JPS6214119A - Electrochromic display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate and simplify the electrical connection between electrochromic elements and other substrate by bringing lead-out electrodes and connecting electrodes into contact with each other or joining the same in the bent part at the end of a flexible substrate to which the lead-out electrodes are extended. CONSTITUTION:A laminate 12 consisting of lower display electrodes formed according to patterns to make digital display in, for example, a segment shape, an electrochromic layer 3 and an upper counter electrode 4 as constituting components and the lead-out electrodes 13,... which are drawn from the lower display electrodes and/or the upper counter electrode and extend to the end of the substrate 11 are constituted to the electrochromic elements 14 on the substrate 11. The transverse end to which the lead-out electrode 13 of the flexible substrate 11 is extended is bent downward. The electrical connection of the electrodes 13 and the connecting electrodes 22 is executed by bringing the electrodes 13 at the bend end of the bent part of the substrate 11 or the bottom surface side thereof into contact with the connecting electrodes 22 or using a conductive adhesive agent.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an electrochromic display device in which electrochromic display can be applied to many display devices 1, including electronic desktop calculators.

[Conventional technology]

An example of the structure of an electrochromic element conventionally used in such an electrochromic display device is shown in FIG.

This device has a structure in which a lower display electrode and its lead portion 2, an electrochromic layer 3, and an upper counter electrode 4 are sequentially laminated on a transparent substrate 1, and the electrochromic layer 3Vi, for example, 1rOx.

A first electrochromic layer composed of an oxidative color-forming substance such as N1(OH)2, ivy layer 5, Taz05, ZrO
It has an intermediate insulating layer 6 made of an oxide such as □, a fluoride dielectric such as LIF, MgF2, etc., and a second electrochromic layer 7 made of a ring-based coloring material such as WO3. The transparent substrate 1 is made of a glass plate, a transparent resin plate such as polyimide, etc., and the lower display electrode 2 is made of an ITO film (In203
S nO2 was added inside the film (the next one) and Nesa film (5nOz
).

8 indicates a layer of insulator.

An electrochromic element having such a configuration has electrodes 2,
By applying a voltage between 6 and 6, an electrochemical reaction is induced, resulting in coloring and decoloring.

For example, if layer 5 is made of IrOx and layer 7 is made of
rOx and WO2 are respectively IrOx+yH20ad →Ir0x(OH)y+
yH"+ye-WO, +yH"+ye--* HyW
O.

(However, this refers to adsorbed water contained in the H2Oad Vi element.) Due to the reaction, the colored species Ir0x(OH)y r Hy
It is believed that WOs is produced and colored, and by reversing the electric field, a reaction opposite to the above occurs and the color disappears.

In this coloring/decoloring reaction, the intermediate insulating layer 6 is made of H20a
In addition to being a source of d, it also has the function of preventing reverse reactions due to recombination of colored species, in other words, conduction of ions and blocking of electrons.

For example, as shown in the figure, the upper counter electrode 4 is joined to a lead-out electrode on the base 1, and is connected to a drive source from above the base through a suitable medium, similar to the lead-out portion of the lower display electrode. . Such media include other substrates, such as substrates for supporting electrochromic elements, and electrical connections between the electrochromic elements and these substrates can be made, for example, by using zebra connectors or by conductive adhesives. A method has been used in which a bridge-like connection is formed between the surfaces of the substrates using a bonding agent, but when using a zebra connector, for example, the thickness of the entire device increases, and the adhesive When using adhesives, there are disadvantages in terms of device functionality and manufacturing, such as alignment and complicated bonding steps.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

The present invention has been made with the aim of solving the above-mentioned conventional problems, and provides an electrochromic display device in which electrical connection between an electrochromic element and another substrate can be easily and simplified. This is what we provide.

[Means for solving problems]

That is, the electrochromic display device provided by the present invention includes a laminate including a lower display electrode, an electrochromic layer, and an upper counter electrode on a flexible substrate, and the lower display electrode or/and the upper counter electrode. An electrochromic display device comprising: an electrochromic element having an extraction electrode drawn out from the flexible substrate and extending to an end of the flexible substrate; and a substrate having a connection electrode on its surface that is electrically connected to the extraction electrode. In this method, an end portion of the flexible base body where the extraction electrode extends is bent, and the extraction electrode and the connection electrode are brought into contact with or joined at this bent portion. .

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, one configuration example of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an electrochromic display device of the present invention.
For example, it is a schematic diagram for explaining the configuration of a display part in the case of application to an electronic tabletop calculator or the like.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 11 is a flexible substrate, and on this substrate, as in the example shown in FIG. , a laminate 12 including an electrochromic layer and an upper counter electrode, and an extraction electrode 13 extending from the lower display electrode and/or the upper counter electrode to the end of the substrate 11 . ... constitutes the electrochromic element 14.

The width direction end portion of the flexible substrate 11 where the lead electrodes 13°... extend is bent downward.

In FIG. 1, 21 is a substrate for mounting and supporting the electrochromic element 14-, and the lead electrode 13.
A group of connecting electrodes 22, . . . , aligned with . . . are provided on the surface.

Extracting electrode 13. ... and the connecting electrode 22. . . are electrically connected to the tip of the bent portion of the flexible substrate 11 or to the extraction electrode 13 on the lower surface side. ... are brought into contact with the connection electrode 22, or by bonding them using a conductive adhesive.

For example, as shown in FIG. 1, a presser plate 3 that presses other parts while opening the display part of the electrochromic element
1, the electrochromic element 14 is attached to the substrate 21.
Advantageously, the electrodes 13 and 22 are brought into contact by pressing against them.

In FIG. 1, 41 is a cover mainly for protecting the display part of the electrochromic element, and is pressed in the direction of the substrate 21 (in the direction of the arrow in the figure) and is fixed together with the holding plate 31 and the substrate 21. Ru.

Incidentally, when producing the nine electrochromic device by bending as shown in FIG. 1, the extraction electrode 13. ...
As a method of simultaneously forming the same on both the front and back sides of the bent portion, for example, the substrate 11 is masked according to the nine turns of the electrode.
It is possible to uniformly form an electrode film on the front and back sides of the bent portion while holding it using an appropriate holding means in the thin film forming apparatus and performing rotational movement such as planetary movement.

Example 1 A flexible substrate 1 that can be bent as shown in FIG.
1 (width of the folded part 3 cm), and placed in a thin film forming apparatus.

Next, in order to form an ITO film serving as a lower display electrode and an extraction electrode, a mask was applied, and a thin film was formed by an ion grating method while the substrate was moved in a planetary motion using the jig. Next, a mask pattern was formed, and a first electrochromic layer (Ir0x) was formed with a thickness of 250λ by sputtering, followed by an intermediate insulating layer and a second electrochromic layer each having a thickness of 3000λ by vacuum evaporation.

After forming the ITO film to a thickness of 4,000 wafers, an ITO film serving as an upper counter electrode was formed to a thickness of 1,000 wafers by ion blating, and was also bonded to the extraction electrode 13.

Using the thus obtained electrochromic element 14, as shown in FIG. 1, the holding plate 31 is adhered while being pressed, or is secured using an appropriate framework, and then the cover 41 is adhered to the holding plate 31. Just in case.

In this way, by utilizing the elasticity of the end portion of the flexible substrate 11, it was possible to manufacture a thin calculator that does not require an interconnector or the like and is thinner than conventional products.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, when an electrochromic element is connected to another base, it can be directly connected without using any other member such as a Sepra connector, so that the thickness of the display portion can be reduced. can be minimized,
Alternatively, an effect such as eliminating unnecessary steps during connection can be achieved.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining a configuration example of an electrochromic display device of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a configuration example of an electrochromic element. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Substrate, 2... Lower display electrode and extraction part, 3
. . . Electrochromic layer, 4 . . . Upper opposing pole, 4# .
・Electrochromic element, 21...substrate, 22・
... Connection electrode, 31 ... Pressing plate, 41 ... Cover.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A laminate including a lower display electrode, an electrochromic layer, and an upper counter electrode on a flexible substrate, and a laminate that is drawn out from the lower display electrode and/or the upper counter electrode and extends to an end of the flexible substrate. An electrochromic display device comprising: an electrochromic element having an extraction electrode; and a base body having a connection electrode on its surface electrically connected to the extraction electrode; An electrochromic display device characterized in that an end portion is bent, and the lead electrode and the connection electrode are brought into contact with or joined to each other at this bent portion. (2) The electrochromic display device according to claim (1), further comprising a pressing member that presses at least the bent end of the electrochromic element against the base.