TW202111408A - Electrochromic display device and driving method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

An electrochromic display device includes an electrochromic layer, an ion storage layer, an electrolyte layer, a plurality of pixel units, a plurality of common electrodes, and a plurality of touch sensing electrodes. Each of the pixel units includes a pixel electrode electrically connected to the electrochromic layer and a thin film transistor for applying driving signals to the pixel electrode. Under the cooperation of the pixel electrodes and the common electrodes, the electrochromic layer corresponding to each pixel unit can generate discoloration of different gray levels. The touch sensing electrodes are insulated from the common electrodes. Each of the common electrodes is time-division multiplexed into a touch driving electrode, and the common electrodes and the touch sensing electrodes cooperate to realize a touch sensing operation. A method of driving the electrochromic display device is also provided.

Description

Electrochromic display device and driving method thereof

The present invention relates to the field of display technology, in particular to an electrochromic display device and a driving method thereof.

Electrochromism (EC) refers to the phenomenon that the optical properties of materials (reflectance, transmittance, absorptivity, etc.) undergo stable and reversible color changes under the action of an external electric field, and appear as color and transparency in appearance. Reversible change.

The existing electrochromic display device only has a display function, and when the display screen is displayed, it can only change the color of the entire display screen, which limits the application of the electrochromic display device.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrochromic display device, which includes: The electrochromic layer has a first side and a second side opposite to each other; An ion storage layer for providing ions for the electrochromic layer; An electrolyte layer, used as a channel for the ions to be transported between the electrochromic layer and the ion storage layer; A plurality of pixel units are located on the first side, and each of the pixel units includes a pixel electrode electrically connected to the electrochromic layer and a thin film transistor for applying driving signals to the pixel electrode; A plurality of common electrodes are located on the second side, and with the cooperation of the pixel electrodes and the common electrodes, the electrochromic layer corresponding to each pixel unit can produce discoloration of different gray scales; and A plurality of touch sensing electrodes are located on a side of the common electrode away from the electrochromic layer, and the touch sensing electrodes and the common electrodes are arranged to be insulated and crossed; Wherein, the common electrode is time-division multiplexed as a touch drive electrode, and the common electrode and the touch sensing electrode can cooperate to realize a touch sensing operation.

When the electrochromic display device displays a picture, it not only changes the color of the entire display picture, but also makes the electrochromic layer corresponding to each pixel unit through the cooperation of the common electrode and the pixel electrode Can produce discoloration of different gray scales. In addition, in the electrochromic display device, the common electrode is time-division multiplexed as the touch driving electrode, so that the electrochromic display device can have both touch and electrochromic functions.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a driving method of an electrochromic display device, which is applied to the above-mentioned electrochromic display device, and the driving method of the electrochromic display device includes: In the first time period, the pixel electrode and the common electrode are loaded with a color-changing voltage that changes the color of the electrochromic layer, so that the electrochromic layer corresponding to each pixel unit can generate Discoloration of different gray scales; and In the second time period, load touch signals for the touch sensing electrodes and the common electrodes; Wherein, the first time period and the second time period have no overlap in time.

In the driving method of the electrochromic display device, the electrochromic display device can have both touch and electrochromic functions by time-sharing loading of the color changing voltage and the touch signal. In addition, when the electrochromic display device displays a picture, it not only changes the color of the entire display picture, but also can cooperate with the pixel electrode and the common electrode, and the electrochromic layer corresponding to each pixel unit can be Discoloration of different gray scales is produced.

As shown in FIG. 1, the electrochromic display device 100 includes a cover plate 10, an adhesive layer 20, a touch control component 30, and an electrochromic component 40 that are stacked in sequence.

The cover plate 10 and the touch component 30 are bonded by the adhesive layer 20. The material of the cover plate 10 may be glass, such as soda glass, aluminosilicate glass, and non-barrier glass. The material of the cover plate 10 can also be transparent plastic, or any other material with a certain degree of light transmittance that can protect the structure to which it is attached. The adhesive layer 20 is transparent and can be an adhesive with high light transmittance such as solid optical clear adhesive (OCA) or liquid optical clear adhesive (LOCA). Affect the display effect.

The electrochromic component 40 includes a common electrode 41, an electrochromic layer 42, an electrolyte layer 44, an ion storage layer 46, and a thin film transistor substrate 48. The electrochromic layer 42 has a first side 421 and a second side 422 opposite to each other. The electrolyte layer 44, the ion storage layer 46 and the thin film transistor substrate 48 are located on the first side 421. The plurality of common electrodes 41 are located on the second side 422. The electrolyte layer 44 is located between the ion storage layer 46 and the electrochromic layer 42. The ion storage layer 46 is located between the electrolyte layer 44 and the pixel electrode 484 of the thin film transistor substrate 48. The stacking order of the electrochromic component 40 is the thin film transistor substrate 48, the ion storage layer 46, the electrolyte layer 44, the electrochromic layer 42, and the common electrode 41 in this order.

In another embodiment, the positions of the electrochromic layer 42 and the ion storage layer 46 can be interchanged. That is, the electrolyte layer 44 is located between the ion storage layer 46 and the electrochromic layer 42. The electrochromic layer 42 is located between the electrolyte layer 44 and the pixel electrode 484 of the thin film transistor substrate 48. The stacking order of the electrochromic component 40 is the thin film transistor substrate 48, the electrochromic layer 42, the electrolyte layer 44, the ion storage layer 46, and the common electrode 41 in order.

The electrochromic layer 42 is an electrochromic material with electrochromic characteristics, which can be an inorganic electrochromic material, such as CeO2-TiO2, NiOx, WO3, MnO2, etc., or an organic electrochromic material, such as bipyridine Salts, conductive polymers, metal organic polymers, or metal phthalocyanines. The electrochromic layer 42 undergoes an oxidation-reduction reaction when the voltage applied between its opposite sides changes, and can show a light-shielding (coloring) or a transparent state.

The electrolyte layer 44 serves as an ion conductive layer to provide a channel for ion transport between the electrochromic layer 42 and the ion storage layer 46, but prevents electrons from passing through. The electrolyte layer 44 can be made of a high molecular polymer solid electrolyte material.

The ion storage layer 46 is used for storing ions and supplying required ions during the discoloration process, so as to balance the total charge in the device. The ion storage layer 46 may also use an electrochromic material whose properties are opposite to the electrochromic material of the electrochromic layer 42 to play a role of superimposing or complementary colors. For example, the ion storage layer 46 may use a cathode reduction color changing material, and the electrochromic layer 42 may use an anodic oxidation color changing material.

The thin film transistor substrate 48 includes a substrate 482, a plurality of scan lines GL provided on the substrate 482, a plurality of data lines DL, and a plurality of pixel units Px. Each scan line GL extends along a first direction D1, and each data line DL extends along a second direction D2. The first direction D1 and the second direction D2 cross.

Two adjacent scan lines GL and two adjacent data lines DL are insulated and crossed to define a pixel unit Px. The plural pixel units Px are arranged in a matrix into multiple rows and multiple columns. Each pixel unit Px includes a pixel electrode 484 electrically connected to the electrochromic layer 42 and a thin film transistor 486. The thin film transistor 486 is used to load the driving signal on the data line DL into the picture under the control of the scan line GL.素electrode484.

The plurality of pixel electrodes 484 are arranged in a matrix into multiple rows and multiple columns, and the pixel electrode 484 of each pixel unit Px is isolated from the pixel electrodes 484 corresponding to other pixel units Px. The thin film transistor 486 includes a gate GE, a source SE, and a drain DE. The gate GE of the thin film transistor 486 is electrically connected to a scan line GL, the source SE of the thin film transistor 486 is electrically connected to a data line DL, and the drain DE of the thin film transistor 486 is electrically connected to the pixel unit Px.的pixel electrode 484.

The data line DL is used to transmit driving signals to the thin film transistor 486. The scan line GL is used to control the thin film transistor 486 to receive the driving signal. The driving signal is, for example, a voltage. In this way, the thin film transistor 486 of each pixel unit Px can be turned on and off by the scan line GL to individually charge the pixel electrode 484 of each pixel unit Px, so as to charge each pixel electrode. The electrochromic layer 42 corresponding to 484 is used for the purpose of applying a driving signal separately, so that under the cooperation of the pixel electrode 484 and the common electrode 41, the electrochromic layer 42 corresponding to each pixel unit Px can produce discoloration of different gray scales. .

In one embodiment, each pixel unit Px further includes a storage capacitor (not shown), and the drain DE of the thin film transistor 486 is electrically connected to one end of the storage capacitor to improve the leakage current inside the electrochromic element 40. The problem of not being able to maintain color stability for a long time. In addition, the substrate 482 is used to carry the components of the thin film transistor substrate 486. The substrate 482 may be a transparent substrate 482, such as a substrate 482 formed of glass, transparent plastic, or the like.

In one embodiment, the touch component 30 includes a first substrate 32, a plurality of touch sensing electrodes 34, a transparent insulating glue layer 35, a second substrate 36 and a common electrode 41. The touch sensing electrode 34 is located on the side of the common electrode 41 away from the electrochromic layer 42, and the touch sensing electrode 34 and the common electrode 41 are insulated and crossed. The first substrate 32 is located on the side of the touch sensing electrode 34 away from the common electrode 41. The touch sensing electrode 34 is formed on the surface of the first substrate 32. The second substrate 36 is located between the touch sensing electrode 34 and the common electrode 41. The common electrode 41 is formed on the surface of the second substrate 36. The transparent insulating glue layer 35 is located between the touch sensing electrode 34 and the second substrate 36. Each common electrode 41 has a rectangular strip shape extending along the first direction D1, a plurality of common electrodes 41 are arranged at intervals along the second direction D2, and each touch sensing electrode 34 has a rectangular strip shape extending along the second direction D2. The sensing electrodes 34 are arranged at intervals along the first direction D1.

In other implementations, the common electrode 41 and the touch sensing electrode 34 can also have other existing shapes and structures. For example, each common electrode 41 is a series of a plurality of sub-common electrodes connected, and each touch sensing electrode 34 is A plurality of sub-touch sensing electrodes are connected to form a series. Each sub-common electrode may be diamond-shaped or rectangular, etc., and each sub-touch sensing electrode may be diamond-shaped or rectangular, etc.

The common electrode 41 is time-division multiplexed as the touch driving electrode 38, and the common electrode 41 and the touch sensing electrode 34 can cooperate to realize the touch sensing operation. Among them, the transparent insulating glue layer 35 and the second substrate 36 serve as a dielectric layer between the touch sensing electrodes 34 and the touch driving electrodes 38, so that the plurality of touch driving electrodes 38 and the plurality of touch driving electrodes 38 form a mutual capacitance type. Touch sensing structure. When a touch occurs, the capacitive coupling between the touch driving electrode 38 and the touch sensing electrode 34 near the touch point will be affected, causing the sensing signal (such as voltage value) related to the mutual capacitance to change, and then The coordinates of each touch point can be calculated. In one embodiment, the first substrate 32 and the second substrate 36 may be hard substrates such as glass or sapphire. In other embodiments, the first substrate 32 and the second substrate 36 may also be transparent flexible substrates, such as polyimide (PI), polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC ), Poly Ethylene Terephthalate (PET), etc.

In one embodiment, in order not to affect the display effect, the common electrode 41 and the touch sensing electrode 34 are light-transmissive, and the material can be metal mesh (Metal Mesh), indium tin oxide (Indium Tin Oxide, ITO) , Carbon Nanotube or Nano Silver Wire and other conductive materials. The transparent insulating adhesive layer 35 can be, but is not limited to, a solid optical clear adhesive (OCA) or a liquid optical clear adhesive (LOCA) and other adhesives with high light transmittance.

In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, in the electrochromic display device 200, the second substrate 36 may be omitted. The touch component 30 includes a first substrate 32, a touch sensing electrode 34, a transparent insulating glue layer 35 and a common electrode 41. The touch sensing electrode 34, the transparent insulating glue layer 35 and the common electrode 41 are located on the side of the first substrate 32 close to the electrochromic layer 42. The transparent insulating glue layer 35 is located between the touch sensing electrode 34 and the common electrode 41 to electrically insulate the touch sensing electrode 34 and the common electrode 41. The common electrode 41 is time-division multiplexed as the touch driving electrode 38, and the common electrode 41 and the touch sensing electrode 34 can cooperate to realize the touch sensing operation.

As shown in FIG. 3, the present invention also provides a driving method applied to the above-mentioned electrochromic display device 100, which includes loading the pixel electrode 484 and the common electrode 41 to make the electrochromic layer 42 in the first time period T1. The color-changing voltage; in the second time period T2, the touch-sensing electrode 34 and the common electrode 41 are loaded with a touch signal. Wherein, the first time period T1 and the second time period T2 have no overlap in time, and the first time period T1 and the second time period T2 are alternately switched.

Specifically, in the first time period T1, the touch control component 30 does not operate, and the electrochromic component 40 operates. Wherein, a constant voltage is applied to the common electrode 41, and the voltage applied to the pixel electrode 484 is adjusted to cause the electrochromic layer 42 to produce discoloration of different gray scales. Specifically, the scan line GL controls the opening and closing of the thin film transistor 486 of each pixel unit Px to individually charge the pixel electrode 484 of each pixel unit Px, so as to charge each pixel electrode 484 The corresponding electrochromic layer 42 is used for the purpose of applying a driving signal alone, so that under the cooperation of the pixel electrode 484 and the common electrode 41, the electrochromic layer 42 corresponding to each pixel unit Px can produce color changes of different gray scales.

In the second time period T2, the electrochromic component 40 does not operate, and the touch component 30 operates. Wherein, according to the voltage applied to the common electrode 41, the voltage applied to the pixel electrode 484 is adjusted so that the electrochromic layer 42 maintains a constant gray scale. If an object such as a finger or a touch pen touches the cover 10, the capacitive coupling between the touch driving electrode 38 and the touch sensing electrode 34 near the touch point will be affected, resulting in a sensing signal related to mutual capacitance (such as The voltage value) changes, and then the coordinates of each touch point can be calculated.

In summary, by time-sharing loading of the color change voltage and touch signal, the electrochromic display device 100 can have both touch and electrochromic functions, and when the electrochromic display device 100 displays a screen, it is not only for the entire The color of the display screen is changed, but a driving signal can be applied to the electrochromic layer 42 corresponding to each pixel electrode 484 separately, so that with the cooperation of the pixel electrode 484 and the common electrode 41, each pixel unit Px corresponds to All of the electrochromic layers 42 can produce discoloration of different gray scales. In this way, the electrochromic display device 100 has a wider range of applications. For example, when the electrochromic display device 100 is used as a conference room compartment, it can also be used as a whiteboard for writing; or when the electrochromic display device 100 is used as a smart window, a part of the see-through area can be reserved.

In addition, the electrochromic display device 100 multiplexes the common electrode 41 of the electrochromic component 40 as the touch drive electrode 38 of the touch component 30, which can achieve reduction in the case of having both the electrochromic function and the touch function. The device thickness is thin, the material is reduced, the manufacturing process is simplified, and the cost is reduced.

The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and not to limit them. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that the technical solutions of the present invention can be modified or equivalently replaced. Without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solution of the present invention.

100, 200: Electrochromic display device 10: Cover 20: Adhesive layer 30: Touch components 32: The first substrate 34: Touch sensing electrode 35: Transparent insulating adhesive layer 36: second base 38: Touch drive electrode 40: Electrochromic components 41: Common electrode 42: Electrochromic layer 421: first side 422: second side 44: Electrolyte layer 46: Ion storage layer 48: Thin film transistor substrate 482: Substrate GL: scan line DL: Data line Px: pixel unit 484: pixel electrode 486: Thin Film Transistor GE: Gate SE: Source DE: Dip pole D1: First direction D2: second direction T1: the first time period T2: second time period

FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional exploded schematic diagram of an electrochromic display device according to an embodiment of the invention.

2 is a three-dimensional exploded schematic diagram of an electrochromic display device according to a modified embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a driving timing diagram of the electrochromic display device shown in FIG. 1.

100: Electrochromic display device

10: Cover

20: Adhesive layer

30: Touch components

32: The first substrate

34: Touch sensing electrode

35: Transparent insulating adhesive layer

36: second base

38: Touch drive electrode

40: Electrochromic components

41: Common electrode

42: Electrochromic layer

421: first side

422: second side

44: Electrolyte layer

46: Ion storage layer

48: Thin film transistor substrate

482: Substrate

GL: scan line

DL: Data line

Px: pixel unit

484: pixel electrode

486: Thin Film Transistor

GE: Gate

SE: Source

DE: Dip pole

Claims (10)

An electrochromic display device, which is improved in that it includes: The electrochromic layer has a first side and a second side opposite to each other; An ion storage layer for providing ions for the electrochromic layer; An electrolyte layer, located between the electrochromic layer and the ion storage layer, used as a channel for the ions to be transported between the electrochromic layer and the ion storage layer; A plurality of pixel units are located on the first side, and each of the pixel units includes a pixel electrode electrically connected to the electrochromic layer and a thin film transistor for applying driving signals to the pixel electrode; A plurality of common electrodes are located on the second side, and with the cooperation of the pixel electrodes and the common electrodes, the electrochromic layer corresponding to each pixel unit can produce discoloration of different gray scales; and A plurality of touch sensing electrodes are located on a side of the common electrode away from the electrochromic layer, and the touch sensing electrodes and the common electrodes are arranged to be insulated and crossed; Wherein, the common electrode is time-division multiplexed as a touch drive electrode, and the common electrode and the touch sensing electrode can cooperate to realize a touch sensing operation. The electrochromic display device according to claim 1, wherein the electrochromic display device further includes a plurality of scanning lines and a plurality of data lines arranged in an insulated cross, the scanning lines and the data lines crossing define the Picture element unit; The thin film transistor includes a gate, a source, and a drain, the gate is electrically connected to one of the scan lines, the source is electrically connected to one of the data lines, and the drain is electrically connected to one of the scan lines. The pixel electrodes are electrically connected. The electrochromic display device according to claim 1, wherein the ion storage layer is located between the electrolyte layer and the pixel electrode. The electrochromic display device according to claim 1, wherein the electrochromic layer is located between the electrolyte layer and the pixel electrode. The electrochromic display device according to claim 1, wherein the electrochromic display device further includes: The first substrate is located on a side of the touch sensing electrode away from the common electrode, and the touch sensing electrode is formed on the surface of the first substrate; The second substrate is located between the touch sensing electrode and the common electrode, and the common electrode is formed on the surface of the second substrate; and The transparent insulating glue layer is located between the touch sensing electrode and the second substrate. The electrochromic display device according to claim 1, wherein the electrochromic display device further includes: The first substrate is located on a side of the touch sensing electrode away from the common electrode, and the touch sensing electrode is formed on the surface of the first substrate; and The transparent insulating glue layer is located between the touch sensing electrode and the common electrode. The electrochromic display device according to claim 1, wherein each of the common electrodes has a rectangular strip shape extending in a first direction, and a plurality of the common electrodes are arranged at intervals along the second direction; Each of the touch sensing electrodes has a rectangular strip shape extending along the second direction, and a plurality of the touch sensing electrodes are arranged at intervals along the first direction; The first direction crosses the second direction. A driving method of an electrochromic display device, applied to the electrochromic display device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the driving method of the electrochromic display device includes: In the first time period, the pixel electrode and the common electrode are loaded with a color-changing voltage that changes the color of the electrochromic layer, so that the electrochromic layer corresponding to each pixel unit can generate Discoloration of different gray scales; and In the second time period, load touch signals for the touch sensing electrodes and the common electrodes; Wherein, the first time period and the second time period have no overlap in time. The driving method of the electrochromic display device according to claim 8, wherein, in the first time period, a constant voltage is applied to the common electrode, and the picture is adjusted for each pixel unit. The voltage loaded by the pixel electrode causes the electrochromic layer corresponding to each pixel unit to produce different gray scales of color. The driving method of the electrochromic display device according to claim 9, wherein, in the second time period, according to the voltage applied to the common electrode, the voltage applied to the pixel electrode is adjusted to The electrochromic layer is maintained at a constant gray scale.

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