WO2008047408A1

WO2008047408A1 - Electronic paper file

Info

Publication number: WO2008047408A1
Application number: PCT/JP2006/320653
Authority: WO
Inventors: Satoshi Kazama; Yoshiyasu Nakashima; Isamu Yamada; Fumio Honda; Kazushi Ishigaki; Toshihiro Kakimoto
Original assignee: Fujitsu Limited
Priority date: 2006-10-17
Filing date: 2006-10-17
Publication date: 2008-04-24

Abstract

Intended is to provide an electronic paper file equipped with a plurality of electronic papers having a sheet-shaped display portions. The electronic paper file can display an image on a proper page even in case the electronic papers are added and subtracted, and can use many pages. The electronic paper file includes a plurality of electronic papers, and a binder for holding the electronic papers in a stacked state and for adding and subtracting the electronic papers freely. Each of the electronic papers is equipped on its two sides with paper electrodes for connecting electrically the electronic papers adjoining each other in a stacked state, and a page recognition unit for recognizing such a page of the electronic papers by communicating through the paper electrodes as is determined by the stacked order in the binder.

Description

Specification

Electronic paper file

Technical field

The present invention relates to an electronic paper file including a plurality of electronic papers having a sheet-like display unit.

Background art

[0002] With the development of the information society, the performance of display media such as LCD (liquid crystal display) has been improved. However, this display medium is inferior to a paper medium in terms of ease of use and readability. Therefore, the concept of “electronic benno ^” has been proposed as a flexible display medium like paper.

[0003] Further, in recent years, electronic paper files in which a plurality of electronic papers are stacked in a booklet shape have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3). In these electronic paper files, it is one of the issues to manage the order in which the electronic papers are stacked in order to display images in an appropriate page order when some of the electronic papers are removed and replaced. It has become.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an external appearance of a conventional electronic paper file, and FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the electronic paper file shown in FIG.

[0005] The electronic paper file 900 of FIG. 12 includes a plurality of electronic papers 910a and 910b, and a binder 920 on which these electronic papers are mounted. The node 920 has a back plate 923 provided between the cover sheets 921 and 922, and two = 3-year-old characters 924a and 924b provided on the back plate 923. The connectors 924a and 924b are attached to a movable shaft 925 disposed along the back plate 923. Connectors 911a and 911b are provided on the electronic paper 910a and 910b, respectively. By connecting to the connectors 924a and 924b of the connectors 911a and 911b of the electronic paper 910a and 910b, the electronic paper 910a and 910b are attached to the binder 920. An image signal is supplied to the electronic paper 910a, 910b through the connectors 910a, 911b, 924a, 924b, and an image is displayed on the electronic paper 910a, 91 Ob.

[0006] As shown in FIG. 13, the binder 920 displays images from an externally connected host computer 930. A control unit 926 is provided that receives the supply of image data and stores it in the memory 929 and controls the supply of image signals to the electronic paper 910a and 910b. The image signal from the control unit 926 is supplied to the electronic paper 910a and 910b via the drivers 928a and 928b. The binder 920 also includes attachment / detachment sensors 927a, 927b that detect attachment / detachment of the electronic papers 910a, 910b based on the presence / absence of signals output from the electronic papers 910a, 910b. When the attachment / detachment sensors 927a and 927b detect the attachment of the electronic paper, the control unit 926 of the noinda 920 reads the image data of the page corresponding to the attached connectors 924a and 924b (see FIG. 12) from the memory 929, The image signal is supplied to the electronic paper via the attached connector. The binder 920 is connected to the connectors 924a and 924b (see Fig. 12) provided corresponding to the page, so that the electronic paper constituting the page can be replaced or newly added. Even if it is attached, display the image on the appropriate page.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-22257

Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-240238

Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-237577

However, in the conventional electronic paper file, the number of electronic papers that can be attached to the binder is limited. For example, in the electronic paper file shown in Fig. 12, only two electronic papers can be installed. For this reason, the characteristics of electronic paper, which is a thin paper-like display medium, cannot be energized.

[0008] In view of the above circumstances, the present invention provides an electronic paper file that can display an image on an appropriate page even when the electronic paper is added and removed, and that has multiple pages. The porpose is to do.

Disclosure of the invention

[0009] The electronic paper file of the present invention that solves the above-described problem is a plurality of electronic papers, and the electronic papers that hold the plurality of electronic papers in a stacked state can be freely added or removed. An electronic paper file with a binder,

Each of the plurality of electronic papers has a paper electrode for electrically connecting adjacent electronic papers in a stacked state on the front and back surfaces. And a page recognizing unit for recognizing a page determined by the order of the electronic paper stacked in the binder.

[0010] In the electronic paper file of the present invention, since the paper electrodes for connecting adjacent electronic papers are provided on the front and back surfaces of each electronic paper, the plurality of electronic papers overlap each other. The order in which the electronic papers are connected in series via the paper electrodes and the electronic papers are stacked is recognized by communicating with each other via the paper electrodes. Therefore, even when the electronic paper is added or removed, an image can be displayed on an appropriate page, and the electronic paper number can be increased by eliminating the restriction on the number of electronic papers due to the electrical connection. A paper file is realized.

[0011] Here, in the electronic paper file of the present invention, the binder is

A binder electrode in contact with a paper electrode of one electronic paper on the surface layer of the electronic paper stacked in the binder;

It is preferable to include a number recognition unit that recognizes the number of electronic papers stacked on the binder by communicating with the electronic paper via the noinder electrode.

[0012] Since the binder identifies the number of all electronic paper held by simply contacting the paper electrode of one electronic paper via the binder electrode, Multiple pages can be achieved without increasing the number of electrical connection means.

[0013] In the electronic paper file of the present invention, each page recognition unit of the plurality of electronic papers stacked on the binder sequentially increments a page number representing a page, and sequentially increments the next electronic page. It is preferable to recognize each electronic paper page by handing it to the user.

[0014] Page number power that represents a page By sequentially transferring between multiple electronic papers while being incrementally incremented, each electronic paper recognizes its own page, increasing the number of overlaid sheets. Even so, the page can be easily recognized.

[0015] According to the present invention, an electronic paper file that can display an image on an appropriate page even when the electronic paper is added or removed and that has multiple pages is realized.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is an external view of an electronic paper file according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an external view showing a binder of the electronic paper file shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an external view of the electronic paper of the electronic paper file shown in FIG.

4 is a block diagram showing a schematic electrical configuration of the electronic paper shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing a binding hole portion and a portion where a paper electrode is arranged in the electronic paper shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the electronic paper file shown in FIG. 1 as viewed in the direction in which the binder extends.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a schematic electrical configuration of the electronic paper file shown in FIG. 6.

8 is a flowchart showing processing of the page control IC shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing processing of the page management IC shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a data flow explaining a communication procedure between the binder and the electronic paper shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view showing an electronic paper according to a modification of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the appearance of a conventional electronic paper file.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the electronic paper file shown in FIG. 12.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of an electronic paper file of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an external view of an electronic paper file according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] The electronic paper file 1 shown in Fig. 1 includes a plurality of electronic papers 10 (10a, 10b, 10c).

And a binder 20 for holding these electronic papers 10.

[0020] FIG. 1 shows the state in which the cover of the binder 20 is opened and the three electronic papers 10 are held. The binder 20 can freely add and remove the electronic paper. Not only three, but one or two or more electronic papers can be held. The binder 20 includes a fixing member 21 and a lock member 22, and holds a plurality of electronic papers in a state of being aligned with each other, and the stacked electronic papers 10 are directed toward the back cover 20a. Pressing from above. The binder 20 is also provided with a connector 23 for connecting a host computer.

[0021] Each of the electronic papers 10 includes a force host computer 50 (see Fig. 2), which will be described in detail later. Wireless communication is performed, and an image corresponding to the image signal transmitted from the host computer camera is displayed. However, in order to display images in an appropriate page order, each electronic paper 10 recognizes a page that is determined by the order in which it is superimposed in the node 20. If electronic paper is removed from the node 20, added, or reordered, the pages are reassigned and the image display order is maintained.

FIG. 2 is an external view of the binder of the electronic paper file shown in FIG.

[0023] On the back cover 20a of the binder 20, two fixing pipes 24 are provided upright to fix the position of the electronic paper 10 (see FIG. 1). With the fixing pipe 24 of the binder 20 passed through the binding hole 14 (see FIG. 3) provided in the electronic paper 10, the insertion rod 21a of the fixing tool 21 is inserted into the fixing pipe 24, and the lock member 22 is When raised in the direction indicated by the arrow, the fixture 21 is held by the lock member 22. At this time, the electronic paper is pressed against the back cover 20a side by the pressing member 21c biased by the spring 21b of the fixture 21. The pressing member 21c is an insulating member made of a resin. The lock member 22 is provided with a sensor 22a that detects that the lock member 22 has been raised. The sensor 22a is used to detect that the fixing device 21 is attached and the order configuration of the electronic paper is changed.

[0024] Between the two fixed pipes 24 on the back cover 20a of the binder 20, four thin disk-shaped binder electrodes 31, 32, 33, 34 are arranged in an array of 2 rows and 2 columns. . A page management IC 40 is attached to the back cover 20a. The page management IC 40 is electrically connected to the binder electrodes 31 to 34 and the connector 23, and communicates with the electronic paper 10 attached to the binder 20 and the host computer 50 connected via the connector 23. The page management IC 40 corresponds to an example of the number recognition unit referred to in the present invention.

The host computer 50 also supplies power to the binder 20 via the connector 23. The supplied power is also supplied to the electronic paper 10 (see FIG. 1) attached to the binder 20 via the noinder electrodes 31 and 32. Of the four binder electrodes, the first binder electrode 31 is a ground electrode, and the second binder electrode 32 is a power supply electrode. The third binder electrode 33 constitutes an upstream signal path for transmitting a signal from the page management IC 40 to the electronic paper 10 (see FIG. 1), and the fourth binder electrode 34, conversely, from the electronic paper. Signal A downstream signal path is configured to receive the supply. A signal is supplied from the host computer 50 to the page management IC 40 via the connector 23 as an upstream signal path, and conversely, a signal is sent from the page management IC 40 via the connector 23 to the host computer 50 as a downstream signal path. Supplied.

[0026] The host computer 50 has a wireless communication function in addition to the wired communication via the connector 23, and wirelessly communicates with each electronic paper 10 (see Fig. 1) held in the binder 20. Send the image signal with. From the host computer 50, image data of all pages corresponding to a plurality of electronic papers held in the binder 20 is transmitted. The image data for each page is transmitted along with the page number of the corresponding page.

[0028] The electronic paper 10 in FIG. 3 is a rectangular thin sheet, and includes a display unit 11 on which an image is displayed, a fixed unit 12 fixed to a noder, and between the display unit 11 and the fixed unit 12. And a flexible bending portion 13 arranged. The electronic paper 10 has a flexibility that can be bent even in the display unit 11. However, the electronic paper 10 has a more flexible bending unit 13 so that a large number of electronic papers can be bonded to the binder 20 (see FIG. 2). It is possible to turn the page even when it is overlaid on the paper, just like paper. The fixing portion 12 is provided with two binding holes 14. By passing the fixing pipe 24 (see Fig. 2) of the binder 20 through the binding hole 14, the electronic paper 10 force binder 20 (see Fig. 2) is overlapped and attached to each other while being aligned with each other. The Thin disk-shaped paper electrodes 61 to 68 are provided between the two binding holes 14 in the fixing portion 12 of the electronic paper 10. Four paper electrodes are arranged on each of the front and back surfaces of the electronic paper 10, and Fig. 3 shows four paper electrodes 61, 62, 63, and 64 arranged on the front surface. ! / Speak. Peno electrodes 61, 62, 63, 64ί, 2nd row, 2nd IJ. The remaining four of the eight electrodes 65, 66, 67, 68 (see Fig. 4) are not shown in Fig. 3, but are provided on the back side opposite to the front side of the electronic paper 10 shown in Fig. 3. They are arranged at positions overlapping the paper electrodes 61, 62, 63, 64 in the thickness direction of the electronic paper 10, respectively. The paper electrodes 61 to 68 electrically connect adjacent electronic papers 10 in a stacked state. Further, a page control IC 70 for recognizing the page of the electronic paper 10 is attached to the fixed portion 12! /. Page control IC70 In a state in which a plurality of electronic papers 10 are mounted on the binder 20 (see FIG. 2), by communicating with the other electronic papers 10, the electronic papers are stacked in the order in which they are stacked in the binder 20. Recognize fixed pages. The display unit 11 of the electronic paper has image data to be displayed on the display unit 11 by wirelessly communicating with a display control IC 80 for controlling display of an image on the display unit 11 and a host computer 50 (see FIG. 2). An image receiving IC 90 for receiving the image is installed, and an antenna 91 for wireless communication connected to the image receiving IC 90 is also provided. For the wireless communication, it is possible to use, for example, a well-known short-distance one-way communication technique, Bluetooth or wireless LAN, and short-distance wireless communication. The page control IC 70 described above corresponds to an example of a page recognition unit referred to in the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic electrical configuration of the electronic paper shown in FIG.

[0030] In the block diagram of FIG. 4, the four electrodes 65, 66, 67, and 68 forces are shifted from the other four paper electrodes 61, 62, 63, and 64, respectively, for the convenience of the electrical connection. The force indicated by the position of the electrode electrodes 65, 66, 67, 68 and the other four electrode electrodes 61, 62, 63, 64 are spatially separated from the electronic paper 10 in the thickness direction. They are placed in overlapping positions. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, when a plurality of electronic papers 10 are aligned and stacked on the binder 20, the paper electrodes 61, 62, 63, 64 of a certain electronic paper 10 The paper electrodes 65, 66, 67, and 68 of the stacked electronic paper 10 are in contact with the paper electrodes 65, 66, 67, and 68, respectively. 62, 63, 64 will come into contact. In this case, among the plurality of stacked electronic papers 10, the paper electrodes 65, 66, 67, and 68 of the lowest electronic paper 10a, which is one electronic paper on the surface layer, are noder electrodes. Insects 31, 32, 33, 34 (see Figure 2).

The paper electrode 61 and the paper electrode 65 shown in FIG. 4 are ground electrodes and are electrically connected to each other. The paper electrode 62 and the paper electrode 66 are power supply electrodes and are electrically connected to each other. The ground electrode and the power supply electrode are also connected to other blocks of the electronic paper 10. For convenience of illustration of the force block diagram, illustration is omitted. The paper electrodes 63 and 64 and the paper electrodes 67 and 68 are electrodes for communicating with the upper or lower adjacent electronic paper in a state where a plurality of electronic papers 10 are overlapped. Connected to IC70. The arrow in the figure indicates that the signal is transmitted Indicates the direction. The paper electrode 67 and the paper electrode 63 are electrodes corresponding to the upstream signal path, and the paper electrode 64 and the paper electrode 68 are electrodes corresponding to the downstream signal path. When a plurality of electronic papers are stacked, a signal supplied from a lower adjacent electronic paper is supplied to the page control IC 70 via the paper electrode 67. The signal output from the page control IC 70 is supplied to the electronic paper adjacent to the upper level via the paper electrode 63. On the other hand, a signal transmitted from the uppermost electronic piano is supplied to the page control IC 70 via the paper electrode 64. In addition, a signal output from the page control IC 70 is supplied to a lower adjacent electronic paper via a paper electrode 68. Thus, the page control ICs 70 installed in the respective electronic papers 10 communicate with each other via the paper electrodes.

The page control IC 70 provided in the electronic paper 10 is configured by a microcontroller (microcomputer), and includes a serial communication unit 71, a CPU 72, a memory 73, and an I / O interface 74. The CPU 72 controls the serial communication unit 71 and the IZO interface 74 according to the program stored in the memory 73, and is installed in another electronic paper adjacent to the upper or lower level, more specifically, in the other electronic paper. Communicates with the specified page control IC and recognizes the page number of the electronic paper 10. The recognized page number of the electronic paper 10 is output via the interface 74. The details of the process in which the page control IC 70 recognizes its own page number will be described later. The page management IC 40 of the binder 20 shown in FIG. 2 has the same configuration as the page control IC 70, and only the program stored in the memory is different.

[0033] Returning to FIG. 4 and continuing the description, the image receiving IC 90 receives and demodulates a radio signal transmitted from an external host computer via the antenna 91, converts it into image data, and outputs it. . The image receiving IC 90 outputs image data of all pages transmitted from the host computer 50 (see FIG. 2) with page numbers.

[0034] The display control IC 80 (see FIG. 3) is an IC that controls image display on the display unit 11, and includes a display control unit 81, a row driving unit 82, and a column driving unit 83. is doing. In the display unit 11, a plurality of row drive lines 82a and column drive lines 83a extend from the row drive unit 82 and the column drive unit 83 in directions orthogonal to each other. The row drive line 82a and the column drive line A pixel portion (not shown) is arranged at the intersection of 83a. A scanning signal is sequentially supplied from the row driving unit 82 to the row driving line 82a. When the scanning signal is supplied to one of the row driving lines 82a, the row driving unit 82 is disposed on the one row driving line 82a. The display brightness of the pixel portion is determined according to the drive signal supplied to the power train drive line 83a. The display unit 11 employs, for example, a known electronic paper technology using cholesteric liquid crystal! Therefore, the display state is maintained even when the supply of power is stopped and signal driving from the row driving unit 82 and the column driving unit 83 is stopped. The electronic paper technology is not limited to using cholesteric liquid crystal, and for example, a method in which microcapsules encapsulating white and black charged dyes are arranged to invert the position of the dyes can be employed. .

The display control unit 81 determines the drive timing of the row drive line 82a of the row drive unit 82 and the drive signal pattern of the column drive line 83a by the column drive unit 83 according to the image data output from the image receiving IC 90. To control. As a result, an image is displayed on the display unit 11. The display control unit 81 obtains the page number output from the page control IC 70, and among the image data received by the image reception IC 90, only the image of the image data corresponding to the page number is displayed on the display unit 11. Display. As a result, the image of the page recognized by the page control IC 70 is displayed on the display unit 11.

[0036] By the way, the size and interval of the paper electrodes 61 to 68 are such that even when the electronic paper 10 is superimposed on the binder 20 as shown in FIG. It is necessary to keep it properly so that contact failure does not occur.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing a portion of the electronic paper shown in FIG. 3 where a binding hole portion and a paper electrode are arranged. In FIG. 5, the fixed pipe 24 is also shown as being passed through the binding hole 14 of the electronic paper 10. The radius of the binding hole 14 of the electronic paper 10 is Ra, and the radius of the fixed pipe 24 at the outer diameter is Rb. Further, the radius of the paper electrodes 61 to 64 provided in the electronic paper 10 is Rc, the distance between the paper electrodes 61 to 64 in the vertical direction in which the two binding holes 14 are aligned is Db, and the binding holes 14 Let Da be the distance between the paper electrodes 61-64 in the direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction where the The electronic paper 10 is allowed to be displaced by the clearance Rb-Ra in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction in which the electronic paper 10 spreads with the fixing pipe 24 being passed through the binding hole 14. . Here, the paper electrodes 61 to 64 satisfy the following relationship: Are arranged.

Rc> Rb-Ra

Da> Rb-Ra

Db> Rb — Ra

In other words, the radius of the paper electrodes 61 to 68 and the distance between the paper electrodes 61 to 68 are larger than the allowable movement distance of the electronic paper 10 when held by the binder. This ensures that the paper electrodes 61 to 68 (see FIG. 4) provided on each of the stacked electronic papers 10 are in contact with the corresponding paper electrodes of the adjacent electronic papers 10. In addition, a short circuit between adjacent paper electrodes 61 to 68 is avoided.

Here, again, a state in which a plurality of electronic papers 10 are mounted on the binder 20 and the electronic paper file 1 is completed will be described.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the electronic paper file shown in FIG. 1 as viewed in the direction in which the binder extends. In FIG. 6, the thickness of the electronic paper and the thickness of the electrode are shown in an extremely exaggerated manner for ease of viewing! / Speak.

[0040] In the three electronic papers 10 (10a, 10b, 10c), the fixing pipe 24 (see Fig. 2) of the binder 20 is passed through the binding hole 14 (see Fig. 3) and overlapped with the noinder 20 Is retained. Hereinafter, each of the three stacked electronic papers 10 is also referred to as a first electronic paper 10a, a second electronic paper 10b, and a third electronic paper 10c in order of lower force. In the electronic paper 10, the upper force is also pressed by the fixing tool 21 and the lock member 22, and the paper electrodes 61 to 68 provided in the respective electronic paper 10 are in contact with each other and are electrically connected. . For example, the paper electrodes 63 and 64 of the second electronic paper 10b disposed in the middle of the three electronic papers 10 shown in FIG. 6 are arranged on the upper side of the third electronic paper 10c. The paper electrodes 67 and 68 are in contact with the paper electrodes 67 and 68, and the paper electrodes 67 and 68 of the second electronic paper 10b are in contact with the paper electrodes 63 and 64 of the first electronic paper 10a adjacent to the lower side. Of the three electronic papers 10, the paper electrode 63, 64 of the third electronic paper 10 c stacked on top is the force that is in contact with the pressure member 21 c, because the pressure member 21 c is an insulating material force Electrically open. Further, the binder electrodes 33 and 34 are the paper electrodes 67 and 6 of the first electronic paper 10a that is one of the surface layers of the three electronic papers 10 stacked in the binder 20. 8 is in contact.

[0041] The paper electrodes 61 and 65 (see FIG. 4) and the binder electrode 31 (see FIG. 2) are connected in the same manner as the paper electrodes 63 and 67 and the binder electrode 33 shown in FIG. The paper electrodes 62 and 66 (see FIG. 4) and the binder electrode 32 (see FIG. 2) are also connected in the same manner as the paper electrodes 64 and 68 and the binder electrode 34 shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a schematic electrical configuration of the electronic paper file shown in FIG.

[0043] The page management IC 40 of the binder 20 and the page control IC 70 of the three electronic papers 10 are connected in series to form upstream and downstream signal paths. Information is transmitted in order. A host computer 50 is connected to one end of the signal path.

[0044] In the upstream signal path in which signals are transmitted to the electronic paper stacked on the upper side, information is transmitted to the page management IC 40 of the binder 20 by the host computer power, and the first electronic paper is transmitted from the page management IC 40 to the first electronic paper. Information is transmitted to page control IC 70 of page 10a. Also, information is transmitted from the page control IC 70 of the first electronic paper 10a to the page control IC 70 of the second electronic paper 10b, and the third electronic paper is transmitted from the page control IC 70 of the second electronic paper 10b. Information is transmitted to the page control IC 70 of the paper 10c.

[0045] On the contrary, in the downstream signal path in which the signal is transmitted to the electronic paper stacked on the lower side, the page control IC 70 of the third electronic paper 10c is connected to the second electronic paper 10b. Information is transmitted to the page control IC 70, and information is transmitted from the page control IC 70 of the second electronic paper 10b to the page control IC 70 of the first electronic paper 10a. In addition, information is transmitted from the page control IC 70 of the first electronic paper 10 a to the page management IC 40 of the binder 20. Information is transmitted to the host computer 50 from the page management IC 40 of the binder 20. In this way, the page control IC 70 of the electronic paper 10 is connected in series and recognizes a page while communicating with each other by sequentially transferring information, so that a large number of electronic papers 10 are stacked. But easily recognize the page.

[0046] Further, the page management IC 40 of the binder 20 is supplied with a signal for detecting that the lock member 22 (see FIG. 2) has been caused by the force of the sensor 22a. Next, page recognition processing and page number recognition processing in the page control IC 70 and the page management IC 40 will be described.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing processing of the page control IC shown in FIG.

[0049] The process of the page control IC 70 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0050] First, the page control IC 70 has notified the page number of the electronic paper force adjacent to the lower layer (step S10), or has it received the total number of pages from the upper electronic paper (step S 18)? Is determined. Specifically, whether or not a serial communication signal for notifying the page number has been sent to the serial communication unit 71 via the paper electrode 67 (step S10), and the serial communication signal power for notifying the total number of pages. It is determined whether or not the force has been sent to the serial communication unit 71 via the paper electrode 66 (step S18). If it is determined that the page number has been notified (Step S10: Yes), an acknowledgment (ACK) is returned to the lower electronic paper (Step SI 1), and the notified page number is stored in the memory 73. Remember (Step S12). The stored page number value is the page number of the electronic paper 10 in which the page control IC 70 is installed. In this step, the page control IC 70 outputs the stored page number to the display control unit 81 via the IZO interface 74. Next, the page control IC 70 increments this page number by 1 (step S13), and transmits it to the electronic paper adjacent to the upper level (step S14). Specifically, a serial communication signal for notifying the page number is output from the serial communication unit 71 via the paper electrode 63. By sending the incremented value, the upper electronic paper can recognize its own page number. In step S13 described above, the page number is incremented by '1'. This is also the force that electronic paper 10 supports single-sided display, and electronic paper supports double-sided display. But if 2 pages are allocated, '2' is incremented. In the present embodiment, the description will be continued assuming that the electronic paper 10 is a single-sided display type and the page number is incremented by one.

[0051] After transmitting the page number to the upper electronic paper in step S14, the page control IC 70 determines whether or not an acknowledgment (ACK) is notified from the upper electronic paper within a predetermined time limit. . Specifically, a serial communication signal that starts timing by a timer (not shown) and notifies acknowledgment is sent to the serial communication unit 71 via the paper electrode 64. It is determined whether or not the power is correct (step SI 5). This determination is repeated until the time measured by the timer exceeds a predetermined time limit (step S16: No). If acknowledgment (AC K) is notified (step S15: Yes), the process from step S10 is repeated again, assuming that the page number has been received normally.

[0052] If the predetermined time limit has passed in step S16 (step S16: Yes), there is no upper electronic paper, that is, the electronic paper 10 in which this page control IC 70 is installed is the highest. Judge that it was the top electronic paper. In this case, the page number stored in step S12 represents the total number of pages attached to the binder 20 (see FIG. 7). Therefore, the page control IC 70 sets the page number stored in the memory 73 as the total number of pages, and transmits it to the lower electronic paper (step S17), and repeats the processing from step S10 again. Specifically, a serial communication signal for notifying the total number of pages is output from the serial communication unit 71 via the paper electrode 68.

[0053] If the page control IC 70 determines in step S18 described above that the total number of pages has been received from the upper electronic paper (step S18: Yes), the page control IC 70 determines the received total number of pages as the lower electronic paper. (Step S19), and the processing from step S10 is repeated again. Specifically, a serial communication signal for notifying the total number of pages is output from the serial communication unit 71 via the paper electrode 68.

[0055] The page management IC 40 first receives a page management command from the host computer 50 (see Fig. 2) or has a fixture 21 (see Fig. 2) installed (step S20), or the lowest one. It is determined whether the total number of pages has been received from the electronic pen (step S28). Specifically, a detection signal is output from the sensor 22a (see Fig. 2) that is sent to the serial communication unit via the serial communication signal power connector 23 that notifies the page management command or attached to the lock member 22. It is determined whether or not the serial communication signal is output to the serial communication unit via the binder electrode 34. If it is determined that a page management command has been received or the fixture 21 has been installed (step S20: Yes), set the page number to '1' and set this page number to the lowest electronic (Step S24). , 1 'The page number set to' This corresponds to a start command, and a page allocation start command is transmitted, whereby page allocation is started among the plurality of electronic papers 10 superimposed on the noinder 20. Here, the lowest electronic paper is the first electronic paper 10a which is one of the surface layers of the three electronic papers 10 (FIG. 7) stacked in the binder 20. Specifically, the page management IC 40 outputs a serial communication signal for notifying the page number set to 0 through the binder electrode 33 from the serial communication unit. By this transmission, the first electronic paper 10a recognizes that its own page number is 1.

[0056] After transmitting the page number to the lowest electronic paper in step S24, the page management IC 40 determines whether or not the acknowledgment (ACK) is notified from the lowest electronic paper within a predetermined time limit. Is determined. Specifically, it starts measuring time by a timer (not shown), and determines whether or not a serial communication signal notifying the acknowledge is sent to the serial communication unit via the binder electrode 34 (see Fig. 2) ( Step S25). This determination is repeated until the time measured by the timer exceeds a predetermined time limit (step S26: No). When an acknowledgment (ACK) is notified (step S25: Yes), the processing from step S20 is repeated again.

[0057] If the predetermined time limit has elapsed in step S26 (step S26: Yes), it means that the electronic paper is not attached to the binder 20 at all. In this case, the page management IC 40 sets the total number of pages to 0, and transmits it to the host computer 50 (step S27), and repeats the processing from step S20 again. Specifically, a serial communication signal for notifying the total number of pages set to “0” is output from the serial communication unit via the connector 23.

[0058] If the page management IC 40 determines in step S28 that the total number of pages has been received from the lowest electronic paper (step S28: Yes), the page management IC 40 transmits the received total number of pages to the host computer 50. The process from step S20 is repeated again. Specifically, a serial communication signal for notifying the total number of pages is output from the serial communication unit via the connector 23. As a result, the host computer 50 recognizes the number of electronic paper pages held in the binder.

[0059] Subsequently, the page control IC 70 and the page management IC 40 described above perform the page. Explain the assignment of the page number.

FIG. 10 is a data flow for explaining a communication procedure between the binder and the electronic paper shown in FIG. In FIG. 10, the arrow pointing from the post computer side to the Nth electronic paper side is the information flow in the upstream signal path, and the reverse arrow is the information flow in the downstream signal path. .

[0061] First, when the page management IC 40 of the binder 20 receives the page management command from the host computer 50 (see step S20 in FIG. 9) when the fixing member 21 is mounted and the locking member 22 is raised or the host computer 50 receives the page management command. The start command is transmitted to the lower first electronic paper 10a (see step S22 in FIG. 9). As a result, page allocation starts. The page allocation start command is the page number set to 1 '.

[0062] When the page control IC 70 of the first electronic paper 10a receives the page number notification as the page allocation start command, it returns the ACK (see step S11 in FIG. 8), and the page number is the value of the page number. '1' is recognized and stored as its own page number (see step S12 in Fig. 8). The page number is incremented by 1 and transmitted to the second electronic paper 10b (see steps S13 and S14 in FIG. 8).

[0063] When the page control IC 70 receives the page number notification, the second electronic paper 10b returns an ACK to the first electronic paper 10a, and then sets the page number value "2" to its own page. It is stored as a number, and this page number is incremented to '3' and sent to the upper electronic paper. In this way, the page control IC 70 recognizes the page in each electronic paper 10 by sequentially passing the page number representing the page to the next electronic paper 10 while sequentially incrementing the page number.

FIG. 10 shows a general state in which N electronic papers are stacked, but in the electronic paper file 1 of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 7, there are three electronic papers. Since it is piled up! / Speaks, the explanation is continued assuming that 'N' is '3'.

[0065] In the third electronic paper 10c, which is the third sheet, that is, the Nth sheet, which has been notified of the page number from the second electronic paper 10b, After ACK is returned to the upper electronic paper 10b, the page number value, N, is stored as its own page number, and the page number obtained by incrementing this page number, N + 1 ', is stored in the upper electronic page. Try to send it to the paper. However, since the electronic paper is not superimposed on the upper side of the third electronic paper 10c, even if the third electronic paper 10c outputs the page number, ACK is not received.

[0066] The page control IC 70 of the third electronic paper 10c allows the third electronic paper 10c to pass the time limit without receiving an ACK (see step S16 in FIG. 8). It is determined that the electronic paper 10c is at the highest level, and the page number of this electronic paper, N, that is,, 3, is sent to the second electronic paper 10b as the total number of pages this time (Fig. (See 8 step S17).

[0067] When the second electronic paper 10b receives the total number of pages from the upper electronic paper, the second electronic paper 10b transmits the total number of pages to the first lower electronic paper 10a. In this manner, the total number of pages is transmitted from the first electronic paper 10a to the binder 20, and the page management IC 40 of the binder 20 recognizes the number of electronic papers N ′ stacked on the binder 20, N ′. . When the node 20 receives the total number of pages, N, the total number of pages is transmitted to the host computer 50 (see step S29 in FIG. 9). As a result, the host computer 50 recognizes the total number of pages in the electronic paper file 1 as N.

[0068] In each electronic paper 10, the page number recognized by the page control IC 70 is transmitted to the display control unit 8 1 (see FIG. 4). The display control unit 81 captures image data corresponding to the recognized page number and displays it on the display unit 11. In this way, the image is displayed on the appropriate page of electronic paper file 1.

[0069] As described above, in the electronic paper file 1 of the present embodiment, the page numbers are sequentially transferred between a plurality of electronic papers while being sequentially incremented, whereby the binder of each electronic paper 10 is changed. A page determined by the order in which it is superimposed is recognized. Therefore, even when the number of stacked electronic papers is increased, the page number assignment is not complicated.

In the above-described embodiment, it has been described that the paper electrodes 61 to 68 arranged in two rows and two columns on the electronic paper 10 are a ground electrode, a power supply electrode, and two signal electrodes, respectively. However, a modified example in which the arrangement and role of the paper electrode is different from that of the above-described embodiment will be described. FIG. 11 is an enlarged view showing an electronic paper according to a modification of the embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 11, three variations from the first variation to the third variation are shown in order from part (a) force part (c).

[0073] In the electronic paper 110 of the first modified example shown in part (a) of Fig. 11, as with the electronic paper 10 of the above-described embodiment, four paper electrodes 161-164 are arranged in 2 rows and 2 columns. Are arranged. However, in the electronic paper 110, a paper electrode 163, which is a ground (GND) electrode, and a paper electrode 162, which is a power supply electrode, are arranged at diagonal positions, and the remaining two paper electrodes 161 and 164 are It is an electrode that transmits data and clock. In the first modification, a high-speed signal synchronized with the clock is transmitted. In the first modified example, for example, half-duplex communication is performed, so that two-way communication is performed with adjacent electronic paper.

[0074] In the electronic paper 210 of the second modified example shown in part (b) of Fig. 11, eight paper electrodes 26 1 to 268 are arranged in two rows of power rows 1 to 5 for data transmission. Up to 5 Pano electrodes 261, 263, 264, 265, 266 force ^ Harm ij hit! By using multiple data electrode electrodes, signals are transmitted in parallel, and information such as page numbers and total number of pages is transmitted at higher speed. As shown in part (b) of Fig. 11, eight paper electrodes can be arranged on one side of the electronic paper, and a number of electrodes other than four or eight are arranged. It is also possible.

In the electronic paper 310 of the third modified example shown in part (c) of FIG. 11, four paper electrodes 36 1 to 364 are arranged in 4 rows and 1 column. As shown in part (c) of FIG. 11, the paper electrodes can be arranged in one or more rows, and further, can be arranged in three or more rows.

While the embodiments of the present invention and the modifications thereof have been described above, the present invention is not limited to those described as the embodiments and modifications.

In the embodiment described above, the binder has been described as having a cover. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the binder holds a plurality of electronic papers stacked. Then, even if it was composed only of a simple binding tool without a cover,

Further, the binder of the above-described embodiment has been described as including a page management IC. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the binder does not have a number recognition unit, and one of the superposed electronic papers starts transmission of a page number first among the plurality of stacked electronic papers. The configuration may be such that communication is performed with each other.

In the above-described embodiment, the image data of the image displayed on the electronic paper is described as being transmitted by the host computer via wireless communication. However, the image data is provided on the electronic paper. Even if it is transmitted by wire through the paper electrode provided! / ヽ

[0080] Further, in the above-described embodiment, the wireless communication between the cost computer and the electronic paper is the power described in one direction to the cost computer force electronic paper. The present invention is not limited to this, for example, the wireless communication Communication may be bidirectional, and the page control unit may request transmission of the image signal of the page based on the recognized page number.

In the above-described embodiment, the paper electrode and the binder electrode are described as having a disk shape. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the paper electrode and the binder electrode may be polygonal surfaces, for example. The shape which has this may be sufficient.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] An electronic paper file comprising a plurality of electronic papers, and a binder that holds the plurality of electronic papers in a stacked state and allows the electronic papers to be added and removed.

Each of the plurality of electronic papers has a paper electrode for electrically connecting adjacent electronic papers in a stacked state on the front and back surfaces, and performs communication via the paper electrode. An electronic paper file comprising a page recognition unit for recognizing a page determined by the order of the electronic paper stacked in the binder.

[2] The binder is

The number recognition unit for recognizing the number of electronic paper stacked on the binder by communicating with the electronic paper through the noinder electrode. Electronic paper file.

[3] Each page recognition unit of the plurality of electronic papers stacked on the binder passes the page number representing the page to the next electronic paper while sequentially incrementing the page number. 2. The electronic piano according to claim 1, which recognizes a page.