CN110082980B - Reflective color electrophoretic display device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention discloses a reflective color electrophoretic display device, comprising: the pixel structure comprises a plurality of sub-pixel structures, wherein each sub-pixel structure comprises a columnar body, an electronic ink layer, two electrodes and a rotation control unit. The column comprises at least one partition arranged radially to divide the column into at least two sections. The electronic ink layer is positioned over one of the at least two portions of the columnar body, the electronic ink layer including two different colored particles. The two electrodes are electrically connected with the electronic ink layer to control the movement of the two different color particles. The rotation control unit is used for controlling the rotation of the columnar body. The color displayed by the sub-pixel structure can be controlled by controlling the rotation of the columnar body through the rotation control unit and controlling the color development of the electronic ink layer through the driving of the two electrodes. The method of controlling the size of the display area through mechanical and electrode driving can maintain the resolution of the display device and make the color expression better.

Description

Reflective color electrophoretic display device

technical field

The present invention relates to a reflective color electrophoretic display device.

Background technique

Existing reflective color electrophoretic display devices are driven by thin film transistors to present colors. However, due to the small size of the sub-pixel structure, the color performance is poor. If the size of the sub-pixel structure is increased, more light can be reflected, resulting in better color performance. However, the size of the sub-pixel structure is limited by the resolution requirements and cannot be enlarged infinitely, resulting in limited color performance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a reflective color electrophoretic display device, which includes a plurality of sub-pixel structures, and each sub-pixel structure includes a columnar body, an electronic ink layer, two electrodes and a rotation control unit. The rotation of the columnar body is controlled by the rotation control unit, and the color rendering of the electronic ink layer is controlled by driving the two electrodes, so that the color displayed by the sub-pixel structure can be controlled. This way of controlling the size of the display area through mechanical and electrode driving can maintain the resolution of the display device, and also enable better color performance.

The present invention provides a reflective color electrophoretic display device, comprising: a plurality of sub-pixel structures, each sub-pixel structure includes a columnar body, an electronic ink layer, two electrodes and a rotation control unit. The columnar body includes at least one partition that is radially arranged to divide the columnar body into at least two parts. The electronic ink layer is located over one of the at least two parts of the columnar body, and the electronic ink layer contains two different colored particles. The two electrodes are electrically connected to the electronic ink layer to control the movement of two different color particles. The rotation control unit is used for controlling the rotation of the cylindrical body.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, the two electrodes are an upper electrode and a lower electrode respectively, the upper electrode contacts the upper surface of the electronic ink layer, and the lower electrode contacts the lower surface of the electronic ink layer and is located between at least the electronic ink layer and the columnar body. between the two parts.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, the sub-pixel structure further includes an insulator adjacent to the electronic ink layer.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, the rotation control unit includes a shaft located in the cylindrical body; and a first signal wire electrically connected to the shaft to control the rotation of the cylindrical body.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, the sub-pixel structure further includes: a second signal line and a third signal line, which are respectively electrically connected to the two electrodes.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, one of the second signal line and the third signal line is disposed above the spacer.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, the diameter of the sub-pixel structure is between 5 mm and 500 mm.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, the columnar body includes three partitions to separate the columnar body into three parts.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, the sub-pixel structure further includes a reflective paint layer overlying the other of the at least two portions of the pillars.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, the colors of the two different colored particles of the electronic ink layer are selected from the group consisting of: red, green, blue, white, cyan, magenta, yellow, and black.

According to various embodiments of the present invention, the colors of the two different color particles of the electronic ink layer are black and white respectively, and the sub-pixel structure further includes a color filter located above the upper electrode.

Compared with the prior art, the reflective color electrophoretic display device of the present invention has the beneficial effect that the size of the display area can be controlled by mechanical and electrode driving, so as to maintain the resolution of the display device and make the color performance better.

Description of drawings

In order to make the above-mentioned and other objects, features, advantages and embodiments of the present invention more obvious and easy to understand, the descriptions are as follows in conjunction with the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a reflective color electrophoretic display device according to various embodiments of the present invention.

2 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a sub-pixel structure of a reflective color electrophoretic display device according to various embodiments of the present invention.

3 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a sub-pixel structure of a reflective color electrophoretic display device according to various embodiments of the present invention.

4 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a sub-pixel structure of a reflective color electrophoretic display device according to various embodiments of the present invention.

Detailed ways

Various different embodiments or examples of the present invention are provided below to achieve different technical features of the provided subject matter. The elements and designs of the following specific examples are provided to simplify the present disclosure. Of course, these are only examples and are not intended to limit the present invention. For example, it is disclosed in the specification that the first feature structure is formed above the second feature structure, which includes the embodiment in which the first feature structure and the second feature structure are formed and in direct contact, and also includes the first feature structure and the second feature structure. There are also embodiments of other features between the structures, ie, the first feature and the second feature are not in direct contact. Furthermore, the present disclosure may use repeated reference signs and/or words in various instances. These repeated symbols or words are for the purpose of simplicity and clarity, and are not intended to limit the various embodiments and/or the relationships between the structures described.

In addition, spatially relative terms, such as "lower", "upper", etc., are used to conveniently describe the relative relationship of one element or feature to other elements or features in the drawings. These spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation shown in the figures. The device may be otherwise oriented (eg, rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative references used herein interpreted accordingly.

An object of the present invention is to provide a reflective color electrophoretic display device, which includes a plurality of sub-pixel structures, and each sub-pixel structure includes a columnar body, an electronic ink layer, two electrodes and a rotation control unit. The rotation of the columnar body is controlled by the rotation control unit, and the color rendering of the electronic ink layer is controlled by driving the two electrodes, so that the color displayed by the sub-pixel structure can be controlled. This way of controlling the size of the display area through mechanical and electrode driving can maintain the resolution of the display device, and also enable better color performance.

FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a reflective color electrophoretic display device according to various embodiments of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1 , the reflective color electrophoretic display device includes a plurality of sub-pixel structures 100 . A plurality of sub-pixel structures 100 may be arranged in a pixel array.

2 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a sub-pixel structure of a reflective color electrophoretic display device according to various embodiments of the present invention. 1 and 2 , the sub-pixel structure 100 includes a columnar body 110 , an electronic ink layer 120 , two electrodes 130 and 140 and a rotation control unit 180 . In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2 , the diameter d1 of the sub-pixel structure 100 is between 5 mm and 500 mm. The diameter d1 of the sub-pixel structure 100 can be determined according to the actual application of the reflective color electrophoretic display device, such as a personal display device or an advertisement board.

As shown in FIG. 2 , the columnar body 110 includes at least one partition 112 arranged in the radial direction to separate the columnar body 110 into at least two parts 110a and 110b. In some embodiments, the columnar body 110 includes two partitions 112 disposed radially to separate the columnar body 110 into two parts 110a, 110b. In some embodiments, the separator 112 includes an insulating material or other suitable material. The radii of the portions separated by the partitions 112 may be the same or different. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2 , the two portions 110a, 110b separated by the partition 112 have different radii.

The electronic ink layer 120 is located above one 110a of the two parts 110a, 110b of the columnar body 110 . The electronic ink layer 120 includes particles 122 and 124 of two different colors. In some embodiments, the colors of the two different colored particles 122, 124 of the electronic ink layer 120 are selected from the group consisting of: red, green, blue, white, cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. These colored particles 122, 124 are charged.

The two electrodes 130 and 140 are electrically connected to the electronic ink layer 120 to control the movement of the two different colored particles 122 and 124 . In some embodiments, the two electrodes 130 and 140 are the upper electrode 130 and the lower electrode 140 respectively, and the electronic ink layer 120 is interposed between the upper electrode 130 and the lower electrode 140 . The upper electrode 130 contacts the upper surface of the electronic ink layer 120 . The lower electrode 140 contacts the lower surface of the electronic ink layer 120 , and the lower electrode 140 is interposed between the electronic ink layer 120 and the portion 110 a of the columnar body 110 .

As shown in FIG. 2 , in some embodiments, the sub-pixel structure further includes a second signal line 172 and a third signal line 174 , which are electrically connected to the two electrodes 130 and 140 respectively. In some embodiments, one of the second signal line 172 and the third signal line 174 is disposed above the spacer 112 . In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2 , both the second signal line 172 and the third signal line 174 are disposed above the spacer 112 . In some embodiments, the second signal line 172 and the third signal line 174 are arranged along the radial direction of the columnar body 110 . In some embodiments, different signals can be transmitted to the second signal line 172 and the third signal line 174 through the signal lines inside the shaft 182, respectively, and then transmitted to the upper electrode 130 and the lower electrode 140, so as to control the electronic ink layer The electric field at 120 , which in turn controls the movement of the charged color particles 122 , 124 .

As shown in FIG. 2 , in some embodiments, the third signal line 174 directly contacts the lower electrode 140 . In some embodiments, the sub-pixel structure further includes a conductor 160 , so that the upper electrode 130 can be electrically connected to the second signal line 172 through the conductor 160 . In some embodiments, the conductors 160 are conductive glue or wires. In some embodiments, conductor 160 is silver paste. In other embodiments, the second signal line 172 may directly contact the upper electrode 130 .

As shown in FIG. 2 , in some embodiments, the sub-pixel structure 100 further includes an insulator 152 adjacent to the electronic ink layer 120 . In some embodiments, the sub-pixel structure 100 further includes an insulator 154 adjacent to the lower electrode 140 . The insulators 152 and 154 are used to electrically isolate the upper electrode 130 , the conductor 160 , the second signal line 172 and the lower electrode 140 which are electrically connected to each other. In other embodiments, other insulating structures may be used instead of the insulators 152 and 154 to electrically isolate the upper electrode 130 , the conductor 160 , the second signal line 172 and the lower electrode 140 that are electrically connected to each other.

As shown in FIG. 1 , the rotation control unit 180 is used to control the rotation of the columnar body 110 . In detail, the rotation control unit 180 can be used to control the rotation angle of the columnar body 110 to control the color displayed by the sub-pixel structure 100 . In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the rotation control unit 180 includes a shaft 182 and a first signal line 184 . The shaft 182 is located in the cylindrical body 110 , and the first signal line 184 is electrically connected to the shaft 182 to control the rotation angle of the cylindrical body 110 . In some embodiments, the shaft 182 extends through the cylindrical body 110 .

As shown in FIG. 2 , in some embodiments, the sub-pixel structure 100 further includes a reflective paint layer 190 located above the other 110b of the at least two portions 110a, 110b of the columnar body 110 . In some embodiments, the reflective paint layer 190 comprises a resin material or other suitable material. In some embodiments, the colors of the reflective paint layer 190 are red, green, blue, white, cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. In some embodiments, the color of the reflective paint layer 190 is different from the color of the two colored particles 122 , 124 .

In other embodiments, there is no reflective paint layer above the portion 110b of the columnar body 110 of the sub-pixel structure 100 , and the upper surface of the portion 110b of the columnar body 110 is directly exposed. In some embodiments, the portions 110b of the pillars 110 of the sub-pixel structure 100 are white, black, or other colors.

As can be seen from the above, the sub-pixel structure 100 shown in FIG. 2 can display three colors. By controlling the rotation angle of the columnar body 110 , the color displayed by the pixel structure 100 this time can be controlled.

3 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a sub-pixel structure of a reflective color electrophoretic display device according to various embodiments of the present invention. The difference between FIG. 3 and FIG. 2 is that the columnar body 110 of FIG. 3 includes three partitions 112 to separate the columnar body 110 into three parts 110a, 110b, 110c. For an example of the structure above the parts 110a and 110b of the columnar body 110 , reference may be made to the embodiment of the structure above the parts 110a and 110b of the columnar body 110 in FIG. 2 , and details are not described here.

For an example of the structure above the portion 110c of the columnar body 110, reference may be made to the example of the structure above the portion 110a of the columnar body 110 in FIG. 2 . It should be noted that an electronic ink layer 120 is disposed above the portion 110 c of the columnar body 110 , which includes two kinds of particles 126 and 128 of different colors. In some embodiments, the color of the color particles 126 , 128 is different from the color of the color particles 122 , 124 . In this way, the sub-pixel structure 100 shown in FIG. 3 can display five colors. By controlling the rotation angle of the columnar body 110 , the color displayed by the pixel structure 100 this time can be controlled.

It can be understood that, in other embodiments, the columnar body can also be divided into more than four parts, and the electronic ink layer and the electrode, or the reflective paint layer can be selectively arranged on each part, so that the sub-pixel structure can be displayed. Also many colors.

4 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a sub-pixel structure of a reflective color electrophoretic display device according to various embodiments of the present invention. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 4 , the colors of the color particles 122 and 124 of the electronic ink layer 120 are black and white, respectively. In some embodiments, the sub-pixel structure 100 further includes a color filter 195 located above the upper electrode 130 . In some embodiments, color filter 195 includes color photoresist, such as red, green, blue, cyan, magenta, yellow photoresist. In some embodiments, color filter 195 includes red, green, and blue photoresists. In some embodiments, color filter 195 includes cyan, magenta, and yellow photoresists. In other embodiments, color filters (not shown) may also be respectively disposed above the two upper electrodes 130 in FIG. 3 .

The features of various embodiments are briefly mentioned above so that those skilled in the art can better understand aspects of the invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the present invention as a basis for designing or modifying other processes and structures for carrying out the same purposes and/or achieving the same advantages of the embodiments set forth herein. Those skilled in the art should also realize that these equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and that they can make various changes, substitutions, and alterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims (11)

1. A reflective color electrophoretic display device, characterized in that, comprising: A plurality of sub-pixel structures, each of which includes: a columnar body, comprising at least one partition plate arranged radially to separate the columnar body into at least two parts; an electronic ink layer located above one of the at least two parts of the columnar body, the electronic ink layer comprising particles of two different colors; two electrodes electrically connected to the electronic ink layer to control the movement of the two different color particles; and The rotation control unit is used to control the rotation of the cylindrical body. 2 . The reflective color electrophoretic display device according to claim 1 , wherein the two electrodes are an upper electrode and a lower electrode respectively, the upper electrode contacts the upper surface of the electronic ink layer, and the lower electrode is in contact with the upper surface of the electronic ink layer. 3 . An electrode contacts the lower surface of the electronic ink layer and is interposed between the electronic ink layer and the one of the at least two portions of the columnar body. 3. The reflective color electrophoretic display device according to claim 1, wherein the sub-pixel structure further comprises: an insulator adjacent to the electronic ink layer. 4. The reflective color electrophoretic display device of claim 1, wherein the rotation control unit comprises: a shaft located within the cylindrical body; and The first signal line is electrically connected to the shaft to control the rotation of the cylindrical body. 5. The reflective color electrophoretic display device of claim 1, wherein the sub-pixel structure further comprises: The second signal line and the third signal line are respectively electrically connected to the two electrodes. 6 . The reflective color electrophoretic display device of claim 5 , wherein one of the second signal line and the third signal line is disposed above the spacer. 7 . 7 . The reflective color electrophoretic display device of claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the sub-pixel structure is between 5 mm and 500 mm. 8 . 8 . The reflective color electrophoretic display device of claim 1 , wherein the columnar body comprises three partitions to separate the columnar body into three parts. 9 . 9. The reflective color electrophoretic display device of claim 1, wherein the sub-pixel structure further comprises: a layer of reflective paint overlying the other of the at least two portions of the cylinder. 10 . The reflective color electrophoretic display device of claim 1 , wherein the colors of the two different color particles of the electronic ink layer are selected from the group consisting of: red, green, blue. 11 . color, white, cyan, magenta, yellow and black. 11. The reflective color electrophoretic display device according to claim 2, wherein the colors of the two different color particles of the electronic ink layer are black and white respectively, and the sub-pixel structure further comprises: The color filter is located above the upper electrode.

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