JPH10232630A - Color display sheet and electronic information display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To embody a color display by using a display sheet capable of displaying the single color alone in principle. SOLUTION: This display sheet 10 includes a recording display layer constituted by arranging many microcapsules 15 sealed with magnetic particle 15a and nonmagnetic particles 15b to a plane form. The recording display layer is held by a base body 11 and a protective sheet 13. Color filter layers 16 periodically arranged with colored transparent color filters consisting of R color, G color and B color in pixel units are formed on the base body 11. The transparent protective sheet 17 is formed on the color filter layers 16.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for recording a color still image based on image information sent from an external host device.
The present invention relates to a color display sheet for displaying and an electronic information display device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a magnetically responsive magnetic display sheet has been known as a display body which develops or erases color in response to the direction and strength of a magnetic field (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 48-48).
56393, JP-A-2-146082).

[0003] Such a magnetic display sheet can draw simple characters and figures by contacting a magnet pen with a built-in magnet on the sheet surface, and can be reused many times by erasing. Has been put to practical use.

In recent years, an electronic information display device has been developed which records and displays a still image on a magnetic display sheet by a recording head forming a dot matrix magnetic field based on print information sent from an external host device. Is being done.
Since the electronic information display device can change the display content arbitrarily by remote control from an external host device, it can be installed at public facilities, stations, retail stores, etc. Can be widely announced and advertised. In addition, poster replacement work is not required, which contributes to resource saving of paper and the like, and is therefore expected to be a future bulletin board.

[0005]

In such an electronic information display device, the current magnetic display sheet is only a single color (monochrome) display of white or black, and cannot display a color image like a conventional poster. . for that reason,
I can't deny the impression that the expressiveness of information and the degree of appeal are less than posters.

On the other hand, color CRTs and color LEDs are used as display devices capable of displaying color from electrical signals.
(Light emitting diode) arrays, color LCDs (liquid crystal displays) and the like are known, but those having a display screen as large as a poster are difficult to manufacture and are very expensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a color display sheet and an electronic information display device capable of realizing color display using a display sheet capable of displaying only a single color in principle.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided a recording display layer whose light reflectance is changed by writing or erasing, and a color filter of two or more colors is periodically provided on the recording display layer. And a color filter layer configured as described above. According to the present invention, when the light reflectance of the recording display layer partially changes, the amount of transmitted light of the color filter provided on the recording display layer also partially changes, so that color display by mixing two or more colors is performed. Can be realized. Further, by using a color filter in which color pixels composed of a combination of three primary colors of RGB are periodically arranged, full-color display can be performed.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that the recording display layer is formed of a magnetic recording layer whose light reflectance changes according to the magnitude or direction of an applied magnetic field. According to the present invention, by using a magnetic recording layer of, for example, a magnetophoretic type or a magnetic reversal type, whose light reflectance changes according to the magnitude or direction of an applied magnetic field, as a recording display layer, A display sheet that is easy to process, has a simple structure, and can be reduced in price can be realized.

Further, the present invention comprises a recording and display body whose light reflectance changes by writing or erasing, and a color filter of two or more colors arranged periodically on the observation surface side of the recording and display body. A color filter body, a transport unit for transporting the recording display body, and a recording unit for forming a still image on the recording display body based on image information supplied from an external host device. Electronic information display device. According to the present invention, when the recording head performs a write operation based on image information from an external host device,
Since the light reflectance of the recording display is partially changed, and the transmitted light amount of the color filter disposed on the observation surface side of the recording display is also partially changed, color display by mixing two or more colors is performed. realizable. Further, by using a color filter in which color pixels composed of a combination of three primary colors of RGB are periodically arranged, full-color display can be performed.

Also, the present invention provides a color display comprising microcapsules enclosing light-absorbing magnetic particles and colored non-magnetic particles, which are periodically arranged so that the colors are different for each pixel, and a color display. An electronic information display device, comprising: transport means for transporting a body, and recording means for forming a still image on a color display based on image information supplied from an external host device. is there.
According to the present invention, when the recording head performs a writing operation based on image information from an external host device, in the microcapsules in the color display, the magnetic particles migrate according to the direction of the applied magnetic field, and the non-magnetic particles The magnetic particles move in the direction opposite to the migration direction. When light-absorbing magnetic particles appear on the observation surface of the color display, the color is displayed as black, and when colored non-magnetic particles appear, the color is displayed. Since the microcapsules are periodically arranged so that the colors are different for each pixel, color display by mixing colors can be performed by controlling the writing area for each pixel. For example, full-color display is possible by periodically arranging color pixels composed of a combination of three primary colors of RGB.

[0012]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of an electronic information display device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view thereof. A driven-side roller 50 is disposed in an upper inner portion of the housing 1, and a driving-side roller 60 is disposed in an inner lower portion. A flexible and endless display is provided between the two rollers 50 and 60. The seat 10 is suspended. The roller 50 is urged upward by an elastic member (not shown) such as a spring,
By applying a constant tension to the display sheet 10, the running of the sheet is stabilized and the flatness of the sheet surface is maintained. The roller 60 is connected to the motor 6 via gears 61 and 62.
3 is driven to rotate. By driving the rollers 60, the display sheet 10 is moved to the front side of the housing 1 (the left side in FIG.
On the rear side of the housing 1 (from the bottom side in FIG. 2),
(To the right of FIG. 2, nearer to FIG. 2). A display window 2 made of a transparent material such as acrylic resin or glass is formed on the front surface of the housing 1.

The recording head 30 is installed below the rear side of the display sheet 10 on the rear side of the display sheet 10 and forms a dot matrix toward the surface of the display sheet 10 based on a print signal from an external host device (not shown). Generates a recording magnetic field.
The recording head 30 has a plurality of electromagnetic coils arranged in a staggered manner, for example, and is mounted on a carriage 31 that reciprocates in the sheet width direction. The carriage 31 is fixed to a part of an endless belt 33 suspended between two pulleys 34 and 35, and is driven by a motor 36 that rotates the pulley 35 while being guided by two guide shafts 32. .

The erasing head 20 is composed of a permanent magnet having a length equal to or longer than the sheet width, and is disposed above the front transfer side of the display sheet 10 and is in close contact with the rear side of the display sheet 10.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view for explaining the recording principle of the display sheet 10. As shown in FIG. Microcapsules 15 that develop color in response to magnetism are applied and fixed to the entire surface of the display sheet 10. The microcapsule 15 is composed of a high-viscosity liquid and a spherical shell that holds the liquid tightly.
In this liquid, substantially black magnetic particles and substantially white non-magnetic particles are dispersed. For example, black iron oxide (FeO) particles having a particle size of 0.1 to 5 μm are used as magnetic particles, and white titanium oxide particles having a particle size of 0.1 to 5 μm are used as nonmagnetic particles. In addition, as the high-viscosity liquid, an aqueous liquid, an oil or fat, an organic solvent including a surfactant-based solvent or the like is used, and gelatin is mainly used as a material of the spherical shell. Distributed in a range.

The microcapsules 15 are kneaded together with a binder 14 made of a highly transparent synthetic rubber-based adhesive or the like, and applied to a substrate 11 made of a transparent material such as polyethylene terephthalate.
A μm capsule coating layer 12 is formed.

A protective sheet 13 made of, for example, a polypropylene long-fiber nonwoven fabric is adhered to the back surface of the capsule coating layer 12 so as to have a thickness of, for example, 300 to 1000 μm.
Seat running is facilitated.

On the other hand, the recording head 30 has a box-shaped yoke 39 made of a high magnetic permeability material, a magnetic core 37 erected inside the yoke 39 and made of a high magnetic permeability material, and an electromagnetic core mounted on the magnetic core 37. And a plurality of magnetic cores 37 and electromagnetic coils 38 corresponding to the plurality of print dots. A number of voids are formed on the printing surface 39a of the yoke 39, and the leading end of the magnetic core 37 is positioned at the center of each void, and the leakage magnetic field is generated by the presence of the void between the magnetic core 37 and the void. Occurs.

When the electromagnetic coil 38 is selectively energized in response to a print signal, a magnetic field is generated along the axial direction of the magnetic core 37 and passes through a magnetic circuit comprising the magnetic core 37, a gap and a yoke 39. , A recording magnetic field is generated toward the display sheet 10.

Next, the principle of magnetic recording / display and erasure will be described. When the recording head 30 is brought close to the surface of the display sheet 10 where the substrate 11 is located and a recording magnetic field is generated based on a print signal, the magnetic particles dispersed in the microcapsules 15 are attracted to the substrate 11 side, and the pressure causes the magnetic particles to be dispersed. The non-magnetic particles move to the protective sheet 13 side. Then, when viewed from the front side of the display sheet 10, the portion to which the recording magnetic field is applied is observed to appear substantially black, and the recording head 3
By applying a magnetic field in the form of a dot matrix using 0, characters and symbols can be recorded.

Next, when the erasing head 20 is brought close to the back side of the display sheet 10, that is, the side where the protective sheet 13 is located, the magnetic particles dispersed in the microcapsules 15 are attracted to the protective sheet 13 side, and the pressure causes the magnetic particles to be dispersed. The non-magnetic particles move to the base 11 side. Then, display sheet 1
When viewed from the front side of 0, the portion where the erasing magnetic field is applied becomes substantially white, and the erasing magnetic field is uniformly applied by applying the erasing magnetic field to the entire sheet width.

As the above-mentioned high-viscosity liquid in the microcapsule 15, a liquid having a predetermined viscosity is selected so as to maintain a display state of the magnetic particles moved to the back side or the front side by applying a magnetic field. That is, if the viscosity of the liquid is low, the display state is prevented from being disturbed by the particles that have once moved to the front side or the back side settling or moving due to vibration or the like. Therefore, the above-described recording head 3
The magnetic attraction force in the zero and erasing heads 20 needs to be greater than the yield value due to the viscosity of the liquid, and thereby writing and erasing of a display are performed.

Next, the operation of the entire apparatus will be described. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, before printing is started, the display sheet 10 is circulated at a constant speed to perform the entire erasing by the erasing head 20. Next, a print signal is received from an external host device, and each time the development of image data for one print line is completed, the recording head 30 is moved for several milliseconds to several hundred milliseconds while moving in the sheet width direction. Is applied to apply a dot matrix magnetic field to the surface of the display sheet 10 to perform magnetic printing.

When printing for one line is completed, the display sheet 10
Are transported by a predetermined feed pitch and stopped, and then printing is performed based on the image data developed for the next print line. In this way, one image is formed while repeating the development of the image data, the serial printing of the recording head 30, and the intermittent feeding of the display sheet 10.

Next, when a new image is to be printed, the display sheet 10 is circulated at a constant speed to erase the entire surface by the erasing head 20, and then the recording head 30 performs serial printing.

FIG. 4A is a partial sectional view showing the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4B is a partial plan view of the display sheet 10. As shown in FIG. 3, the display sheet 10 includes a recording display layer in which a large number of microcapsules 15 enclosing magnetic particles 15a and nonmagnetic particles 15b are arranged in a plane, and the recording display layer is formed of a substrate. 11 and the protection sheet 13. On the substrate 11, a color filter layer 16 in which colored transparent color filters of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) are periodically arranged in pixel units is formed. Color filter layer 1
A transparent protective sheet 17 is formed on 6.

When a magnetic field is generated for each pixel based on an image signal from an external host device while the recording head 30 moves in the main scanning direction, the magnetic particles 15a in the microcapsule 15 cause the pixel to which the magnetic field is applied to be generated. By migrating to the front side, the light reflectance decreases. For example, when a magnetic field is applied to one color line of a color filter, the color of the line to which the magnetic field is applied becomes black and inconspicuous, and the colors of two color lines of the color filter to which no magnetic field is applied are changed. The color is emphasized and appears to the observer as a mixture of two colors of the color filter to which no magnetic field is applied. When a magnetic field is applied to all the lines of one cycle of the color filter (one cycle of R, G, and B colors), one cycle of the color filter becomes black and there is no color to be emphasized. It will appear black to the observer. On the other hand, the pixels to which no magnetic field is applied are kept in a state where they are erased in advance by the erasing head 20, that is, the state where the magnetic particles 15a are located on the back side and the non-magnetic particles 15b are located on the front side, respectively. It becomes high and the color of the color filter is observed.

For example, as shown in FIG. 4A, since a magnetic field is applied to the portion D, the magnetic particles 15a are located on the front side, and the pixels in this portion are black. Since the magnetic field is not applied to the portion E, the pixels in this portion become G color. Then, adjacent R in one cycle of the color filter
Since the color and the B color are black, the G color is emphasized and appears to the G color to an observer. Further, since the F portion develops R, G, and B colors, it appears white due to color mixing.

As shown in FIG. 4B, the coloring patterns of the color filters are periodically arranged in the main scanning direction.
It is formed of vertical color stripes parallel to the sub-scanning direction. The coloring pitch is formed at a pitch finer than the spatial resolution for the color of the naked eye, for example, 1/50 inch, thereby realizing spatial color mixing.

Marks Ma and Mb parallel to the color stripe are formed at positions on both sides of such a color stripe and not visible from the display window 2. This is to detect the positions of the marks Ma and Mb during the writing operation of the recording head 30 with an optical sensor or the like, thereby synchronizing the writing timing with the pixel position and preventing color misregistration.

Here, an example in which the coloring pattern of the color filter is formed of vertical color stripes has been described. However, the color filter formed of horizontal color stripes arranged periodically in the sub-scanning direction and parallel to the main scanning direction is shown. But you can use it as well.

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view showing a second embodiment of the present invention. Here, an example in which the display sheet and the color filter are provided separately will be described.

The display sheet 10 is, as shown in FIG.
The recording / display layer includes a plurality of microcapsules 15 enclosing magnetic particles 15a and non-magnetic particles 15b arranged in a plane, and the recording / display layers are sandwiched between a base 11 and a protective sheet 13.

On the other hand, if the color filter body 18
The display sheet 1 is composed of a color filter layer 18a in which colored transparent color filters of colors B and B are periodically arranged in pixel units, and a transparent substrate 18b supporting the color filter layer 18a.
0 and at a position corresponding to the display unit of the display window 2. Here, three color stripes are arranged in parallel with the main scanning direction.

The recording head 30 is provided at a position distant from the color filter body 18 on the upstream side of the sheet conveyance. After forming an image corresponding to the pixel pattern of the color filter body 18 during a recording operation, the display sheet 10 is moved. Color display is realized by accurately positioning the pixel pattern of the recorded image and the pixel pattern of the color filter body 18. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, the Pa portion becomes cyan by the mixture of B and G colors, and the Pb portion becomes magenta by the mixture of B and R colors.

By separately providing the color filter body 18 and the display sheet 10 as described above, the amount of the color filter can be reduced, and the display head 1 can be controlled by the recording head 30.
When recording is performed on the microcapsules 15, the color filter layer does not need to be provided on the surface of the display sheet 10.
Since recording can be performed at a position closer to the image, images can be recorded more efficiently.

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view showing a third embodiment of the present invention. Here, an example in which the non-magnetic particles encapsulated in the microcapsules are colored will be described.

The display sheet 10 is, as shown in FIG.
The recording / display layer includes a plurality of microcapsules 15 enclosing magnetic particles 15a and non-magnetic particles 15b arranged in a plane, and the recording / display layers are sandwiched between a base 11 and a protective sheet 13. The non-magnetic particles 15b are
The microcapsules 15 that are composed of dyes or pigments of R, G, and B colors and are located in one color pixel are colored with the same color, and the R, G, and G pixels as a whole sheet.
The B color pixels are periodically arranged at a constant pitch. Here, three color stripes are arranged in parallel with the main scanning direction.

When a magnetic field is generated in pixel units based on an image signal from an external host device while the recording head 30 moves in the main scanning direction, the magnetic particles 15a in the microcapsule 15 are generated by the pixels to which the magnetic field is applied. By migrating to the front side, the light reflectance decreases and the color becomes black. On the other hand, the pixels to which no magnetic field is applied are maintained in a state where they are erased in advance by the erasing head 20, that is, the state where the magnetic particles 15a are located on the back side and the colored non-magnetic particles 15b are located on the front side. The color of the particles 15b is observed as it is.

One cycle of the nonmagnetic particles 11b (R color,
In the black portion that is not continuous in the direction (one cycle of G color and B color), the color of the adjacent nonmagnetic particles 11b is conspicuous, and is not observed by an observer.

After the display sheet 10 is erased in this manner, all of the R, G, and B colors due to the non-magnetic particles 15b are observed. As a result, only desired pixels become black, and as a result, color display by color mixture can be realized.

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Here, an example using magnetic reversal type magnetic particles will be described.

The display sheet 10 includes a recording display layer formed by arranging a large number of microcapsules 15 enclosing silver-white flake-shaped magnetic particles 15c and transparent oil 15d in a planar manner. It is sandwiched between the base 11 and the protection sheet 13. On the base 11,
A color filter layer 16 in which colored transparent color filters of R (red), G (green), and B (blue) are periodically arranged in pixel units is formed. On the color filter layer 16, a transparent protective sheet 17 is formed.

While the recording head 30 moves in the main scanning direction, a magnetic field perpendicular to the sheet surface is generated in pixel units based on an image signal from an external host device. In the pixel to which the vertical magnetic field is applied, the magnetic particles 15c in the microcapsule 15 are vertically oriented. Therefore, when the illuminating light enters the display sheet 10 from the front side of the sheet (the recording head 30 side), it can pass through the gap between the flake-shaped magnetic particles 15 c and is absorbed by the back protective sheet 13.
As a result, the light reflectance of the recording portion decreases, and the recording portion turns black.

On the other hand, the pixels to which no magnetic field is applied are in a state where they have been erased in advance by the horizontal magnetic field of the erase head 20,
That is, the state in which the flake-shaped magnetic particles 15c are oriented parallel to the sheet surface is maintained. Therefore, when the illuminating light enters the display sheet 10, it is reflected on the surface of the magnetic particles 15c, so that the light reflectance of the unrecorded portion becomes high, and the color of the color filter is observed.

For example, as shown in FIG. 7, since a magnetic field is applied to the L portion, the magnetic particles 15c are vertically oriented, and the pixels in this portion become black. Ka part and Kb
Since no magnetic field was applied to the portion, the light reflectance was high, and the Ka portion looked B color and the Kb portion appeared R color.

Here, an example is shown in which the coloring pattern of the color filter is formed of horizontal color stripes parallel to the main scanning direction. However, the vertical color stripes are arranged periodically in the main scanning direction and parallel to the sub-scanning direction. A color filter formed of stripes can be used in the same manner.

[0048]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, when the light reflectance of the recording display layer partially changes, the transmitted light amount of the color filter provided on the recording display layer also partially changes. Therefore, color display by mixing two or more colors can be realized.

By using a magnetic recording layer of, for example, a magnetophoretic type or a magnetic reversal type, whose light reflectance changes according to the magnitude or direction of an applied magnetic field, as a recording display layer, the writing and erasing processes can be performed. A display sheet that is easy, has a simple structure, and can be manufactured at low cost can be realized.

According to the present invention, when the recording head performs a writing operation, in the microcapsules in the color display, the magnetic particles migrate according to the direction of the applied magnetic field, and the non-magnetic particles move in the direction of the migration of the magnetic particles. Moves in the opposite direction. When light-absorbing magnetic particles appear on the observation surface of the color display, the color is displayed as black, and when colored non-magnetic particles appear, the color is displayed. Since the microcapsules are periodically arranged so that the colors are different for each pixel, color display by mixing colors can be performed by controlling the writing area for each pixel.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of an electronic information display device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view showing an electronic information display device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view showing the structure of the display sheet 10;

FIG. 4A is a partial sectional view showing the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4B is a partial plan view of the display sheet 10.

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view showing a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 housing 2 display window 10 display sheet 11 base 12 capsule coating layer 13 protective sheet 14 binder 15 microcapsules 15a, 15c magnetic particles 15b nonmagnetic particles 15d oil 16 color filter layer 17 protective sheet 20 erase head 30 recording head 31 carriage 36 , 63 Motor 50, 60 Roller

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A recording display layer whose light reflectance changes by writing or erasing, and a color filter layer provided on the recording display layer and configured by periodically disposing two or more color filters. A color display sheet comprising: 2. The color display sheet according to claim 1, wherein the recording display layer is formed of a magnetic recording layer whose light reflectance changes according to the magnitude or direction of an applied magnetic field. 3. A color filter comprising a recording display whose light reflectance changes by writing or erasing, and a color filter arranged on the observation surface side of the recording display and having two or more color filters periodically arranged. An electronic apparatus, comprising: a body; a transport unit for transporting the recording / display body; and a recording unit for forming a still image on the recording / display body based on image information supplied from an external host device. Formula information display device. 4. A color display in which microcapsules enclosing light-absorbing magnetic particles and colored non-magnetic particles are periodically arranged so that colors are different in pixel units, and a color display is transported. An electronic information display device comprising: a transport unit for performing a recording operation; and a recording unit for forming a still image on a color display based on image information supplied from an external host device.