Electronic paper and display device
By setting parallel sub-cavities in the microcavity structure layer of electronic paper and using an array control layer to independently drive the movement of electrophoretic particles, differentiated display of electronic paper under different viewing angles is achieved, solving the problem of the single viewing angle of traditional electronic paper and improving the diversity of display effects.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- HKC CORP LTD
- Filing Date
- 2026-02-13
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-12
AI Technical Summary
Traditional e-paper can only display the entire screen from a frontal view, resulting in a single viewing angle.
In the microcavity structure layer of electronic paper, sub-cavities are set up side by side, and the electrophoretic particles in each sub-cavity are driven independently by the array control layer, so that different sub-cavities can independently achieve reflective display or non-display state, thus presenting differentiated display effects from different viewing angles.
It breaks through the limitation of traditional e-paper, which can only display the entire screen from a frontal view, and improves the diversity of e-paper screen viewing angles and the flexibility of display effects.
Smart Images

Figure CN122018213A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This application relates to the field of displays, and more particularly to electronic paper and display devices. Background Technology
[0002] Electronic ink electronic paper (EPD) achieves display by controlling the movement of charged particles at the microscopic scale, earning it the nickname "refreshable paper." Its core principle involves sandwiching transparent microcapsules between two electrode layers. Each capsule contains positively charged white particles and negatively charged black particles, suspended in a transparent liquid. When an electric field is applied to the electrodes, the particles migrate due to electrostatic forces: positively charged white particles move to the negative electrode to display white, and negatively charged black particles move to the positive electrode to display black. Through a bistable effect (hysteresis), the particles retain their positions even after power is turned off, achieving "zero-power static display." This reflective imaging mechanism, similar to printed matter, makes electronic paper more visible in sunlight than LCDs (which have no backlight reflection), and the stronger the ambient light, the clearer the display.
[0003] However, traditional e-paper can only display the entire screen from a frontal view, resulting in a single viewing angle.
[0004] Therefore, how to improve the diversity of viewing angles for electronic paper displays has become an urgent problem to be solved in this field. Summary of the Invention
[0005] This application discloses an electronic paper and a display device, the purpose of which is to enhance the diversity of viewing angles of electronic paper images.
[0006] This application discloses an electronic paper, which includes a substrate and an array control layer, a first electrode layer, a microcavity structure layer, and a second electrode layer stacked on the substrate. The microcavity structure layer includes a plurality of spaced-apart cavities, each of which includes two sub-cavities arranged side by side. Each sub-cavity is filled with a light-transmitting solution and at least two types of electrophoretic particles suspended in the light-transmitting solution. The array control layer is used to independently drive the electrophoretic particles in each sub-cavity to move through the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, so that at least one sub-cavity reflects light for display.
[0007] Optionally, the array control layer includes multiple array switches, each array switch corresponding to the position of each sub-chamber; the array switches include a first array switch and a second array switch, the sub-chambers include a first sub-chamber and a second sub-chamber, the first array switch applies an electric field to the first sub-chamber through the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, driving the electrophoretic particles in the first sub-chamber to move, so that the first sub-chamber reflects light or does not display; the second array switch applies an electric field to the second sub-chamber through the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, driving the electrophoretic particles in the second sub-chamber to move, so that the second sub-chamber reflects light or does not display.
[0008] Optionally, the electrophoretic particles include a first electrophoretic particle and a second electrophoretic particle, the first electrophoretic particle and the second electrophoretic particle having opposite polarities, the first electrophoretic particle being reflective and the second electrophoretic particle being non-reflective; when the first sub-cavity is reflecting light, the first array switch applies a first electric field through the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, causing the first electrophoretic particle to move towards the light-emitting surface of the first sub-cavity, and the second electrophoretic particle to move towards the light-emitting surface away from the first sub-cavity; when the first sub-cavity is not reflecting light, the first array switch applies a second electric field through the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, causing the first electrophoretic particle to move towards the light-emitting surface away from the first sub-cavity; The light-emitting surface of the first sub-chamber moves, and the second electrophoretic particles move toward the light-emitting surface of the first sub-chamber; when the second sub-chamber is reflecting light, the second array switch applies a first electric field through the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, so that the first electrophoretic particles move toward the light-emitting surface of the second sub-chamber, and the second electrophoretic particles move toward the light-emitting surface away from the first sub-chamber; when the second sub-chamber is not displaying light, the second array switch applies a second electric field through the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, so that the first electrophoretic particles move toward the light-emitting surface away from the second sub-chamber, and the second electrophoretic particles move toward the light-emitting surface of the first sub-chamber.
[0009] Optionally, the first electrophoretic particle includes white electrophoretic particles or colored electrophoretic particles, and the second electrophoretic particle includes black electrophoretic particles.
[0010] Optionally, the microcavity structure layer further includes a first adhesive layer and a second adhesive layer, both of which are made of light-transmitting material; the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer are spaced apart from top to bottom, and a cavity is formed between the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer; multiple main partition structures are spaced apart within the cavity, and the multiple main partition structures divide the cavity into multiple receiving cavities; each receiving cavity is provided with a sub-partition structure, and the sub-partition structure divides the receiving cavity into a left sub-chamber and a right sub-chamber.
[0011] Optionally, the sub-separation structure includes a first separation portion and a second separation portion; the first separation portion is located above the second separation portion and connected to the second separation portion; a portion of the first separation portion is located within the receiving cavity, and another portion extends to the top surface of the first electrode layer; the sidewall of the second separation portion extends from the first separation portion to the bottom of the main separation portion, and the sidewall of the second separation portion is arc-shaped.
[0012] Optionally, a reflective layer is provided on the outer surface of both the first partition and the second partition.
[0013] Optionally, both the first partition and the second partition include a substrate layer and light-shielding particles, with the light-shielding particles filling the substrate layer.
[0014] Optionally, the main partition structure is made of a black light-blocking gel material.
[0015] This application also discloses a display device, including a housing, and the display device further includes the electronic paper described above, the electronic paper being connected to the housing.
[0016] This application establishes a receiving cavity with side-by-side sub-cavities in the microcavity structure layer of electronic paper, and uses an array control layer to independently drive the movement of electrophoretic particles in each sub-cavity. This allows different sub-cavities to independently achieve reflective display or non-display, resulting in differentiated display effects of electronic paper from different viewing angles. When viewed from the left, the array control layer can control the left sub-cavity to reflect light while the right sub-cavity remains undisplayed via the first and second electrode layers. When viewed from the right, the array control layer can control the right sub-cavity to reflect light while the left sub-cavity remains undisplayed via the first and second electrode layers. Alternatively, the display combination of the two sub-cavities can be adjusted as needed. This effectively overcomes the limitation of traditional electronic paper, which can only display the entire screen from a frontal view, and improves the diversity of viewing angles for electronic paper images. Attached Figure Description
[0017] The accompanying drawings are provided to further illustrate the embodiments of this application and form part of the specification. They serve to demonstrate implementation methods of this application and, together with the textual description, explain the principles of this application. Obviously, the drawings described below are merely some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without any creative effort. In the drawings: Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the first embodiment of the electronic paper of this application; Figure 2This is a schematic diagram of the first embodiment of the electronic paper in this application, showing the partition structure within the receiving cavity; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of the electronic paper of this application; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the display device of this application.
[0018] Among them, 10 is a display device; 100 is electronic paper; 200 is a housing; 110 is a substrate; 120 is an array control layer; 121 is an array switch; 122 is a first array switch; 123 is a second array switch; 130 is a first electrode layer; 140 is a microcavity structure layer; 141 is a receiving cavity; 142 is a sub-cavity; 143 is a light-transmitting solution; 144 is an electrophoretic particle; 145 is a first electrophoretic particle; 146 is a second electrophoretic particle; 147 is a first sub-cavity; 148 is a second sub-cavity; 150 is a first adhesive layer; 160 is a second adhesive layer; 161 is a cavity; 170 is a main partition structure; 180 is a sub-partition structure; 181 is a first partition; 182 is a second partition; 183 is a reflective layer; 184 is a substrate layer; 185 is light-shielding particles; and 190 is a second electrode layer. Detailed Implementation
[0019] The present application will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and optional embodiments. It should be noted that, without conflict, the various embodiments or technical features described below can be arbitrarily combined to form new embodiments.
[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the first embodiment of the electronic paper of this application. Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the first embodiment of the electronic paper of this application, showing the partition structure within the receiving cavity. Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown in the figure, this application discloses an electronic paper 100, which includes a substrate 110 and an array control layer 120, a first electrode layer 130, a microcavity structure layer 140, and a second electrode layer 190 stacked on the substrate 110. The microcavity structure layer 140 includes a plurality of spaced-apart cavities 141, each of which includes two sub-cavities 142 arranged side by side. Each sub-cavity 142 is filled with a light-transmitting solution 143 and at least two kinds of electrophoretic particles 144 suspended in the light-transmitting solution 143. The array control layer 120 is used to independently drive the electrophoretic particles 144 in each sub-cavity 142 to move through the first electrode layer 130 and the second electrode layer 190, so that at least one sub-cavity 142 reflects light for display.
[0021] This application provides a receiving cavity 141 with side-by-side sub-cavities 142 in the microcavity structure layer 140 of the electronic paper 100, and uses an array control layer 120 to independently drive the electrophoretic particles 144 in each sub-cavity 142 to move. This allows different sub-cavities 142 to independently achieve reflective display or non-display, enabling the electronic paper 100 to present differentiated display effects from different viewing angles. When viewed from the left side, the array control layer 120 can control the left sub-cavity 142 to reflect light and display light while the right sub-cavity 142 does not display light through the first electrode layer 130 and the second electrode layer 190. When viewed from the right side, the array control layer 120 can control the right sub-cavity 142 to reflect light and display light while the left sub-cavity 142 does not display light through the first electrode layer 130 and the second electrode layer 190. Alternatively, the display combination of the two sub-cavities 142 can be adjusted as needed. This effectively overcomes the limitation of traditional electronic paper 100, which can only display the entire screen from a frontal view, and helps to improve the diversity of the viewing angle of the electronic paper 100.
[0022] In this embodiment, the substrate 110 can be a rigid or flexible substrate, such as a packaged glass substrate 110, and the first electrode layer 130 and the second electrode layer 190 can be ITO pixel electrodes.
[0023] Specifically, the array control layer 120 includes multiple array switches 121, each array switch 121 corresponding to the position of each sub-chamber 142; the array switches 121 include a first array switch 122 and a second array switch 123, and the sub-chambers 142 include a first sub-chamber 147 and a second sub-chamber 148. The first array switch 122 applies an electric field to the first sub-chamber 147 through the first electrode layer 130 and the second electrode layer 190, driving the electrophoretic particles 144 in the first sub-chamber 147 to move, so that the first sub-chamber 147 reflects light or does not display light; the second array switch 123 applies an electric field to the second sub-chamber 148 through the first electrode layer 130 and the second electrode layer 190, driving the electrophoretic particles 144 in the second sub-chamber 148 to move, so that the second sub-chamber 148 reflects light or does not display light.
[0024] In this embodiment, the array control layer 120 is composed of multiple array switches 121, and the array control layer 120 can be connected to the driver chip through wiring. The driver chip provides drive signals to the array control layer 120, thereby realizing independent control of the multiple array switches 121.
[0025] When a drive signal is applied to a certain array switch 121, the array switch 121 will form an electric field of specific intensity and direction in the corresponding sub-chamber 142 through the first electrode layer 130 and the second electrode layer 190 connected to it.
[0026] Taking the first sub-chamber 147 as an example, when the first array switch 122 receives a drive signal and is turned on, an electric field is generated between the first electrode layer 130 and the second electrode layer 190. At least two types of electrophoretic particles 144 in the first sub-chamber 147 move directionally under the action of the electric field. One type of electrophoretic particle 144 has a high reflectivity. When it moves to the side of the sub-chamber 142 facing the observer under the drive of the electric field, the sub-chamber 142 displays a reflective display. When these highly reflective electrophoretic particles 144 move to the side of the sub-chamber 142 away from the observer under the action of the electric field, the sub-chamber 142 does not display or displays a low reflectivity. The display control process of the second sub-chamber 148 is similar to that of the first sub-chamber 147, and is independently controlled by the second array switch 123, thereby realizing independent driving and state switching of the two parallel sub-chambers 142. This ensures that the electronic paper 100 can flexibly adjust the display combination of the left and right sub-cavities 142 according to different viewing angle requirements, so as to realize the multi-view differentiated display of the electronic paper 100.
[0027] Specifically, the electrophoretic particles 144 include first electrophoretic particles 145 and second electrophoretic particles 146, which have opposite polarities. First electrophoretic particles 145 are reflective, while second electrophoretic particles 146 are non-reflective. When the first sub-cavity 147 is reflecting light, the first array switch 122 applies a first electric field through the first electrode layer 130 and the second electrode layer 190, causing the first electrophoretic particles 145 to move towards the light-emitting surface of the first sub-cavity 147, and the second electrophoretic particles 146 to move away from the light-emitting surface of the first sub-cavity 147. When the first sub-cavity 147 is not reflecting light, the first array switch 122 applies a second electric field through the first electrode layer 130 and the second electrode layer 190, causing the first electrophoretic particles 145 to move towards the light-emitting surface of the first sub-cavity 147, and the second electrophoretic particles 146 to move away from the light-emitting surface of the first sub-cavity 147. The first electrophoretic particle 145 moves toward the light-emitting surface of the first sub-chamber 147, while the second electrophoretic particle 146 moves toward the light-emitting surface of the first sub-chamber 147. When the second sub-chamber 148 is reflecting light, the second array switch 123 applies a first electric field through the first electrode layer 130 and the second electrode layer 190, causing the first electrophoretic particle 145 to move toward the light-emitting surface of the second sub-chamber 148 and the second electrophoretic particle 146 to move toward the light-emitting surface of the first sub-chamber 147. When the second sub-chamber 148 is not displaying light, the second array switch 123 applies a second electric field through the first electrode layer 130 and the second electrode layer 190, causing the first electrophoretic particle 145 to move toward the light-emitting surface of the second sub-chamber 148 and the second electrophoretic particle 146 to move toward the light-emitting surface of the first sub-chamber 147.
[0028] The first and second electric fields are in opposite directions, and the movement direction of the first electrophoretic particle 145 and the second electrophoretic particle 146 is precisely controlled by changing the direction of the electric fields. For example, when the first electric field is applied, the positively charged first electrophoretic particle 145 moves towards the light-emitting surface (i.e., the positive pole direction of the electric field) under the action of the electric field force and gathers near the light-emitting surface. Due to its reflective properties, the sub-cavity 142 exhibits a reflective display effect as a whole. On the other hand, the negatively charged second electrophoretic particle 146 moves away from the light-emitting surface (i.e., the negative pole direction of the electric field) under the action of the electric field force and gathers at the bottom of the sub-cavity 142 or on the side away from the light-emitting surface. Since it does not have reflective properties, it will not interfere with the reflective effect of the light-emitting surface.
[0029] Conversely, when a second electric field is applied in the opposite direction to the first electric field, the positively charged first electrophoretic particles 145 move away from the light-emitting surface and gather. At this time, the area near the light-emitting surface is mainly covered by non-reflective second electrophoretic particles 146, and the sub-cavity 142 does not show reflection. By using electrophoretic particles 144 with opposite polarities and a direction-controllable electric field, the stable switching of the reflective display state of the sub-cavity 142 is achieved, further ensuring the reliability and contrast of the electronic paper 100 display effect at different viewing angles.
[0030] In this embodiment of the application, the first electrophoretic particle 145 includes white electrophoretic particles or colored electrophoretic particles, and the second electrophoretic particle 146 includes black electrophoretic particles.
[0031] White electrophoretic particles provide high-brightness reflective properties, enabling black and white image display; colored electrophoretic particles enable color image display. Black electrophoretic particles, due to their excellent light absorption, effectively absorb ambient light when not in use, avoiding glare interference and helping to keep the image dark.
[0032] For example, when the first sub-chamber 147 uses white electrophoretic particles as the first electrophoretic particles 145, the white electrophoretic particles can be positively charged titanium dioxide particles, and black electrophoretic particles are used as the second electrophoretic particles 146. The black electrophoretic particles are negatively charged. In the reflective display state, when a positive voltage is applied to the electrode layer, the white electrophoretic particles gather on the light-emitting surface and appear bright white, while the negatively charged black particles are repelled to the bottom. In the non-display state, when a negative voltage is applied to the electrode layer, the black electrophoretic particles gather on the light-emitting surface and appear dark, while the white particles move to the bottom.
[0033] When the first sub-chamber 147 uses colored electrophoretic particles as the first electrophoretic particle 145 and black electrophoretic particles as the second electrophoretic particle 146, in the reflective display state, the colored electrophoretic particles gather on the light-emitting surface to present a color image; while in the non-display state, the black electrophoretic particles gather on the light-emitting surface to present a dark state. In this way, different types of electrophoretic particles 144 can be combined according to actual display needs to achieve black and white or color display effects.
[0034] Furthermore, the microcavity structure layer 140 also includes a first adhesive layer 150 and a second adhesive layer 160, both of which are made of light-transmitting material; the first adhesive layer 150 and the second adhesive layer 160 are spaced apart from top to bottom, and a cavity 161 is formed between the first adhesive layer 150 and the second adhesive layer 160; a plurality of main partition structures 170 are spaced apart in the cavity 161, and the plurality of main partition structures 170 divide the cavity 161 into a plurality of receiving cavities 141; a sub-partition structure 180 is provided in each receiving cavity 141, and the sub-partition structure 180 divides the receiving cavity 141 into a left sub-cavity 142 and a right sub-cavity 142.
[0035] Both the first adhesive layer 150 and the second adhesive layer 160 are made of light-transmitting material to ensure that light can pass smoothly through the adhesive layers and reach the electrophoretic particles 144 inside the sub-cavity 142, avoiding structural obstruction from affecting the display effect. The first adhesive layer 150 and the second adhesive layer 160 not only serve to fix the main partition structure 170 and the sub-partition structure 180, but their excellent light transmittance also ensures the passage of light, while protecting the internal microcavity structure from the influence of the external environment and extending the service life of the electronic paper 100.
[0036] The main partition structure 170 divides the cavity 161 into multiple receiving cavities 141, and the sub-partition structure 180 divides each receiving cavity 141 into sub-cavities 142 arranged side by side. The main partition structures 170 are evenly spaced along the lateral direction of the cavity 161, and the distance between adjacent main partition structures 170 can be set according to the pixel density requirements of the display precision to ensure that each receiving cavity 141 can independently form a display unit. The sub-partition structure 180 can be located in the middle of each receiving cavity 141, dividing the receiving cavity 141 into two sub-cavities 142 with approximately equal volumes, so that the two sub-cavities 142 can obtain a relatively balanced electric field intensity and electrophoretic particle 144 movement space during driving.
[0037] Specifically, the sub-separation structure 180 includes a first separation portion 181 and a second separation portion 182; the first separation portion 181 is located above the second separation portion 182 and is connected to the second separation portion 182; a portion of the first separation portion 181 is located in the receiving cavity 141, and another portion extends to the top surface of the first electrode layer 130; the sidewall of the second separation portion 182 extends from the first separation portion 181 to the bottom of the main separation portion, and the sidewall of the second separation portion 182 is arc-shaped.
[0038] The first partition 181 can be columnar, and the portion of the first partition 181 extending to the top surface of the first electrode layer 130 can form a tighter physical bond with the first electrode layer 130, thereby enhancing the overall structural strength.
[0039] The second partition 182 can be funnel-shaped, with its extended sidewalls being arc-shaped. These arc-shaped sidewalls reduce the collision resistance between the electrophoretic particles 144 and the partition structure during movement within the sub-chamber 142, allowing the electrophoretic particles 144 to move more smoothly towards the target direction under the influence of the electric field, thus improving the response speed of display state switching. Simultaneously, the arc-shaped sidewalls can also disperse the flow stress of the solution within the sub-chamber 142 to a certain extent, reducing the risk of damage to the partition structure due to stress concentration, further ensuring the structural stability and service life of the microcavity structure layer 140.
[0040] Of course, the first partition 181 can also be other shapes. For example, when the second partition 182 is funnel-shaped, the first partition 181 can be a funnel-shaped part that is symmetrical to the second partition. The two are combined to form a structure similar to an hourglass. By increasing the top area of the first partition 181, it partially blocks the frontal view, thus clearly separating the left and right view displays, which is beneficial to improving the display effect of single-sided or double-sided displays.
[0041] Furthermore, both the first partition 181 and the second partition 182 include a substrate layer 184 and light-shielding particles 185, with the light-shielding particles 185 filling the substrate layer 184. The substrate layer 184 may be made of a rigid resin material, and the light-shielding particles 185 may be black carbon powder particles. The substrate layer 184 provides good support for the entire cavity, while the light-shielding particles 185 effectively prevent light crosstalk between adjacent sub-cavities 142, further improving the clarity of the displayed image.
[0042] When a sub-chamber 142 is in reflective display mode, the first electrophoretic particles 145 inside it reflect ambient light. Due to the absorption and scattering of light by the light-shielding particles 185, the light transmittance is significantly reduced, thus strictly confining the light from different sub-chambers 142 to their respective areas. For example, when the left sub-chamber 142 is reflective display while the right sub-chamber 142 is not displaying, the black electrophoretic particles distributed on the light-emitting surface of the right sub-chamber 142 should absorb light. However, if the reflected light from the left sub-chamber 142 passes through the sub-separation structure 180 and enters the right sub-chamber 142, it may cause the right sub-chamber 142 to also exhibit weak reflection, reducing the black-and-white contrast. The sub-separation structure 180 containing the light-shielding particles 185 can effectively block this crosstalk light, ensuring that the right sub-chamber 142 maintains a good light absorption state. This results in a bright display area on the left and a deep dark area on the right when viewed from the left, providing a clear contrast.
[0043] Furthermore, since each receiving cavity 141 serves as the basic unit for the electronic paper 100 display, if there is light crosstalk between adjacent receiving cavities 141, it will cause the edges of the displayed image to become blurred, reducing the overall display effect.
[0044] Based on the above problems, this application also makes improvements to the main partition structure 170, the specific improvements are as follows: In this embodiment, the main partition structure 170 is made of a black light-shielding colloidal material. The main partition structure 170, made of a black light-shielding colloidal material, further enables optical isolation between two adjacent receiving cavities 141. The black light-shielding colloidal material effectively absorbs light scattered or leaked from adjacent receiving cavities 141, preventing interference between the display content of different receiving cavities 141.
[0045] Meanwhile, the black light-blocking colloid material can also form a double light-blocking guarantee with the light-blocking particles 185 in the sub-segment structure 180, forming isolation from the large receiving cavity 141 to the small sub-cavity 142, ensuring that the image can maintain good integrity when viewed from different angles.
[0046] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of the electronic paper of this application, as shown below. Figure 3 As shown, a reflective layer 183 is provided on the outer surface of both the first partition 181 and the second partition 182.
[0047] The difference between this embodiment and the previous embodiment is that a reflective layer 183 is additionally provided on the outer surface of the first partition 181 and the second partition 182. The reflective layer 183 further optimizes the reflective display effect of the sub-cavity 142 and improves the brightness of the displayed image, thereby enhancing the display effect.
[0048] When the sub-chamber 142 is in reflective display mode, the first electrophoretic particles 145 gather near the light-emitting surface and reflect ambient light. Some of this light may penetrate the first electrophoretic particles 145 or be scattered inside the sub-chamber 142. Without the reflective layer 183, this portion of light would be absorbed by the sub-segment structure 180 or other components, resulting in light loss. The reflective layer 183 on the surfaces of the first and second partitions 181 and 182 can reflect this scattered or transmitted light back into the sub-chamber 142, allowing the light to be reflected again by the first electrophoretic particles 145, effectively reducing light loss, thereby increasing the intensity of the effectively reflected light and improving display brightness.
[0049] For example, when the white electrophoretic particles in the first sub-chamber 147 gather on the light-emitting surface, when ambient light shines on the white electrophoretic particles, part of it is directly reflected to form display light, and another part may propagate towards the sub-segment structure 180. At this time, the reflective layer 183 on the outer surface of the sub-segment structure 180 will reflect this part of the light back into the sub-chamber 142, so that it interacts with the white electrophoretic particles again and is reflected out, which is equivalent to increasing the utilization rate of light, reducing light loss, and improving the display effect.
[0050] Furthermore, the arc-shaped sidewall of the second partition 182 increases the reflective area of the reflective layer 183, allowing for more flexible reflection angles. The arc-shaped sidewall can reflect scattered light from different directions incident on the sub-partition structure 180 at multiple angles, redirecting more light that might otherwise escape or be absorbed back to the first electrophoretic particle 145 region within the sub-chamber 142, further improving the efficiency of light reflection. For example, when light strikes the reflective layer 183 of the arc-shaped sidewall at an angle, the arc surface can reflect the light back to the first electrophoretic particle 145 aggregation area at the center of the sub-chamber 142, solving the problem of single-direction light reflection or low reflection efficiency that might result from non-planar sidewalls. This allows the sub-chamber 142 to utilize more ambient light in reflective display mode, maintaining high display brightness even in low-light environments, thereby improving the adaptability of the electronic paper 100 under different lighting conditions and the stability of its display effect.
[0051] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the display device of this application, as shown below. Figure 4 As shown in the illustration, this application also discloses a display device 10, including a housing 200. The display device 10 further includes the aforementioned electronic paper 100, which is connected to the housing 200. The housing 200 can effectively protect the electronic paper 100 from direct external force damage and can also prevent moisture and dust from the external environment from affecting the electronic paper 100 to a certain extent, thereby improving the service life of the display device 10.
[0052] It should be noted that the display device 10 in this application is mainly a display device 10 with an electronic paper 100 display panel, which can be a computer, mobile phone, tablet or other display device.
[0053] In current traditional display devices 10, the electronic paper 100 can only display the full screen from a frontal view, resulting in a single viewing angle.
[0054] Based on the above problems, this application improves the electronic paper 100 in the display device 10 by providing a receiving cavity 141 with side-by-side sub-cavities 142 in the microcavity structure layer 140 of the electronic paper 100, and using an array control layer 120 to independently drive the electrophoretic particles 144 in each sub-cavity 142 to move, so that different sub-cavities 142 can independently achieve reflective display or non-display state, so that the electronic paper 100 presents differentiated display effects at different viewing angles. When viewed from the left side, the array control layer 120 can be used to control the first electrode layer 130 and the second electrode layer 142 to achieve different display effects at different viewing angles. The electrode layer 190 controls the left sub-cavity 142 to reflect light while the right sub-cavity 142 remains undisplayed. When viewed from the right side, the array control layer 120 can control the right sub-cavity 142 to reflect light while the left sub-cavity 142 remains undisplayed via the first electrode layer 130 and the second electrode layer 190. Alternatively, the display combination of the two sub-cavities 142 can be adjusted as needed. This effectively overcomes the limitation that traditional electronic paper 100 can only display the entire screen from a frontal view, thus improving the diversity of viewing angles of the electronic paper 100 and enhancing the versatility of the display device 10.
[0055] It should be noted that the inventive concept of this application can form many embodiments, but due to the limited space of the application documents, they cannot all be listed. Therefore, without conflict, the embodiments described above or the technical features can be arbitrarily combined to form new embodiments. After the embodiments or technical features are combined, the original technical effect will be enhanced.
[0056] The above description, in conjunction with specific optional embodiments, provides a further detailed explanation of this application and should not be construed as limiting the specific implementation of this application to these descriptions. For those skilled in the art, various simple deductions or substitutions can be made without departing from the concept of this application, and all such modifications or substitutions should be considered within the scope of protection of this application.
Claims
1. An electronic paper, characterized in that, The electronic paper includes a substrate, and an array control layer, a first electrode layer, a microcavity structure layer, and a second electrode layer stacked on the substrate; The microcavity structure layer includes multiple spaced-apart cavities, each of which contains two sub-cavities arranged side-by-side. Each of the sub-chambers is filled with a light-transmitting solution and at least two types of electrophoretic particles suspended in the light-transmitting solution; The array control layer is used to independently drive the movement of electrophoretic particles in each of the sub-chambers through the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, so that at least one of the sub-chambers reflects light for display.
2. The electronic paper according to claim 1, characterized in that, The array control layer includes multiple array switches, each array switch corresponding to the position of each sub-chamber; The array switch includes a first array switch and a second array switch, and the sub-chamber includes a first sub-chamber and a second sub-chamber. The first array switch applies an electric field to the first sub-chamber through the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, driving the electrophoretic particles in the first sub-chamber to move, so that the first sub-chamber reflects light or does not reflect light. The second array switch applies an electric field to the second sub-chamber through the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, driving the electrophoretic particles in the second sub-chamber to move, so that the second sub-chamber reflects light or does not reflect light.
3. The electronic paper according to claim 2, characterized in that, The electrophoretic particles include a first electrophoretic particle and a second electrophoretic particle, the first electrophoretic particle and the second electrophoretic particle have opposite polarities, the first electrophoretic particle is reflective, and the second electrophoretic particle is non-reflective; When the first sub-cavity reflects light, the first array switch applies a first electric field through the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, so that the first electrophoretic particles move toward the light-emitting surface of the first sub-cavity, and the second electrophoretic particles move toward the light-emitting surface away from the first sub-cavity. When the first sub-cavity is not displayed, the first array switch applies a second electric field through the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, so that the first electrophoretic particles move toward the light-emitting surface away from the first sub-cavity, and the second electrophoretic particles move toward the light-emitting surface of the first sub-cavity. When the second sub-cavity reflects light, the second array switch applies a first electric field through the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, so that the first electrophoretic particles move toward the light-emitting surface of the second sub-cavity, and the second electrophoretic particles move toward the light-emitting surface away from the first sub-cavity. When the second sub-chamber is not displayed, the second array switch applies a second electric field through the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, so that the first electrophoretic particles move toward the light-emitting surface away from the second sub-chamber, and the second electrophoretic particles move toward the light-emitting surface of the first sub-chamber.
4. The electronic paper according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first electrophoretic particle includes white electrophoretic particles or colored electrophoretic particles, and the second electrophoretic particle includes black electrophoretic particles.
5. The electronic paper according to claim 4, characterized in that, The microcavity structure layer further includes a first adhesive layer and a second adhesive layer, both of which are made of light-transmitting materials; the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer are spaced apart from top to bottom, and a cavity is formed between the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer; The cavity is provided with multiple main partition structures at intervals, which divide the cavity into multiple receiving cavities; each receiving cavity is provided with a sub-partition structure, which divides the receiving cavity into a left sub-chamber and a right sub-chamber.
6. The electronic paper according to claim 5, characterized in that, The sub-separation structure includes a first separation portion and a second separation portion; the first separation portion is located above the second separation portion and is connected to the second separation portion; a portion of the first separation portion is located within the receiving cavity, and another portion extends to the top surface of the first electrode layer; the sidewall of the second separation portion extends from the first separation portion to the bottom of the main separation portion, and the sidewall of the second separation portion is arc-shaped.
7. The electronic paper according to claim 6, characterized in that, The outer surfaces of both the first partition and the second partition are provided with a reflective layer.
8. The electronic paper according to claim 7, characterized in that, Both the first partition and the second partition include a substrate layer and light-shielding particles, with the light-shielding particles filling the substrate layer.
9. The electronic paper according to claim 8, characterized in that, The main partition structure is made of black light-blocking gel material.
10. A display device, comprising a housing, characterized in that, The display device further includes electronic paper as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the electronic paper is connected to the housing.