JPS60225243A - Electronic appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make an appliance compact and thin by laminating an input part, processing part, and an output part to constitute the apparatus with flexibility. CONSTITUTION:A DC bias and an AC voltage are applied between electrodes 2-2 and 2-6 by a DC power source 2-14 and an AC power source 2-13. When an incident light is irradiated from the side of a substrate 2-1 by an input pen, an output display molecular layer 2-5 emits light through a flexible molecular layer 2-3 for optical sensor input and a flexible electric change storage layer 2-4. In case of recording, a recording sheet where a molecular layer 2-7 for recording is providing is provided on a recording sheet base material 2-8 is approximated to a part under a transparent electrode 2-6. When display information is transferred to an external memory, light emitting layers 2-17 are lit successively, and the current flowed to a driving circuit 2-12 is detected, and this output is transferred to the external memory.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field] The present invention relates to an electronic device, particularly a thin electronic device, equipped with input means, processing means, and output means for information such as characters and images.

[Prior art]

Conventionally, in the field of large electronic devices, there are some display devices (e.g. CRT) that can display and record at the same time.
It is a modular system that connects the printer and a recording device (such as a thermal printer) with a signal line. However, due to the nature of the device, it was large in size, and its field of use was limited to large office machines.

Although there are small and thin calculators and language practice machines that use liquid crystals, they only have calculation functions or language practice functions and do not have any other functions.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention has been proposed in view of the above-mentioned prior art, and aims to provide a thin and compact electronic device.

[Structure of the invention]

The configuration of the electronic device of the present invention is characterized by having an input section, a processing section that processes a signal from the input section, and an output section that outputs the signal from the processing section, and is flexible. It is said that

〔Example〕

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a thin electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. l-1 is an optical input sensor section that detects optical input information and converts it into an electrical signal, ■-2 is a signal processing section that processes the electrical signal from the previous input sensor section 1'-1, and 1-3 is a signal processing section. 1-4 is a display section that receives the signal from section 1-2 and displays a display corresponding to the optical input information; 1-4 is a recording section that receives the optical signal from display section 1-3 and records the displayed image; 5 is the signal processing unit 1 for the output of the display unit 1-3.
- External signal output section (for transmitting the signal of the signal processing section as an electrical signal to another system via 2 or directly to another system)
1 display section l-3. The recording section 1-4 or the external signal output section 1-5 may also be simply referred to as an output section.

Next, the functions of each part and the thin films forming each part will be explained.

The function of the light input sensor section 1-1 is to detect light from a pen-shaped light input means that emits light by suppressing it, for example, and convert it into an electrical signal. In addition, the optical input sensor part is formed of a molecular layer that has photoconductivity.
For the molecular layer, a photoconductive dye 1 is selected from among long-chain alkyl-substituted merocyanine dyes, long-chain alkyl-substituted triphenylmethane dyes, and pyrene.

The length of the alkyl group is preferably selected from C=tO to 18. A specific example is OCR2C0OH.

The function of the signal processing section 1-2 is to accumulate electrical signals from the optical input sensor section 1-1, output signals to the display section 1-3 as appropriate to display image information, and output external signals to other systems. The output signal is transmitted through the section 1-5. This signal processing section is formed by a molecular layer that generates polarization in response to the electrical signal from the optical input sensor section 1-1, and the polarized molecular layer is capable of accumulating charges in traps by injecting electrons and holes. A long-chain saturated fatty acid or a compound having a long-chain saturated fatty acid group, and the length of the alkyl group is preferably C = 18 to 22.
Examples include araxic acid, stearic acid, and valmitic acid. In addition, in the case of a compound having a long-chain fatty acid group, a trap site may exist in a portion other than the long-chain fatty acid group.

The function of the display section 1-3 is to output the electrical signals accumulated in the signal processing section 1-2 as an image, and perform a display corresponding to optical input information. This display section is formed of a molecular layer that emits light in response to an electric field.For example, the function of the anthracene recording section 1-4, in which the functional portion is located between the hydrophobic group and the parent tree group, is the function of the display section 1-4. It is sensitive to light from 3 and records the light image.

This recording section is made of a layer that is colored by light.
As the molecular layer, one exhibiting photochromic properties, such as long-chain alkylated spiropyran, is used alone or in combination with a long-chain saturated fatty acid.

Specific examples of long-chain alkylated spiropyrans include the following compounds.

When spiropyran alone is irradiated with light, it isomerizes and becomes colored, but it returns when the light is blocked. However, by mixing 10 to 90% of the total amount of long-chain saturated fatty acids, the colored state can be maintained even when light is blocked. As long chain saturated fatty acids, those with C=16 to 22 are used.

The function of the external signal output section 1-5 is to detect the polarization state of the signal processing section 1-2 and send it as an electric signal to an external shift register. This external signal output section is wired in a matrix so that the polarization state of the signal processing section can be detected, and the width of the tree is approximately 100 times as large as lθ of the molecule.

The above-mentioned optical input sensor section 1-1. Signal processing unit 1-21 display unit l-3. The monomolecular layer or the monomolecular layer cumulative layer of the recording section 1-4 is formed by, for example, the known Langmuir Fist-Projet method (
(hereinafter abbreviated as LB method) (Experimental Chemistry Course, Vol. 18, p. 489~
Page 507, round neck). In addition to the LB method, it may be formed by, for example, a vapor deposition method or a CVD method.

According to the LB method, it is possible to form a uniform film having a thickness equal to the length of the molecule, so that thinning can be easily achieved. The film area can also be varied from a small area to a large area with almost no restrictions, depending on the size of the substrate. Furthermore, according to the LB method, since the molecular distribution within the film is uniform, high-definition display is possible. Further, according to the LB method, various molecules can be stacked. Furthermore, by mixing molecules, it is possible to laminate films containing a mixture of two or more types of molecules.

In the present invention, at least one type of functional molecule layer, in most cases three types, is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the membrane, and signals are exchanged between the membranes. In this case, insulating molecules such as long-chain saturated fatty acids are mixed with the functional molecules to prevent signal leakage in a direction parallel to the membrane. Furthermore, the LB method can also easily arrange the trapping sites of long-chain saturated fatty acids, which are polarized molecules, in the signal processing section 1-2 in an orderly manner.

In this way, the system including the input sensor section, signal processing section 9 display section can be created by laminating and integrating the LB layer.
Compared to the conventional method of connecting components separated by function using metal wiring or the like, the process is simpler and the film can be made thinner and more compact.

Furthermore, since the recording section can also be formed in a sheet shape, by recording the display light close to the display section, the entire system can be made thinner and more compact.

The structure and operation of the embodiment will be explained with reference to FIG. 0, which is a detailed configuration diagram including the cross-sectional structure of the thin electronic device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

2-1 is a transparent substrate, and 2-2 is a transparent electrode formed on the entire surface of the substrate 2-1. 2-3 is a molecular layer for optical sensor manual operation, 2-4 is a charge storage layer as a signal processing section, 2
-5 is a display molecular layer, which is created and laminated by the LB method.

2-6 is a striped transparent electrode formed thereon. 2-10 is an extraction electrode part (signal output part),
Display drive circuit section 2-1 via extraction wiring group 2-11
Connected to 2.

Also, 2-13 is an AC power supply, 2-14 is a DC power supply,
By switching the switch circuit 2-15, an AC signal superimposed on a positive DC bias voltage or an AC signal superimposed on a negative DC bias voltage is transferred to the transparent electrode 2-2 and the transparent electrode 2-6.
It can be applied between

Reference numeral 2-12 denotes a drive circuit section which controls switching of the switch circuit 2-15, detects the discharge current from the extraction wiring 2-11, and outputs it to the external memory via the wiring 2-24.

2-7 is a recording molecular layer integrally formed on the sheet substrate 2-8 by the LB method, and 2-9 is a recording sheet driving section.

2-18 is a transparent substrate, and 2-18 is a transparent electrode formed in a stripe shape on the substrate 2-18. However, its direction is perpendicular to that of the transparent electrode 2-6. 2-17 is a light emitting layer and is created by the LB method. 2-16 is a transparent electrode. These are integrally formed (hereinafter referred to as a panel). 2-20 is an extraction electrode section of the transparent electrode 2-18, which is connected to the panel control circuit section 2-23 via an extraction wiring group 2-21. It is connected. The panel control circuit section 2-23 controls the AC power supply 2-22 to apply an AC voltage between the transparent electrodes 2-16 and 2-18, and
7 to emit light. Further, the panel control circuit section 2-23 and the drive circuit section 2-12 are electrically connected, and the voltage application scanning timing of each striped transparent electrode 2-18 on the panel side and each striped transparent electrode 2 on the display side are The read timing of -6 is properly matched.

Although an electroluminescent layer (EL layer) is used as the display section in the embodiment, a liquid crystal layer, an electrochromic layer, or the like may also be used.

Furthermore, if a flexible material such as a plastic member is used for the substrate 2-1.2-19, the thickness of each functional molecule layer is extremely thin, so each functional part has flexibility. Therefore, the entire electronic device can also be made flexible.

Next, the operation of the embodiment will be explained. First, both electrodes 2-2
．． To 2-6, add an AC voltage superimposed on the DC bias from the DC power supply 2-14 and the AC power supply 2-13.However, since the peak of the AC voltage is approximately at the same level as the DC bias, in this state No effective alternating current voltage is applied to the display molecule layer 2-5, and no light emission is observed, although a reverse voltage is applied.

In that case, no current flows due to the rectifying means (not shown), so no light is emitted.In the 0th order, for example, when incident light is irradiated from the substrate 2-1 side with an input pen, carriers are A generation occurs, which is moved by the DC electric field and is injected and trapped in the charge storage layer. This trapped carrier becomes a space charge and acts to cancel the applied DC bias. Therefore, AC is effectively applied to the output display molecule layer 2-5 in this portion, and it emits light.

Erasing is performed by switching the switch 2-15 and applying a DC bias in the opposite direction to expel carriers from the charge storage layer.

Note that if a cumulative film is created by mixing molecules with different emission spectrum peaks in the output display molecular layer 2-5 using an AC voltage, by changing the magnitude of the AC voltage depending on the light input, molecules with different emission spectrum peaks can be mixed. Color display is also possible by accumulating carriers or emitting light.

When recording is to be performed next, a recording sheet with a recording molecular layer provided on the recording sheet substrate 2-8 is brought close to the lower part of the transparent electrode 2-6, and light emitted from the output display molecular layer 2-5 is used. Recording is performed by causing a photochromic change in the recording molecular layer. Record sea) (7) 2, 7 < e, E [a out 11”'-
1 drive unit 2-9 by +.

When transferring display information to an external memory, the panel is moved to bring the substrate 2-18 closer to the substrate 2-1.The AC voltage is applied to the edge of the striped transparent electrode 2-18 by the AC power source 2-22. The light emitting layer 2-17 is caused to emit light. By receiving this light, the resistance of the optical sensor's artificial molecular layer 2-3 decreases, and the charges in the charge storage layer are discharged. The drive circuit section 2-12 sequentially detects the flowing current through the striped transparent electrodes 2-6, and transfers this signal information to an external memory via the connection line 2-24.

Erasing the display is performed in a similar manner, with the only difference being that no signal information is transferred to the memory.

FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) are schematic diagrams of a thin electronic device in a notebook shape according to another embodiment of the present invention. The size of the device main body 3-1 is 380 layers vertically x 250 m wide x 15 thick x 1 shoulder 1 The displayable area is:
250mm long x 1705m wide, paper storage capacity is 25mm
There are 1 pieces. When you open the lid, there is a display panel part 3 on the front.
-3 and an operating button switch 3-5 is arranged at the lower front. (Figure 3(a)).

First, turn on the power by operating the power switch 3-4 connected to the internal flat battery.Next, press the switch on the display and draw the specified image on the display panel with the input pen 3-8. When you press the print switch when you want a hard copy, the written information is printed from the paper output section 3-6 onto the paper 3-9 (Fig. 3 (b)). It comes out. If it is desired to store write information in an external memory, it is connected to an arbitrary memory device (magnetic disk, semiconductor memory, magnetic tape, etc.) via a connector 3-7 using a line 3-10. Next panel 3-
2 on the display panel 3-3 and the memory switch is operated, striped light is sequentially scanned from the panel 3-2, which can be erased and simultaneously stored in an external memory device.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, since it has a thin film or molecular size input section, processing section, and output section, each functional section can be made flexible, and the device as a whole can be made flexible. It can be made to stand.

Therefore, it is also possible to significantly downsize the multifunctional electronic device for displaying, processing, recording, transferring, and erasing inputs. Therefore, it can be applied to office or home electronic devices that require easy and portable functionality, and it is possible to improve the efficiency of learning and office work. Furthermore, because it is flexible, it can be handled in much the same way as a conventional notebook.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a thin electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a detailed configuration diagram including a cross-sectional structure of the thin electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a thin electronic device according to another embodiment of the present invention. 1-1... Optical input sensor section 1-2... Signal processing section 1-3... Display section 1-4... Recording section 1-5... External signal output section 2-1...・Substrate 2-2...Transparent electrode 2-3...Molecular layer for optical sensor human power 2-4...Charge storage layer 2-5...Molecular layer for output display 2-6...Transparent electrode 2-7... Recording molecular layer 2-8... Recording sheet substrate 2-9... Recording sheet drive section 2-10... Extracting electrode section 2-11... Extracting wiring group 2- 12... Drive circuit section 2-13... AC power supply 2-14... DC power supply 2-15... Switch circuit 2-16... Transparent electrode 2-17... Light emitting layer 2-18 ...Transparent electrode 2-18...Substrate 2-20...Takeout electrode section 2-21...Takeout wiring group 2-22...AC power supply 2-23...Panel control circuit section 2- 24...Connection line to memory 3-1...Device main body 3-2...Panel with optical scanner 3-3...Display panel 3-4...Power switch 3-5...Operation Button switch 3-6...Paper output section 3-7...Signal output connector 3-8...Light pen 3-9...Print paper 3-10...Connection line to memory device Patent applicant: Canon Co., Ltd. Agent: Tadayoshi Wakabayashi 1 Figure

Claims (1)

[Claims] A flexible electronic device having an input section, a processing section that processes a signal from the input section, and an output section that outputs a signal from the processing section.