Color-changeable electronic paper driving film and color-changeable electronic paper display module

Abstract

The utility model discloses a color-changeable electronic paper driving film, which comprises a water-blocking base material, a wiring layer, an insulating ink layer and a conductive pattern layer which are arranged in sequence, a plurality of conductive through holes are distributed on the insulating ink layer, and the conductive pattern layer comprises a plurality of mutually independent pattern units. Each pattern unit is electrically connected with the wiring layer through at least one conductive through hole, wherein the size of each conductive through hole is increased in a stepped manner from one side of the wiring layer to one side of the conductive pattern layer. Stable and reliable electrical conduction can be achieved, and the situations of image missing and other abnormalities after lightening and abnormal appearance and the like are avoided. When the color-changeable electronic paper is applied to a color-changeable electronic paper display module, display and control of multicolor and complex patterns can be realized, and the color-changeable electronic paper has a wide application field.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model belongs to the technical field of electronic paper, and particularly relates to a color-changing electronic paper driving film and a color-changing electronic paper display module. Background Art

[0002] The color-changing electronic paper can perform color gradient changes or flashes between two colors or multiple colors, and can be freely cut into any shape. It can be combined with other surface materials, structures, and applications. Through customized and programmed design, the mutual conversion between colors can be achieved, enabling the originally static surface to dynamically display colors or patterns. It is water-resistant and scratch-resistant, and is applied to the surfaces of electronic consumer products, household appliances, building exteriors, exhibition decorations, automobiles, and other fields. With the development of technology, the electronic paper market is growing rapidly. Electronic paper can not only save energy, but also provide a clearer display effect, a thinner and lighter volume, and a lower price. Therefore, it is becoming the first choice for applications such as digital signage, smart watches, and smart glasses.

[0003] The electronic paper driving technology refers to the control of the electronic paper to achieve the switching and updating of the displayed content, which is an important part of the electronic paper technology. Patterning conductive layers and circuit wirings are made on both sides of a plastic substrate and connected by lines. The image is lit through the patterning conductive layer. However, there are problems such as poor conductivity of the conductive medium, missing images after lighting, and poor appearance due to exposed lines, and its performance cannot meet the requirements, which limits its application. Summary of the Utility Model

[0004] Aiming at the deficiencies existing in the prior art, the utility model provides a color-changing electronic paper driving film and a color-changing electronic paper.

[0005] In order to achieve the above purposes, the technical solution of the utility model is as follows:

[0006] A color-changing electronic paper driving film includes a water-blocking substrate, a wiring layer, an insulating ink layer, and a conductive pattern layer arranged in sequence. A plurality of conductive through-holes are distributed in the insulating ink layer. The conductive pattern layer includes a plurality of mutually independent pattern units, and each pattern unit is electrically connected to the wiring layer through at least one conductive through-hole. The size of each conductive through-hole increases step by step from the side of the wiring layer to the side of the conductive pattern layer.

[0007] Optionally, the thickness of the wiring layer is ≤5μm, the thickness of the insulating ink layer is 5 - 15μm, and the thickness of the conductive pattern layer is ≤5μm.

[0008] Optionally, the material of the wiring layer is a conductive metal material, and the material of the conductive pattern layer is conductive graphite.

[0009] Optionally, the conductive vias include vias provided in the insulating ink layer and conductive materials filling the vias, and the conductive materials are the same as those of the conductive pattern layer.

[0010] Optionally, the conductive vias include 2 to 3 via segments with stepped changes in size, and the diameter difference between adjacent via segments is 0.05 to 0.10 mm.

[0011] Optionally, the diameter of the conductive vias on the side close to the conductive pattern layer is 0.2 to 0.3 mm.

[0012] Optionally, the minimum setting gap between adjacent pattern units is 0.1 mm.

[0013] Optionally, the wiring layer includes a number of connection points, the connection points correspond to the conductive vias one by one, and the size of the conductive vias on the side close to the wiring layer is smaller than the size of the connection points.

[0014] Optionally, the water-blocking substrate is a mylar aluminum film, including a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) surface, and the wiring layer is provided on the PET surface.

[0015] A color-changing electronic paper display module includes the above-mentioned color-changing electronic paper driving film, and a display layer provided on one side of the conductive pattern layer of the color-changing electronic paper driving film, and the display layer includes a microcapsule electrophoretic display layer or a microcup electrophoretic display layer.

[0016] The beneficial effects of the present utility model are as follows:

[0017] By providing the wiring layer and the conductive pattern layer on the water-blocking substrate and realizing corresponding connection through the arrangement of the insulating ink layer and the conductive vias, stable and reliable electrical conduction can be achieved through the stepped change of the aperture of the conductive vias, avoiding abnormalities such as missing images after lighting; and avoiding appearance defects such as exposed circuits and exposed vias. The formed electronic paper driving film is suitable for the display and control of multi-color and complex patterns, has good display effects, is light, thin and durable, and can be promoted to applications in multiple fields. Description of the Drawings

[0018] Figure 1 It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a color-changing electronic paper driving film according to an embodiment;

[0019] Figure 2 It is a top view schematic diagram of a color-changing electronic paper driving film according to an embodiment, showing the positional relationship between the wiring layer and the conductive pattern layer in the figure;

[0020] Figure 3 For Figure 2 The partial enlarged schematic diagram of area A in

[0021] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of a color-changing electronic paper display module of an embodiment, showing the composite of the color-changing electronic paper driving film and the display layer in the figure;

[0022] Figure 5 It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of a color-changing electronic paper driving film of another embodiment. Specific embodiments

[0023] The following further explains the present utility model in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. The various drawings of the present utility model are only for illustration to more easily understand the present utility model, and its specific proportions can be adjusted according to design requirements. The up-and-down relationship of the relative components and the definition of the front / back in the described figures should be understood by those skilled in the art as referring to the relative positions of the components, so they can all be flipped to present the same components, and this should all fall within the scope disclosed in this specification.

[0024] Reference Figures 1 to 3 , a color-changing electronic paper driving film of an embodiment, includes a water-proof substrate 1, a wiring layer 2, an insulating ink layer 3, and a conductive pattern layer 4 arranged in sequence. The insulating ink layer 3 is distributed with a plurality of conductive through-holes 31. The conductive pattern layer 4 includes a plurality of mutually independent pattern units 41. Each pattern unit 41 is electrically connected to the wiring layer 2 through at least one conductive through-hole 31 to achieve independent control of each pattern unit. The size of each conductive through-hole 31 increases step by step from the side of the wiring layer 2 to the side of the conductive pattern layer 4, so as to achieve a better connection effect.

[0025] Specifically, taking the example that the conductive through-hole 31 changes step by step in size and includes 2 through-hole segments, the diameter of the first through-hole segment 311 close to the wiring layer 2 is smaller than the diameter of the second through-hole segment 312 close to the conductive pattern layer 4, and the diameter difference between the two is 0.05 - 0.10 mm, and the diameter of the second through-hole segment 312 is 0.2 - 0.3 mm. For example, the diameter of the first through-hole segment 311 is 0.2 mm, and the diameter of the second through-hole segment 312 is 0.3 mm. The conductive through-hole can be formed by forming a through-hole in the insulating ink layer 3 and filling it with a conductive material 5. Preferably, it is filled with conductive ink through processes such as screen printing. Through the setting of the through-hole aperture step difference, it helps the filling of the conductive ink in the hole, reduces the formation of air bubbles, avoids the entrainment of air bubbles, ensures the filling integrity and good electrical contact, and avoids the problem of difficult conduction.

[0026] The insulating ink layer 3 can be printed multiple times by screen printing to form a stack of multiple single layers to achieve changes in the through-hole aperture. Each single-layer printing corresponds to a through-hole segment. The thickness of a single-layer printing is ≤5 μm, for example, 3 - 5 μm. The total thickness of the insulating ink layer 3 is 5 - 15 μm. If the total thickness is too low, wiring will be exposed and abnormal conditions will occur in parts that should not conduct. If the total thickness is too high, the conduction difficulty will increase and the overall thickness of the film will be relatively large. The thickness of the conductive pattern layer 4 is ≤5 μm, for example, 2 - 4 μm. Preferably, the conductive material 5 filled in the conductive through-hole 31 is the same as that of the conductive pattern layer 4, for example, conductive graphite is selected. After the conductive through-hole 31 is filled, the conductive pattern layer 4 is fabricated on the surface through processes such as screen printing, etc., which can avoid problems such as the exposure of the conductive through-hole, and ensure that the conductive pattern layer 4 can be conducted with the wiring layer 2 through the conductive through-hole 31 during printing. The conductive pattern layer 4 forms several pattern units 41, and the pattern units are set according to the required pattern display, including regular and irregular graphics, etc. and their combinations. Refer to Figure 3 , and the minimum setting gap a between adjacent pattern units 41 is 0.1 mm, which can achieve an accurate pattern effect.

[0027] The thickness of the wiring layer 2 is ≤5 μm, for example, 2 - 4 μm, and it is directly printed on the water-proof substrate 1 using a conductive metal material such as conductive silver paste. The wiring layer 2 includes several connection points 21, and the connection points 21 correspond one-to-one with the conductive through-holes 31 and have a size larger than that of the first through-hole segment 311. Preferably, its size is the same as that of the second through-hole segment 312. Through the above size setting, accurate alignment and good connection can be achieved. When realizing the compact wiring of complex patterns, interference with nearby wiring that may cause incorrect pattern lighting can be avoided. The water-proof property of the water-proof substrate 1 is preferably WVTR < 0.005. For example, a mylar aluminum film with a thickness of 80 - 120 μm is used, which includes a PET surface, and the wiring layer 2 is directly formed on the PET surface without the need to be bonded to an additional water-proof protective film, reducing the overall thickness.

[0028] When the above-mentioned color-changing electronic paper driving film is applied to a color-changing electronic paper display module, refer to Figure 4, the display layer 6 is disposed on one side of the conductive pattern layer 4 of the electrochromic e-paper driving film. The display layer 6 includes a microcapsule-type electrophoretic display layer or a microcup-type electrophoretic display layer, etc., which is based on two-color or multi-color electronic ink. Taking the microcapsule-type electrophoretic display layer as an example, its electronic ink is composed of a plurality of microcapsules, and each microcapsule contains at least two color particles with different charges suspended in a transparent liquid. On the side of the electronic ink facing away from the electrochromic e-paper driving film, there is provided, for example, an ITO layer, which forms positive and negative electrodes with the conductive pattern layer 4. Under the action of different voltages, the color particles with different charges perform electrophoresis, realizing different position distributions in a small space, and then presenting different colors on the screen surface. By independently controlling different pattern units 41, the driving film can achieve complex multi-color pattern display and transformation. And it has a bistable characteristic. In the state where the power supply is completely removed, the picture can still be continuously displayed on the screen and will not disappear. Only when changing the picture does it consume power, and it has excellent power-saving performance.

[0029] Reference Figure 5 , in other embodiments, the conductive through-hole 31 includes 3 through-hole segments with a stepped change in size. The diameter of the first through-hole segment 313 close to the wiring layer 2, the second through-hole segment 314 in the middle, and the diameter of the third through-hole segment 315 close to the conductive pattern layer 4 increase in sequence, and the adjacent diameter difference is 0.05 - 0.10 mm. The change in the through-hole aperture can be achieved by sequentially printing three single layers. Each time a single layer is printed, it corresponds to a through-hole segment, and the thickness each time is, for example, 4 μm. Similarly, a good filling effect of the conductive material 5 can be achieved.

[0030] The above embodiments are only used to further illustrate a kind of electrochromic e-paper driving film and an electrochromic e-paper display module of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the embodiments. Any simple modification, equivalent change and modification made to the above embodiments according to the technical essence of the present invention all fall within the protection scope of the technical solution of the present invention.

Claims

1. A color-changeable electronic paper driving film, characterized in that: It includes a water-blocking substrate, a wiring layer, an insulating ink layer and a conductive pattern layer arranged in sequence, wherein the insulating ink layer is provided with a plurality of conductive through holes, and the conductive pattern layer includes a plurality of independent pattern units, each of which is electrically connected to the wiring layer through at least one conductive through hole, wherein the size of each conductive through hole increases in a step-like manner from one side of the wiring layer to the other side of the conductive pattern layer.

2. The color-changeable electronic paper driving film according to claim 1, characterized in that: The thickness of the wiring layer is ≤5 μm, the thickness of the insulating ink layer is 5-15 μm, and the thickness of the conductive pattern layer is ≤5 μm.

3. The color-changeable electronic paper driving film according to claim 1, characterized in that: The material of the wiring layer is a conductive metal material, and the material of the conductive pattern layer is conductive graphite.

4. The color-changeable electronic paper driving film according to claim 1, characterized in that: The conductive through hole comprises a through hole provided in the insulating ink layer and a conductive material filling the through hole, and the conductive material is the same as the material of the conductive pattern layer.

5. The color-changeable electronic paper driving film according to claim 1, characterized in that: The conductive through hole includes 2 to 3 through hole segments according to a stepwise change in size, and the diameter difference between adjacent through hole segments is 0.05 to 0.10 mm.

6. The color-changeable electronic paper driving film according to claim 1, characterized in that: The diameter of the conductive through hole on the side close to the conductive pattern layer is 0.2-0.3 mm.

7. The color-changeable electronic paper driving film according to claim 1, characterized in that: The minimum setting gap between adjacent pattern units is 0.1 mm.

8. The color-changeable electronic paper driving film according to claim 1, characterized in that: The wiring layer includes a plurality of connection points, the connection points correspond to the conductive vias one by one, and the size of the conductive vias close to the wiring layer is smaller than the size of the connection points.

9. The color-changeable electronic paper driving film according to claim 1, characterized in that: The water-blocking substrate is a Mylar aluminum film, including a PET surface, and the wiring layer is arranged on the PET surface.

10. A color-changeable electronic paper display module, characterized in that: It comprises the color-changeable electronic paper driving film according to any one of claims 1 to 9, and a display layer arranged on one side of the conductive pattern layer of the color-changeable electronic paper driving film, wherein the display layer comprises a microcapsule electrophoretic display layer or a microcup electrophoretic display layer.

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