JP2007072293A - Display medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a display medium that can display a high-quality color image. <P>SOLUTION: As Y electrodes 3 are composed of line electrodes 3R, 3G, 3B colored in red, green and blue, respectively, not only conventional alignment of a color filter and electrodes or alignment of colored microcapsules and electrodes is not necessary for displaying a color image but colors of light can be reliably changed through the Y electrodes 3, so that a color image can be displayed with high picture quality. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a display medium.

  Conventionally, a display medium that displays an image on one substrate surface by enclosing a fluid substance between two substrates on which electrodes of a predetermined pattern are formed and causing the fluid substance to flow by an electric field generated by the electrodes As such a display medium, for example, a display medium adopting an electrophoresis method is known.

  FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional display medium 100 adopting an electrophoresis method. The display medium 100 is driven by a simple matrix method, and the first electrode 102 is formed in a striped pattern in the first direction on one substrate 101, and the first substrate 102 is orthogonal to the first direction. The second electrode 104 is formed in a stripe shape in the direction 2.

  An electrophoretic medium 107 is sealed between the pair of substrates 101 and 103 as a fluid substance. The electrophoretic medium 107 includes white charged particles 105 colored white and black charged particles 106 colored black. Further, in order to display a color image, a red color filter 108a and a green color filter 108b corresponding to the second electrode 104 are formed on the substrate surface opposite to the surface on which the second electrode 104 is formed. The blue color filter 108c is fixed.

  According to this display medium 100, one pixel is formed at a portion where the first electrode 102 and the second electrode 104 intersect, and the movement of the white charged particles 105 and the black charged particles 106 is performed in units of pixels. By controlling, a color image can be displayed through the color filters 108a, 108b, and 108c of three colors (red, green, and blue).

Further, as described above, as another example of a display medium capable of displaying a color image, the following Patent Document 1 describes a microcapsule in which a dispersion medium containing white particles and black particles is encapsulated in a predetermined pattern. A microcapsule type electrophoretic reflection type color display that displays a color image by spreading between a pair of substrates on which electrodes are formed and coloring the microcapsules themselves is disclosed.
JP 2003-108035 A (23rd, 24th, 25th paragraphs, FIG. 1)

  However, in the above-described conventional display medium 100 (see FIG. 7A), the three color (red, green, blue) color filters 108a, 108b, 108c and the second electrode 104 are configured separately. As shown in FIG. 7A, it is difficult to completely overlap the color filters 108a, 108b, 108c and the second electrode 104. Actually, as shown in FIG. The color filters 108a, 108b, and 108c are shifted from the two electrodes 104. Therefore, there is a problem that light emitted from the display surface is generated without passing through the color filters 108a, 108b, and 108c, and the image quality of the color image is deteriorated.

  In the microcapsule type electrophoretic reflection type color display disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above, since the colored microcapsules and the electrodes are configured separately, the microcapsules and the electrodes are completely separated. In the same way as the above-described conventional display medium 100, there is a problem that the image quality of the color image is deteriorated.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a display medium capable of displaying a high-quality color image.

  In order to achieve this object, a display medium according to claim 1 has a first substrate and a display surface for displaying an image formed in units of pixels that are spaced apart from and substantially parallel to the one substrate. A second electrode having a portion corresponding to at least each pixel and formed on the first substrate; a second electrode having at least a portion corresponding to each pixel and formed on the second substrate; An electric field generated by the first electrode and the second electrode, the liquid chamber being formed between the first substrate and the second substrate, and a fluid substance sealed in the liquid chamber. The second electrode displays a colorless transparent or colorless translucent conductive material containing a conductive polymer with a pigment. Configured.

  A display medium according to a second aspect is the display medium according to the first aspect, wherein the second electrode is formed by coloring the conductive material with a dye.

  The display medium according to claim 3 is the display medium according to claim 2, wherein the solubility of the dye in the fluid substance is lower than the solubility of the dye in the conductive material.

  The display medium according to claim 4 is the display medium according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second electrode is formed on a surface of the second substrate on the fluid substance side, and A protective film that covers the second electrode is provided between the substrate and the fluid substance.

  The display medium according to claim 5 is the display medium according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second electrode is colored in at least two colors.

  The display medium according to claim 6 is the display medium according to claim 5, wherein the second electrode is the same in a linear portion in which portions corresponding to the respective pixels are linearly arranged vertically, horizontally, or diagonally. Colored and adjacent linear portions are colored in different colors.

  The display medium according to claim 7 is the display medium according to claim 6, wherein the linear portion colored with one color is formed wider than the linear portion colored with another color. ing.

  The display medium according to claim 8 is the display medium according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the first electrode is formed by continuously forming each of the portions corresponding to the pixels arranged in the first direction. The second electrode is formed continuously from each of the portions corresponding to the pixels arranged in a second direction intersecting the first direction.

  The display medium according to claim 9 is the display medium according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the first electrode or the second electrode is formed in a state in which each of the portions corresponding to the pixels is separated. Arranged on the first substrate on which the first electrode is formed or on the first substrate on which the second electrode is formed, and assembled in a matrix surrounding each of the portions corresponding to the pixels. A partition member having conductivity, a portion corresponding to each of the pixels surrounded by the partition member, and switch means capable of intermittently connecting the partition member are provided.

  A display medium according to a tenth aspect is the display medium according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, wherein the fluid substance is an electrophoretic medium in which charged particles that are positively or negatively charged are dispersed.

  According to the display medium of claim 1, since the second electrode is formed by coloring a colorless transparent or colorless translucent conductive material containing a conductive polymer with a pigment, the image is displayed in color. Therefore, it is not necessary to align the color filter and the electrode as in the prior art, or to align the colored microcapsule and the electrode, but also to radiate the light emitted to the outside through the second electrode. Since the color can be surely changed, the color image can be displayed with high image quality.

  According to the display medium of the second aspect, in addition to the effect of the display medium of the first aspect, the second electrode is configured by coloring the conductive material with a dye, so that it is simple and inexpensive. There is an effect that the conductive material can be colored.

  According to the display medium according to claim 3, in addition to the effect of the display medium according to claim 2, the solubility of the dye in the fluid substance is lower than the solubility of the dye in the conductive material. Even when the colored second electrode is in contact with the fluid substance, there is an effect that the fluid substance can be prevented from being colored by the dye dissolved in the conductive material.

  According to the display medium of the fourth aspect, in addition to the effect of the display medium according to any one of the first to third aspects, the second electrode is covered with the protective film, so that the second electrode and the fluidity There is an effect that the direct contact with the substance is prevented, and the deterioration of the second electrode due to the contact of the second electrode with the fluid substance can be prevented. In addition, there is an effect that the fluid member can be prevented from being colored by the pigment that colors the second electrode.

  According to the display medium of the fifth aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the display medium according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, since the second electrode is colored in at least two colors, one color is used. There is an effect that various color images can be displayed as compared with the case of coloring.

  According to the display medium of the sixth aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the display medium of the fifth aspect, the adjacent linear portions colored in the same color are colored in different colors. As compared with the case where the second electrode is randomly colored with at least two colors, there is an effect that a color image with higher image quality can be displayed.

  According to the display medium of the seventh aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the display medium of the sixth aspect, the linear portion colored in one color is more than the linear portion colored in another color. Since the width of the straight line portion is set according to how the image to be displayed is expressed as described below, an image having a desired color can be displayed.

  According to the display medium of the eighth aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the display medium according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, the first electrode continuously connects each of the portions corresponding to the pixels arranged in the first direction. Each of the portions corresponding to the pixels arranged in the second direction intersecting the first direction is continuously formed in the second electrode. That is, since it can be driven by a simple matrix driving method, the structure is simple and the manufacturing cost can be suppressed.

  According to the display medium of the ninth aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the display medium according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, the voltage supplied to each of the portions corresponding to the respective pixels via the partition member is Interrupted by switch means. That is, since it can be driven by the active matrix driving method, it is possible to display a color image with high contrast and high image quality and to increase the display speed of the image as compared with the case of driving by the simple matrix driving method. There is an effect that can be.

  According to the display medium of the tenth aspect, in addition to the effects exhibited by the display medium according to the first to ninth aspects, the fluid substance is an electrophoretic medium in which charged particles that are positively or negatively charged are dispersed. Therefore, for example, there is an effect that an image can be displayed with low power consumption as compared with a case where the fluid substance is composed of liquid crystal.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1A is an external perspective view of a display device 1 on which the display medium 10 of the present invention is mounted, and FIG. 1B is an exploded perspective view of the display medium 10. In FIG. 1B, the second substrate 13 is indicated by a two-dot chain line in order to clearly show the Y electrode 3 formed on the lower surface of the second substrate 13 (the surface facing the first substrate 12). ing.

  The display device 1 includes a main body 20 and a display medium 10 that is detachably attached to the main body 20. After the display medium 10 is attached to the main body 20, a predetermined operation is performed on the display medium 10. A device capable of displaying a digital image.

  The main body 20 has a base plate 25 formed in a rectangular shape that is slightly larger than the size of the display medium 10, a frame body 26 attached to the periphery of the base plate 25, and drive control included in the frame body 26. Unit (not shown).

  The frame body 26 is formed in a substantially U shape, and a power switch 26a and a connector 26b are arranged on the surface thereof. The drive control unit controls an electric signal applied to the X electrode 2 and the Y electrode 3 (both see FIG. 1B) formed on the display medium 10.

  When the display medium 10 is mounted on the main body 20, the X electrode 2 and the Y electrode 3 of the display medium 10 are connected to the drive control unit. Then, under the control of the drive control unit, an image according to image data input from an external device (for example, a personal computer) via the connector 26b is displayed in color on the display medium 10.

  The display medium 10 is particularly capable of displaying a high-quality full-color image, and is sandwiched between the first substrate 12, the second substrate 13, and the second substrate 13 and the first substrate 12. The gap spacer 17 is provided, and these are laminated.

  Although described in detail later with reference to FIG. 2, an electrophoretic medium 30 (see FIG. 2) containing charged particles 31 is enclosed between the first substrate 12 and the second substrate 13, and The first substrate 12 and the second substrate 13 are coated with a liquid-resistant protective film 18 (see FIG. 2) that covers the X electrode 2 and the Y electrode 3.

  Both the first substrate 12 and the second substrate 13 are flexible and colorless films having a thickness of about 20 μm. In this embodiment, since the user views the surface of the second substrate 13 opposite to the surface on which the Y electrode 3 is formed (the surface facing the first substrate 12), the surface to be viewed. Is a display surface on which an image is displayed.

  Examples of the material of the first substrate 12 and the second substrate 13 include glass, synthetic resin, natural resin, paper, and the like. In this embodiment, it is preferably a synthetic resin. For example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene Examples thereof include polyester resins such as naphthalate (PEN) and polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), aramid, polyimide, nylon, polypropylene, and hard polyethylene (high density polyethylene).

  The X electrode 2 is formed on the surface of the first substrate 12 facing the second substrate 13, and the Y electrode 3 is formed on the surface of the second substrate 13 facing the first substrate 12. Yes. The X electrode 2 and the Y electrode 3 bear polarities for applying an electric field to an electrophoretic medium 30 (see FIG. 2) described later.

  The X electrode 2 is formed by arranging a plurality of colorless and transparent line electrodes 2M formed extending linearly in the direction of the arrow X at predetermined intervals in the direction of the arrow Y. The Y electrode 3 is formed by sequentially arranging a plurality of line electrodes 3R, 3G, 3B formed extending linearly in the arrow Y direction at predetermined intervals in the arrow X direction. The line electrode 3R is colored red (Red), the line electrode 3G is colored green (Green), and the line electrode 3B is colored blue (Blue).

  Further, since the X direction and the Y direction are orthogonal to each other, each line electrode 2M constituting the X electrode 2 and each line electrode 3R, 3G, 3B constituting the Y electrode 3 are in an orthogonal relationship, and the first substrate. Between the line 12 and the second substrate 13, intersections where the line electrodes 2M and the line electrodes 3R, 3G, 3B intersect are formed in a matrix. That is, the display medium 10 displays an image on the display surface by a simple matrix driving method in which the intersection is one pixel and each line electrode 2M and each line electrode 3R, 3G, 3B is controlled.

  Next, the constituent materials of the X electrode 2 and the Y electrode 3 will be described in detail. The X electrode 2 and the Y electrode 3 are both made of a conductive material containing a conductive polymer. In particular, each of the line electrodes 3R, 3G, 3B constituting the Y electrode 3 is a colorless and transparent conductive material. It differs from the X electrode 2 in that the material is colored red, green and blue with a dye.

  Examples of the conductive polymer contained in the conductive material include aliphatic conjugated conductive polymers such as polyacetylene conductive polymers and aromatic conjugated conductive polymers such as polyparaphenylene conductive polymers. Polymer, heterocyclic conjugated conductive polymer such as polypyrrole conductive polymer and polythiophene conductive polymer, or polyaniline conductive high in which aliphatic conjugated system or aromatic conjugated system are bonded with hetero atoms Polyvinylene phenylene-based conductivity, which is a conductive polymer composed of a heteroatom-containing conjugated conductive polymer such as a molecule, or a mixture of at least two structural units of each of these conjugated conductive polymers Examples thereof include mixed conjugated conductive polymers such as polymers.

  Among these conductive polymers, from the viewpoint of electrical characteristics (conductivity expressed by surface resistivity) and chemical stability in liquids, the conductive polymers include polypyrrole-based conductive polymers. It is preferably a heterocyclic conjugated conductive polymer such as a molecule or a polythiophene conductive polymer, and the most preferable conductive polymer is poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene).

  Further, the conductive material is configured by dispersing or dissolving a conductive polymer, and as a medium for dispersing or dissolving the conductive polymer, water, alcohol, or from the viewpoint of safety and environmental compatibility A mixed solvent of water and alcohol is preferable.

  The X electrode 2 and the Y electrode 3 made of such a conductive material are formed on the first substrate 12 and the second substrate 13 by a method such as an inkjet method, a spin coating method, a spray method, or a coating method. . By using an inkjet method, a spin coating method, a spray method, a coating method, or the like, the X electrode 2 and the Y electrode 3 can be formed on the substrate under milder conditions than the sputtering method or the vapor deposition method. Therefore, even when the first substrate 12 or the second substrate 13 is made of a thin resin film having flexibility, an electrode can be formed without damaging the substrate.

  In order to stably disperse or dissolve the conductive polymer in the medium, polystyrene sulfonate or the like may be added to the medium. Examples of the polystyrene sulfonate include a salt having a counter ion as an ion that does not inhibit the conductive polymer from being dispersed in the medium, such as an alkali metal salt (eg, sodium salt, potassium salt, etc.). . The number of counter ions in the polystyrene sulfonate may be one, or two or more may be mixed.

  The gap spacer 17 is a film having a thickness of about 20 μm made of synthetic resin or the like, and an opening 17a is opened at the center thereof. Examples of the material of the gap spacer include the resins listed above as the materials of the first substrate 12 and the second substrate 13.

  Next, the display medium 10 will be described more specifically with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the display medium 10. The cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 passes through one of the X electrodes 2 formed on the first substrate 12 and is substantially orthogonal to each of the Y electrodes 3 formed on the second substrate 13. The figure shows a cross section when cut along a cutting line.

  As shown in FIG. 2, an electrophoretic medium 30 including charged particles 31 that are positively or negatively charged is enclosed between the first substrate 12 and the second substrate 13 in the display medium 10. A protective film 18 that covers the X electrode 2 and the Y electrode 3 is applied to the first substrate 12 and the second substrate 13.

  The electrophoretic medium 30 is preferably a solvent having high electrical resistance (high insulation), and preferable solvents include, for example, aromatic hydrocarbon solvents (for example, benzene, toluene, xylene, etc.), aliphatic hydrocarbon solvents (for example, , Hexane, cyclohexane and other linear or cyclic paraffin hydrocarbon solvents, isoparaffin hydrocarbon solvents, kerosene, etc.), halogenated hydrocarbon solvents (eg chloroform, trichloroethylene, dichloromethane, trichlorotrifluoroethylene, ethyl bromide, etc.) , Oily polysiloxanes such as silicone oil, and high-purity petroleum. In addition, the electrophoretic medium 30 may be used alone or in a mixture of two or more as described above.

  The charged particles 31 include white white charged particles 31a that are positively charged, and black black charged particles 31b that are negatively charged. As the white charged particles 31a and the black charged particles 31b, white titanium oxide, black carbon black or the like, or organic pigments such as phthalocyanine pigments coated with a polymer resin, azo dyes or quinoline dyes are known. Fine polymer beads colored with the above dyes can be used.

  These white charged particles 31a and black charged particles 31b migrate to the first substrate 12 side or the second substrate 13 side according to the electric field generated between the X electrode 2 and the Y electrode 3 for each pixel. Specifically, when an electric field is formed so that an arbitrary Y electrode 3 is positive with respect to the corresponding X electrode 2, the black charged particles 31 b that are negatively charged become the second substrate 13. The white charged particles 31a that migrate to the side (Y electrode 3 side) and are positively charged migrate to the first substrate 12 side (X electrode 2 side).

  On the contrary, when an electric field is formed so that any Y electrode 3 is negative with respect to the corresponding X electrode 2, the positively charged white charged particles 31 a are on the second substrate 13 side ( The black charged particles 31b that migrate to the Y electrode 3 side and are negatively charged migrate to the first substrate 12 side (X electrode 2 side).

  In this way, the black charged particles 31b and the white charged particles 31a migrate to the first substrate 12 side or the second substrate 13 side, and a color image is displayed on the display surface by light emitted from the display surface via the Y electrode 3. Can be displayed.

  The protective film 18 is formed by coating a substrate with a coating agent containing a fluorine compound. The fluorine compound contained in the coating agent is preferably a fluorine compound that becomes liquid at a predetermined temperature or higher. For example, low molecular weight polytetrafluoroethylene (low molecular weight PTFE), low molecular weight polychlorotrifluoroethylene (low molecular weight) PCTFE), low molecular weight tetrafluoroethylene / perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer (low molecular weight PFA), low molecular weight tetrafluoroethylene / hexafluoropropylene copolymer (low molecular weight FEP), and the like. By configuring the protective film 18 in this manner, the X electrode 2 and the Y electrode 3 and the electrophoretic medium 30 are prevented from coming into direct contact. Therefore, it is possible to prevent electrode deterioration due to the X electrode 2 and the Y electrode 3 coming into contact with the electrophoretic medium 30. Further, it is possible to prevent the dye that colors the Y electrode 3 from being dissolved in the electrophoretic medium 30 and coloring the electrophoretic medium.

  When the protective film 18 is not formed, the solubility of the dye in the electrophoresis medium 30 is preferably lower than the solubility of the dye in the material constituting the Y electrode 3. By using such a dye, it is possible to prevent the dye that colors the Y electrode 3 from being dissolved in the electrophoretic medium 30 and coloring the electrophoretic medium 30.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a Y electrode and protective film forming step for forming the Y electrode 3 and the protective film 18 on the substrate 13. As shown in FIG. 3, the Y electrode and protective film forming steps are performed in chronological order: a preparation step (S1), a Y electrode application step (S2), a first drying step (S3), and a coating agent application. A step (S4) and a second drying step (S5) are provided.

  First, in the preparation step (S1), a conductive material R colored in red, a conductive material G colored in green, and a conductive material B colored in blue are manufactured. Specifically, a colorless and transparent conductive material D, a red dye, a blue dye, and a yellow dye are prepared.

  And the electroconductive material R colored in red is manufactured by coloring the colorless and transparent conductive material D with the dye for red. Moreover, the electroconductive material G colored green is manufactured by coloring the colorless and transparent conductive material D with the dye for blue, and the dye for yellow. Furthermore, the electroconductive material B colored blue is manufactured by coloring the colorless and transparent conductive material D with the dye for blue. The conductive material G colored green may be manufactured by coloring the colorless and transparent conductive material D with a green dye.

  Next, in the Y electrode application step (S2), the conductive materials R, G, and B colored in red, green, and blue manufactured in the preparation step (S1) are formed on the second substrate 13 in a predetermined pattern ( It is applied by an ink jet method so as to be formed as shown in FIG. In place of the ink jet method, a spin coating method, a spray method, a coating method, or the like can be used. However, according to the ink jet method, the Y electrode 3 is formed in a predetermined pattern (FIG. b) can be easily applied.

  Next, in the first drying step (S3), the Y electrode 3 applied on the second substrate 13 in the Y electrode application step (S2) is dried. Specifically, the 2nd board | substrate 13 with which the Y electrode 3 was apply | coated is dried by natural drying or heat drying using drying apparatuses, such as oven. In the case of drying by heating, the drying is performed at a temperature that does not damage the flexible second substrate 13 (for example, 150 ° C. or less), and a more preferable drying temperature is 120 ° C. or less. By this first drying step (S3), the Y electrode 3 is fixed on the second substrate 13 and can be used as an electrode.

  Next, in the coating agent application step (S4), the liquid coating agent C is applied on the Y electrode 3 fixed on the second substrate 13 in the first drying step (S3) to form the protective film 18. Form. As a method for applying the coating agent C, a spray method, a dipping method, and a sol-gel method are simple.

  Next, in the second drying step (S5), the coating agent C applied on the second substrate 13 in the coating agent application step (S4) is dried. Specifically, the coating agent C applied to the second substrate 13 is dried by natural drying or heat drying using a dryer such as an oven. In the case of drying by heating, the drying is performed at a temperature that does not damage the flexible second substrate 13 (for example, 150 ° C. or less). In the second drying step (S5), the coating agent is dried and a protective film 18 is formed on the second substrate 13.

  Through such a manufacturing process, the Y electrode 3 and the protective film 18 can be formed on the second substrate 13. In addition, the formation process for forming the X electrode 2 and the protective film 18 on the first substrate 12 uses the colorless and transparent conductive material D prepared in the preparation process (S1) described above without coloring. However, unlike the Y electrode and protective film forming step described above, the other steps are the same as those of the Y electrode and protective film forming step, and the description thereof will be omitted.

  As described above, according to the display medium 10 of the present invention, the Y electrode 3 is composed of the line electrodes 3R, 3G, and 3B colored in red, green, and blue. It is not necessary to align the color filter and the electrode or to align the colored microcapsule and the electrode as in the prior art, but to reliably change the color of light through the Y electrode 3. Therefore, a color image can be displayed with high image quality.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 4A, a first modified example related to the display medium 10 described above will be described. In the first modification, the coloring pattern of the Y electrode 3 formed on the second substrate 13 is modified. FIG. 4A is a view corresponding to the second substrate 13 shown in FIG. 1B, and is a perspective view of the second substrate 13 in the first modification.

  In the first modification, the Y electrode 3 formed on the second substrate 13 is formed by arranging a plurality of line electrodes 3D formed extending linearly in the arrow Y direction at predetermined intervals in the arrow X direction. ing. Further, each line electrode 3D is colored so that a red block 3R colored in red, a green block 3G colored in green, and a blue block 3B colored in blue are arranged in order in the Y direction. Yes. Further, in each adjacent line electrode 3D, the red block 3R, the green block 3G, and the blue block 3B are colored so as to shift by one block in the opposite arrow Y direction (shift by two blocks in the arrow Y direction). ing.

  In other words, the red blocks 3R are arranged almost linearly in an oblique direction of about 45 degrees with respect to the X direction and the Y direction that are substantially perpendicular to each other, and the green blocks 3G are arranged linearly next to the red blocks 3R. Next, the blue blocks 3B are colored so as to be arranged in a straight line.

  Even if the coloring pattern of the Y electrode 3 is configured in this way, similarly to the case described above, light can be reliably changed in color through the Y electrode 3, and a color image can be displayed with high image quality.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 4B, a second modification example relating to the display medium 10 described above will be described. The second modification is a modification of the form pattern of the Y electrode 3 formed on the second substrate 13. FIG. 4B is a view corresponding to the second substrate 13 shown in FIG. 1B and is a perspective view of the second substrate 13 in the second modification.

  In the second modification, the Y electrode 3 formed on the second substrate 13 is formed by extending each of the plurality of line electrodes 3R, 3G, 3B formed in a straight line toward the arrow Y direction in the arrow X direction. They are formed side by side at a predetermined interval.

  The line electrode 3R is colored red, the line electrode 3G is colored green, and the line electrode 3B is colored blue. The width of the line electrode 3R in the X direction is the width of the line electrode 3G in the X direction or the line electrode. It is longer (thicker) than the width in the X direction of 3B.

  In this way, by forming the line electrode 3R colored red, which is more sensitive to vision than green and blue, to be wider in the X direction than the line electrodes 3G and 3B colored green and blue. Color displayed images can be displayed with high contrast and high image quality.

In the second modification described above, a case has been described in which the line electrode 3R colored in red, which is highly sensitive to vision, is formed wider than the line electrodes 3G and 3B colored in other colors. The line electrodes colored in light colors may be formed wider than the line electrodes colored in other colors. Even in this case, the same effect as described above can be obtained.
In addition, what color width is to be widened may be determined by how the image is expressed as follows.

  Further, the widths of the line electrodes 3R, 3G, and 3B may be the same, and for example, two line electrodes 3R that are colored in red with high visual sensitivity may be arranged in a row in the arrow X direction. Even in this case, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 5, the 3rd modification regarding the display medium 10 mentioned above is demonstrated. All of the display media 10 described above are driven by the simple matrix driving method, whereas the display medium 10 of the third modification is driven by the active matrix driving method. FIG. 5 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 1B and is an exploded perspective view of the display medium 10 of the third modified example.

  Similar to the display medium 10 described above, the display medium 10 of the third modified example includes a first substrate 12, a second substrate 13, and a gap spacer sandwiched between the second substrate 13 and the first substrate 12. The electrophoretic medium 30 including the charged particles 31 is enclosed between the first substrate 12 and the second substrate 13.

  A colorless and transparent common electrode 14 is formed on the upper surface of the first substrate 12 (the surface facing the second substrate 13) so as to cover the entire surface. On the other hand, on the lower surface of the second substrate 13 (the surface facing the first substrate 12), there are a plurality of conductive gate wirings 15 extending in the arrow X direction and arranged side by side at a predetermined interval in the arrow Y direction. A plurality of conductive source wirings 16 extending in the arrow Y direction and arranged side by side with a predetermined interval in the direction of the arrow X across the gate wiring 16, and a region surrounded by the gate wiring 15 and the source wiring 16 Each pixel electrode 19 is formed, and an active element 20 is provided in the vicinity of the intersection of the gate line 15 and the source line 16 corresponding to each pixel electrode 19.

  The pixel electrode 19 is an electrode corresponding to each pixel, and includes a pixel electrode 19R colored in red, a pixel electrode 19G colored in green, and a pixel electrode 19B colored in blue. The colored pixel electrodes 19 are arranged in a straight line in the direction of the arrow X, and are arranged in the order of red, green, and blue in the direction of the arrow Y.

  The active element 20 is a three-terminal element connected to the gate wiring 15, the source wiring 16, and the pixel electrode 19, functions as a switch, and is configured by a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) constructed of amorphous silicon or the like. ing.

  A gate electrode connected to the gate wiring 15 is formed in the lowermost layer of the TFT, and when a voltage is supplied through an arbitrary gate wiring 15, the TFT is turned on (conductive state). When a voltage is supplied through an arbitrary source line 16 in this ON state, an electric field is generated between the pixel electrode 19 corresponding to the target pixel and the common electrode 14, and the charged particles 31 migrate as described above. Thus, a color image is displayed on the display surface.

  According to the display medium 10 of the third modified example, since it is driven by the active matrix driving method, an image displayed in color can be displayed with high contrast and high image quality as compared with the case of driving by the simple matrix driving method. And the display speed of the image can be increased.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 6, the 4th modification regarding the display medium 10 mentioned above is demonstrated. FIG. 6 is a diagram corresponding to FIGS. 1B and 6, and is an exploded perspective view of the display medium 10 of the fourth modified example.

  Similar to the display medium 10 of the third modification, the display medium 10 of the fourth modification is driven by an active matrix driving method. Further, in the display medium 10 of the third modified example, each of the pixel electrodes 19 is colored red, green, and blue, and the common electrode 14 is configured to be colorless and transparent, whereas the display medium 10 of the fourth modified example. The common electrode 25 is colored red, green, and blue, and the pixel electrode 23 is configured to be colorless and transparent.

  The display medium 10 of the fourth modified example is similar to the display medium 10 of the third modified example described above, between the first substrate 12, the second substrate 13, and the second substrate 13 and the first substrate 12. An electrophoretic medium 30 including charged particles 31 is enclosed between the first substrate 12 and the second substrate 13.

  A plurality of conductive gate wirings 21 extending in the direction of the arrow X and arranged side by side at a predetermined interval in the direction of the arrow Y are provided on the upper surface of the first substrate 13 (the surface facing the second substrate 13). The conductive source wiring 22 extending in the arrow Y direction across the gate wiring 21 and arranged side by side at a predetermined interval in the arrow X direction, and each of the regions surrounded by the gate wiring 21 and the source wiring 22 A colorless and transparent pixel electrode 23 to be formed, and an active element 24 disposed in the vicinity of the intersection of the gate wiring 21 and the source wiring 22 corresponding to each of the pixel electrodes 23 are provided.

  On the other hand, a common electrode 25 is formed on the lower surface of the second substrate (the surface facing the first substrate 12) so as to cover the entire surface, and the common electrode 25 is red extending linearly in the arrow X direction. The colored red line 25R, the green line 25G colored green, and the blue line 25B colored blue are colored in order in the direction of the arrow Y. Note that each of the red line 25R, the green line 25G, and the blue line 25B corresponds to the pixel electrodes 23 arranged in a straight line in the X direction on the first substrate 12.

  According to the display medium 10 of the fourth modified example, the same effect as the display medium 10 of the third modified example described above can be obtained, and each of the red line 25R, the green line 25G, and the blue line 25B can be obtained. Since it is possible to reliably correspond to the pixel electrodes 23 arranged linearly in the X direction on the first substrate 12, it is possible to display a color image with higher image quality.

  The present invention has been described above based on the embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and changes can be easily made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Can be inferred.

  For example, in the above-described display medium 10, the Y electrode 3, the pixel electrode 19, and the common electrode 25 have been described as being colored in so-called RGB of red, green, and blue, but the color type to be colored is limited to RGB. The Y electrode 3 and the like may be colored by so-called YMC of yellow, magenta, and cyan. Even in such a case, various color displays can be performed in the same manner as described above.

  In the display medium 10 described above, the Y electrode 3 and the like have been described as being colored in three colors of red, green, and blue. However, the number of colors to be colored is not limited to such three colors. One or more types may be used. For example, by coloring the Y electrode 3 with one color, a sepia or yellowish image can be displayed, and by coloring with two or more colors, a more colorful display than when coloring with one color is achieved. can do.

  In the third and fourth modifications described above, the case where the active element is configured by a TFT that is a three-terminal element has been described. However, the active element is a MIN (two-terminal element) that is connected to a gate wiring and a source wiring. (Metal Insulator Metal) may be used. In such a case, the image quality can be improved as compared with the case of the simple matrix driving method, although the image quality is lowered as compared with the case where the TFT is used.

  In the display medium 10 described above, the case where the electrophoretic medium 30 including the charged particles 31 is encapsulated as the fluid substance encapsulated between the first substrate 12 and the second substrate 13 has been described. The substance may be a liquid crystal. Furthermore, a microcapsule in which charged particles are encapsulated as a fluid substance may be used.

(A) is an external appearance perspective view of the display apparatus which mounts the display medium of this invention, (b) is a disassembled perspective view of a display medium. It is sectional drawing of a display medium. It is a figure for demonstrating a Y electrode and a protective film formation process. (A) is a perspective view of the 2nd substrate 13 in the 1st modification. (B) is a perspective view of the 2nd substrate 13 in the 2nd modification. It is a disassembled perspective view of the display medium of a 3rd modification. It is a disassembled perspective view of the display medium 10 of a 4th modification. It is sectional drawing which shows the conventional display medium.

Explanation of symbols

2 X electrode (first electrode)
3 Y electrode (second electrode)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Display medium 12 1st board | substrate 13 2nd board | substrate 18 Protective film 30 Electrophoresis medium 31 Charged particle 31a White charged particle (charged particle)
31b Black charged particles (charged particles)
15, 21 Gate wiring (part of partition member)
16, 22 Source wiring (part of partition member)
19 Pixel electrode 20, 24 Active element (switch means)

Claims (10)

A first substrate; a second substrate having a display surface for displaying an image formed in units of pixels, spaced apart substantially parallel to the first substrate; and a portion corresponding to each pixel at least. A first electrode formed on one substrate; a second electrode formed on the second substrate having at least a portion corresponding to each pixel; and formed between the first substrate and the second substrate. An image is displayed on the display surface by flowing the fluid substance by an electric field generated by the first electrode and the second electrode. In the display medium to
The display medium, wherein the second electrode is configured by coloring a colorless transparent or colorless translucent conductive material containing a conductive polymer with a pigment.   The display medium according to claim 1, wherein the second electrode is configured by coloring the conductive material with a dye.   The display medium according to claim 2, wherein the solubility of the dye in the fluid substance is lower than the solubility of the dye in the conductive material.   The display medium according to claim 1, further comprising a protective film that covers the second electrode between the second substrate and the fluid substance.   The display medium according to claim 1, wherein the second electrode is colored in at least two colors.   In the second electrode, each of the portions corresponding to the pixels is colored in the same color in a linear portion that is linearly arranged vertically or horizontally or diagonally, and the adjacent linear portions are colored in different colors. The display medium according to claim 5, wherein the display medium is a display medium.   The display medium according to claim 6, wherein the linear portion colored in one color is formed wider than the linear portion colored in another color. The first electrode is formed continuously from each of the portions corresponding to the pixels arranged in the first direction,
The said 2nd electrode is continuously formed in each of the part corresponding to each said pixel located in a 2nd direction which cross | intersects the said 1st direction. Display media. The first electrode or the second electrode is formed in a state where each of the portions corresponding to the respective pixels is separated,
The first electrode on which the first electrode is formed or the first substrate on which the second electrode is formed, and has a conductive property assembled in a matrix surrounding each of the portions corresponding to the pixels. A partition member;
8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: each of the portions corresponding to each of the pixels surrounded by the partition member, and switch means capable of intermittently connecting the partition member. 9. Display medium.   The display medium according to claim 1, wherein the fluid substance is an electrophoretic medium in which positively or negatively charged charged particles are dispersed.

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