Electrowetting display panel and display equipment
By incorporating a storage slot and magnetic protrusions in the electrowetting display, and combining electric and magnetic fields to control the non-polar liquid, the problem of non-polar liquids crossing the pixel wall is solved, resulting in a more stable display effect and a faster response speed.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-12-11
- Publication Date
- 2026-03-13
AI Technical Summary
In traditional electrowetting displays, non-polar liquids can easily cross pixel walls, leading to display problems and crosstalk between adjacent pixels.
A receiving groove and a magnetic protrusion are set within the pixel area. The distribution of non-polar liquid is controlled by an electric field. The voltage is adjusted by a driving circuit to limit the non-polar liquid in the receiving groove. The magnetic field is used to enhance the limiting effect.
It effectively prevents non-polar liquid spillage, improves display uniformity and response speed, enhances pixel response repeatability and stability, reduces crosstalk, and improves device reliability and durability.
Smart Images
Figure CN121657337A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application belongs to the field of display device technology, and particularly relates to electrowetting display panels and display devices. Background Technology
[0002] Currently, electrowetting displays are commonly used in the fields of electronic paper and e-books. An electrowetting display generally consists of two electrodes, a hydrophobic layer, and a polar liquid and a non-polar liquid filled between the two electrodes. When the electrodes are not energized, the hydrophobic layer repels the polar liquid, allowing the non-polar liquid to cover the surface of the hydrophobic layer. When the electrodes are energized, the distribution of the non-polar liquid can be controlled by an electric field.
[0003] Traditional electrowetting displays typically produce different colors of light by allowing light from an external light source to pass through a colored filter and be reflected when the light-absorbing non-polar liquid contracts. However, traditional electrowetting displays suffer from problems such as non-polar liquid rupture or changes in surface tension causing it to climb over pixel walls, reducing the amount of non-polar liquid within a pixel and even affecting the display of adjacent pixels. Summary of the Invention
[0004] The purpose of this application is to provide an electrowetting display panel and display device, which aims to solve the problem of non-polar liquids crossing the pixel wall in traditional electrowetting displays.
[0005] A first aspect of this application provides an electrowetting display panel, comprising: a first circuit layer, an electrowetting display layer, and a second circuit layer stacked together; the electrowetting display panel is divided into multiple pixel regions, each pixel region including a first electrode, a second electrode, a hydrophobic layer, a pixel wall, and a polar liquid and a non-polar liquid, the first electrode being located on the first circuit layer, the second electrode being located on the second circuit layer, and the first electrode and the second electrode being disposed opposite to each other, the hydrophobic layer covering the side surface of the first circuit layer closest to the second circuit layer, the pixel wall and the hydrophobic layer enclosing a groove structure with an opening facing the second circuit layer, the polar liquid filling between the hydrophobic layer and the second circuit layer, and the non-polar liquid filling the inner side of the groove structure; at least one of the pixel regions has a receiving groove on the pixel wall, the opening of the receiving groove facing the inner side of the groove structure.
[0006] In one embodiment, the pixel region includes a display area and a storage area located on at least one side of the display area, the first electrode is located in the display area, and the storage slot is located in the storage area.
[0007] In one embodiment, the pixel wall includes a retaining wall, a first protrusion, and a second protrusion. The retaining wall is fixed on the first circuit layer. The first protrusion and the second protrusion are located at one end of the retaining wall near the first circuit layer and the other end near the second circuit layer, respectively, to form the receiving groove. The magnetism of the first protrusion is opposite to that of the non-polar liquid, and the magnetism of the second protrusion is the same as that of the non-polar liquid.
[0008] In one embodiment, the pixel walls of adjacent pixel regions are spaced apart.
[0009] In one embodiment, the electrowetting display panel further includes a driving circuit, which is electrically connected to the first electrode and the second electrode, and is used to provide a first voltage and a second voltage to the first electrode and the second electrode respectively, so as to form an electric field between the first electrode and the second electrode.
[0010] In one embodiment, the first circuit layer further includes a third electrode located outside the pixel region, and the third electrode is provided between each of the pixel regions. The third electrode is disposed opposite to the second electrode. The driving circuit is electrically connected to the third electrode and is used to provide the first voltage to the third electrode.
[0011] In one embodiment, the first circuit layer within the pixel region further includes a fourth electrode, which is located within the receiving area. The fourth electrode is spaced apart from the first electrode and is positioned opposite to the second electrode. The driving circuit is also electrically connected to the fourth electrode. When the first electrode and the second electrode form an electric field, the driving circuit applies a second voltage to the fourth electrode. When the first electrode and the second electrode do not form an electric field, the driving circuit applies a third voltage to the fourth electrode, which is greater than the second voltage.
[0012] In one embodiment, the thickness of the hydrophobic layer gradually increases in the direction away from the receiving groove.
[0013] In one embodiment, the electrowetting display panel further includes a first substrate and a second substrate; the first substrate, the first circuit layer, the electrowetting display layer and the second circuit layer are stacked sequentially.
[0014] A second aspect of this application provides a display device including an electrowetting display panel and a driving unit as described above, wherein the driving unit is connected to the electrowetting display panel and is used to provide a driving voltage.
[0015] The beneficial effects of this application embodiment compared to the prior art are as follows: When a voltage is applied to the first and second electrodes, the contact angle between the non-polar liquid and the hydrophobic surface of the hydrophobic layer increases. Under the influence of the electric field, the non-polar liquid contracts, reducing its contact area with the hydrophobic layer. The polar liquid then spreads on the surface of the hydrophobic layer, occupying the area originally covered by the non-polar liquid. At this time, the pixel area displays the color of the hydrophobic layer or the base plate located below it. Simultaneously, due to the presence of the receiving groove, the non-polar liquid is effectively confined within the groove during contraction, preventing it from crossing the pixel wall and entering adjacent pixel areas, thus avoiding crosstalk. Furthermore, the ink flow path can be further optimized by adjusting the depth and position of the receiving groove, thereby improving response speed and display uniformity. Attached Figure Description
[0016] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an electrowetting display panel provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure within one pixel region provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of another structure within one pixel region provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 4 A top view of a pixel wall provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 5 Another top view of a pixel wall provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of another structure within one pixel region provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 7 A top view schematic diagram of the third electrode provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 8 Another top view schematic diagram of the third electrode provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 9 A circuit diagram of a driving circuit provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of another structure within one pixel region provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 11 This is another structural schematic diagram of one pixel region provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of a display device provided in an embodiment of this application.
[0017] Figure Descriptions: 10. Electrowetting display panel; 11. Pixel area; 12. Display area; 13. Storage area; 20. Display device; 30. Driving unit; 100. First circuit layer; 200. Electrowetting display layer; 300. Second circuit layer; 410. First electrode; 420. Second electrode; 430. Hydrophobic layer; 440. Pixel wall; 441. Storage slot; 442. Barrier wall; 443. First protrusion; 444. Second protrusion; 450. Polar liquid; 460. Non-polar liquid; 500. Driving circuit; 510. Voltage comparison module; 520. First switch; 530. Second switch; 540. Boost module; 610. Third electrode; 620. Fourth electrode; 710. First substrate; 720. Second substrate. Detailed Implementation
[0018] To make the technical problems, technical solutions, and beneficial effects to be solved by this application clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and are not intended to limit the scope of this application.
[0019] It should be noted that when a component is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another component, it can be directly on or indirectly on that other component. When a component is referred to as being "connected to" another component, it can be directly connected to or indirectly connected to that other component.
[0020] It should be understood that the terms "length", "width", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application.
[0021] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.
[0022] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of an electrowetting display panel according to an embodiment of this application is shown. For ease of explanation, only the parts relevant to this embodiment are shown, and the details are as follows: An electrowetting display panel 10 includes: a first circuit layer 100, an electrowetting display layer 200, and a second circuit layer 300 stacked together.
[0023] The electrowetting display panel 10 is divided into multiple pixel areas 11, such as Figure 2 As shown, each pixel region 11 includes a first electrode 410, a second electrode 420, a hydrophobic layer 430, a pixel wall 440, and a polar liquid 450 and a non-polar liquid 460. The first electrode 410 is located on the first circuit layer 100, and the second electrode 420 is located on the second circuit layer 300, with the first electrode 410 and the second electrode 420 positioned opposite each other. The hydrophobic layer 430 covers the surface of the first circuit layer 100 near the second circuit layer 300. The pixel wall 440 and the hydrophobic layer 430 enclose a groove structure with an opening facing the second circuit layer 300. The polar liquid 450 is filled between the hydrophobic layer 430 and the second circuit layer 300, and the inner side of the groove structure is filled with the non-polar liquid 460. At least one pixel wall 440 of the pixel region 11 is provided with a receiving groove 441, the opening of which faces the inner side of the groove structure.
[0024] The polar liquid 450 includes an aqueous substance, and the non-polar liquid 460 includes an oily substance. For example, the non-polar liquid 460 may include ink or silicone oil, and the polar liquid 450 may include an aqueous solution of sodium chloride. The specific composition, color, etc. of the polar liquid 450 and the non-polar liquid 460 can be configured according to actual needs, and this embodiment does not limit them.
[0025] It should be noted that, as Figure 2 As shown, when no voltage is applied to the first electrode 410 and the second electrode 420, the contact angle between the non-polar liquid 460 and the hydrophobic layer 430 is smaller. The non-polar liquid 460 covers the surface of the hydrophobic layer 430 within the groove structure, and the non-polar liquid 460 spreads on the surface of the hydrophobic layer 430. At this time, the pixel area 11 displays the color of the non-polar liquid 460; as shown... Figure 3As shown, when a voltage is applied to the first electrode 410 and the second electrode 420, the contact angle between the non-polar liquid 460 and the hydrophobic layer 430 increases. Under the influence of the electric field, the non-polar liquid 460 contracts, reducing its contact area with the hydrophobic layer 430. The polar liquid 450 spreads on the surface of the hydrophobic layer 430, occupying the area originally covered by the non-polar liquid 460. At this time, the pixel area 11 displays the color of the hydrophobic layer 430 or the base plate below it. Simultaneously, due to the presence of the receiving groove 441, the non-polar liquid 460 is effectively confined within the groove during contraction, preventing it from crossing the pixel wall 440 and entering adjacent pixel areas 11, causing crosstalk. Furthermore, the ink flow path can be further optimized by adjusting the depth and position of the receiving groove 441, thereby improving response speed and display uniformity.
[0026] In some embodiments, a reflective base plate may also be provided between the hydrophobic layer 430 and the first electrode 410.
[0027] In some embodiments, the pixel wall 440 is made of a hydrophobic material or the surface of the pixel wall 440 is hydrophobically treated to enhance the ability to confine the nonpolar liquid 460, thereby further suppressing the abnormal diffusion of the nonpolar liquid 460 under the action of an electric field.
[0028] In some embodiments, the storage slot 441 may be provided only on a portion of the pixel wall 440, or the storage slot 441 may be provided on both sides of the pixel wall 440. In addition, the cross-sectional shape of the storage slot 441 may be designed as rectangular, trapezoidal or arc-shaped to adapt to different electrowetting display requirements and improve ink storage efficiency.
[0029] In one embodiment, such as Figure 3 As shown, the pixel region 11 includes a display area 12 and a storage area 13 located on at least one side of the display area 12. The first electrode 410 is located within the display area 12, and the storage slot 441 is located within the storage area 13. That is, the first electrode 410 and the storage slot 441 are spatially separated.
[0030] Since the storage area 13 does not have a first electrode 410, the electric field is avoided from directly affecting the non-polar liquid 460 in the storage tank 441, ensuring that the non-polar liquid 460 remains stably in the storage tank 441 when voltage is applied to the first electrode 410 and the second electrode 420, and maintains its stable form.
[0031] In some embodiments, each first circuit layer 100 in each display area 12 is provided with at least one first electrode 410, the shape of which is adapted to the shape of the display area 12.
[0032] Correspondingly, the second circuit layer 300 located in the display area 12 is provided with a second electrode 420 opposite to the first electrode 410, and the two form an electric field when a voltage is applied.
[0033] In one embodiment, such as Figure 2 As shown, the pixel wall 440 includes a barrier wall 442, a first protrusion 443, and a second protrusion 444. The barrier wall 442 is fixed on the first circuit layer 100. The first protrusion 443 and the second protrusion 444 are located at one end of the barrier wall 442 near the first circuit layer 100 and the other end near the second circuit layer 300, respectively, to form a receiving groove 441. The magnetism of the first protrusion 443 is opposite to that of the non-polar liquid 460, and the magnetism of the second protrusion 444 is the same as that of the non-polar liquid 460.
[0034] Specifically, magnetic powder with corresponding magnetic properties can be added to the non-polar liquid 460, the first protrusion 443, and the second protrusion 444 to make the non-polar liquid 460, the first protrusion 443, and the second protrusion 444 have corresponding magnetic properties.
[0035] Understandably, when the non-polar liquid 460 is squeezed into the receiving groove 441, the magnetic field formed between the first protrusion 443 and the second protrusion 444 will push the non-polar liquid 460 towards the first protrusion 443, preventing it from moving towards the second protrusion 444 and overflowing from the receiving groove 441, thus effectively enhancing the limiting effect on the non-polar liquid 460. This magnetic design also helps the non-polar liquid 460 to quickly rebound to its initial position after the electric field is turned off, improving the repeatability and stability of pixel response. Through the coordinated control of the magnetic field and the electric field, precise control of the ink at the microscale is achieved, further optimizing the dynamic performance of display switching.
[0036] Meanwhile, when the non-polar liquid 460 is squeezed into the receiving groove 441, the non-polar liquid 460 will exert pressure on the first protrusion 443 and the second protrusion 444. By utilizing the magnetic attraction between the first protrusion 443 and the second protrusion 444 with opposite magnetic properties, the pressure exerted by the non-polar liquid 460 can be offset to a certain extent, thereby enhancing the stability of the pixel wall 440 structure and suppressing its deformation under the action of electric field or mechanical stress, thus further improving the reliability and durability of the device.
[0037] In one embodiment, such as Figure 4 As shown, the pixel walls 440 of different pixel regions 11 are spaced apart.
[0038] It is understood that in this embodiment, a certain gap can be set between the pixel walls 440 of adjacent pixel areas 11, so that even if some non-polar liquid 460 overflows from the pixel area 11, the overflowing non-polar liquid 460 can be prevented from entering the adjacent pixel area 11, thereby effectively preventing color crossing or display crosstalk.
[0039] In some embodiments, the gap between the pixel walls 440 is set to 1–5 μm, which can effectively block ink crosstalk without significantly increasing the overall size of the device.
[0040] In some embodiments, such as Figure 5 As shown, adjacent pixel regions 11 can also share pixel walls 440, i.e., a shared wall structure is adopted to reduce material usage and increase aperture ratio. This method is suitable for application scenarios with high resolution requirements but relatively relaxed tolerance for crosstalk.
[0041] In one embodiment, such as Figure 6 As shown, the electrowetting display panel 10 also includes a driving circuit 500, which is electrically connected to the first electrode 410 and the second electrode 420, and is used to provide a first voltage and a second voltage to the first electrode 410 and the second electrode 420 respectively, so as to form an electric field between the first electrode 410 and the second electrode 420.
[0042] Understandably, the driving circuit 500 can dynamically adjust the voltage difference applied between the first electrode 410 and the second electrode 420 according to display requirements, thereby controlling the morphology of the non-polar liquid 460 within the groove structure, achieving precise movement and distribution of the ink, and thus controlling the brightness state of the pixel area 11. For example, the driving circuit 500 can choose not to provide the first and second voltages, allowing the non-polar liquid 460 to cover the hydrophobic layer 430, or it can choose to simultaneously provide the first and second voltages, creating an electric field between the first electrode 410 and the second electrode 420, driving the non-polar liquid 460 to locally contract or move, thereby changing its distribution state within the pixel area 11.
[0043] Meanwhile, the driving circuit 500 can selectively control the power supply of each first electrode 410, thereby achieving independent control of each pixel area 11, ensuring that the non-polar liquid 460 moves precisely under the action of the electric field and maintaining image display.
[0044] In one embodiment, such as Figure 6 As shown, the first circuit layer 100 also includes a third electrode 610, which is located in the area outside the pixel area 11, and a third electrode 610 is provided between each pixel area 11. The third electrode 610 is disposed opposite to the second electrode 420. The driving circuit 500 is electrically connected to the third electrode 610 and is used to provide a first voltage to the third electrode 610.
[0045] Understandably, the electric field formed between the third electrode 610 and the second electrode 420 can further enhance the control over the edge region of the non-polar liquid 460, especially at the boundary of the pixel region 11, it can effectively suppress the spread of the non-polar liquid 460 and improve image clarity.
[0046] In some embodiments, such as Figure 7 As shown, the third electrode 610 can be distributed in a grid pattern, covering the periphery of the pixel area 11 to form a uniform boundary electric field. Under the cooperative control of the driving circuit 500, this structure can effectively stabilize the contour shape of the non-polar liquid 460, preventing edge diffusion in high-density display conditions, thereby improving contrast and response speed.
[0047] In addition, the grid density and line width of the third electrode 610 can be optimized according to the size of the pixel region 11 to ensure the continuity and uniformity of the boundary electric field distribution.
[0048] In some embodiments, such as Figure 8 As shown, when adjacent pixel regions 11 share a pixel wall 440, the third electrode 610 can also be arranged to overlap with the pixel wall 440 of the pixel region 11.
[0049] In one embodiment, such as Figure 6 As shown, the first circuit layer 100 within the pixel region 11 also includes a fourth electrode 620. The fourth electrode 620 is located within the receiving area 13. The fourth electrode 620 is spaced apart from the first electrode 410 and is positioned opposite to the second electrode 420.
[0050] The driving circuit 500 is also electrically connected to the fourth electrode 620. When the first electrode 410 and the second electrode 420 form an electric field, the driving circuit 500 applies a second voltage to the fourth electrode 620. When the first electrode 410 and the second electrode 420 do not form an electric field, the driving circuit 500 applies a third voltage to the fourth electrode 620, and the third voltage is greater than the second voltage.
[0051] By applying different voltages to the fourth electrode 620, the electric field between the fourth electrode 620 and the second electrode 420 can be controlled, thereby dynamically adjusting the wettability of the nonpolar liquid 460 and the hydrophobic layer 430 in the receiving area 13.
[0052] When the driving circuit 500 provides a first voltage and a second voltage to the first electrode 410 and the second electrode 420 respectively to form an electric field, applying a second voltage to the fourth electrode 620 can prevent the generation of an electric field between the fourth electrode 620 and the second electrode 420. Combined with the electric field formed by the third electrode 610 and the second electrode 420, the non-polar liquid 460 can be stably confined within the storage area 13. When the first electrode 410 does not form an electric field with the second electrode 420, the driving circuit 500 applies a third voltage to the fourth electrode 620, causing an electric field to form between the fourth electrode 620 and the second electrode 420. This forces the non-polar liquid 460 outward from the storage area 13, causing it to rapidly expand into the display area 12, thereby significantly improving the response speed of the electronic paper.
[0053] In one embodiment, taking a pixel region 11 corresponding to a driving circuit 500 as an example, such as... Figure 9 As shown, the drive circuit 500 includes a voltage comparison module 510, a first switch 520, a second switch 530, and a boost module 540.
[0054] The voltage comparison module 510 has two input terminals connected to the first electrode 410 (the voltage on the first electrode 410 is voltage V1) and the second electrode 420 (the voltage on the second electrode 420 is voltage V2), respectively. The output terminal of the voltage comparison module 510 is connected to the control terminal of the first switch 520 and the control terminal of the second switch 530. The first terminal of the first switch 520 is connected to the second electrode 420, and the second terminal of the first switch 520 is connected to the fourth electrode 620. The first terminal of the second switch 530 is connected to the second electrode 420, and the second terminal of the second switch 530 is connected to the input terminal of the boost module 540. The output terminal of the boost module 540 is connected to the fourth electrode 620 (the voltage on the fourth electrode 620 is voltage V3).
[0055] The voltage comparison module 510 detects the voltage difference between the first electrode 410 and the second electrode 420. When the voltages on the first electrode 410 and the second electrode 420 are respectively the first voltage and the second voltage, the voltage comparison module 510 outputs a first control signal to close the first switch 520, electrically connecting the fourth electrode 620 and the second electrode 420. At this time, the fourth electrode 620 receives the second voltage and is at the same potential as the second electrode 420, preventing the formation of an electric field between them. When there is no voltage difference between the first electrode 410 and the second electrode 420, the voltage comparison module 510 outputs a second control signal to open the first switch 520 and close the second switch 530, connecting the boost module 540 to the circuit. The boost module 540 generates a third voltage based on the second voltage and outputs it to the fourth electrode 620, making its potential higher than that of the second electrode 420, thereby forming an electric field between the fourth electrode 620 and the second electrode 420. This achieves dynamic control of the non-polar liquid 460, effectively improving the response speed and stability of the electronic paper display switching.
[0056] Specifically, the voltage comparison module 510 can be configured with a high-precision operational amplifier to form a differential comparison circuit, which monitors the potential difference between the first electrode 410 and the second electrode 420 in real time. The boost module 540 can be configured with a boost circuit. This application does not limit the specific circuits of the voltage comparison module 510 and the boost module 540, and they can be flexibly selected according to the actual circuit design requirements.
[0057] In one embodiment, the second electrodes 420 of each pixel region 11 are electrically connected to each other.
[0058] Specifically, the second electrodes 420 of each pixel region 11 can form a continuous conductive layer that covers the entire display area 12 of the display panel, thereby achieving uniform control of the electric field, improving driving efficiency and reducing power consumption.
[0059] In one embodiment, such as Figure 10 , Figure 11 As shown, the thickness of the hydrophobic layer 430 gradually increases in the direction away from the receiving groove 441. This forms an inclined surface of the hydrophobic layer 430, making it easier for the non-polar liquid 460 to flow along the inclined surface to the receiving area 13, controlling the flow direction of the non-polar liquid 460, thereby accelerating its response speed in the display area 12 and improving response performance.
[0060] In one embodiment, such as Figure 2 As shown, the electrowetting display panel 10 also includes a first substrate 710 and a second substrate 720.
[0061] The first substrate 710, the first circuit layer 100, the electrowetting display layer 200, and the second circuit layer 300 are stacked sequentially.
[0062] Specifically, the first substrate 710 and the second substrate 720 constitute the support structure of the display panel, and their materials can be transparent glass or flexible polymer to meet the mechanical strength and light transmittance requirements of different application scenarios.
[0063] Figure 12 A schematic diagram of a display device according to an embodiment of this application is shown. For ease of explanation, only the parts relevant to this embodiment are shown, and the details are as follows: A display device 20 includes an electrowetting display panel 10 as described in any of the above embodiments and a driving unit 30, wherein the driving unit 30 is connected to the electrowetting display panel 10 and is used to provide a driving voltage.
[0064] Since the display device 20 includes the electrowetting display panel 10 of any of the above embodiments, the display device 20 has the beneficial effects of the electrowetting display panel 10 of any of the above embodiments, which will not be described again here.
[0065] In some embodiments, the driving unit 30 includes a driving chip, logic control circuit, etc.
[0066] In some embodiments, the display device 20 may be a smart device such as a mobile phone or computer. It can also be applied to low-power display scenarios such as e-book readers, smartwatches, or digital signage, effectively extending the device's battery life.
[0067] From the above description of the embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, only the division of the above functional modules is used as an example. In practical applications, the above functions can be assigned to different functional modules as needed, that is, the internal structure of the device can be divided into different functional modules to complete all or part of the functions described above.
[0068] It should be understood that the apparatuses and methods disclosed in the several embodiments provided in this application can be implemented in other ways. The apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For example, the division of modules or units is only a logical functional division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods, such as multiple units or components being combined or integrated into another device. In addition, some features may be omitted or not performed. Furthermore, the mutual coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some interfaces, and the indirect coupling or communication connection of devices or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.
[0069] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. A component shown as a unit can be one or more physical units. That is, it can be located in one place or distributed in multiple different locations. Depending on the actual needs, some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of this solution.
[0070] Furthermore, the functional units in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one processing unit; they can also exist physically separately; or some units can be integrated into one unit while others exist physically separately. The integrated units described above can be implemented in hardware or as software functional units.
[0071] It should be noted that all or part of the above embodiments provided in this application (e.g., part or all of any feature) can be arbitrarily combined or combined with each other.
[0072] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.
Claims
1. An electrowetting display panel, characterized in that, include: A first circuit layer, an electrowetting display layer, and a second circuit layer are stacked together. The electrowetting display panel is divided into multiple pixel regions. Each pixel region includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a hydrophobic layer, a pixel wall, and a polar liquid and a non-polar liquid. The first electrode is located on the first circuit layer, and the second electrode is located on the second circuit layer, with the first electrode and the second electrode being disposed opposite to each other. The hydrophobic layer covers the surface of the first circuit layer that is close to the second circuit layer. The pixel wall and the hydrophobic layer enclose a groove structure with an opening facing the second circuit layer. The polar liquid fills the space between the hydrophobic layer and the second circuit layer, and the non-polar liquid fills the inner side of the groove structure. At least one pixel wall in the pixel region is provided with a storage groove, the opening of which faces the inside of the groove structure.
2. The electrowetting display panel as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The pixel region includes a display area and a storage area located on at least one side of the display area, the first electrode is located in the display area, and the storage slot is located in the storage area.
3. The electrowetting display panel as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The pixel wall includes a retaining wall, a first protrusion, and a second protrusion. The retaining wall is fixed on the first circuit layer. The first protrusion and the second protrusion are located at one end of the retaining wall near the first circuit layer and the other end near the second circuit layer, respectively, to form the receiving groove. The magnetism of the first protrusion is opposite to that of the non-polar liquid, and the magnetism of the second protrusion is the same as that of the non-polar liquid.
4. The electrowetting display panel as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The pixel walls of adjacent pixel regions are spaced apart.
5. The electrowetting display panel as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The electrowetting display panel further includes a driving circuit, which is electrically connected to the first electrode and the second electrode and is used to provide a first voltage and a second voltage to the first electrode and the second electrode respectively, so as to form an electric field between the first electrode and the second electrode.
6. The electrowetting display panel as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The first circuit layer further includes a third electrode, which is located in a region outside the pixel region, and the third electrode is provided between each of the pixel regions. The third electrode is disposed opposite to the second electrode. The driving circuit is electrically connected to the third electrode and is used to provide the first voltage to the third electrode.
7. The electrowetting display panel as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The first circuit layer within the pixel area further includes a fourth electrode, which is located within the receiving area. The fourth electrode is spaced apart from the first electrode and is positioned opposite to the second electrode. The driving circuit is also electrically connected to the fourth electrode. When the first electrode and the second electrode form an electric field, the driving circuit applies the second voltage to the fourth electrode. When the first electrode and the second electrode do not form an electric field, the driving circuit applies a third voltage to the fourth electrode, and the third voltage is greater than the second voltage.
8. The electrowetting display panel as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The thickness of the hydrophobic layer gradually increases in the direction away from the receiving groove.
9. The electrowetting display panel as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The electrowetting display panel further includes a first substrate and a second substrate; The first substrate, the first circuit layer, the electrowetting display layer, and the second circuit layer are stacked sequentially.
10. A display device, characterized in that, It includes a driving unit and an electrowetting display panel as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the driving unit is connected to the electrowetting display panel and is used to provide a driving voltage.