WO2011089919A1

WO2011089919A1 - Image display device with sound generating function

Info

Publication number: WO2011089919A1
Application number: PCT/JP2011/000335
Authority: WO
Inventors: 則夫二瓶; 良櫻井; 博貴山崎
Original assignee: 株式会社ブリヂストン
Priority date: 2010-01-22
Filing date: 2011-01-21
Publication date: 2011-07-28
Also published as: JPWO2011089919A1

Abstract

An image display device displays an image in such a way that two types of particle groups (3W, 3B) having different charging characteristics are sealed between substrates (1, 2) with two electrodes transparent at least on the observer's side and the two types of particle groups are moved to the substrate sides by an electric field formed between the pair of electrodes formed facing each other. In the image display device, driving-voltage generating means (21, 31) for driving the two types of particle groups include: an image formation driving-voltage generating function (21) for generating a driving-voltage corresponding to an image to be displayed and displaying the image by moving the two types of particle groups to the substrate sides by using an electric field formed by applying the generated driving-voltage between the pair of electrodes; and a sound generation driving-voltage generating function (31) for generating a driving-voltage corresponding to a sound to be generated and generating the sound by moving the two types of particle groups to the substrate sides by using an electric field formed by applying the generated driving-voltage between the pair of electrodes. This can inexpensively provide a thin image display device with a sound generating function.

Description

Image display device with sound generation function

The present invention relates to an image display device with a sound generation function capable of generating sound in addition to displaying an image.

Conventionally, a display medium configured as a particle group including a chargeable particle is sealed in a facing space between two substrates on which electrodes are arranged, at least one of which is transparent, and a voltage corresponding to an image to be displayed is applied to the electrode. An image display apparatus that displays an image by moving a display medium using an electric field generated between electrode pairs is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). There is also known an image display device integrated with a sound generator that combines an image display device and a sound generator to perform both image display and sound display.

International Publication No. WO03 / 050606

In the image display device integrated with the sound generation device in which the conventional image display device and the conventional sound generation device are combined to perform both image display and sound generation, the image display device is a separate device. Since the sound generators are used, the components necessary for the respective devices to exhibit their respective functions are mounted, and there is a problem that costs increase. For example, it is necessary to add a vibration member such as a cone, which is a constituent material necessary for a speaker which is a sound generator, and an acoustic amplifier, which increases the cost. In addition, a parallel plate type speaker is known as a thin sound generator, but in this case, the speaker is mounted separately from the image display device, and the image of the speaker is thickened. It was a display device.

The object of the present invention is not to be an image display device integrated with a sound generator combined with an image display device and a sound generator, but using members constituting the image display device in the image display device, By providing a sound generation function, the above-described problems are solved, and a thin image display device with a sound generation function is provided at low cost.

The image display device with a sound generation function of the present invention is a pair of electrodes formed by sealing two types of particle groups having different charging characteristics between at least two substrates with electrodes that are transparent on the observation side, and the electrodes are opposed to each other. In an image display device that displays an image by moving the two types of particle groups with an electric field formed therebetween, a driving voltage generating unit that drives the two types of particle groups generates a driving voltage corresponding to the image to be displayed. An image forming drive voltage generating function for displaying an image by moving the two types of particle groups to the substrate side by an electric field generated by applying the generated drive voltage between the electrode pairs, and generated sound A driving voltage generating function for generating sound by generating a driving voltage with respect to and generating sound by moving the two kinds of particle groups to the substrate side by an electric field formed by applying the generated driving voltage between the electrode pairs. It is characterized by It is intended.

As a preferred example of the image display device with a sound generation function of the present invention, the image formation drive voltage generation function and the sound generation drive voltage generation function are executed by separate drive voltage generation means, A region in which the image forming drive voltage generating function and the sound generating drive voltage generating function are executed by one drive voltage generating means, and a panel formed by facing the two substrates is used for image display And divided into regions used for sound generation, the division position between the region used for image display and the region used for sound generation can be changed, and each of the two substrates with electrodes is transparent. The observation side substrate with the common electrode and the back side substrate with the TFT pixel electrode are arranged in a matrix arrangement, and the two substrates with the electrodes are respectively transparent The observation-side substrate with the electrode and the back-side substrate with the stripe electrode are arranged in a matrix with the electrode pairs formed so that the stripe electrodes are opposed to each other so as to be orthogonal to each other. Instead of the image formation drive voltage generation function for generating the corresponding drive voltage, executing the sound generation drive voltage function for generating the drive voltage corresponding to the generated sound, and 2 in the region where the sound is to be generated What are the two types of particle groups that are positively charged particle groups and negatively charged particle groups that have different optical reflectivities in the region where the image is to be displayed? Irrespective of this, there are two types of particle groups that are particle groups including positively charged particles and particle groups including negatively charged particles.

According to the present invention, an electric field formed between an electrode pair formed by sealing two kinds of particle groups having different charging characteristics between at least two substrates with electrodes that are transparent on the observation side and the electrodes are opposed to each other. In the image display device that displays the image by moving the two types of particle groups, the driving voltage generation unit that drives the two types of particle groups generates a driving voltage corresponding to the image to be displayed, and the generated driving An electric field formed by applying a voltage between the electrode pair generates an image forming drive voltage generation function for displaying the image by moving the two types of particle groups to the substrate side, and a drive voltage for the generated sound. Since the electric field generated by applying the generated driving voltage between the electrode pair is configured to include a sound generating driving voltage generating function for generating sound by moving the two types of particle groups to the substrate side. In the display device, Using the members constituting the image display device, it is possible to have a sound generating function, it can be obtained at low cost a sound generating function display of thin type.

As a preferred example of the present invention, when the image formation drive voltage generation function and the sound generation drive voltage generation function are executed by separate drive voltage generation means, sound reproducibility can be improved. it can. Further, when the image forming drive voltage generating function and the sound generating drive voltage generating function are executed by a single drive voltage generating means, the apparatus can be made compact and the cost can be reduced. Furthermore, a panel formed by facing two substrates is divided into an area used for image display and an area used for sound generation, and further divided into an area used for image display and an area used for sound generation. When the position can be changed, the expression by the image and the sound can be more varied.

As another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the two substrates with electrodes are respectively a transparent common electrode observation side substrate and a TFT pixel electrode back side substrate, and opposing electrode pairs are arranged in a matrix. In some cases, the electrode-attached substrates are used as transparent observation-side substrates with stripe electrodes and back-side substrates with stripe electrodes, and electrode pairs formed so that the stripe electrodes are opposed to each other are arranged in a matrix. In either case, the image forming electrode can also be used as a sound generating electrode, so that the apparatus can be made compact and the cost can be reduced. Further, when the displayed image is erased, if the sound generation drive voltage generation function is executed instead of the image formation drive voltage generation function, a sound that the operation of rewriting the display image has been started may be notified. it can.

Furthermore, as another preferred embodiment of the present invention, two types of particle groups in a region where sound is desired to be generated are particles containing positively charged particles, each having a different optical reflectance, in a region where an image is to be displayed. Regardless of the two types of particle groups that are the group of particles and the negatively charged particles, the two types of particle groups that are the positively charged particles and the negatively charged particles When configured, image display and sound generation can each be optimized.

It is a conceptual diagram for demonstrating an example of the image display apparatus with a sound generation function of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram for demonstrating the other example of the image display apparatus with a sound generation function of this invention. (A), (b) is a figure for demonstrating the example of the image display in the image display apparatus with a sound generation function of this invention, respectively. (A), (b) is a figure for demonstrating the example of the sound generation in the image display apparatus with a sound generation function of this invention, respectively. (A)-(d) is a figure for demonstrating the example of a division | segmentation of the sound generation part in the image display apparatus with a sound generation function of this invention, respectively. (A), (b) is a figure for demonstrating the further another structure of the image display apparatus with a sound generation function of this invention, respectively. (A), (b) is a figure which shows the example of the electrode arrangement structure of the panel part in the image display apparatus with a sound generation function of this invention, respectively. (A), (b) is a figure which shows the other example of the electrode arrangement structure of the panel part in the image display apparatus with a sound generation function of this invention, respectively.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram for explaining an example of an image display device with a sound generating function of the present invention. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the image display device with a sound generating function of the present invention is an image display unit and a panel unit 11 which is a sound generating unit, an image forming driving voltage generating unit 21 and a sound generating driving voltage generating unit. 31 is comprised.

In the panel section 11 shown in FIG. 1, 1 is a lower first panel substrate, 2 is an upper transparent second panel substrate, 3W is a white particle group composed of negatively charged white particles 3Wa, 3B Is a group of black particles including positively charged black particles 3Ba, 5 is a first stripe electrode arranged on the

first panel substrate

1, and 6 is a transparent second electrode arranged on the second panel substrate 2. Stripe electrode. In the image forming drive voltage generating means 21 shown in FIG. 1, 22 is a CPU, 23 is a graphic controller for supplying an image to be displayed by the image forming drive voltage under the control of the CPU 22, and 24-1 is a first controller. A first driver IC for supplying an image forming drive voltage to the stripe electrode 5 and a second driver IC for supplying an image forming drive voltage to the transparent second stripe electrode 6 are provided. Further, in the sound generating drive voltage generating means 31 shown in FIG. 1, 32 is a sound source, 33 is a CPU, and 34 is a sound generating device to be generated by converting the sound signal from the sound source 32 into a voltage under the control of the CPU 33. A signal processing unit for supplying drive voltage, 35 is an amplifier, 36-1 is a first selector for supplying drive voltage for generating sound to all or part of the first stripe electrode 5, and 36-2 is a transparent second This is a second selector for supplying a drive voltage for generating sound to all or part of the stripe electrodes 6.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram for explaining another example of the image display device with a sound generating function of the present invention. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the same members as those in the example shown in FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the difference from the example shown in FIG. 1 is that the image forming drive voltage generating means 21 is also used as the sound generating drive voltage generating means 31. In the example shown in FIG. 2, only the sound source 32 is added to the panel unit 11 and the image forming drive voltage generating means 21 shown in FIG. The first driver IC 24-1 also serves as the amplifier 35 and the first selector 36-1, and the second driver IC 24-2 serves as the amplifier 35 and the second selector 36-. It also serves as the second role.

In the above-described image display device with a sound generation function of the present invention, the panel unit 11 and the image forming drive voltage generation means 21 having the same configuration as that of the conventional image display device are used, and sound generation is performed as in the example shown in FIG. When the driving voltage generating means 31 is added, or when the image forming driving voltage generating means 21 is also used as the sound generating driving voltage generating means 31 as in the example shown in FIG. Without adding any other means, the same panel unit 11 can be used to display an image by the control of the image forming drive voltage generating means 21 and the sound by the control of the sound generating drive voltage generating means 31. Can be generated.

Next, an example of image display and an example of sound generation in the image display device with a sound generation function of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 (a), 3 (b), 4 (a), and 4 (b). . In the example shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, an example of the panel portion 11 in which the ribs 4 are provided in a lattice shape to ensure the gap between the panel substrates and the cell structure is formed is shown. By enclosing the white particle group 3W and the black particle group 3B for each cell structure formed by the ribs 4, it is possible to prevent uneven distribution of the particle groups in the facing space between the substrates. In FIG. 3, the adhesive 9 is disposed on the rib 4, and the panel substrate 2 on which the rib 4 is formed and the other panel substrate 1 are bonded together. Therefore, although the cells are sealed by the ribs, a gap may be provided between the cells by making a part of the rib shorter than the gap between the panel substrates. It is preferable that the gap between the rib and the panel substrate be equal to or smaller than the average particle diameter of the particle group because the particle group is prevented from moving to the adjacent cell.

3 (a) and 3 (b) are diagrams for explaining an example of image display on the panel unit of the image display device with a sound generation function of the present invention. In the example shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, at least two types of particle groups (in this case, including negatively charged white particles 3Wa) including at least particles having optical reflectivity and chargeability are configured. The first stripe electrode 5 provided on the first panel substrate 1 in each cell formed by the ribs 4, showing the black particle group 3 B including the white particle group 3 W and the positively charged black particles 3 Ba). And a transparent second stripe electrode 6 provided on the transparent second panel substrate 2 to generate an electric field generated by applying a voltage between pixel electrode pairs formed by opposing crossing (preferably orthogonal crossing). Accordingly, it is moved substantially perpendicular to the

substrates

1 and 2. Then, as shown in FIG. 3 (a), the white particle group 3W attached to the transparent second panel substrate is visually recognized by the observer to display white color, or transparent as shown in FIG. 3 (b). The black particle group 3B adhering to the second panel substrate is visually recognized by the observer, and the black display is displayed in a matrix with black and white dots. In addition, in FIG. 3 (a), (b), the rib in front is abbreviate | omitted. Here, an example is shown in which cells and pixels (dots) correspond one-to-one. Furthermore, 9 is an adhesive. In the present invention, the second panel substrate 2 and the second stripe electrode 6 need to be transparent, but the first panel substrate 1 and the first stripe electrode 5 may be transparent or opaque.

4 (a) and 4 (b) are diagrams for explaining an example of sound generation in the image display device with a sound generation function of the present invention. In the example shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, two types of particle groups, the positively charged black particle group 3B and the negatively charged white particle group 3W shown in FIG. 3, are used. Then, as shown in FIG. 4A, when the potential of the second stripe electrode 6 is made lower than the potential of the first stripe electrode 5, the positively charged black particle group 3B becomes the second panel substrate 2 side. And the negatively charged white particle group 3W moves to the first panel substrate 1 side and collides with the first panel substrate 1. Further, as shown in FIG. 4B, when the potential of the second stripe electrode 6 is made higher than the potential of the first stripe electrode 5, the positively charged black particle group 3B becomes closer to the first panel substrate 1 side. The negatively charged white particle group 3W moves to the second panel substrate 2 side and collides with the second panel substrate 2 while moving to the first panel substrate 1. When the particle group moves and the positively charged black particles 3Ba and the negatively charged white particles 3Wa collide with the first panel substrate 1 or the second panel substrate 2, sound is generated. Although the sound generation mechanism has not been elucidated, it can be assumed that the sound is generated by the vibration of the panel substrate due to the collision of the particles.

Next, a preferred example of sound generation in the image display device with sound generation function of the present invention will be described. FIGS. 5 (a) to 5 (d) are diagrams for explaining examples of dividing a sound generation site in the image display device with a sound generation function of the present invention. First, in the image display device with a sound generation function of the present invention shown in FIG. 5A, a plurality of counter electrode pairs are grouped for each region of the panel and a sound generation drive voltage is applied simultaneously, thereby generating sound generated. The volume can be increased. Next, as shown in FIGS. 5B to 5D, sound can be generated from different positions by grouping into a plurality of groups. As shown in FIG. 5B, a stereo speaker can be easily configured by dividing it into left and right, and it is possible to further finely divide the sound and further control the sound generation point as shown in FIG. 5C. Furthermore, when sound is generated, the particle group including the charged particles that are attached to the substrate and display an image may move due to vibration of the panel substrate, and thus the image may be distorted. In that case, as shown in FIG. 5D, by dividing the image display position and the sound generation position, the image display area and the sound generation area can be used separately, and the image disturbance can be eliminated.

Furthermore, in the image display device with a sound generation function of the present invention, the image can be erased without using the image formation drive voltage by applying the sound generation drive voltage. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b), a screen erasing process has been conventionally performed in which the entire screen is displayed in white or black at once by applying a sound generation driving voltage for generating sound. Can be executed. In addition, it is possible to notify the sound generated in the screen erasing process that the operation of rewriting the display image has been started.

According to the above-described image display device with a sound generation function of the present invention, image display and sound generation can be executed only by the panel portion constituted by the first panel substrate 1 and the second panel substrate 2 arranged to face each other. The apparatus can be thinned. In addition, since the sound is generated by causing the particle group to collide with the panel substrate, it is possible to generate a high volume sound with a simple configuration.

Next, still another configuration of the image display device with a sound generation function of the present invention will be described. FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams for explaining still another configuration of the image display device with a sound generation function of the present invention. In the examples shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the same members as those in the examples shown in FIGS. In the example shown in FIG. 6A, the image forming drive voltage generating means 21 and the sound generating drive voltage generating means 31 provided separately from each other are housed in the housing 41 integrally with the panel portion 11. Thus, an image display device with a sound generation function is configured. In the example shown in FIG. 6 (b), the image forming drive voltage generating means and the sound generating drive voltage generating means that combine the functions of the image forming drive voltage generating means and the sound generating drive voltage generating means. 42 is housed in the housing 41 integrally with the panel unit 11.

Next, an example of the electrode arrangement configuration of the panel unit in the image display device with a sound generation function of the present invention will be described. FIGS. 7A, 7B, 8A, and 8B are diagrams showing examples of the electrode configuration of the panel portion in the image display device with a sound generation function of the present invention. In the examples shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B and FIGS. 8A and 8B, the same members as those in the examples shown in FIGS. Description is omitted. In the example shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, as the panel portion 11, the black particle group 3 B including the positively charged black particles 3 Ba in the cell space between the

substrates

1 and 2 surrounded by the partition walls 4 and An example of a dot matrix type passive drive panel in which white particle groups 3W including negatively charged white particles 3Wa are enclosed is shown. FIG. 3 described above shows a part of the panel portion having this configuration. In the example shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, as the panel unit 11, the black particle group 3 B including the positively charged black particles 3 Ba in the cell space between the

substrates

1 and 2 surrounded by the partition walls 4 and An example of a dot matrix type active drive panel in which white particle groups 3W including negatively charged white particles 3Wa are enclosed is shown. The back side substrate is a substrate with a TFT pixel electrode, the observation side substrate is a substrate with a common electrode, and two types of particle groups arranged in each cell can be actively controlled by the TFT.

Next, each member constituting the image display device with a sound generation function of the present invention will be described.

As the substrate of the panel unit, at least one of the substrates is a transparent substrate from which the particle group attached to the substrate can be seen from the outside on the panel unit observation side, and a material having high visible light transmittance and good heat resistance is used. Is preferred. The back substrate as the other substrate may be transparent or opaque. Examples of substrate materials include organic polymer materials such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyethylene (PE), polycarbonate (PC), polyimide (PI), polyethersulfone (PES), and acrylic. The substrate, glass sheet, quartz sheet, metal sheet coated with an insulating film, etc. are used, and a transparent one is used on the observation side. The thickness of the substrate is preferably 2 μm to 2000 μm, and more preferably 5 μm to 1000 μm. If it is too thin, it will be difficult to maintain the strength and the uniformity of the distance between the substrates. It is inconvenient when making the thin.

Electrode forming materials include metals such as aluminum, silver, nickel, copper and gold, indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO), indium oxide, and conductive tin oxide. , Conductive metal oxides such as antimony tin oxide (ATO) and conductive zinc oxide, and polythiophene such as polyaniline, polypyrrole, poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) -poly- (styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT: PSS) Ionic polymers are exemplified, and are appropriately selected and used. As a method for forming an electrode, a method of forming the above-described material into a thin film by sputtering, vacuum deposition, CVD (chemical vapor deposition), coating, or the like, or laminating a metal foil (for example, rolled copper foil) Alternatively, a method in which a conductive agent is mixed with a solvent or a synthetic resin binder and applied to form a film is used. Although the electrode provided in the display screen area | region of the observation side (display surface side) board | substrate needs to be transparent, the electrode provided in a back side board | substrate does not need to be transparent. In any case, the above-mentioned material which can be formed and is conductive can be preferably used. The thickness of the electrode is determined in view of conductivity and light transmittance, and is 0.01 μm to 10 μm, preferably 0.05 μm to 5 μm. The material and thickness of the electrode provided on the substrate on the back side at the time of observation need not take into account light transmittance.

Also, a transparent metal oxide conductive material such as ITO that is suitable as an observation side electrode of the panel portion is less flexible than a metal material. When the observation-side electrode is an electrode composed of a transparent metal oxide conductive material, it is preferably used in combination with a thin metal wire in order to prevent disconnection in the transparent electrode material. The width of the fine metal wire is preferably 1 μm to 10 μm because it does not hinder display visibility. In particular, when a line-shaped electrode such as a stripe electrode is made of a metal oxide conductive material such as ITO, a thin metal wire may be used in combination to prevent disconnection in the line-shaped electrode. preferable. Since the back side electrode does not need to consider light transmittance, the metal material having low electrical resistance and excellent flexibility is preferably used.

For the ribs provided to secure the gap between the substrates in the panel section to a predetermined gap and to form the cell that accommodates the particle group, the shape is appropriately optimized depending on the type of particle group used, the shape of the electrode, and the arrangement. The rib width is adjusted to 2 μm to 100 μm, preferably 3 μm to 50 μm, and the height of the rib is adjusted to 10 μm to 500 μm, preferably 10 μm to 200 μm.
In forming the ribs, a both-rib method in which ribs are formed on each of the opposing

substrates

1 and 2 and then joined, and a single-rib method in which ribs are formed only on one substrate are conceivable. Any method is used in the present invention.
The cells formed from these ribs are exemplified by polygonal shapes such as a quadrilateral shape, a hexagonal shape, a triangular shape, a staircase octagonal shape, a line shape, a circular shape, etc. as viewed from the substrate plane direction, and the arrangement is a lattice shape or A honeycomb shape or a mesh shape is exemplified. It is better to make the portion corresponding to the cross section of the rib visible from the observation side (the area of the cell frame) as small as possible, and the clearness of the display state increases.
Examples of the rib forming method include a mold transfer method, a screen printing method, a sand blast method, a photolithography method, and an additive method. Any of these methods can be suitably used for an image display apparatus that is an object of the present invention, and among these, a photolithography method using a resist film and a mold transfer method are suitably used.

Next, the particle group used in the image display device with a sound generation function of the present invention will be described. The particle group includes at least chargeable particles having optical reflectivity and chargeability. The chargeable particles can be prepared by distributing a charge control agent, a colorant, an inorganic additive, and the like to a resin as a main component as necessary. Examples of resins, charge control agents, colorants, and other additives will be given below.

Examples of the resin include urethane resin, urea resin, acrylic resin, polyester resin, acrylic urethane resin, acrylic urethane silicone resin, acrylic urethane fluororesin, acrylic fluororesin, silicone resin, acrylic silicone resin, epoxy resin, polystyrene resin, styrene Acrylic resin, polyolefin resin, butyral resin, vinylidene chloride resin, melamine resin, phenol resin, fluororesin, polycarbonate resin, polysulfone resin, polyether resin, polyamide resin and the like can be mentioned, and two or more kinds can be mixed. In particular, acrylic urethane resin, acrylic silicone resin, acrylic fluororesin, acrylic urethane silicone resin, acrylic urethane fluororesin, fluororesin, and silicone resin are suitable from the viewpoint of controlling the adhesive force with the substrate.

The charge control agent is not particularly limited. Examples of the negative charge control agent include salicylic acid metal complexes, metal-containing azo dyes, metal-containing oil-soluble dyes (including metal ions and metal atoms), and quaternary ammonium salt systems. Examples thereof include compounds, calixarene compounds, boron-containing compounds (benzyl acid boron complexes), and nitroimidazole derivatives. Examples of the positive charge control agent include nigrosine dyes, triphenylmethane compounds, quaternary ammonium salt compounds, polyamine resins, imidazole derivatives, and the like. In addition, metal oxides such as ultrafine silica, ultrafine titanium oxide, ultrafine alumina, nitrogen-containing cyclic compounds such as pyridine and derivatives and salts thereof, various organic pigments, resins containing fluorine, chlorine, nitrogen, etc. are also charged. It can also be used as a control agent.

As the colorant, various organic or inorganic pigments and dyes as exemplified below can be used.

Examples of the black colorant include carbon black, copper oxide, manganese dioxide, aniline black, activated carbon and the like.
Examples of blue colorants include C.I. I. Pigment blue 15: 3, C.I. I. Pigment Blue 15, Bituminous Blue, Cobalt Blue, Alkaline Blue Lake, Victoria Blue Lake, Phthalocyanine Blue, Metal-free Phthalocyanine Blue, Phthalocyanine Blue Partial Chlorides, Fast Sky Blue, Indanthrene Blue BC, and the like.
Examples of red colorants include bengara, cadmium red, red lead, mercury sulfide, cadmium, permanent red 4R, risor red, pyrazolone red, watching red, calcium salt, lake red D, brilliant carmine 6B, eosin lake, rhodamine lake B, Alizarin Lake, Brilliant Carmine 3B, C.I. I. Pigment Red 2 etc.

Yellow colorants include yellow lead, zinc yellow, cadmium yellow, yellow iron oxide, mineral first yellow, nickel titanium yellow, navel yellow, naphthol yellow S, Hansa Yellow G, Hansa Yellow 10G, Benzidine Yellow G, Benzidine Yellow GR, Quinoline Yellow Lake, Permanent Yellow NCG, Tartrazine Lake, C.I. I. Pigment Yellow 12 etc.
Examples of green colorants include chrome green, chromium oxide, pigment green B, C.I. I. Pigment Green 7, Malachite Green Lake, Final Yellow Green G, etc.
Examples of the orange colorant include red chrome yellow, molybdenum orange, permanent orange GTR, pyrazolone orange, Vulcan orange, indanthrene brilliant orange RK, benzidine orange G, indanthrene brilliant orange GK, C.I. I. Pigment Orange 31 etc.
Examples of purple colorants include manganese purple, first violet B, and methyl violet lake.
Examples of white colorants include zinc white, titanium oxide, antimony white, and zinc sulfide.

Examples of extender pigments include barite powder, barium carbonate, clay, silica, white carbon, talc, and alumina white. Examples of various dyes such as basic, acidic, disperse, and direct dyes include nigrosine, methylene blue, rose bengal, quinoline yellow, and ultramarine blue.

Examples of inorganic additives include titanium oxide, zinc white, zinc sulfide, antimony oxide, calcium carbonate, lead white, talc, silica, calcium silicate, alumina white, cadmium yellow, cadmium red, cadmium orange, titanium yellow, Examples include bitumen, ultramarine blue, cobalt blue, cobalt green, cobalt violet, iron oxide, carbon black, manganese ferrite black, cobalt ferrite black, copper powder, and aluminum powder.
These pigments and inorganic additives can be used alone or in combination. Of these, carbon black is particularly preferable as the black pigment, and titanium oxide is preferable as the white pigment. The above colorant can be blended to produce particles of a desired color.

Further, it is preferable that the particles have an average particle diameter d (0.5) in the range of 1 μm to 20 μm, and are uniform and uniform. If the average particle diameter d (0.5) is larger than this range, the display is not clear, and if it is smaller than this range, the cohesive force between the particles becomes too large, which hinders movement.

Furthermore, regarding the particle size distribution of the particles used in the present invention, the particle size distribution Span represented by the following formula is set to less than 5, preferably less than 3.
Span = (d (0.9) −d (0.1)) / d (0.5)
(However, d (0.5) is a numerical value expressing the particle diameter in μm that 50% of the particles are larger than this and 50% is smaller than this, and d (0.1) is a particle in which the ratio of the smaller particles is 10%. (Numerical value expressed in μm, and d (0.9) is a numerical value expressed in μm for a particle diameter of 90% or less.)
By keeping the Span within a range of 5 or less, the particles have the same size and can be moved uniformly.

Furthermore, of the two types of particles used in combination as positively charged particles and negatively charged particles, the d (0.5) of the particles having the smallest average particle size relative to the d (0.5) of the particles having the largest average particle size. The ratio is preferably 10 or less. Even if the particle size distribution Span is reduced, two types of particles with different charging polarities move in opposite directions. Therefore, it is preferable to make the particle sizes similar to each other and easily move in the opposite direction. Yes, this is the range.

In addition, the particle group can include fine particles that facilitate movement of the chargeable particles. The fine particles are preferably fine particles having a number average primary particle diameter of 5 nm to 500 nm. Examples of the fine particles include inorganic fine particles such as silica, titanium oxide, aluminum oxide, zinc oxide, tin oxide, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, and cerium oxide; methacrylate polymer, acrylate polymer, styrene-methacryl And organic resin particles such as acid-shell copolymer, styrene-acrylic acid ester copolymer, melamine resin, and core-shell type particles in which the core is a styrene polymer and the shell is a methacrylic acid ester polymer. Moreover, it is preferable that these fine particles are hydrophobized.

The fine particles can be used by a method of externally adding to the chargeable particles, and the amount to be included in the particle group is 0.1 to 10 parts by weight, preferably 100 parts by weight of the chargeable particles, 0.5 to 6 parts by weight. As a method for external addition, a method of mixing and stirring the chargeable particles and the fine particles using a high-speed stirrer is used. As a result, fine particles adhere to the surface of the chargeable particles, and further, the surface of the chargeable particles is coated with the fine particles. Henschel mixer (trade name, manufactured by Mitsui Mining Co., Ltd.), super mixer (trade name, manufactured by Kawada Seisakusho), Q mixer (trade name, manufactured by Mitsui Mining Co., Ltd.), mechano-fusion system (trade name, manufactured by Hosokawa Micron Co., Ltd.) ), Mechanomyl (trade name, manufactured by Okada Seikosha) and the like.

The particle size distribution and the particle size can be obtained from a laser diffraction method, a laser scattering method, or the like. When laser light is irradiated to the particles to be measured, a light intensity distribution pattern of diffracted light or scattered light is generated spatially, and this light intensity pattern has a corresponding relationship with the particle diameter, so the particle diameter and particle diameter distribution are measured. it can.
Here, the particle size and particle size distribution in the present invention are obtained from a volume-based distribution. Specifically, using a Mastersizer2000 (Malvern Instruments Ltd.) measuring instrument, particles are introduced into a nitrogen stream, and the attached analysis software (software based on volume-based distribution using Mie theory) The diameter and particle size distribution can be measured.

Furthermore, the image display device with a sound generation function of the present invention uses a panel unit that moves particles in a gas space (including a vacuum space), and the state management of the voids surrounding the particles enclosed in the panel unit is possible. It is important and contributes to improved display stability and stable sound generation. Specifically, it is important that the relative humidity at 25 ° C. is 60% RH or less, preferably 50% RH or less with respect to the humidity of the void portion. The space may be a vacuum.
The gap portion refers to the electrodes 5 and 6 (when electrodes are provided inside the substrate), the occupied portions of the

display media

3W and 3B, the occupied portions of the ribs 4 (from the portion sandwiched between the opposing substrates 1 and 2) When ribs are provided), the gas portion (including vacuum) in contact with the so-called particles excluding the seal portion of the panel portion is meant.
The gas in the gap is not limited as long as it is in the humidity region described above, but dry air, dry nitrogen, dry argon, dry helium, dry carbon dioxide, dry methane, and the like are preferable. This gas needs to be sealed in the display panel so that the humidity is maintained. For example, the display medium is filled and the display panel is assembled in a predetermined humidity environment. It is important to apply a sealing material and a sealing method to prevent intrusion.
It is also preferable to make the gap in the panel part a vacuum without entering gas. In this case, it is important to improve the sealing performance around the panel and reliably prevent the intrusion of outside air.

In the panel portion of the image display device with an acoustic generation function of the present invention, the distance between the substrate and the substrate is such that the particle group can move to the substrate side, adhere to the substrate, display an image, or collide with the substrate to generate sound. In general, the thickness is adjusted to 10 μm to 500 μm, preferably 10 μm to 200 μm according to the size of the particle group.
The volume occupancy of the particle group in the space between the cells between the substrates is preferably 5 to 50%, more preferably 5 to 40%. If it exceeds 50%, the particle movement is hindered, and if it is less than 5%, the contrast of the displayed image tends to be unclear.

The following two types of particle groups were prepared and sealed between the substrates of the panel portion, and the image display devices with a sound generation function shown in Examples 1 to 8 were produced.

(Black particles)
60 parts by weight of methyl methacrylate monomer (Kanto Chemical Reagent) and 40 parts by weight (about 25 mol%) of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (Wako Pure Chemical Reagent) as a polyfunctional monomer having a plurality of polymerization reactive groups in one molecule 3 parts by weight of a nigrosine compound (Bontron N07: manufactured by Orient Chemical) as a charge control agent for charging and 5 parts by weight of carbon black (special black: manufactured by Degussa) as a black pigment are dispersed by a sand mill (acrylic and methacrylic). ) After purifying 5 parts by weight of a resin-hydrocarbon resin block copolymer (Modiper F600: manufactured by NOF Corporation), further purification by adding 0.5% of 2 ethylene alkyl ether sodium sulfate (Latemul E-118B: manufactured by Kao) Suspended and polymerized in water, filtered and dried, then classifier ( DS-2: Nippon Pneumatic Mfg. Co.) was used to obtain a positively charged black particles having an average particle diameter of 9.2μm. In the examples, this black particle group was used.

(White particles)
100 parts by weight of polymethylpentene polymer (TPX-R18: made by Mitsui Chemicals), 100 parts by weight of titanium dioxide (Taipaque CR-90: made by Ishihara Sangyo Co., Ltd.) as a colorant, and phenol-based condensation as a negatively charged charge control agent 5 parts by weight of the product (Bontron E89: manufactured by Orient Chemical Co., Ltd.) was melt-kneaded with a twin-screw kneader, finely pulverized with a jet mill (Labjet IDS-LJ type: Nippon Pneumatic Industry), and a classifier (MDS-2: The mixture was classified using Nippon Pneumatic Industry, and melt spheronized using a melt spheronizer (MR-10: Nippon Pneumatic Industry) to obtain negatively charged white particles having an average particle size of 9.5 μm. In the examples, this white particle group was used.

<Example 1>
A transparent polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate with a transparent ITO film patterned in stripes (thickness: 125 μm) on a 100 nm thick ITO film with a substrate spacing of 50 μm and a 200 μm × 300 μm matrix A partition wall (rib) having an opening was formed with a width of 30 μm to obtain an observation side panel substrate. After filling the cells so that the white particle group and the black particle group are equal in volume, and the volume occupancy in the cell is 25%, the back side panel substrate is used. A panel portion was prepared by bonding to a PET substrate with an ITO film and a thickness of 125 μm, and an image display device with a sound generation function having the configuration shown in FIG.

<Example 2>
On a transparent glass substrate (thickness: 100 μm) with a transparent ITO film patterned with electrodes in a stripe shape, the substrate spacing is maintained at 50 μm and a 200 μm × 300 μm matrix opening is provided. A partition wall (rib) was formed with a width of 30 μm to obtain an observation side panel substrate. After filling the cells so that the white particle group and the black particle group are equal in volume, and the volume occupancy in the cell is 25%, the back side panel substrate is used. A panel portion was prepared by bonding to a glass substrate with an ITO film and a thickness of 100 μm, and an image display device with a sound generation function having the configuration shown in FIG.

<Example 3>
A transparent glass substrate (thickness: 700 μm) with a transparent ITO film patterned in stripes on a 100 nm thick ITO film, with a substrate spacing of 50 μm, and a 200 μm × 300 μm matrix opening. A partition wall (rib) was formed with a width of 30 μm to obtain an observation side panel substrate. After filling the cells so that the white particle group and the black particle group are equal in volume, and the volume occupancy in the cell is 25%, the back side panel substrate is used. A panel portion was prepared by bonding to a glass substrate with an ITO film and a thickness of 700 μm, and an image display device with a sound generation function having the configuration shown in FIG.

<Example 4>
A transparent polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate with a transparent ITO film patterned in stripes (thickness: 125 μm) on a 100 nm thick ITO film with a substrate spacing of 50 μm and a 200 μm × 300 μm matrix A partition wall (rib) having an opening was formed with a width of 30 μm to obtain an observation side panel substrate. A white particle group and a black particle group are filled in each cell in equal volume amounts so that the volume occupancy in the cell is 25%, and then attached to a glass substrate having a thickness of 700 μm as a back side panel substrate. In addition, a panel portion was produced, and an image display device with a sound generation function having the configuration shown in FIG. 2 was produced in combination with the drive voltage generating means.

<Example 5>
On a transparent glass substrate (thickness: 100 μm) with a transparent ITO film patterned with electrodes in a stripe shape, the substrate spacing is maintained at 50 μm and a 200 μm × 300 μm matrix opening is provided. A partition wall (rib) was formed with a width of 30 μm to obtain an observation side panel substrate. After filling the cells so that the white particles and black particles are equal in volume, and the volume occupancy in the cell is 25%, it is bonded to a glass substrate with a thickness of 100 μm as the back side panel substrate. A panel portion was manufactured, and an image display device with a sound generating function having the configuration shown in FIG. 2 was manufactured in combination with the drive voltage generating means.

<Example 6>
A transparent glass substrate (thickness: 700 μm) with a transparent ITO film patterned in stripes on a 100 nm thick ITO film, with a substrate spacing of 50 μm, and a 200 μm × 300 μm matrix opening. A partition wall (rib) was formed with a width of 30 μm to obtain an observation side panel substrate. A white particle group and a black particle group are filled in the cell in equal volume amounts so that the volume occupancy in the cell is 25%, and then bonded to a glass substrate having a thickness of 700 μm as a back side panel substrate. A panel portion was manufactured, and an image display device with a sound generating function having the configuration shown in FIG. 2 was manufactured in combination with the drive voltage generating means.

<Example 7>
On a transparent glass substrate (thickness: 700 μm) provided with a transparent ITO film as a common electrode, on a 100 nm-thick ITO film, a partition having a matrix-shaped opening of 200 μm × 300 μm is maintained with a substrate spacing of 50 μm ( Ribs) were formed with a width of 30 μm to obtain an observation side panel substrate. The pixel electrode with TFT, which is used as the back side panel substrate, is filled on the glass substrate after filling the cell so that the white particle group and the black particle group are equal volume by volume and the volume occupancy in the cell is 25%. A panel portion was prepared by bonding to the formed TFT substrate having a thickness of 700 μm, and an image display device with a sound generation function having the configuration shown in FIG.

<Example 8>
On a transparent glass substrate (thickness: 700 μm) provided with a transparent ITO film as a common electrode, on a 100 nm-thick ITO film, a partition having a matrix-shaped opening of 200 μm × 300 μm is maintained with a substrate spacing of 50 μm ( Ribs) were formed with a width of 30 μm to obtain an observation side panel substrate. The pixel electrode with TFT, which is used as the back side panel substrate, is filled on the glass substrate after filling the cell so that the white particle group and the black particle group are equal volume by volume and the volume occupancy in the cell is 25%. A panel portion was fabricated by bonding to the formed TFT substrate having a thickness of 700 μm, and an image display device with a sound generation function having the configuration shown in FIG. 2 was fabricated in combination with the drive voltage generating means.

When image display and sound generation were performed in the image display devices with sound generation functions of Examples 1 to 8, image display and sound generation could be performed with any image display device with sound generation function. These devices were able to generate sounds in the range of about 1.5 octaves.

In the image display devices with sound generation functions of Examples 1 to 6, the image formation drive voltage generation means and the sound generation drive voltage generation means are about 5 mm thick. It was possible to obtain a thin image display device with a sound generation function to which a thickness of about 5 mm of the drive voltage generation means and the sound generation drive voltage generation means was added.

Further, in the image display devices with sound generation functions of the first and second embodiments and the fourth and fifth embodiments, the panel portion serving as the image display portion and the sound generation portion is configured flexibly. By constructing the image forming drive voltage generating means and the sound generating drive voltage generating means constructed on the flexible substrate, not only the image display section and the sound generating section but also the entire image display apparatus with a sound generating function assembled. Was able to bend.

The image display device with a sound generation function of the present invention is not an image display device integrated with a sound generation device in which the image display device and the sound generation device are combined, but the image display device is configured in the image display device. In addition to the image display, sound generation can be executed by providing a sound generation function using a member that performs the above function. Therefore, in the application to which the conventional image display device is applied, the image display device with a sound generation function of the present invention can be suitably applied when it is desired to generate sound in addition to image display. As electronic paper, a voice explanation can be given to the displayed image, or a beep sound can be generated to notify that the rewrite mode is entered when the screen rewrite switch is pressed.

The image display device with an acoustic derivation function of the present invention includes a notebook computer, an electronic notebook, a portable information device called PDA (Personal Digital Assistants), a display unit of a mobile device such as a mobile phone, a handy terminal, an electronic book, an electronic newspaper, etc. Electronic paper, signboards, posters, bulletin boards such as blackboards (whiteboards), electronic desk calculators, display units for home appliances, automotive supplies, card display units such as point cards, IC cards, electronic advertisements, information boards, electronic POPs (Point Of Presence, Point Of Purchase advertising), electronic price tag, electronic shelf label, electronic score, display part of RF-ID device, as well as display part of various electronic devices such as POS terminal, car navigation device, clock In addition to being used, it is also suitable for use as a display unit (rewritable paper) for rewriting display by connecting to external rewriting means And is particularly suitable as an image display device having a panel portion having a display memory property for displaying an image by moving charged particles in a gas or in a vacuum.
As a driving method of the image display device with a sound generating function of the present invention, a dynamic driving method and a segment driving method can be applied in addition to a passive driving method and an active driving method.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 1st panel substrate 2 2nd panel substrate 3W White particle group 3Wa Negatively charged white particle 3B Black particle group 3Ba Positively charged black particle 4 Rib 5 1st stripe electrode 6 2nd stripe electrode 9 Adhesive 11 Panel part 21 Image formation drive voltage generation means 22, 33 CPU
23 Graphic Controller 24-1 First Driver IC
24-2 Second Driver IC
31 Sound Generation Drive Voltage Generating Unit 32 Sound Source 34 Signal Processing Unit 35 Amplifier 36-1 First Selector 36-2 Second Selector 41 Case

Claims

At least two types of particles are sealed between two electrode-attached substrates that are transparent at least on the observation side. In an image display device that displays an image by moving a group,
The drive voltage generating means for driving the two types of particle groups generates a drive voltage corresponding to the image to be displayed, and the two types of particle groups are generated by applying the generated drive voltage between the electrode pairs. The image forming drive voltage generation function for displaying the image by moving the image to the substrate side, and the electric field formed by generating the drive voltage for the generated sound and applying the generated drive voltage between the electrode pair, An image display apparatus with a sound generation function, including a sound generation drive voltage generation function for generating sound by moving various types of particle groups to the substrate side.
The image display device with a sound generation function according to claim 1, wherein the drive voltage generation function for image formation and the drive voltage generation function for sound generation are executed by separate drive voltage generation means.
The image display device with a sound generation function according to claim 1, wherein the drive voltage generation function for image formation and the drive voltage generation function for sound generation are executed by one drive voltage generation means.
The sound generation according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the panel formed by facing the two substrates is divided into a region used for image display and a region used for sound generation. Image display device with function.
5. The image display device with a sound generation function according to claim 4, wherein a division position of the region used for the image display and the region used for the sound generation can be changed.
6. The two electrode-attached substrates are respectively an observation-side substrate with a transparent common electrode and a back-side substrate with a TFT pixel electrode, and opposing electrode pairs are arranged in a matrix. The image display device with a sound generation function according to the item.
The two substrates with electrodes are respectively an observation side substrate with a transparent stripe electrode and a back side substrate with a stripe electrode, and electrode pairs formed so that the stripe electrodes are opposed to each other are arranged in a matrix. The image display device with a sound generation function according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
A sound generation drive voltage function for generating a drive voltage corresponding to the generated sound instead of an image formation drive voltage generation function for generating a drive voltage corresponding to the image to be displayed when erasing the displayed image The image display device with a sound generation function according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein:
Two types of particle groups in a region where sound is to be generated, particles group including positively charged particles and particles including negatively charged particles, each having a different optical reflectivity, in regions where images are to be displayed Regardless of the two types of particle groups, the particle group includes positively charged particles and two types of particle groups including negatively charged particles. The image display device with a sound generation function according to any one of 8.