Reflective e-book device and method of filling the same

Abstract

The application provides a reflective electronic book device and a filling method thereof, which comprises a color filter substrate and an array substrate, the color filter substrate is provided with a plurality of two-side sealant frames, the inner sides of the two sealant frames are provided with pixel barriers, and one side of the pixel barriers is provided with auxiliary pixel barriers. The combination of vacuum and high-pressure extrusion is used to press the box body, the overall structure is turned over, the electronic ink can be packaged into the box body in a short time, the volatilization of the solvent is reduced, the diffusion of the electronic ink between the pixels can be realized through vacuum extraction after packaging, the high-temperature viscous glue and the inner barrier are adhered together through high temperature, the box body is sealed, the leakage of the electronic ink is avoided, the absolute sealing of the pixels is realized through the pressurizing mode of the box body, and the particle crosstalk between the pixels is prevented.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of reflective devices, in particular to a reflective electronic book device and a filling method thereof. Background Art

[0002] Reflective display devices utilize ambient light for display, and the current method used for reflective displays is electronic ink reflective displays. Stable electronic ink screen technology currently has a relatively high cost. Stable electronic ink purchases electronic paper film materials from upstream suppliers, such as E Ink, and integrates them onto the driver backplane in the form of patches. The film material cost accounts for 35% of the total module, making stable electronic ink costs relatively high. To reduce costs, an electronic paper display structure is used, with a bottom reflective layer introduced to increase the horizontal electric field, control the lateral aggregation of black or white particles, increase reflection, and improve reflectivity.

[0003] The current electronic ink filling process used in electronic paper display structures is a vacuum-packed process. Due to the rapid evaporation rate of the electronic ink solvent, the electronic ink must be packaged into the box in a short period of time. However, this short time can lead to insufficient diffusion of the electronic ink, resulting in uneven electronic ink content within the pixel. This uneven amount of electronic ink within the pixel directly leads to color display issues. Because the amount of electronic ink affects the depth of color, the difference in ink volume within the pixel can also negatively affect contrast, resulting in reduced contrast. This can also reduce the effective resolution of the screen, resulting in resolution loss and display content drift. To address this issue, we propose a reflective electronic book device and its filling method to address these issues. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention provides a reflective electronic book device and a filling method thereof, which solves the problem that when the electronic ink filling process is vacuum box-to-box, the electronic ink solvent volatilization rate is relatively fast, and the electronic ink needs to be packaged into the box in a relatively short time, resulting in insufficient diffusion of the electronic ink and uneven amount of electronic ink in the pixel, which leads to uneven color, reduced contrast, impaired resolution and drift of displayed content.

[0005] In order to solve the above technical problems, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is: a reflective electronic book device and a filling method thereof, including a color filter substrate and an array substrate, frame sealing glue is provided on both sides of the color filter substrate, pixel retaining walls are provided on the inner sides of the two frame sealing glues, and an auxiliary pixel retaining wall is provided on one side of the pixel retaining wall.

[0006] In a preferred solution, a high-temperature adhesive is provided between the two auxiliary pixel retaining walls, and the high-temperature adhesive is installed on the color filter substrate. The pixel retaining wall and the auxiliary pixel retaining wall have the same height.

[0007] The cross section of the inner retaining wall is 6~10um, the height of the pixel retaining wall is 28~30um, and the diameter of the silicon ball is 35~37um.

[0008] In a preferred solution, an inner retaining wall is provided on the array substrate, the inner retaining wall is a plurality of array grids, and electronic ink is provided in the grids of the array of the inner retaining wall.

[0009] In a preferred solution, the electronic ink includes a plurality of black particles and a plurality of white particles, and one end of the inner retaining wall is in contact with the high-temperature adhesive.

[0010] In a preferred solution, the frame sealant includes a plurality of silicon balls, and the diameter of the silicon balls is greater than the height of the pixel retaining wall.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the pixel retaining wall includes two half-pixel retaining walls, and the auxiliary pixel retaining wall includes two half-auxiliary pixel retaining walls, one half-pixel retaining wall and one half-auxiliary pixel retaining wall are located on the color filter substrate, and the other half-pixel retaining wall and the other half-auxiliary pixel retaining wall are located on the array substrate;

[0012] In a preferred solution, the height of the half-pixel retaining wall on the color filter substrate is greater than that of the half-pixel retaining wall on the array substrate, and the half-pixel retaining wall and the half-auxiliary pixel retaining wall on the same substrate have the same height.

[0013] A method for filling a reflective electronic book device is characterized by: S1, applying sealant to a color filter substrate and dripping electronic ink onto an array substrate: dripping electronic ink into multiple grids of an inner retaining wall; after dripping the electronic ink, quickly completing the box packaging; and then applying sealant to both sides of the color filter substrate;

[0014] S2. Aligning and pressing the upper and lower substrates: After the color filter substrate and array substrate are loaded into the alignment equipment, the vacuum is pumped to 100 Pa to eliminate bubbles in the display unit after alignment. The color filter substrate and array substrate are aligned and pressed together to achieve alignment and packaging. Because the diameter of the silicon balls in the frame sealant is larger than the height of the pixel retaining wall, the edge of the color filter substrate is propped up after alignment.

[0015] S3, UV and heat curing of the frame sealant: After the box is assembled, the entire structure is turned over, and the frame sealant is cured with UV light from the array substrate side. The frame sealant is then placed in a vacuum oven for heat curing to achieve edge sealing of the box.

[0016] S4. Evacuate the entire structure and diffuse the electronic ink: Place the assembled structure into a vacuum furnace and evacuate to low pressure. The vacuum inside the box is then high pressure, which creates outward pressure. This separates the pixel retaining wall from the color filter substrate, creating gaps, allowing the electronic ink to diffuse between the pixels.

[0017] S5. Heat and pressurize the box to ensure absolute sealing: After the electronic ink has diffused for 30-60 minutes, place the entire structure in a heat press, set the pressure to high pressure, and the temperature to high temperature;

[0018] The inner retaining wall is inserted with high temperature adhesive and is bonded with the high temperature adhesive;

[0019] S6. Cut the box and remove the frame sealant: remove the edge frame sealant to remove its support function;

[0020] S7. Heat and pressurize the box to flatten the entire structure so that the box thickness is uniform: place the cut entire structure into a heat press and set the temperature to high to achieve uniform distance between pixels.

[0021] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: the device drips electronic ink into the grid of the inner retaining wall on the array substrate when the color filter substrate and array substrate are separated as a whole. The box body is then pressed together by designing a combination of vacuum and squeezing the upper and lower substrates. By flipping the overall structure, the electronic ink can be encapsulated into the box body in a relatively short time, reducing solvent volatilization. After encapsulation, the electronic ink can be diffused between pixels by vacuuming. Later, vacuuming is performed again to ensure uniform diffusion of the electronic ink between pixels. At the same time, high-temperature adhesive is introduced between the color filter substrate and the array substrate. When the color filter substrate and the array substrate are vacuumed and pressed together under high pressure, the high temperature adhesive is bonded to the inner retaining wall by high temperature, maintaining the box body sealed and preventing leakage of the electronic ink. At the same time, pressurizing the box body achieves absolute sealing of the pixels and prevents particle crosstalk between pixels.

[0022] The frame sealant consists of multiple silicone spheres, each with a diameter larger than the height of the pixel retaining wall, to prevent electronic ink from leaking from the housing. By adding an auxiliary pixel retaining wall structure inside the pixel retaining wall, uneven force applied to the pixel retaining wall due to gaps between the retaining wall and the frame sealant is avoided, improving pressure uniformity. Furthermore, the auxiliary pixel retaining wall structure prevents uneven penetration of the high-temperature adhesive into the inner retaining wall during pressurization and high-temperature bonding, which could lead to uneven pixel spacing.

[0023] The overall structure can encapsulate the electronic ink into the box in a short time, and at the same time can fully diffuse the ink to make the amount of electronic ink in the pixel uniform, avoiding the problems of uneven color, reduced contrast, impaired resolution and display content drift caused by uneven amount of electronic ink in the pixel, and has great promotion value. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments;

[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the present invention, coating the frame sealant and adding electronic ink;

[0026] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the vacuum-evacuated upper and lower substrates of the overall structure of the present invention being pressed together;

[0027] Figure 3 Schematic diagram of thermal curing of the integral structure frame sealant of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of vacuuming the overall structure of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of heating and pressurizing the overall structure of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 6 It is a schematic diagram of the cutting of the overall structure of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 7 It is a schematic diagram of heating and pressurizing the overall structure of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 8 It is a schematic diagram of the local structure of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 9 This is another schematic diagram of a structure in which there are two pixel retaining walls in the overall structure of the present invention;

[0034] In the figure: color filter substrate 1; array substrate 2; frame sealing glue 3; pixel retaining wall 4; auxiliary pixel retaining wall 5; high-temperature viscous glue 6; inner retaining wall 7; electronic ink 8; black microparticles 801; white microparticles 802; vacuum furnace 9; hot press 10. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] Example 1:

[0036] like Figure 1-9 A reflective electronic book device and its filling method are disclosed, comprising a color filter substrate 1 and an array substrate 2. Frame sealants 3 are provided on both sides of the color filter substrate 1. Pixel retaining walls 4 are provided on the inner sides of both frame sealants 3, and auxiliary pixel retaining walls 5 are provided on one side of the pixel retaining walls 4. With this structure, the device drips electronic ink 8 onto the grid of the inner retaining walls 7 on the array substrate 2 while the color filter substrate 1 and array substrate 2 are separated. The box body is then pressed together using a combination of vacuum design and compression between the upper and lower substrates. By flipping the overall structure, the electronic ink 8 is quickly sealed within the box body, reducing solvent volatilization. After encapsulation, vacuuming can be used to diffuse the electronic ink 8 between pixels. Later, the electronic ink 8 is evenly diffused between the pixels by vacuuming again. At the same time, high-temperature adhesive 6 is introduced between the color filter substrate 1 and the array substrate 2. When the color filter substrate 1 and the array substrate 2 are pressed together under vacuum and high pressure, high temperature is used to adhere the high-temperature adhesive 6 and the inner barrier wall 7 together, keeping the box sealed and preventing leakage of the electronic ink 8. At the same time, the box is pressurized to achieve absolute sealing of the pixels and prevent particle crosstalk between pixels.

[0037] The frame sealant 3 comprises multiple silicon spheres, each with a diameter greater than the height of the pixel retaining walls 4, to prevent electronic ink 8 from leaking from the case. By adding auxiliary pixel retaining walls 5 inside the pixel retaining walls 4, uneven force on the pixel retaining walls 4 due to the gap between them and the frame sealant 3 is avoided, improving pressure uniformity. Furthermore, the auxiliary pixel retaining walls 5 prevent uneven penetration of the high-temperature adhesive 6 and the inner retaining wall 7 during pressurization and high-temperature bonding, which could lead to uneven pixel spacing.

[0038] The overall structure can encapsulate the electronic ink into the box in a short time, and at the same time can fully diffuse the ink to make the amount of electronic ink in the pixel uniform, avoiding the problems of uneven color, reduced contrast, impaired resolution and display content drift caused by uneven amount of electronic ink in the pixel.

[0039] In a preferred embodiment, a high-temperature adhesive 6 is provided between the two auxiliary pixel retaining walls 5 , and the high-temperature adhesive 6 is installed on the color filter substrate 1 , and the pixel retaining wall 4 and the auxiliary pixel retaining wall 5 have the same height;

[0040] The cross section of the inner retaining wall 7 is 6~10um, the height of the pixel retaining wall 4 is 28~30um, and the diameter of the silicon ball is 35~37um. With this structure, the pixel retaining wall 4 and the auxiliary pixel retaining wall 5 are of the same height.

[0041] After electronic ink 8 is dripped, the rapid evaporation rate of the solvent requires a relatively short time to seal the box. However, due to the short residence time, diffusion is uneven, and diffusion is difficult due to obstruction by the pixel retaining walls 4, auxiliary pixel retaining walls 5, and inner retaining walls 7. The color filter substrate 1 is coated with a sealant 3. The diameter of the silicon spheres in the sealant 3 must be greater than the height of the pixel retaining walls 4, so the diameter of the silicon spheres is selected to be 35-37 μm. The color filter substrate 1 is designed with auxiliary pixel retaining walls 5, which are designed to be the same height as the pixel retaining walls 4. Without the auxiliary pixel retaining walls 5, the gap between the sealant 3 and the pixel retaining walls 4 would result in uneven pressure on the pixel retaining walls 4. When the high-temperature adhesive 6 is pressed together to bond to the inner retaining walls 7, the retaining walls would penetrate the adhesive to varying depths, resulting in uneven spacing between pixels. This can lead to uneven color, reduced contrast, impaired resolution, and display drift.

[0042] In a preferred embodiment, an inner barrier wall 7 is provided on the array substrate 2. The inner barrier wall 7 is a grid of a plurality of arrays, and electronic ink 8 is provided in the grids of the array of the inner barrier wall 7. With this structure, the electronic ink 8 is dripped into each grid of the array.

[0043] In a preferred embodiment, the electronic ink 8 includes a plurality of black particles 801 and a plurality of white particles 802 , and one end of the inner retaining wall 7 is in contact with the high-temperature adhesive 6 .

[0044] In the preferred embodiment, the frame sealant 3 includes multiple silicon spheres, each with a diameter greater than the height of the pixel retaining walls 4. With this structure, the diameter of the silicon spheres in the frame sealant 3 must be greater than the height of the pixel retaining walls 4, so the diameter of the silicon spheres is selected to be 35-37 μm. Auxiliary pixel retaining walls 5 are designed on the color filter substrate 1, and their height is the same as that of the pixel retaining walls 4.

[0045] Example 2:

[0046] Further described with reference to Example 1: A filling method for a reflective electronic book device is characterized by: S1, applying sealant 3 to a color filter substrate 1, and dripping electronic ink 8 onto an array substrate 2; dripping electronic ink 8 into multiple grids of an inner retaining wall 7; after dripping electronic ink 8, quickly completing the box packaging, and then applying sealant 3 to both sides of the color filter substrate 1;

[0047] After electronic ink 8 is dripped, the rapid evaporation rate of the solvent requires a relatively short time to complete the packaging process. However, due to the short residence time, diffusion is uneven, and diffusion is difficult due to obstruction by the pixel retaining walls 4, auxiliary pixel retaining walls 5, and inner retaining walls 7. The color filter substrate 1 is coated with a sealant 3, where the diameter of the silicon spheres in the sealant 3 must be greater than the height of the pixel retaining walls 4, so the diameter of the silicon spheres is selected to be 35-37 μm. The color filter substrate 1 is designed with auxiliary pixel retaining walls 5, which are designed to be the same height as the pixel retaining walls 4. Without the auxiliary pixel retaining walls 5, the gap between the sealant 3 and the pixel retaining walls 4 would result in uneven pressure on the pixel retaining walls 4. When the high-temperature adhesive 6 is pressed together to bond to the inner retaining walls 7, the retaining walls would penetrate the adhesive to varying depths, resulting in uneven spacing between pixels.

[0048] S2. Aligning and pressing the upper and lower substrates: After the color filter substrate 1 and array substrate 2 are loaded into the alignment equipment, the vacuum is drawn to 100 Pa to eliminate bubbles in the display unit after alignment. The color filter substrate 1 and array substrate 2 are aligned and pressed together to achieve alignment and packaging. Because the diameter of the silicon balls in the frame sealant 3 is larger than the height of the pixel retaining walls 4, the edges of the color filter substrate 1 are propped up after alignment.

[0049] S3, UV and heat curing of the frame sealant 3: The assembled structure is turned over, and the frame sealant 3 is cured with UV from one side of the array substrate 2, and then sent to a vacuum furnace 9 for heat curing to achieve edge sealing of the box;

[0050] S4. Evacuate the entire structure and diffuse the electronic ink 8: Place the assembled structure into a vacuum furnace 9 and evacuate to low pressure. The vacuum inside the box is high pressure, which generates outward pressure. The pixel retaining wall 4 separates from the color filter substrate 1, creating gaps, and the electronic ink 8 diffuses between the pixels.

[0051] S5. Heat and pressurize the box to ensure absolute sealing: After the electronic ink 8 has diffused for 30-60 minutes, place the entire structure into a heat press 10 and set the pressure to high and the temperature to high.

[0052] The inner retaining walls 7 are all inserted with the high temperature adhesive 6 and are all adhered to the high temperature adhesive 6;

[0053] Set the pressure of the hot press 10 to 1 MPa and the temperature to 100°C. Because the vacuum inside the box is 100 Pa and the high-temperature adhesive 6 softens at 100°C, inward pressure is generated. The inner retaining wall 7 penetrates the high-temperature adhesive 6 on the color filter substrate 1 and adheres to it, achieving a perfect seal between the pixels. Due to the support provided by the frame sealant 3, the inner retaining wall 7 penetrates the color filter substrate 1 to varying depths. The high-temperature adhesive should be 2-5 μm thick and can be made of an acrylic material. It is non-sticky at room temperature but becomes sticky at temperatures ≥100°C. The operating temperature of the high-temperature adhesive 6 must be below 130°C, which is the maximum temperature resistance of the electronic ink 8.

[0054] S6. Cut the box and remove the frame sealant 3: remove the edge frame sealant 3 to remove its support function;

[0055] Since the pixels are sealed by the high-temperature adhesive 6, the electronic ink 8 will not flow out;

[0056] S7. Heat and pressurize the box to flatten the entire structure so that the box thickness is uniform: place the cut entire structure into a hot press 10 and set the temperature to a high temperature to achieve a uniform distance between pixels.

[0057] Example 3:

[0058] Combined with the description of Examples 1 to 2; in the preferred solution, the pixel retaining wall 4 includes two half-pixel retaining walls 401, and the auxiliary pixel retaining wall 5 includes two half-auxiliary pixel retaining walls 501. One half-pixel retaining wall 401 and one half-auxiliary pixel retaining wall 501 are located on the color filter substrate 1, and the other half-pixel retaining wall 401 and the other half-auxiliary pixel retaining wall 501 are located on the array substrate 2.

[0059] In a preferred solution, the height of the half-pixel retaining wall 401 on the color filter substrate 1 is greater than that of the half-pixel retaining wall 401 on the array substrate 2 , and the half-pixel retaining wall 401 and the half-auxiliary pixel retaining wall 501 on the same substrate are of the same height.

[0060] In this device, since the pixel retaining wall 4 and the auxiliary pixel retaining wall 5 are each composed of two components, the support and anti-sealing functions of the pixel retaining wall 4 and the auxiliary pixel retaining wall 5 are jointly exerted by the upper and lower structures. The height of the half-auxiliary pixel retaining wall 501 of the color filter substrate 1 is greater than the height of the half-auxiliary pixel retaining wall 501 on the array substrate 2. The two half-pixel retaining walls 401 and the two half-auxiliary pixel retaining walls 501 can be successfully stacked to form a support.

[0061] The above embodiments are merely preferred technical solutions of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention shall be the technical solutions set forth in the claims, including equivalent alternatives to the technical features of the technical solutions set forth in the claims. In other words, equivalent alternatives and improvements within this scope are also within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A reflective electronic book device, characterized by: It comprises a color filter substrate (1) and an array substrate (2), wherein both sides of the color filter substrate (1) are provided with sealing glue (3), the inner sides of the two sealing glues (3) are provided with pixel retaining walls (4), and one side of the pixel retaining walls (4) is provided with an auxiliary pixel retaining wall (5); A high-temperature adhesive (6) is provided between the two auxiliary pixel retaining walls (5), and the high-temperature adhesive (6) is installed on the color filter substrate (1). The pixel retaining wall (4) and the auxiliary pixel retaining wall (5) are of the same height. The cross section of the inner retaining wall (7) is 6-10 μm, the height of the pixel retaining wall (4) is 28-30 μm, and the diameter of the silicon ball is 35-37 μm; An inner retaining wall (7) is provided on the array substrate (2), the inner retaining wall (7) being a grid of a plurality of arrays, and electronic ink (8) is provided in the grids of the array of the inner retaining wall (7); The electronic ink (8) includes a plurality of black microparticles (801) and a plurality of white microparticles (802), and one end of the inner retaining wall (7) is in contact with the high-temperature adhesive (6); The sealing glue (3) includes a plurality of silicon balls, and the diameter of the silicon balls is greater than the height of the pixel retaining wall (4).

2. The reflective electronic book device according to claim 1, wherein: The pixel retaining wall (4) includes two half-pixel retaining walls (401), and the auxiliary pixel retaining wall (5) includes two half-auxiliary pixel retaining walls (501). One half-pixel retaining wall (401) and one half-auxiliary pixel retaining wall (501) are located on the color filter substrate (1), and another half-pixel retaining wall (401) and another half-auxiliary pixel retaining wall (501) are located on the array substrate (2).

3. The reflective electronic book device according to claim 2, wherein: The height of the half-pixel retaining wall (401) on the color filter substrate (1) is greater than the height of the half-pixel retaining wall (401) on the array substrate (2); the half-pixel retaining wall (401) and the half-auxiliary pixel retaining wall (501) on the same substrate have the same height.

4. The method for filling a reflective electronic book device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: S1, coating the color filter substrate (1) with a sealing glue (3), and dripping electronic ink (8) onto the array substrate (2): dripping electronic ink (8) into a plurality of grids of the inner retaining wall (7), quickly completing the box packaging after the electronic ink (8) is dripped, and then affixing the sealing glue (3) to both sides of the color filter substrate (1); S2, pressing the upper and lower substrates into a box: After the color filter substrate (1) and the array substrate (2) are moved into the box-pressing device, the pressure is evacuated to 100 Pa to ensure that there are no bubbles in the display unit after the box-pressing, and the color filter substrate (1) and the array substrate (2) are pressed together in a aligned manner to achieve box-pressing. Since the diameter of the silicon balls in the sealing glue (3) is larger than the height of the pixel retaining wall (4), the edge of the color filter substrate (1) is propped up after the box-pressing; S3, UV and heat curing of the frame sealant (3): the entire structure after the box is turned over, and the frame sealant (3) is cured with UV from one side of the array substrate (2), and then sent to a vacuum furnace (9) for heat curing to achieve the edge sealing of the box; S4, vacuuming the entire structure and diffusing the electronic ink (8): placing the assembled structure into a vacuum furnace (9), evacuating the structure to a low pressure, and then reducing the vacuum inside the box to a high pressure. The box generates an outward pressure, and the pixel retaining wall (4) is separated from the color filter substrate (1), creating a gap, and the electronic ink (8) diffuses between the pixels; S5. Heat and pressurize the box to make it absolutely sealed: After the electronic ink (8) has diffused for 30-60 minutes, place the entire structure into a hot press (10), set the pressure to high pressure, and the temperature to high temperature; The inner retaining wall (7) is inserted into the high-temperature adhesive (6) and is adhered to the high-temperature adhesive (6); S6. Cut the box and remove the frame sealant (3): remove the edge frame sealant (3) to remove its supporting function; S7. Heat and pressurize the box to flatten the entire structure so that the box thickness is uniform: place the cut entire structure into a hot press (10) and set the temperature to high temperature to achieve uniform distance between pixels.

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