Color filter and preparation method thereof, and color electronic paper

Abstract

The present invention provides a color filter and a preparation method thereof, and color electronic paper. The color filter has a plurality of pixel units, each of which is provided with at least two sub-pixels and a filling area surrounding the sub-pixels. The color filter includes a plurality of color-resistance particles, a plurality of support columns, and a protective layer. The color-resistance particles are provided on a substrate and are located in the sub-pixels. The support columns are provided on the substrate and are located in the filling area. The protective layer covers the color-resistance particles and the support columns.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of color electronic paper, and in particular to a color filter and a preparation method thereof, and color electronic paper. Background Art

[0002] Electronic paper is a new type of display material, based on the bistable display technology of electrophoresis principle, with a wide range of uses, and has superior properties such as ultra-low energy consumption, thin as paper, bendable and book-like clarity. It uses black and white, light and dark changes to express text and pictures, and the display effect is very similar to that of real paper books. At present, electronic paper display screens are widely used in electronic readers, electronic price tags, smart cards, watches, mobile phones, industrial instruments, meters, dynamic display billboards and media products.

[0003] There is a technology in the prior art that realizes color display of electronic paper by applying color film. In this technical solution, a color filter needs to be set on the viewing side of the sub-pixel to realize the function of color electronic paper display. In the process of manufacturing the color filter, a protective layer needs to be prepared to fill the gaps between the protective color resists. However, there is a large step difference between the color resist and the substrate, and the protective layer cannot accurately fill all the gaps, resulting in uneven thickness of the color filter, and the reflectivity of the places not filled by the protective layer is prone to differences, which affects the poor display of the color electronic paper. Summary of the invention

[0004] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a color filter and a preparation method thereof, and color electronic paper, so as to solve the technical problem in the prior art that the color electronic paper has poor display due to the protective layer being unable to accurately fill the gaps between the color resists.

[0005] To achieve the above objective, the present invention provides a color filter, wherein the color filter has a plurality of pixel units, each of which is provided with at least two sub-pixels and a filling area surrounding the sub-pixels.

[0006] The color filter comprises a plurality of color-resist particles, a plurality of support columns and a protective layer. The color-resist particles are arranged on a substrate and are located in the sub-pixels. The support columns are arranged on the substrate and are located in the filling area. The protective layer covers the color-resist particles and the support columns.

[0007] Furthermore, the sub-pixels include filter sub-pixels and transparent sub-pixels, each pixel unit is provided with the filter sub-pixel and the transparent sub-pixel, the color-resist particles correspond to the filter sub-pixels, and the transparent sub-pixels are provided with the support column.

[0008] Furthermore, the distribution density of the support pillars in the filling area is less than or equal to the distribution density of the support pillars in the transparent sub-pixels.

[0009] Furthermore, the support column includes a first support column and a second support column, and the volume of the first support column is smaller than the volume of the second support column.

[0010] Furthermore, the first supporting columns and the second supporting columns are arranged on the substrate at intervals.

[0011] Furthermore, the second supporting column is disposed in the transparent sub-pixel, and the first supporting column is arranged around the second supporting column.

[0012] Furthermore, the thickness of the color-resistance particles is less than or equal to the thickness of the support pillars.

[0013] The present invention also provides a method for preparing a color filter, which includes the following steps: providing a substrate, the substrate having a plurality of pixel units, each pixel unit having at least two sub-pixels and a filling area surrounding the sub-pixels; forming color-resistance particles on the substrate in the sub-pixels; forming support columns on the substrate in the filling area; and forming a protective layer on the substrate to cover the color-resistance particles and the support columns.

[0014] Furthermore, the sub-pixel includes a filter sub-pixel and a transparent sub-pixel, the color-resist particles are formed in the filter sub-pixel, and the support column is formed in the transparent sub-pixel.

[0015] The present invention further provides a color electronic paper, which includes the color filter as described above.

[0016] The advantages of the present invention are as follows: a color filter of the present invention increases the contact area between the protective layer and the film layer by preparing a support column on a substrate. The increase in the contact area allows the liquid protective layer to be adsorbed on the surface of the support column through the surface tension and intermolecular forces during the preparation process, thereby increasing the aggregation of the protective layer and the thickness of the film layer after curing, thereby also increasing the uniformity of light reflection in the color filter and the overall light transmittance of the color electronic paper, thereby improving the brightness and display effect of the color electronic paper. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work.

[0018] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of a single pixel unit of the color filter in Example 1 of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the color filter taken along line AA';

[0020] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of a preferred planar structure of a color filter in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the process of preparing a color filter in Example 1 of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of the layered structure of the color filter after step S10 in Example 1 of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 6 Schematic diagram of the layered structure of the color filter after step S20 in Example 1 of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of a single pixel unit of the color filter in Example 2 of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 8 for Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the cross-sectional structure of the color filter taken along line AA';

[0026] Fig. 9 Schematic diagram of a preferred planar structure of a color filter in Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

[0027] Fig.10 Schematic diagram of a preferred planar structure of a color filter in Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

[0028] The components in the figure are shown as follows:

[0029] Color filter 100; Pixel unit 1;

[0030] Sub-pixel 11; Light filtering sub-pixel 11A;

[0031] Transparent sub-pixel 11B; Filling area 12;

[0032] Substrate 110; Color resist particles 120;

[0033] Red filter particles R; Green filter particles G;

[0034] Blue filter particles B; Support column 130;

[0035] A first support column 131; A second support column 132;

[0036] Protective layer 140 . DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] The preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the drawings in the specification to prove that the present invention can be implemented. The embodiments of the invention can fully introduce the present invention to those skilled in the art, making its technical content clearer and easier to understand. The present invention can be embodied through many different forms of embodiments of the invention, and the protection scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments mentioned in the text.

[0038] In the drawings, components with the same structure are indicated by the same numerical reference numerals, and components with similar structures or functions are indicated by similar numerical reference numerals. The size and thickness of each component shown in the drawings are arbitrarily shown, and the present invention does not limit the size and thickness of each component. In order to make the illustration clearer, the thickness of the components is appropriately exaggerated in some places in the drawings.

[0039] In addition, the following descriptions of the various embodiments of the invention are made with reference to the attached diagrams to illustrate specific embodiments of the invention that the present invention can be implemented with. The directional terms mentioned in the present invention, such as "upper", "lower", "front", "back", "left", "right", "inner", "outer", "side", etc., are only with reference to the directions of the attached drawings. Therefore, the directional terms used are for better and clearer description and understanding of the present invention, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the present invention. In addition, the terms "first", "second", "third", etc. are used for descriptive purposes only and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0040] When some components are described as being "on" another component, the component may be directly placed on the other component; there may also be an intermediate component on which the component is placed, and the intermediate component is placed on the other component. When a component is described as being "mounted on" or "connected to" another component, the two may be understood to be directly "mounted on" or "connected", or one component may be indirectly "mounted on" or "connected to" another component via an intermediate component.

[0041] Example 1

[0042] In an embodiment of the present invention, a color electronic paper is provided, wherein the color electronic paper comprises a display film layer and a color filter 100, wherein the display film layer is used to provide a display light source, and the color filter 100 is used to filter a single color display light source into a color light source, thereby realizing color display. The color electronic paper can be applied to display devices such as electronic readers, electronic price tags, smart cards, watches, instruments, and dynamic display billboards.

[0043] The color filter 100 has a plurality of pixel units 1 arranged in an array, such as Figure 1 As shown, each pixel unit 1 has 4 sub-pixels 11 and a filling area 12. The sub-pixels 11 are arranged in an array in the pixel unit 1, and the filling area 12 surrounds and connects each sub-pixel 11. The sub-pixel 11 includes 3 filter sub-pixels 11A and 1 transparent sub-pixel 11B. The filter sub-pixel 11A can filter the light emitted by the display module and change its color. The transparent sub-pixel 11B can directly transmit the light emitted by the display module without changing its color.

[0044] like Figure 2 As shown, the color filter 100 includes a substrate 110 , a plurality of color-resist particles 120 , a plurality of support columns 130 and a protective layer 140 .

[0045] The color resist particles 120 are disposed on a surface of the substrate 110 and include red filter particles R, green filter particles G, and blue filter particles B. Figure 1 As shown, each pixel unit 1 is provided with a red filter particle R, a green filter particle G and a blue filter particle B, and each filter sub-pixel 11A is correspondingly provided with a color resist particle 120. The color filter 100 filters the light emitted by the display module layer into colored light through the color resist particles 120.

[0046] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the support pillars 130 are disposed on the substrate 110 and are evenly distributed in the filling area 12 and the transparent sub-pixel 11B. The protective layer 140 covers the color resist particles 120 and the support pillars 130, fills the gaps between the color resist particles 120 and the support pillars 130 and the gaps between two adjacent support pillars 130, evenly covers the exposed surfaces of each support pillar 130 and each color resist particle 120, and flattens the surface of the color filter 100.

[0047] Specifically, in order to improve the reflectivity of light in the transparent sub-pixel 11B and the overall light transmittance of the color filter 100, the support column 130 and the protective layer 140 are both made of transparent and colorless materials. When preparing the protective layer 140, the liquid protective layer 140 can fully fill the gaps between components and adhere to the surface of the support column 130 through surface tension and intermolecular forces, thereby improving the aggregation of the protective layer 140, thereby increasing the thickness of the protective layer 140 after curing, and improving the surface flatness of the color filter 100.

[0048] Furthermore, the distribution density of the support pillars 130 in the transparent sub-pixel 11B is the same as or different from the distribution density of the support pillars 130 in the filling area 12. Preferably, since the filling surface width of a single transparent sub-pixel 11B is greater than the single border width of the grid-shaped filling area 12, in order to increase the filling effect in the transparent sub-pixel 11B, Figure 3 As shown, the distribution density of the support columns 130 in the transparent sub-pixel 11B is greater than the distribution density of the support columns 130 in the filling area 12 .

[0049] The present invention also provides a method for preparing a color filter 100, which is used to prepare the color filter 100 as described above. The process flow of the method for preparing the color filter 100 is as follows: Figure 4 As shown, it includes the following steps:

[0050] Step S10) forming color resist particles 120 on a substrate 110:

[0051] A substrate 110 is prepared, and the substrate 110 is a glass substrate 110. The substrate 110 has a plurality of pixel units 1, each of which is provided with at least two sub-pixels 11 and a filling area 12 surrounding the sub-pixels 11, and the sub-pixels 11 include a filter sub-pixel 11A and a transparent sub-pixel 11B.

[0052] On one surface of the substrate 110, red filter particles R, green filter particles G and blue filter particles B are sequentially formed by color resist, forming a Figure 5 The color-resist particles 120 are shown. Each pixel unit 1 has a red filter particle R, a green filter particle G and a blue filter particle B, and each color-resist particle 120 is located in a filter sub-pixel 11A.

[0053] Step S20) forming a support layer on the substrate 110:

[0054] A transparent and colorless photosensitive material is coated on the substrate 110 in the filling area 12 and the transparent sub-pixel 11B, and the photosensitive material layer is patterned by exposure, development and other processes to form a Figure 6 The support column 130 shown in FIG. The thickness of the support column 130 is greater than or equal to the thickness of the color resist particle 120. Preferably, the thickness of the support column 130 is greater than the thickness of the color resist particle 120 by 0.2 micrometers.

[0055] Step S30) forming a protective layer 140 on the substrate 110:

[0056] A transparent and colorless heat-sensitive material is coated on the substrate 110, and the heat-sensitive material fills the gap between the support column 130 and the color-resistance particle 120 and the gap between two adjacent support columns 130, and covers the exposed surface of each color-resistance particle 120 and support column 130. The layer of heat-sensitive material is cured by high-temperature heating to form a Figure 2 The protective layer 140 described in the above is formed to complete the preparation of the color filter.

[0057] In the embodiment of the present invention, the contact area between the protective layer and the film layer is increased by adding a support column on the substrate coated with the protective layer. During the preparation of the protective layer, the liquid protective layer can be adsorbed on the surface of the support column through surface tension and intermolecular forces, thereby improving the aggregation of the protective layer, and increasing the thickness of the protective layer after curing, improving the uniformity of the thickness of the color filter, and then improving the overall light transmittance of the color filter, and also making the light reflection in the color electronic paper more uniform, improving the display effect of the color electronic paper.

[0058] Example 2

[0059] In an embodiment of the present invention, a color electronic paper is provided, wherein the color electronic paper comprises a display film layer and a color filter 100, wherein the display film layer is used to provide a display light source, and the color filter 100 is used to filter a single color display light source into a color light source, thereby realizing color display. The color electronic paper can be applied to display devices such as electronic readers, electronic price tags, smart cards, watches, instruments, and dynamic display billboards.

[0060] The color filter 100 has a plurality of pixel units 1 arranged in an array, such as Figure 7 As shown, each pixel unit 1 has 4 sub-pixels 11 and a filling area 12. The sub-pixels 11 are arranged in an array in the pixel unit 1, and the filling area 12 surrounds and connects each sub-pixel 11. The sub-pixel 11 includes 3 filter sub-pixels 11A and 1 transparent sub-pixel 11B. The filter sub-pixel 11A can filter the light emitted by the display module and change its color. The transparent sub-pixel 11B can directly transmit the light emitted by the display module without changing its color.

[0061] like Figure 8 As shown, the color filter 100 includes a substrate 110 , a plurality of color-resist particles 120 , a plurality of support columns 130 and a protective layer 140 .

[0062] The color resist particles 120 are disposed on a surface of the substrate 110 and include red filter particles R, green filter particles G, and blue filter particles B. Figure 7As shown, each pixel unit 1 is provided with a red filter particle R, a green filter particle G and a blue filter particle B, and each filter sub-pixel 11A is correspondingly provided with a color resist particle 120. The color filter 100 filters the light emitted by the display module layer into colored light through the color resist particles 120.

[0063] like Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown, the support pillars 130 are disposed on the substrate 110 and are evenly distributed in the filling area 12 and the transparent sub-pixel 11B. The protective layer 140 covers the color resist particles 120 and the support pillars 130, fills the gaps between the color resist particles 120 and the support pillars 130 and the gaps between two adjacent support pillars 130, evenly covers the exposed surfaces of each support pillar 130 and each color resist particle 120, and flattens the surface of the color filter 100.

[0064] The support column 130 includes a first support column 131 and a second support column 132, and the volume of the second support column 132 is greater than the volume of the first support column 131. Figure 7 As shown, the first support column 131 and the second support column 132 are sequentially arranged in the filling area 12 and the transparent sub-pixel 11B at intervals.

[0065] Specifically, in order to improve the reflectivity of light in the transparent sub-pixel 11B and the overall light transmittance of the color filter 100, the support column 130 and the protective layer 140 are both made of transparent and colorless materials. When preparing the protective layer 140, the liquid protective layer 140 can fully fill the gaps between components and adhere to the surface of the support column 130 through surface tension and intermolecular forces, thereby improving the aggregation of the protective layer 140, thereby increasing the thickness of the protective layer 140 after curing, and improving the flatness of the color filter 100.

[0066] Since the filling surface width of a single transparent sub-pixel 11B is greater than the single border width of the grid-shaped filling area 12, in order to increase the filling effect in the transparent sub-pixel 11B, as shown in FIG. Fig. 9 As shown, the first support column 131 is disposed in the filling area 12, and the second support column 132 is disposed in the transparent sub-pixel 11B. Fig.10 As shown, the second support column 132 is located in the middle area of ​​the transparent sub-pixel 11B, and the first support column 131 extends to the edge area of ​​the transparent sub-pixel 11B and surrounds the second support column 132 located in the middle area, thereby forming a transition effect and further improving the filling effect of the protective layer 140.

[0067] The above are all preferred distribution modes of the support pillars in the embodiments of the present invention. The layered structure and preparation method are similar to those of the color filter with uniformly distributed support pillars, so they will not be described in detail here. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0068] In the embodiment of the present invention, the contact area between the protective layer and the film layer is increased by adding a support column on the substrate coated with the protective layer. During the preparation of the protective layer, the liquid protective layer can be adsorbed on the surface of the support column through surface tension and intermolecular forces, thereby improving the aggregation of the protective layer, and increasing the thickness of the protective layer after curing, improving the uniformity of the thickness of the color filter, and then improving the overall light transmittance of the color filter, and also making the light reflection in the color electronic paper more uniform, improving the display effect of the color electronic paper.

[0069] Although the present invention is described herein with reference to specific embodiments, it should be understood that these embodiments are merely examples of the principles and applications of the present invention. It should therefore be understood that many modifications may be made to the exemplary embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. It should be understood that the various dependent claims and features described herein may be combined in a manner different from that described in the original claims. It should also be understood that features described in conjunction with individual embodiments may be used in other described embodiments.

Claims

1. A color filter, characterized in that: There are a plurality of pixel units, each of which is provided with at least two sub-pixels and a filling area surrounding the sub-pixels, the sub-pixels include a filter sub-pixel and a transparent sub-pixel, and each pixel unit is provided with the filter sub-pixel and the transparent sub-pixel; The color filter comprises: Color-resist particles are disposed on a substrate and located in the filter sub-pixel; A support column, provided on the substrate and located in the filling area and the transparent sub-pixel; A protective layer, covering the color-resisting particles and the supporting pillars; The support columns and the protection layer are both made of transparent and colorless materials, and the distribution density of the support columns in the filling area is less than or equal to the distribution density of the support columns in the transparent sub-pixels.

2. The color filter according to claim 1, wherein: The supporting column includes a first supporting column and a second supporting column, and the volume of the first supporting column is smaller than the volume of the second supporting column.

3. The color filter according to claim 2, wherein: The first supporting columns and the second supporting columns are arranged on the substrate at intervals.

4. The color filter according to claim 2, wherein: The second supporting column is disposed in the transparent sub-pixel, and the first supporting column is arranged around the second supporting column.

5. The color filter according to claim 1, wherein: The thickness of the color resist particles is less than or equal to the thickness of the support pillars.

6. A method for preparing a color filter, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: A substrate is provided, wherein the substrate has a plurality of pixel units, each pixel unit is provided with at least two sub-pixels and a filling area surrounding the sub-pixels, the sub-pixels include filter sub-pixels and transparent sub-pixels, and each pixel unit is provided with the filter sub-pixel and the transparent sub-pixel; forming color-resist particles on a substrate in the filter sub-pixel; Forming support columns on the substrate in the filling area, forming the support columns in the transparent sub-pixels, wherein the distribution density of the support columns in the filling area is less than or equal to the distribution density of the support columns in the transparent sub-pixels; A protective layer covering the color-resistance particles and the support pillars is formed on the substrate, and both the support pillars and the protective layer are made of transparent and colorless materials.

7. A color electronic paper, characterized in that: Comprising the color filter as described in any one of claims 1 to 5.

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