Self-repairable electrowetting electronic paper display device

Abstract

The invention discloses a self-repairing electrowetting electronic paper display device, which comprises a pixel layer, the pixel layer comprises a plurality of pixel fluid cavities arranged in an array, and each pixel fluid cavity is filled with a polar aqueous solution and non-polar ink which are mutually insoluble; a plurality of self-repairing microcapsules are uniformly arranged in the cavity wall of at least one side of each pixel fluid cavity, and each self-repairing microcapsule is filled with repairing liquid; the self-repairing microcapsule can be broken along with the cavity wall of the pixel fluid cavity, so that the repairing liquid is released, and the repairing liquid is used for repairing the cavity wall of the pixel fluid cavity. The electrowetting electronic paper display device can be self-repaired when the cavity wall of the pixel fluid cavity is broken, so that the liquid leakage problem is avoided, the reliability is improved, and the service life is prolonged.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to electronic paper display technology, and more particularly to a self-healing electrowetting electronic paper display device. Background Technology

[0002] Electrowetting electronic paper is a novel reflective "paper-like" display technology based on the electrowetting effect. It controls the wetting properties of polar aqueous solutions within pixels through an electric field, causing them to shrink and expand. This indirectly drives the expansion and contraction of non-polar inks, ultimately achieving image display. It has the advantages of low power consumption and easy readability.

[0003] Since electrowetting electronic paper is a novel display device based on microfluidic manipulation, its optical response originates from the contraction and expansion of a polar aqueous solution induced by an electric field. Once the cavity wall of the pixel fluid cavity within the electrowetting electronic paper ruptures and leaks, the entire electrowetting electronic paper becomes unusable, and there is currently no economical and effective repair method. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the shortcomings of the prior art, this invention provides a self-healing electrowetting electronic paper display device that can repair itself when the cavity wall of its pixel fluid cavity breaks, thereby avoiding leakage problems and improving reliability and service life.

[0005] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is achieved through the following technical solution: A self-healing electrowetting electronic paper display device includes a pixel layer comprising an array of multiple pixel fluid cavities, each filled with immiscible polar aqueous solutions and non-polar inks; multiple self-healing microcapsules are uniformly disposed within at least one side wall of each pixel fluid cavity, each microcapsule being filled with a repair fluid; the self-healing microcapsules can rupture along with the cavity wall of the pixel fluid cavity, thereby releasing the repair fluid to repair the cavity wall of the pixel fluid cavity.

[0006] Furthermore, the repair fluid is a photocurable material or a thermocurable material.

[0007] Furthermore, the polar aqueous solution contains a curing agent, which can cause the repair solution to solidify when it comes into contact with the repair solution.

[0008] Furthermore, each self-healing microcapsule is also filled with a latent curing agent, which cannot cause the repair fluid to solidify under normal conditions, but can be activated when it comes into contact with a triggering agent, thereby causing the repair fluid to solidify; the polar aqueous solution contains the triggering agent.

[0009] Furthermore, the pixel layer also includes pixel walls, which divide the pixel layer into multiple pixel fluid cavities; the self-healing microcapsules are uniformly disposed within the pixel walls.

[0010] Furthermore, the pixel layer also includes a pixel wall, which divides the pixel layer into a plurality of pixel fluid cavities; the electrowetting electronic paper display device also includes a side repair layer, which is disposed on at least one side surface of the pixel wall facing each pixel fluid cavity, and the self-healing microcapsules are uniformly disposed in the side repair layer.

[0011] Furthermore, the electrowetting electronic paper display device also includes an upper hydrophobic layer and an upper substrate layer, wherein the upper hydrophobic layer is disposed on the upper surface of the pixel layer and the upper substrate layer is disposed on the upper surface of the upper hydrophobic layer; the self-healing microcapsules are uniformly disposed within the upper hydrophobic layer.

[0012] Furthermore, the electrowetting electronic paper display device further includes an upper hydrophobic layer, an upper repair layer, an upper electrode layer, and an upper substrate layer. The upper hydrophobic layer is disposed on the upper surface of the pixel layer, the upper repair layer is disposed on the upper surface of the upper hydrophobic layer, the upper electrode layer is disposed on the upper surface of the upper repair layer, and the upper substrate layer is disposed on the upper surface of the upper electrode layer; the self-healing microcapsules are uniformly disposed within the upper repair layer.

[0013] Furthermore, the electrowetting electronic paper display device further includes a lower hydrophobic layer, a reflective layer, a lower electrode layer, and a lower substrate layer. The lower hydrophobic layer is disposed on the lower surface of the pixel layer, the reflective layer is disposed on the lower surface of the lower hydrophobic layer, the lower electrode layer is disposed on the lower surface of the reflective layer, and the lower substrate layer is disposed on the lower surface of the lower electrode layer. The self-healing microcapsules are uniformly disposed within the lower hydrophobic layer.

[0014] Furthermore, the electrowetting electronic paper display device further includes a lower hydrophobic layer, a lower repair layer, and a lower substrate layer. The lower hydrophobic layer is disposed on the lower surface of the pixel layer, the lower repair layer is disposed on the lower surface of the lower hydrophobic layer, and the lower substrate layer is disposed on the lower surface of the lower repair layer. The self-healing microcapsules are uniformly disposed within the lower repair layer. This invention has the following beneficial effects: By uniformly distributing the self-healing microcapsules within the cavity wall of each pixel fluid cavity, when the cavity wall of the pixel fluid cavity cracks under external impact, the self-healing microcapsules located near the cracks can rupture along with the cavity wall under stress, thereby releasing the repair fluid into the cracks in the cavity wall. This repair fluid, after curing, repairs the cavity wall of the pixel fluid cavity, preventing leakage of polar aqueous solutions and non-polar inks within the pixel fluid cavity, thus improving reliability and service life. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the stacked structure of the electrowetting electronic paper display device provided by the present invention.

[0016] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the stacked structure of another electrowetting electronic paper display device provided by the present invention.

[0017] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the stacked structure of another electrowetting electronic paper display device provided by the present invention.

[0018] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the stacked structure of another electrowetting electronic paper display device provided by the present invention.

[0019] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the stacked structure of another electrowetting electronic paper display device provided by the present invention.

[0020] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the stacked structure of another electrowetting electronic paper display device provided by the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments, examples of which are shown in the drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and intended to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0022] In the description of this invention, 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 invention 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 invention.

[0023] Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third" 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," "second," or "third" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this invention, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0024] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," "fixing," and "setting," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0025] Example 1 like Figure 1-6 As shown, a self-healing electrowetting electronic paper display device includes an upper substrate layer 1, an upper electrode layer 2, an upper hydrophobic layer 3, a pixel layer 4, a lower hydrophobic layer 5, a reflective layer 6, a lower electrode layer 7, and a lower substrate layer 8. The upper hydrophobic layer 3 is disposed on the upper surface of the pixel layer 4, the upper electrode layer 2 is disposed on the upper surface of the upper hydrophobic layer 3, and the upper substrate layer 1 is disposed on the upper surface of the upper electrode layer 2. The lower hydrophobic layer 5 is disposed on the lower surface of the pixel layer 4, the reflective layer 6 is disposed on the lower surface of the lower hydrophobic layer 5, the lower electrode layer 7 is disposed on the lower surface of the reflective layer 6, and the lower substrate layer 8 is disposed on the lower surface of the lower electrode layer 7.

[0026] The pixel layer 4 includes a pixel wall 41 and a plurality of pixel fluid cavities 42 arranged in an array. The pixel wall 41 divides the pixel layer 4 into a plurality of pixel fluid cavities 42, and each pixel fluid cavity 42 is filled with immiscible polar aqueous solution 421 and non-polar ink 422.

[0027] The electrowetting electronic paper display device of the present invention forms a driving electric field for driving the pixel layer 4 through the upper electrode layer 2 and the lower electrode layer 7. When the upper electrode layer 2 and the lower electrode layer 7 are energized, the wettability of the polar aqueous solution 421 increases significantly under the action of the driving electric field, and its state changes from contraction to expansion. At the same time, it indirectly drives the state of the non-polar ink 422 to change from expansion to contraction, so as to expose the reflective layer 6. The reflective layer 6 makes the corresponding pixel fluid cavity 42 display white by reflecting ambient light. When the upper electrode layer 2 and the lower electrode layer 7 are de-energized, the polar aqueous solution 421 returns to its low wettability, and its state changes from expansion to contraction. At the same time, it indirectly drives the state of the non-polar ink 422 to change from contraction to expansion, so as to block the reflective layer 6. The non-polar ink 422 makes the corresponding pixel fluid cavity 42 display the color corresponding to the non-polar ink 422 by absorbing or reflecting ambient light.

[0028] Preferably, the lower electrode layer 7 is a TFT array layer, and the upper electrode layer 2 is a common electrode layer; the lower electrode layer 7 includes multiple TFT switches and multiple pixel electrodes arranged in an array, and the TFT switches, pixel electrodes and pixel fluid cavities 42 correspond one-to-one; each TFT switch can individually control the charging of the corresponding pixel electrode, thereby enabling the corresponding pixel fluid cavity 42 to switch colors individually.

[0029] A plurality of self-healing microcapsules 9 are uniformly disposed in at least one side of the cavity wall of each pixel fluid cavity 42, and each self-healing microcapsule 9 is filled with repair fluid; the self-healing microcapsule 9 can rupture along with the cavity wall of the pixel fluid cavity 42, thereby releasing the repair fluid so that the repair fluid can repair the cavity wall of the pixel fluid cavity 42.

[0030] The electrowetting electronic paper display device of the present invention uniformly arranges the self-healing microcapsules 9 in the cavity wall of each pixel fluid cavity 42. When the cavity wall of the pixel fluid cavity 42 is broken under external impact, the self-healing microcapsules 9 located near the crack can rupture along with the cavity wall under stress, thereby releasing the repair liquid into the crack of the cavity wall. After the repair liquid solidifies, it repairs the cavity wall of the pixel fluid cavity 42, thereby preventing leakage of the polar aqueous solution 421 and non-polar ink 422 in the pixel fluid cavity 42, thus improving reliability and service life.

[0031] The stress range that triggers the rupture of the self-healing microcapsule 9 should be higher than the stress experienced by the electrowetting electronic paper display device during daily operation to avoid accidental rupture of the self-healing microcapsule 9 during daily operation, and slightly lower than the reference stress experienced when the wall of the pixel fluid cavity 42 ruptures, to ensure that the self-healing microcapsule 9 can quickly respond to the rupture of the wall of the pixel fluid cavity 42 and release the repair fluid. Preferably, the stress range that triggers the rupture of the capsule wall of the self-healing microcapsule 9 is (0.7-0.9)*F. base Between, F base This is the reference stress experienced when the cavity wall of the pixel fluid cavity 42 ruptures.

[0032] The self-healing microcapsules 9 have a particle size between 5-30 μm and an areal density of 10. 3 -10 4 pcs / mm 2 The volume of the cavity wall (or the layer in which it is located) is between 5% and 15% of the total volume of the material.

[0033] In some examples, the repair fluid is a photocurable or thermocurable material.

[0034] The repair solution uses one or more of epoxy resin, polyurethane resin, polyurethane acrylate, epoxy acrylate or polyester acrylate as the base material, and adds a certain proportion of photoinitiator or thermal initiator to achieve self-curing under specific wavelengths of light or specific temperatures.

[0035] In some examples, the polar aqueous solution 421 contains a curing agent that can cause the repair solution to cure upon contact with the repair solution; wherein the mass percentage concentration of the curing agent in the polar aqueous solution 421 is preferably between 0.1% and 0.5%.

[0036] When a crack appears in the wall of the pixel fluid cavity 42, the self-healing microcapsule 9 ruptures to release the repair liquid into the crack in the cavity wall. The curing agent in the polar aqueous solution 421 also penetrates into the crack in the cavity wall. The repair liquid comes into contact with the curing agent in the crack in the cavity wall and then cures to repair the crack in the cavity wall.

[0037] Compared to single-component solutions such as photocurable or thermocurable materials, the two-component solution combining the repair liquid and curing agent has no special requirements for the repair environment and a faster repair response speed.

[0038] Specifically, the repair solution uses epoxy resin, and the curing agent uses aliphatic polyamines (such as diethylenetriamine), sterically hindered amines, or imine derivatives (such as ketimine); the repair solution uses vinyl-terminated silicone oil, and the curing agent uses hydrogen-containing silicone oil; the repair solution uses hydroxyl-terminated polyether / polyester, and the curing agent uses modified isocyanate prepolymer.

[0039] In some examples, each self-healing microcapsule 9 is also filled with a latent curing agent that cannot cure the repair solution under normal conditions but can be activated when it comes into contact with a triggering agent, thereby causing the repair solution to cure; the polar aqueous solution 421 contains the triggering agent, wherein the mass percentage concentration of the triggering agent in the polar aqueous solution 421 is preferably between 1% and 3%.

[0040] When a crack appears in the wall of the pixel fluid cavity 42, the self-healing microcapsule 9 ruptures, releasing the repair fluid and latent curing agent into the crack in the cavity wall. The triggering agent in the polar aqueous solution 421 also penetrates into the crack in the cavity wall. The latent curing agent comes into contact with the triggering agent in the crack in the cavity wall and is activated by the triggering agent, thereby causing the repair fluid to solidify and repair the crack in the cavity wall.

[0041] Conventional curing agents are highly reactive, posing a significant challenge to long-term stability when exposed to the aqueous solution 421. Compared to a two-component solution combining the repair solution and curing agent, a three-component solution combining the repair solution, a latent curing agent, and a curing agent, using an extremely inert latent curing agent instead of a conventional curing agent and encapsulating the latent curing agent together with the repair solution in the microcapsule 9, can increase the storage time of the latent curing agent, making it suitable for long-term storage. Furthermore, introducing the triggering agent into the polar aqueous solution 421 activates the latent curing agent when the cavity wall of the pixel fluid cavity 42 ruptures, ensuring a rapid repair response.

[0042] Specifically, the repair solution uses an epoxy resin prepolymer, the latent curing agent uses a latent amine curing agent (such as dicyandiamide), and the triggering agent uses an organic acid (such as oxalic acid or acetic acid); the repair solution uses an acrylate monomer, the latent curing agent uses a latent peroxide curing agent (such as benzoyl peroxide), and the triggering agent uses a tertiary amine compound (such as dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate).

[0043] In some examples, such as Figure 1 As shown, the pixel wall 41 serves as the side cavity wall of the pixel fluid cavity 42, and the self-healing microcapsules 9 are uniformly disposed within the pixel wall 41.

[0044] In some examples, such as Figure 2 As shown, the electrowetting electronic paper display device further includes a side repair layer 10, which is disposed on at least one side surface of the pixel wall 41 facing each pixel fluid cavity 42 to serve as a side cavity wall of the pixel fluid cavity 42; the self-healing microcapsules 9 are uniformly disposed within the side repair layer 10.

[0045] In some examples, such as Figure 3 As shown, the upper hydrophobic layer 3 serves as the top cavity wall of the pixel fluid cavity 42, and the self-healing microcapsules 9 are uniformly disposed within the upper hydrophobic layer 3.

[0046] In some examples, such as Figure 4 As shown, the lower hydrophobic layer 5 serves as the bottom cavity wall of the pixel fluid cavity 42, and the self-healing microcapsules 9 are uniformly disposed within the lower hydrophobic layer 5.

[0047] In some examples, such as Figure 5 As shown, the electrowetting electronic paper display device further includes an upper repair layer 11, which is disposed on the upper surface of the upper hydrophobic layer 3, the upper electrode layer 2 is disposed on the upper surface of the upper repair layer 11, and the upper substrate layer 1 is disposed on the upper surface of the upper electrode layer 2; the self-healing microcapsules 9 are uniformly disposed in the upper repair layer 11.

[0048] In this example, the upper hydrophobic layer 3 and the upper repair layer 11 together serve as the top cavity wall of the pixel fluid cavity 42, and the upper repair layer 11 is disposed on the side of the upper hydrophobic layer 3 away from the pixel layer 4 to avoid ensuring the surface hydrophobic environment required for electrowetting. When the upper hydrophobic layer 3 cracks, the stress is transmitted to the upper repair layer 11, causing the upper repair layer 11 to also crack, thereby causing the self-healing microcapsules 9 within the upper repair layer 11 to rupture and release the repair fluid.

[0049] In some examples, such as Figure 6 As shown, the electrowetting electronic paper display device further includes a lower repair layer 12, which is disposed on the lower surface of the lower hydrophobic layer 5, and the reflective layer 6 is disposed on the lower surface of the lower repair layer 12; the self-healing microcapsules 9 are uniformly disposed within the lower repair layer 12.

[0050] In this example, the lower hydrophobic layer 5 and the lower repair layer 12 together serve as the top cavity wall of the pixel fluid cavity 42, and the lower repair layer 12 is disposed on the side of the lower hydrophobic layer 5 away from the pixel layer 4 to avoid ensuring the surface hydrophobic environment required for electrowetting. When the lower hydrophobic layer 5 cracks, the stress is transmitted to the lower repair layer 12, causing the lower repair layer 12 to also crack, thereby causing the self-healing microcapsules 9 within the lower repair layer 12 to rupture and release the repair fluid.

[0051] The side repair layer 10, upper repair layer 11, or lower repair layer 12 can use polyurethane acrylate, epoxy acrylate, or polyester acrylate as the base material, and mix the self-healing microcapsules 9 in a certain proportion. The mixture is then coated and cured on the pixel wall 41, upper electrode layer 2, or reflective layer 6 to ensure high transmittance, firm adhesion, and no impact on electrowetting performance, among other requirements.

[0052] Of course, the four specific implementations—the side repair layer 10, the upper repair layer 11, the lower repair layer 12, and the pixel wall with the self-healing microcapsules—can be used individually or in combination. Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention and not to limit them. Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions can still be made to the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, and these modifications or equivalent substitutions cannot cause the modified technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A self-healing electrowetting electronic paper display device, comprising a pixel layer, the pixel layer including a plurality of pixel fluid cavities arranged in an array, each pixel fluid cavity being filled with immiscible polar aqueous solution and non-polar ink; characterized in that, Multiple self-healing microcapsules are uniformly disposed in at least one side of the cavity wall of each pixel fluid cavity, and each self-healing microcapsule is filled with repair fluid; the self-healing microcapsule can rupture along with the cavity wall of the pixel fluid cavity, thereby releasing the repair fluid so that the repair fluid can repair the cavity wall of the pixel fluid cavity.

2. The electrowetting electronic paper display device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The repair fluid is a photocurable material or a thermocurable material.

3. The electrowetting electronic paper display device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The polar aqueous solution contains a curing agent, which can cause the repair solution to solidify when it comes into contact with the repair solution.

4. The electrowetting electronic paper display device according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each self-healing microcapsule is also filled with a latent curing agent, which cannot cause the repair fluid to solidify under normal conditions, but can be activated when it comes into contact with a triggering agent, thereby causing the repair fluid to solidify. The polar aqueous solution contains the triggering agent.

5. The electrowetting electronic paper display device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The pixel layer also includes pixel walls, which divide the pixel layer into multiple pixel fluid cavities; the self-healing microcapsules are uniformly disposed within the pixel walls.

6. The electrowetting electronic paper display device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The pixel layer further includes a pixel wall, which divides the pixel layer into a plurality of pixel fluid cavities; the electrowetting electronic paper display device further includes a side repair layer, which is disposed on at least one side surface of the pixel wall facing each pixel fluid cavity, and the self-healing microcapsules are uniformly disposed in the side repair layer.

7. The electrowetting electronic paper display device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The electrowetting electronic paper display device further includes an upper hydrophobic layer and an upper substrate layer. The upper hydrophobic layer is disposed on the upper surface of the pixel layer, and the upper substrate layer is disposed on the upper surface of the upper hydrophobic layer. The self-healing microcapsules are uniformly disposed within the upper hydrophobic layer.

8. The electrowetting electronic paper display device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The electrowetting electronic paper display device further includes an upper hydrophobic layer, an upper repair layer, an upper electrode layer, and an upper substrate layer. The upper hydrophobic layer is disposed on the upper surface of the pixel layer, the upper repair layer is disposed on the upper surface of the upper hydrophobic layer, the upper electrode layer is disposed on the upper surface of the upper repair layer, and the upper substrate layer is disposed on the upper surface of the upper electrode layer. The self-healing microcapsules are uniformly disposed within the upper repair layer.

9. The electrowetting electronic paper display device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The electrowetting electronic paper display device further includes a lower hydrophobic layer, a reflective layer, a lower electrode layer, and a lower substrate layer. The lower hydrophobic layer is disposed on the lower surface of the pixel layer, the reflective layer is disposed on the lower surface of the lower hydrophobic layer, the lower electrode layer is disposed on the lower surface of the reflective layer, and the lower substrate layer is disposed on the lower surface of the lower electrode layer. The self-healing microcapsules are uniformly disposed within the lower hydrophobic layer.

10. The electrowetting electronic paper display device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The electrowetting electronic paper display device further includes a lower hydrophobic layer, a lower repair layer, and a lower substrate layer. The lower hydrophobic layer is disposed on the lower surface of the pixel layer, the lower repair layer is disposed on the lower surface of the lower hydrophobic layer, and the lower substrate layer is disposed on the lower surface of the lower repair layer. The self-healing microcapsules are uniformly disposed within the lower repair layer.

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