Electronic paper with microcup layer

Abstract

An electronic paper with a micro-cup layer, comprising: a micro-cup layer, a TFT driving layer; the micro-cup layer comprises a micro-cup array, and the micro-cup array comprises micro-cups with at least two special-shaped transparent top covers; the micro-cup layer is located above the TFT driving layer; and the transparent top cover of the micro-cup is concave. The transparent top cover of the micro-cup is concave, the concave transparent top cover can converge reflected light, the light reflection is gathered in the range corresponding to the arc of the concave transparent top cover, the included angle between the incident light and the reflected light is reduced, the angle of light reflection is small, the light is more concentrated, the probability of color deviation and color mixing of the color electronic paper is reduced.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The application belongs to the technical field of display, and particularly relates to an electronic paper with a micro-cup layer. BACKGROUND

[0002] The electronic paper ink screen is a display screen made of electrophoretic display technology, and the effect of displaying images is achieved by driving the electronic paper particles through the continuous application of an electric field of a driving waveform to each pixel point by an IC chip. The electronic paper ink screen display has the characteristics of ultra-low power consumption, low-frequency display and power saving, and has a wide application market in price tags, advertising signs and bus stop signs.

[0003] In the prior art, two-color electronic paper is to encapsulate black and white charged particles in the same capsule structure, and three-color electronic paper is to encapsulate three kinds of charged particles such as black, white and red or black, white and yellow in the same micro-cup structure, and the display effect of black, white and red or black, white and yellow is displayed by controlling the lifting and moving of the black, white and red particles of different charges by an external electric field. However, such color combination obviously cannot meet the demand of displaying more colorful colors.

[0004] The basic structure of the CF color electronic paper is shown in Figure 6 , and includes a TFT substrate or a TFT backplane, an EPD module and a CF color layer (containing RGB color elements). CF is the abbreviation of English "Color Filter", and its Chinese meaning is color filter or color film; the color filter or color film contains RGB color elements, and different colors are displayed by the combination of RGB bright / dim.

[0005] With the urgent demand for color electronic paper, the structure of CF color film + EPD module is an important way to realize the display of color electronic paper, but the current structure has problems of low brightness and low color saturation. In order to solve the problem of low brightness, a white space area is added around the color resistance to improve the pixel display brightness, and the structure is shown in Figure 7 . However, when the CF color film is attached to the EPD, the misalignment of the structure will cause color mixing, and the principle diagram is shown in Figure 7 . At the same time, in the actual production process, the larger the white space area of the product, the more obvious the color deviation phenomenon. The applicant has tried many different technical solutions to solve the above problems, but the effect is not very ideal. Because the micro-cup structure for encapsulating charged particles is usually spherical, the outer surface is a spherical convex surface, and the angle range of the reflected light is very large, and it is difficult to control the direction of the reflected light.

[0006] Glossary:

[0007] EPD is the abbreviation of English "electronic paper display", and its Chinese meaning is electronic paper display.

[0008] TFT is the abbreviation of English "Thin Film Transistor", the Chinese meaning is (thin film field effect transistor); in this application, it refers to that each pixel point on the display is driven by the integrated thin film transistor behind it, so as to realize high speed, high brightness and high contrast display screen information.

[0009] ITO is the abbreviation of English "Indium Tin Oxide", the Chinese meaning is indium tin oxide. In this application, the ITO of electronic paper refers to that the conductive film layer material of the transparent conductive film shielding glass is mainly ITO (indium tin oxide semiconductor) film. SUMMARY

[0010] The technical problem to be solved by the present application is to avoid the above-mentioned technical problems of the spherical encapsulated charged particles in the micro-cup structure, which has a large range of reflected light exit angle and is difficult to control the direction of reflected light. A kind of electronic paper with micro-cup layer is designed, the transparent top cover of micro-cup is concave, the concave transparent top cover can converge reflected light, the incident light and the light emission angle are reduced, the light reflection angle is small, more concentrated, which can reduce the probability of color deviation and color mixing of color electronic paper.

[0011] The technical solution of the present application to solve the above technical problems is an electronic paper with a micro-cup layer, comprising: a micro-cup layer, a TFT driving layer; the micro-cup layer includes a micro-cup array, the micro-cup array includes at least two micro-cups with special-shaped transparent top covers; the micro-cup layer is located above the TFT driving layer; the transparent top cover of the micro-cup is concave.

[0012] The transparent top cover of the micro-cup is a spherical concave structure.

[0013] The transparent top cover of the micro-cup is a triangular concave structure.

[0014] The electronic paper with micro-cup layer further comprises a color film layer, the color film layer is located above the micro-cup layer, the color film layer comprises a color light-transmitting film, and the color film layer partially or entirely covers the micro-cup layer.

[0015] The electronic paper with micro-cup layer further comprises a color film layer, the color film layer is located above the micro-cup layer, the color film layer comprises two color light-transmitting films, and the color light-transmitting films are arranged in an array.

[0016] The electronic paper with micro-cup layer further comprises a color film layer, the color film layer is located above the micro-cup layer, the color film layer comprises three or more color light-transmitting films, and the color light-transmitting films are arranged in an array.

[0017] The electronic paper with the micro-cup layer further comprises a color film layer, the color film layer comprises a pixel color unit array, the pixel color unit array comprises at least two pixel color units, the pixel color unit comprises any two or three of green film, red film and blue film, and a pixel blank area is arranged between the different color films of the pixel color unit.

[0018] The micro-cup layer comprises an upper cover layer, an intermediate layer and a lower cover layer, the intermediate layer comprises at least three intermediate sub-layers, the intermediate sub-layers comprise a hole array, the holes of the intermediate sub-layers are in communication with each other to form micro-cups, and the upper cover layer is made of transparent material.

[0019] The hole center of the intermediate sub-layer comprises a micro-cup transparent top cover made of transparent material.

[0020] The holes are made of non-transparent material, the micro-cups encapsulate charged particles, and the lower cover layer is encapsulated after the charged particles are added.

[0021] The beneficial effect 1 of the technical solution in the application is that the transparent top cover of the micro-cup is concave, the concave transparent top cover can converge reflected light, the light reflection is gathered in the range corresponding to the arc of the concave transparent top cover, the included angle of the incident light and the reflected light is reduced, the angle of light reflection is small, the light is more concentrated, and the probability of color deviation and color mixing of the color electronic paper is reduced.

[0022] The beneficial effect 2 of the technical solution in the application is that after the outer surface of the micro-cup layer is arranged in a spherical concave structure, the focal point of the spherical concave structure is closer to the reflecting surface, so that the reflected light is relatively focused, and the exit range of the reflected light is more easily focused in the vertical direction of the spherical concave structure, thereby greatly reducing the probability of light deviation.

[0023] The beneficial effect 3 of the technical solution in the application is that the triangular concave structure is easy to process, and the reflection angle can be controlled within a certain range. Compared with the micro-cup layer with a spherical outer surface, the exit range of the reflected light of the micro-cup layer with a triangular concave structure is more easily focused, and the probability of light deviation is also greatly reduced.

[0024] The beneficial effect 4 of the technical solution in the application is that the combination of the color light-transmitting film and the concave transparent top cover can reduce the probability of color deviation. One color film can correspond to one concave transparent top cover, so that the reflected light of one concave transparent top cover is discharged from the position corresponding to the color film as much as possible, and the reflected light of each color is ensured to correspond to the position of the corresponding color film, thereby reducing the probability of color deviation.

[0025] The beneficial effect 5 of the technical solution in the application is that the combination of one color color light-transmitting film and the concave transparent top cover can reduce the probability of color deviation and color mixing of two colors.

[0026] The sixth beneficial effect of the technical scheme in the application is that the combination of the three color light-transmitting films and the concave transparent top cover can reduce the probability of color deviation and color mixing of the three colors.

[0027] The seventh beneficial effect of the technical scheme in the application is that one color film can correspond to multiple concave transparent top covers, and the multiple concave transparent top covers can control the reflected light to be emitted from the positions corresponding to the color films as much as possible, so that the combination of the concave transparent top covers can ensure that the reflected light of each color corresponds to the position of the corresponding color film, thereby reducing the probability of color deviation.

[0028] The eighth beneficial effect of the technical scheme in the application is that the pixel color unit is provided with a pixel blank area between different color films. The pixel blank area on the CF color film functions as a collimating hole structure, which can maintain the light-transmitting area of the blank area, reduce the incident light angle, and prevent color mixing.

[0029] The ninth beneficial effect of the technical scheme in the application is that each hole is provided with a micro-cup transparent top cover in the shape of an inverted pyramid made of transparent material, so that the entire micro-cup presents a concave transparent top cover. The above-mentioned layered and stacked mode realizes the concave structure of the micro-cup, so that the structure of the micro-cup layer is easy to realize, the manufacturing cost is reduced, and the reliability is higher. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0030] Figure 1 is a structural schematic diagram of an electronic paper embodiment with a micro-cup layer;

[0031] Figure 2 is a structural schematic diagram of an electronic paper embodiment with a micro-cup layer;

[0032] Figure 3 is a structural schematic diagram of an electronic paper embodiment with a micro-cup layer;

[0033] Figure 4 is a structural schematic diagram of an electronic paper embodiment with a micro-cup layer;

[0034] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of one embodiment of a micro-cup structure;

[0035] Figure 6 is a structural schematic diagram of an electronic paper with a CF color micro-cup layer in the prior art;

[0036] Figure 7 is a structural schematic diagram of an electronic paper with a CF color micro-cup layer in the prior art; the TFT substrate also shows a charged particle color capsule in the electronic paper module with a micro-cup layer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] The embodiments of the present application will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0038] It should be noted that the following description of the preferred embodiments of the present application is merely illustrative and does not limit the application in any way. The description of the preferred embodiments of the present application is merely illustrative of the general principles of the application. The embodiments described in the present application are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, and not all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative labor fall within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0039] In the description of the present application, it should be understood that the terms "center", "longitudinal", "transverse", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", and the like indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, and are only for the purpose of facilitating the description of the present application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the devices or elements referred to must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the present application. In addition, the terms "first", "second", and technical features numbered with Arabic numerals 1, 2, 3, etc., and numbers such as "A" and "B" are only for the purpose of description, and are only for the convenience of explanation, and do not represent the chronological or spatial sequence; cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, the features defined with "first", "second", and technical features numbered with Arabic numerals 1, 2, 3, etc. can explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of the present application, the meaning of "several" is two or more, unless otherwise specifically limited.

[0040] As shown in Figure 1 An embodiment of an electronic paper with a micro-cup layer, the electronic paper module includes: a micro-cup layer, a TFT driving layer; the micro-cup layer includes a micro-cup array, the micro-cup array includes at least two micro-cups with special-shaped transparent top covers; the micro-cup layer is located above the TFT driving layer; the transparent top cover of the micro-cup is concave.

[0041] As shown in Figure 1 An embodiment of an electronic paper with a micro-cup layer, the transparent top cover of the micro-cup is concave, the concave transparent top cover can converge reflected light, the light reflection is collected in the range corresponding to the arc of the concave transparent top cover, and the angle of diffuse reflection is small.

[0042] As shown in Figure 1 An embodiment of an electronic paper with a micro-cup layer, the transparent top cover of the micro-cup is a spherical concave structure. As shown in Figure 6 and Figure 7As shown, in the prior art, the microcup layer with a spherical outer surface has a large emission range of reflected light due to the curvature of the spherical outer surface, which makes it more prone to color shift.

[0043] like Figure 1 As shown, in an embodiment of electronic paper with a microcup layer, the outer surface of the microcup layer is configured as a spherical concave structure. The spherical concave structure makes the focal point closer to the reflective surface, so the reflected light is relatively focused. The emission range of the reflected light is more likely to be focused in the vertical direction of the spherical concave structure, which greatly reduces the probability of light deflection.

[0044] In some embodiments of electronic paper with a microcup layer not shown in the accompanying drawings, the microcup layer includes a microcup layer and a TFT driving layer. The microcup layer includes a microcup array, and the microcup array includes at least two microcups with irregularly shaped transparent top covers. The microcup layer is located above the TFT driving layer. The transparent top cover of the microcup is concave. Embodiments of electronic paper with a microcup layer also include a color filter layer, located above the microcup layer. The color filter layer includes a color-transmitting film, and the color filter layer partially or completely covers the microcup layer. When only one color film is provided, the electronic paper with the microcup layer can exhibit the color and black effect of that color film. The combination of the color-transmitting film and the concave transparent top cover can reduce the probability of color shift.

[0045] In other embodiments of electronic paper with a microcup layer not shown in the accompanying drawings, the microcup layer includes a microcup layer and a TFT driving layer. The microcup layer includes a microcup array, and the microcup array includes at least two microcups with irregularly shaped transparent top covers. The microcup layer is located above the TFT driving layer. The transparent top cover of the microcup is concave. Embodiments of electronic paper with a microcup layer also include a color filter layer located above the microcup layer. The color filter layer includes two colored light-transmitting films arranged in an array. The two colored light-transmitting films can display two colors and their combinations, as well as a black effect. The combination of the two colored light-transmitting films with the concave transparent top cover reduces the probability of color shift and color mixing.

[0046] like Figure 2In the embodiment of the electronic paper with a microcup layer shown, there are microcup layers and a TFT driving layer. The microcup layer includes a microcup array, and the microcup array includes at least two microcup with irregularly shaped transparent top covers. The microcup layer is located above the TFT driving layer. The transparent top cover of the microcup is concave. The embodiment of the electronic paper with a microcup layer also includes a color filter layer, which is located above the microcup layer. The color filter layer includes three or more colored transparent films arranged in an array. The three colored transparent films can display three colors and their combinations, as well as a black effect. The combination of the three colored transparent films with the concave transparent top cover reduces the probability of color shift and color mixing.

[0047] In some embodiments, when a colored film is provided on it, a colored film of one color can correspond to a concave transparent top cover. Such a concave transparent top cover can control the reflected light to be emitted from the position of the corresponding colored film as much as possible, ensuring that the reflected light of each color corresponds to the position of its respective colored film, thereby reducing the probability of color shift.

[0048] In other embodiments, a color filter of one color can correspond to multiple concave transparent top covers. Since each of the multiple concave transparent top covers can control the reflected light to be emitted from the position of its corresponding color filter as much as possible, the combined concave transparent top covers can also ensure that the reflected light of each color corresponds to the position of its respective color filter, thereby reducing the probability of color shift.

[0049] like Figure 2 As shown, in one embodiment of electronic paper with a microcup layer, there are microcup layers and a TFT driving layer; the microcup layer includes a microcup array, and the microcup array includes at least two microcups with irregularly shaped transparent top covers; the microcup layer is located above the TFT driving layer; the transparent top cover of the microcup is concave. Figure 2 As shown, in one embodiment of an electronic paper with a microcup layer, a color filter layer is further included. The color filter layer includes a pixel color unit array, which includes at least two pixel color units. Each pixel color unit includes any two or three of green, red, and blue films. Pixel blank areas are provided between different color films of the pixel color units. By adding pixel blank areas to the CF color filter, the blank areas act as collimating apertures, maintaining the area for light transmission while also reducing the incident light angle and preventing color mixing.

[0050] like Figure 3As shown, in an embodiment of an electronic paper with a microcup layer, the electronic paper module includes: a microcup layer and a TFT driving layer; the microcup layer includes a microcup array, and the microcup array includes at least two microcups with irregularly shaped transparent top covers; the microcup layer is located above the TFT driving layer; the transparent top cover of the microcup is concave. The outer surface of the microcup layer is configured with a triangular concave structure, and the transparent top cover of the microcup is also a triangular concave structure.

[0051] like Figure 3 As shown in the embodiment of an electronic paper with a microcup layer, the triangular concave structure is easy to process, and the reflection angle can be controlled within a certain range. Compared with a microcup layer with a spherical outer surface, the triangular concave structure of the microcup layer makes it easier to focus the emitted light and significantly reduces the probability of light deflection.

[0052] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, in an embodiment of an electronic paper with a microcup layer, a color film of one color can correspond to a concave transparent top cover. Such a concave transparent top cover can control the reflected light to be emitted from the position of its corresponding color film as much as possible, ensuring that the reflected light of each color corresponds to the position of its respective color film, thereby reducing the probability of color shift.

[0053] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, in one embodiment of electronic paper with a microcup layer, the reflected light corresponding to each concave transparent top cover can be transmitted through the corresponding colored film. For example... Figure 4 As shown, due to the concave reflection of the concave transparent top cover, the position of its focal point can coincide with the position of the plane where the color film is located. This not only allows the reflected light to be focused into the corresponding color film, but also makes the light energy more concentrated and the display effect better.

[0054] like Figure 5 As shown, in an embodiment of an electronic paper with a microcup layer, the microcup layer includes an upper capping layer, an intermediate layer, and a lower capping layer; the intermediate layer includes at least three intermediate layers, each intermediate layer including an array of holes, the holes of the intermediate layers being interconnected to form microcups; the upper capping layer is made of a transparent material.

[0055] exist Figure 5 In the illustrated embodiment, the intermediate layers include intermediate layer 1, intermediate layer 2, intermediate layer 3, and intermediate layer 4. For example... Figure 5As shown in an embodiment of the electronic paper with the micro-cup layer, the hole array includes a first hole 101, a second hole 102, and a third hole 103. Each hole is connected to the upper and lower holes to form an independent micro-cup. The center of the middle layer hole includes a micro-cup transparent cover made of transparent material. A micro-cup transparent cover in the shape of an inverted pyramid made of transparent material is arranged above each hole, so that the entire micro-cup has a concave transparent cover. The inverted pyramid shape is as shown in Figure 5 The layered superimposed manner is shown. The layered structure realizes the concave structure of the micro-cup, and the structure of the micro-cup layer is easy to realize, and the manufacturing cost is reduced.

[0056] As shown in Figure 5 An embodiment of the electronic paper with the micro-cup layer is shown, wherein the hole array is made of non-transparent material; the micro-cup encapsulates charged particles, and the lower cover layer encapsulates the charged particles.

[0057] As shown in Figures 1 to 5 The above-described embodiments are merely examples of the present application, and do not limit the patent scope of the present application. Any equivalent structure or equivalent process transformation, or direct or indirect application in other related technical fields, based on the content of the present application, are also included in the patent protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. An electronic paper with a microcup layer, characterized in that, Includes: microcup layer, TFT driving layer; The microcup layer includes a microcup array, and the microcup array includes at least two microcups with irregularly shaped transparent top covers; the microcup layer is located above the TFT driving layer; the transparent top cover of the microcup is concave; The microcup layer includes an upper capping layer, an intermediate layer, and a lower capping layer; the intermediate layer includes at least three intermediate layers, each of which includes an array of pores, and the pores of the intermediate layers are interconnected to form a microcup; the upper capping layer is made of a transparent material. The concave structure of the microcup is achieved by layering and stacking.

2. The electronic paper with a microcup layer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The transparent top cover of the microcup has a spherical concave structure.

3. The electronic paper with a microcup layer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The transparent top cover of the microcup has a triangular concave structure.

4. The electronic paper with a microcup layer according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a color filter layer, which is located above the microcup layer. The color filter layer includes a colored light-transmitting film and partially or completely covers the microcup layer.

5. The electronic paper with a microcup layer according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a color filter layer, which is located above the microcup layer. The color filter layer includes two types of color-transmitting films arranged in an array.

6. The electronic paper with a microcup layer according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a color filter layer, which is located above the microcup layer. The color filter layer includes three or more colored light-transmitting films arranged in an array.

7. The electronic paper with a microcup layer according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a color filter layer, which includes a pixel color unit array. The pixel color unit array includes at least two pixel color units, and the pixel color units include any two or three of the green film, red film, and blue film. Pixel white areas are set between different color films of the pixel color units.

8. The electronic paper with a microcup layer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The central layer of holes includes a microcup-shaped transparent top cap made of transparent material.

9. The electronic paper with a microcup layer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The array of holes is made of a non-transparent material; the microcup contains charged particles, and the lower capping layer is encapsulated after the charged particles are added.

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