Printed electrochromic digital display and processing method

Abstract

The present invention relates to a printed electrochromic digital display and a processing method. The display comprises a lower substrate layer, an electrode layer, an ion conductive layer, an electron transport layer, a color-changing layer, and an upper substrate layer. The electrode layer is disposed on the lower substrate layer. A digital tube circuit for displaying digital images is disposed on the electrode layer. The ion conductive layer for transporting ions is disposed on top of the electrode layer. The electron transport layer for transferring electrons to the color-changing layer is disposed on top of the ion conductive layer. The color-changing layer is disposed on top of the electron transport layer. The upper substrate layer is disposed on top of the color-changing layer. The digital tube circuit is a common cathode display digital tube, and a cathode electrochromic material is disposed on the color-changing layer. The electrochromic device is manufactured using a fully printed process, which has low energy consumption, good visual effects, and a simple process. A fixed-pattern digital tube display does not require a TFT backplane; a simple upper and lower printed circuit is sufficient, reducing costs.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of printed electronic technology, and in particular to a printed electrochromic digital display and a processing method thereof. Background Art

[0002] Traditional digital tube components on the market are generally LED digital tubes. These display devices display by controlling the on / off of individual small lights. This is done by controlling the LED light, resulting in relatively high power consumption. Another type is liquid crystal digital tubes, which use two polarizers in front and behind the liquid crystal panel to display numbers through the deflection of the liquid crystal. Both types of digital tubes are rigid components and relatively expensive. However, with the recent rise of flexible electronics, many wearable electronic devices require flexible displays, and digital tubes, as a common component, will continue to be in high demand. OLED technology is currently the leading flexible display technology. While OLED technology has many advantages, it also comes with high cost and power consumption, making it unsuitable for products that only need to display numbers. Another flexible display technology is E-ink electronic paper. This product also requires a TFT array for its backplane, and its flexible nature makes it very costly. Therefore, both traditional rigid digital tubes and current flexible display devices have significant limitations in terms of functionality and cost. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The present invention provides a printed electrochromic digital display and a processing method thereof, aiming to solve the problem that existing digital display devices have limitations in electrochromic function and cost.

[0004] The present invention provides a printed electrochromic digital display, comprising a lower substrate layer, an electrode layer, an ion conductive layer, an electron transport layer, a color changing layer and an upper substrate layer, wherein the electrode layer is arranged on the lower substrate layer, a digital tube circuit for displaying numbers is provided on the electrode layer, the ion conductive layer for transmitting ions is provided on the top of the electrode layer, the electron transport layer for transmitting electrons to the color changing layer is provided on the top of the ion conductive layer, the color changing layer is provided on the top of the electron transport layer, the upper substrate layer is provided on the top of the color changing layer, the digital tube circuit is a common cathode display digital tube, and a cathode electrochromic material is provided on the color changing layer.

[0005] As a further improvement of the present invention, an ion-conductive, electronically insulating electrolyte is filled between the positive electrode and the cathode of the digital tube circuit, and the electrolyte is a white ether electrolyte.

[0006] As a further improvement of the present invention, a graphic block consistent with the graphics of the digital tube is provided on the upper substrate layer.

[0007] As a further improvement of the present invention, the electron transport layer is coated with conductive ink, and the conductive ink is used to conduct electrons away when reverse current is applied.

[0008] As a further improvement of the present invention, the upper substrate layer is coated with white insulating ink.

[0009] The present invention also provides a method for processing a printed electrochromic digital display, comprising the following steps:

[0010] S1: Plasma-treating the upper and lower substrate layers, and heat-treating them for half an hour;

[0011] S2: Printing the conductive material and the digital tube circuit on top of the lower substrate layer through a roll-to-roll screen printing process to form the electrode layer, and then rolling it up after sintering and curing;

[0012] S3: The upper substrate layer is printed with white insulating ink through a roll-to-roll screen printing process to form the pattern blocks, and then rolled up after heat drying;

[0013] S4: printing the color-changing ink on the bottom of the upper substrate layer after being rolled up in step S3 through a roll-to-roll screen printing process to form the color-changing layer, and then rolling it up after curing;

[0014] S5: The upper substrate layer wound up in step S4 is subjected to a roll-to-roll screen printing process to print conductive ink on top of the color-changing layer to form the electron transport layer, and the layer is wound up after curing;

[0015] S6: The lower substrate layer after being rolled up in step S2 is subjected to a roll-to-roll screen coating process, and the electrolyte is coated on the electrode layer to form the ion conductive layer. After curing, the lower substrate layer is composited with the corresponding position of the upper substrate layer after being rolled up in step S5 through a roll-to-roll roller, and the composited material is die-cut into shape.

[0016] As a further improvement of the present invention, in step S1, the heat treatment temperature is 120 degrees.

[0017] As a further improvement of the present invention, in step S2, the film is fully sintered and solidified at 120 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes before being rolled up.

[0018] As a further improvement of the present invention, in step S3, the heat-baking temperature is 80 degrees Celsius, and the heat-baking time is 5 minutes; in step S4, the heat-baking temperature is 120 degrees Celsius, and the heat-baking time is 5 minutes.

[0019] As a further improvement of the present invention, in step S5, the curing temperature is 120 degrees Celsius and the curing time is 15 minutes; in step S6, the curing temperature is 120 degrees Celsius and the curing time is 15 minutes.

[0020] The beneficial effects of the present invention are: the electrochromic device is prepared by a full printing process, with low energy consumption, good visual effect, simple process, and a fixed pattern digital tube display that does not require a TFT backplane. Simple upper and lower printed circuits are sufficient, which reduces costs. No driving circuit is required, and color can be changed by directly connecting to a low-voltage DC power supply, which is more convenient. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] Figure 1 is an exploded view of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 It is a flow chart of the processing method of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention more clearly understood, the present invention is further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be noted that the terms "front," "rear," "left," "right," "upper," and "lower" used in the following description refer to directions in the accompanying drawings, and the terms "bottom," "top," "inner," and "outer" refer to directions toward or away from the geometric center of a specific component, respectively.

[0024] like Figure 1 As shown, the present invention provides a printed electrochromic digital display, comprising a lower substrate layer 1, an electrode layer 2, an ion conductive layer 3, an electron transport layer 4, a color changing layer 5 and an upper substrate layer 6, wherein the electrode layer 2 is arranged on the lower substrate layer 1, and a digital tube circuit for displaying numbers is provided on the electrode layer 2, the top of the electrode layer 2 is provided with the ion conductive layer 3 for transmitting ions, the top of the ion conductive layer 3 is provided with the electron transport layer 4 for transmitting electrons to the color changing layer 5, the color changing layer 5 is arranged on the top of the electron transport layer 4, the upper substrate layer 6 is arranged on the top of the color changing layer 5, the digital tube circuit is a common cathode display digital tube, and the color changing layer 5 is provided with a cathode electrochromic material.

[0025] As an embodiment of the present invention, an ion-conductive and electronically insulating electrolyte is filled between the positive electrode and the cathode of the digital tube circuit, and the electrolyte is a white ether electrolyte.

[0026] As another embodiment of the present invention, a graphic block 7 consistent with the graphics of the digital tube is provided on the upper substrate layer 6 .

[0027] As another embodiment of the present invention, the electron transport layer 4 is coated with conductive ink, and the conductive ink is used to conduct electrons away when reverse current is applied.

[0028] As another embodiment of the present invention, the upper substrate layer 6 is coated with white insulating ink.

[0029] like Figure 2 As shown, the present invention also provides a method for processing a printed electrochromic digital display, comprising the following steps:

[0030] S1: Plasma-treating the upper substrate layer 6 and the lower substrate layer 1, and heat-treating them for half an hour;

[0031] S2: Printing the conductive material and the digital tube circuit on top of the lower substrate layer 1 through a roll-to-roll screen printing process to form the electrode layer 2, and then rolling it up after sintering and curing;

[0032] S3: The upper substrate layer 6 is printed with white insulating ink to form the graphic blocks 7 through a roll-to-roll screen printing process, and then rolled up after heat drying;

[0033] S4: The upper substrate layer 6 wound up in step S3 is subjected to a roll-to-roll screen printing process to print a color-changing ink onto the bottom of the upper substrate layer 6 to form the color-changing layer 5, and the layer is wound up after curing;

[0034] S5: The upper substrate layer 6 wound up in step S4 is subjected to a roll-to-roll screen printing process to print conductive ink on top of the color-changing layer 5 to form the electron transport layer 4, and the upper substrate layer 6 is wound up after curing;

[0035] S6: The lower substrate layer 1 after being rolled up in step S2 is subjected to a roll-to-roll screen coating process to coat the electrolyte on the electrode layer 2 to form the ion conductive layer 3. After curing, the lower substrate layer 1 is composited with the corresponding position of the upper substrate layer 6 after being rolled up in step S5 through a roll-to-roll roller, and the composited material is die-cut into shape.

[0036] As another embodiment of the present invention, in step S1, the heat treatment temperature is 120 degrees.

[0037] As another embodiment of the present invention, in step S2, the film is fully sintered and solidified at 120 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes and then rolled up.

[0038] As another embodiment of the present invention, in step S3, the heat-baking temperature is 80 degrees Celsius, and the heat-baking time is 5 minutes; in step S4, the heat-baking temperature is 120 degrees Celsius, and the heat-baking time is 5 minutes.

[0039] As another embodiment of the present invention, in step S5, the curing temperature is 120 degrees Celsius and the curing time is 15 minutes; in step S6, the curing temperature is 120 degrees Celsius and the curing time is 15 minutes.

[0040] The present invention provides a printed electrochromic digital display and processing method. Electrochromic digital tube devices are fabricated on transparent plastic substrates such as PET through roll-to-roll screen printing, roll-to-roll coating, roll-to-roll lamination, and roll-to-roll die-cutting processes. A cathode electrochromic material is used as the color-changing material to produce a common cathode display digital tube. A white ether electrolyte is used as the electrolyte. When unpowered, the entire digital tube displays white. When powered on, signals control the digits 0-9, switching from white to dark blue at will, thus achieving flexible display.

[0041] The digital tube circuit consists of eight circuits, a common cathode and a seven-segment digital tube, corresponding to the eight IO ports of the microcontroller. High and low-level signals control the displayed digital number. The bottom electrode layer 2 adopts a parallel structure, with a certain gap between the positive and negative electrodes. The middle layer is filled with a layer of ion-conducting, electronically insulating electrolyte. Electrons cannot directly flow from the negative electrode to the positive electrode. Instead, they provide electrons to the upper ion-conducting layer 3 and the color-changing layer 5 to produce an electrochemical reaction, achieving the color change effect. Ions are transported to the positive electrode, turning on the corresponding digital tube and displaying the corresponding number. Simultaneously, the transmission of electrons causes the corresponding position of the graphic block 7 on the upper substrate layer 6 to change color. The electron transport layer 4 is coated with the conductive ink. Its main function is to prevent the discoloration of other color-changing tubes in the surrounding area when reverse power is applied and fade, and to conduct electrons away in time. The electron transport layer 4 is provided with tube holes that match the digital tube pattern.

[0042] When making the digital display, the upper substrate layer 6 and the lower substrate layer 1 are first plasma treated to increase the dyne value, which is conducive to printing, and are heat-treated at 120 degrees for half an hour to prevent size shrinkage during heat curing; then, the conductive material and the digital tube circuit are printed on the top of the lower substrate layer 1 through a roll-to-roll screen printing process to form the electrode layer 2, which is fully sintered and cured at 120 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes and then rolled up; white insulating ink is printed on the upper substrate layer 6 through a roll-to-roll screen printing process to form the graphic block 7, which is heat-dried at 80 degrees Celsius for 5 minutes and then rolled up; After the oven curing device, the color-changing ink is printed on the bottom of the upper substrate layer 6 through a roll-to-roll screen printing process to form the color-changing layer 5. After curing at 120 degrees Celsius for 5 minutes, the film is reeled up. On the upper substrate layer 6, the conductive ink is printed on the top of the color-changing layer 5 through a roll-to-roll screen printing process to form the electron transport layer 4. After printing the electron transport layer 4, it is cured in an oven curing device. Then, a layer of the ion conductive layer 3 is coated on the electrode layer 2 using a roll-to-roll coating process. The ion conductive layer 3 is a gel electrolyte and is not suitable for screen printing, but is suitable for coating. After coating, it is cured in an oven curing device and then roll-to-roll composited with the material of the lower substrate layer 1. The composite device is die-cut to complete the device processing.

[0043] The above is a further detailed description of the present invention in conjunction with specific preferred embodiments, and the specific implementation of the present invention should not be considered to be limited to these descriptions. For those skilled in the art of the present invention, without departing from the concept of the present invention, several simple deductions or substitutions can be made, which should be considered to fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A printed electrochromic digital display, characterized in that: It includes a lower substrate layer, an electrode layer, an ion conductive layer, an electron transport layer, a color changing layer and an upper substrate layer, wherein the electrode layer is provided on the lower substrate layer, a digital tube circuit for displaying numbers is provided on the electrode layer, the ion conductive layer for transmitting ions is provided on the top of the electrode layer, the electron transport layer for transmitting electrons to the color changing layer is provided on the top of the ion conductive layer, the color changing layer is provided on the top of the electron transport layer, the upper substrate layer is provided on the top of the color changing layer, the digital tube circuit is a common cathode display digital tube, and the color changing layer is provided with a cathode electrochromic material; The method for processing the printed electrochromic digital display comprises the following steps: S1: Plasma-treating the upper and lower substrate layers, and heat-treating them for half an hour; S2: Printing the conductive material and the digital tube circuit on top of the lower substrate layer through a roll-to-roll screen printing process to form the electrode layer, and then rolling it up after sintering and curing; S3: The upper substrate layer is printed with white insulating ink to form pattern blocks through a roll-to-roll screen printing process, and then rolled up after heat drying; S4: printing the color-changing ink on the bottom of the upper substrate layer after being rolled up in step S3 through a roll-to-roll screen printing process to form the color-changing layer, and then rolling it up after curing; S5: The upper substrate layer wound up in step S4 is subjected to a roll-to-roll screen printing process to print conductive ink on top of the color-changing layer to form the electron transport layer, and the layer is wound up after curing; S6: The lower substrate layer after being rolled up in step S2 is subjected to a roll-to-roll screen coating process, and the electrolyte is coated on the electrode layer to form the ion conductive layer. After curing, the lower substrate layer is composited with the corresponding position of the upper substrate layer after being rolled up in step S5 through a roll-to-roll roller, and the composited material is die-cut into shape.

2. A printed electrochromic digital display according to claim 1, characterized in that: An ion-conductive and electronically insulating electrolyte is filled between the positive electrode and the cathode of the digital tube circuit, and the electrolyte is a white ether electrolyte.

3. A printed electrochromic digital display according to claim 2, characterized in that: The upper substrate layer is provided with a graphic block consistent with the graphics of the digital tube.

4. A printed electrochromic digital display according to claim 3, characterized in that: The electron transport layer is coated with conductive ink, which is used to conduct electrons away when reverse current is applied.

5. A printed electrochromic digital display according to claim 4, characterized in that: The upper substrate layer is coated with white insulating ink.

6. The printed electrochromic digital display according to claim 1, characterized in that: In step S1, the heat treatment temperature is 120 degrees.

7. A printed electrochromic digital display according to claim 6, characterized in that: In step S2, the film is fully sintered and solidified at 120 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes and then rolled up.

8. The printed electrochromic digital display according to claim 7, characterized in that: In step S3, the heat-baking temperature is 80 degrees Celsius and the heat-baking time is 5 minutes; in step S4, the heat-baking temperature is 120 degrees Celsius and the heat-baking time is 5 minutes.

9. The printed electrochromic digital display according to claim 8, characterized in that: In the step S5, the curing temperature is 120 degrees Celsius and the curing time is 15 minutes; in the step S6, the curing temperature is 120 degrees Celsius and the curing time is 15 minutes.

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