simplified view of a display device of the present invention for explaining a driving principle according to a contact angle θ, and FIG.
1A is a plan view, FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 1B, and FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG.
10D is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 10B, and FIG.
It is sectional drawing corresponding to 0 (c).

4A and 4B are diagrams showing the shape of the dielectric 18 when the contact angle θ is 90 ° <θ ≦ 180 °, FIG. 4A is a plan view, and FIG. 4B is a DD sectional view thereof.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a shape of a dielectric 18 when a contact angle θ is 0 ° ≦ θ <90 °, (a) is a plan view,
(B) is the D'-D 'sectional view.

6A and 6B are diagrams showing a state of a liquid-phase dielectric material, a part of which is in a step portion. FIG. 6A is a plan view, and FIG. 6B is a contact angle θ of 9
EE sectional view in the case of 0 ° <θ ≦ 180 °,
(C) is an EE cross-sectional view when the contact angle θ is 0 ° ≦ θ <90 °.

FIG. 7 is a time chart for explaining the operation of the display device shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a time chart for explaining the operation of the dielectric in the display device shown in FIG.

9A and 9B are views showing a configuration of a display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 9A is a plan view, FIG.
(C) is a GG sectional view.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a configuration of a display device according to a third embodiment of the present invention, (a) is a plan view, (b) is a sectional view taken along line HH.
(C) is a II sectional view.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration of a display device according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) is a plan view, (b) is a sectional view taken along line JJ thereof.
(C) is a KK sectional view.

FIG. 12 is a plan view showing an example in which the moving path of the dielectric is annular.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a configuration of a display device previously filed by the present inventors, where (a) is a plan view and (b) is a sectional view taken along line AA.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11, 12 Flat plate 13 Gap member 14a, 14b, 14c ... Segment electrode 15 Common electrode 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d Display control terminal 17a, 17b, 17c, 17d Wiring 18 Dielectric material 19, 20 Stepped portion 21, 22 Step

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A hermetically sealed space is formed by a pair of flat plates facing each other with a gap member at a predetermined interval, and the hermetically sealed space is filled with two kinds of dielectrics having different permittivity and visibility. A counter electrode having at least one of a plurality of divisions is provided on each inner surface, and a dielectric having a high dielectric constant among the dielectrics is held in a state of being sandwiched between the counter electrodes, and the counter electrode is divided into a plurality of sections. A display device in which an electric field is sequentially applied between an electrode and an electrode facing the electrode to move the high-dielectric-constant dielectric material in correspondence with an electrode position to which the electric field is applied. A display device, characterized in that one inner surface is provided with step-like holding means for sandwiching the dielectric having a high dielectric constant so that the predetermined interval is different from the surrounding and intersects the moving direction of the dielectric. 2. A contact angle θ between the high dielectric constant dielectric and the inner surface of the flat plate including the counter electrode is 90 ° <θ ≦ 180 °.
2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein said holding means is a concave step portion, and the dielectric material having a high dielectric constant is held on the surface of the concave step portion. 3. The holding means is a convex step when the contact angle θ between the high dielectric constant dielectric material and the inner surface of the flat plate including the counter electrode is 0 ° ≦ θ <90 °. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the dielectric having a high dielectric constant is held on the surface of the convex step portion.