JPH10222105A - Display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To control the directions of polarization particulate so as to allow light to be transmitted and to hold transparency of a display by impressing an electric field in an approximately orthogonal direction to a picture display surface and also in an approximately parallel direction to the picture display surface with respect to the polarization particulates. SOLUTION: Assuming that a colored surface (black surface) is negatively shifted and a noncolored surface (transparent surface) is positively shifted, and when this panel 8B is held between transparent electrodes A and B and the electric field E is impressed by an electric field impressing device 5, the black surface of a sphere of the polarization particular is faced to the side of a positive pole because the surface is negatively shifted, and on the contrary, the transparent surface is faced to the side of a negative pole. Furthermore, an electric field is impressed upon transparent electrodes 3 included in the panel 8B by an electric field impressing device 7, thus the black surface and the transparent surface are directed to the horizontal direction. Since the transmission of light is not completely shielded in this direction, the transparency of the panel 8B is held. Thus, the transparency is secured by impressing the electric field in the horizontal direction upon the rotational particulate layer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a display device using polarized particles.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a particle rotating type display, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-188489, the proceedings of
the SID, Vol.23, 4 P.249 (1982), proceedings
of theSID, Vol.18 P.289 (1977)
A hemisphere of spherical particles having a diameter of about 50 μm is colored by adding an insulating substance and a coloring agent to each other, and the particles of different materials of the surface of each hemisphere are immersed in a solution. A potential difference is created, which creates a dipole moment in the pole direction of the sphere. By controlling the direction of this dipole by a force such as an electric field, each spherical particle is rotated or stopped, and an image is displayed.
A so-called TBD (Twisting Ball Display) method is employed.

[0003] Opaque particles are used as polarized particles (spherical particles) contained in the image display surface, and an electric field application device is used as a means for rotating the polarized particles. An electric field was applied to the.

[0004] This display system is a light-receiving type, and is easy to fit into the eyes like printed matter such as paper, and does not become hard to see or flicker due to light and does not burden the eyes. Further, unlike the liquid crystal display, the display contrast depends on the viewing direction and the field of view is hardly limited. In addition, low voltage driving is possible and power consumption is small,
Since it has a memory effect, it is possible to maintain the same pattern even when control by an electric field or the like is cut off.

[0005]

However, in the particle rotating type display employing the above-described polarized particles and the electric field applying device, the polarized particles do not have a transparent region, and if they do, they do not. However, since the electric field was applied only in the direction perpendicular to the image display surface, it was not possible to control the direction of the polarized particles so that light was transmitted, and consequently, it was not possible to obtain a sense of transparency, such as glass. However, there is a problem that this is unsuitable for application to a transparent member.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and has as its object to provide a display device which can be applied to a transparent member.

[0007]

In order to achieve this object, a display device according to claim 1 of the present invention is electrically polarized and has a colored region along a direction crossing the polarization direction. Polarized particles having a transparent region and a plurality of polarized particles are arranged along the image display surface, and each of the polarized particles is rotatably supported on the image display surface. A first driving unit for applying an electric field in a direction orthogonal to the first direction; and a second driving unit for applying an electric field to the polarized particles in a direction substantially parallel to the image display surface.

Therefore, by applying an electric field by the first driving means and the second driving means, respectively,
It is possible to control the direction of the polarized particles so that light is transmitted, thereby maintaining the transparency of the display.

Further, in the display device according to the second aspect, since the colored region of the polarized particles is less than 表面積 of the surface area of the polarized particles, it is possible to maintain the light amount and the transparency that are always equal to or more than a certain value. Occurs.

Further, in the display device according to the present invention, the transparent area of the polarized particles is 透明 of the surface area of the polarized particles.
Because of the following, a sufficient density can be ensured when the display is colored.

[0011]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a display device according to the present invention.

First, as shown in FIG. 1, a hemisphere of the transparent rotating particles 2 of about 50 microns is colored with an insulating material 4. This coloring method is called processings of the
As shown in the SID, the exposed portion may be colored by vapor deposition, sputtering, or the like, in which the hemisphere of the particles is embedded in the adhesive layer, or a material having a different chargeability may be used, as shown in JP-A-1-282589. A method of forming a laminated plate or a band and pulverizing to a desired size may be used. In the latter case, a transparent material is used for one material.

Next, a method of manufacturing a panel including the rotating particles 2 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the periphery of the rotating particles 2 is coated with a resin soluble in an organic solvent such as a wax 6. The coating of the rotating particle surface with wax 6
This is performed by jetting and dropping a mixture of the melted wax and the rotating particles one by one from a nozzle under a pressure of nitrogen gas. The thickness of the layer is adjusted to 3 to 15 micrometers depending on the temperature of the nozzle and the ejection pressure of nitrogen gas.
After coating with wax, ITO (Indium T
in Oxide) together with a transparent electrode 3. In this case, the transparent electrodes are arranged in parallel.

Next, an aqueous solution of a water-soluble polymer such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is added and dried to obtain a transparent PVA panel 8A containing the rotating particles 2 (FIG. 3).

As shown in FIG. 4, the panel 8A is immersed in an organic solvent, only the wax 6 is dissolved and washed, and the panel 8A is immersed in an insulating solvent 10, and a liquid leakage prevention seal (transparent) 12 is provided. By doing so, the space around the rotating particles 2 is filled with the insulating solvent 10, and a transparent PVA panel (polarized particle carrier) 8B capable of rotating the particles by applying an electric field or the like is formed.

Here, the control principle of the rotating particles 2 will be described. For example, a rotating particle 2 composed of two regions having different charging properties has different surface charges on each surface in a solution based on the principle of an electric double layer, and has a dipole moment over the entire sphere. . The rotating particles 2 at this time become rotatable polarized particles. In FIG. 5, the colored surface (black surface)
Is shifted to the negative side, and the uncolored surface (transparent surface) is shifted to the positive side. This panel 8B is sandwiched between the transparent electrodes A and B, and the electric field is applied by the electric field applying device (first driving means) 5. When E is added, the black surface of the sphere is shifted to the negative side so that the surface faces the positive electrode side, and conversely, the transparent surface faces the negative electrode side. Here, even if the control by the electric field is stopped, the rotating particles 2 are
As shown in Japanese Patent No. 42683, rotating particles 2
And the wall surrounding the insulating solvent 10 and does not rotate freely. Therefore, the display has a memory effect even if the control by the electric field is interrupted.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, an electric field is applied to the transparent electrode 3 included in the panel 8B by an electric field applying device (second driving means) 7 so that the black surface and the transparent surface are oriented in the horizontal direction (black surface). And transparent surfaces are lined up horizontally). In this orientation, as shown in FIG. 5, since the transmission of light is not completely blocked, the panel 8B maintains transparency. As described above, the direction of the rotating particles 2 is maintained even if the control by the electric field is stopped here.

As described above, the rotating particle layer T formed in a panel shape can secure transparency by applying a horizontal electric field. Further, by applying a vertical electric field or the like to the image display surface, the rotating particles can be rotated to visualize the pattern. As a method of applying an electric field or the like, as shown in FIG. 6, a transparent electrode 14 or the like is wired in a matrix on one side U, the other side V is grounded, and a potential of about ± 100 V is selectively applied to the electrode 14. Thereby, an image such as a pattern can be formed. The transparent electrode 3 incorporated in the panel 8B is grounded one by one or every few lines, and transparency is secured by selectively applying a potential of about ± 100 V to the ungrounded electrode. An image can also be formed by increasing the potential of the surface V of the matrix electrode 14 opposite to the surface U by a Zener diode or the like (for example, 100 V) and applying 0 V and 200 V to the matrix electrode 14. Using this method, the power supply is 1
It is very economical.

Also, as shown in FIG. 6, the electrode wiring on the upper surface and the lower surface is not performed, and only the electrode wiring in the panel 8B is performed as shown in FIG. By doing so, the display can be turned on and off.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment in which the colored region of the rotating particles 18 is limited to less than の of the particle surface area when coloring and when not coloring. Even when a colored surface of the rotating particles 18 is oriented in the vertical direction by applying an electric field in the direction (at the time of color development), since light can be transmitted, the transparency of the panel 8B is not completely impaired. Furthermore, since a large amount of light transmission can be ensured when the colored surface of the rotating particles 18 is oriented in the horizontal direction (when no color is developed) by applying a horizontal electric field, the transparency of the panel 8B can be made clearer. For this reason, it is possible to use it by pasting it on the glass of a show window or the like. Also, it can be used instead of glass.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment at all, and can be implemented in various forms without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, another method may be adopted for the method of manufacturing the rotating particles 2 and 18, the method of coloring, and the method of manufacturing the panel 8B. Further, the areas of the colored portions of the rotating particles 2 and 18 are not limited to the scope of the present embodiment.

[0022]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
In the display device described in the above, a large number of polarized particles which are electrically polarized and have a colored region and a transparent region along a direction intersecting the polarization direction are arranged along the image display surface and each of them is rotated. A polarized particle carrier that is supported as possible,
First driving means for applying an electric field to the polarized particles in the polarized particle carrier in a direction substantially perpendicular to the image display surface; and applying an electric field to the polarized particles in a direction substantially parallel to the image display surface. By providing the second driving means for applying, it is possible to control the direction of the polarized particles so that light is transmitted, and it is possible to obtain an effect that the transparency of the display can be maintained. Further, since the rotating particles are used, power can be saved, and display can be maintained even when an electric field or the like is cut off.

Further, in the display device according to the second aspect, since the colored region of the polarized particles is less than の of the surface area of the polarized particles, it is possible to always maintain a certain amount of light and a certain degree of transparency.

Further, in the display device according to the third aspect, the transparent area of the polarized particles is １ ／ of the surface area of the polarized particles.
Because of the following, a sufficient density can be ensured when the display is colored.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a rotating particle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view schematically showing rotating particles coated with wax and a transparent electrode.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a cross section of a polyvinyl alcohol panel including rotating particles.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a cross section of a polyvinyl alcohol panel including rotating particles filled with an insulating solvent.

FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing a cross section and light transmission when the direction of the rotating particles in a polyvinyl alcohol panel including the rotating particles filled with an insulating solvent is controlled.

FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing an image display panel of rotating particles and wiring for driving the image display panel.

FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing an image display panel of rotating particles and an electric field application device for driving the image display panel.

FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing a cross section and light transmission when the direction of the rotating particles in the image display panel including the rotating particles in which the colored portion is limited to less than の of the particle surface area is controlled. is there.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Rotating particles 3 Electric field applying device 7 Electric field applying device 8B Transparent PVA panel 10 Insulating solvent 18 Rotating particles

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A large number of polarized particles, which are electrically polarized and have a colored region and a transparent region along a direction intersecting the polarization direction, are arranged along an image display surface, and each is rotatable. Polarized particle carrier carried, first driving means for applying an electric field to the polarized particles in the polarized particle carrier in a direction substantially orthogonal to the image display surface, and the image display surface to the polarized particles And a second driving means for applying an electric field in a direction substantially parallel to the display device. 2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the colored region of the polarized particles is less than half the surface area of the polarized particles. 3. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the transparent area of the polarized particles is equal to or less than の of the surface area of the polarized particles.