Electrophoretic display module and electrophoretic display device

Abstract

The application provides an electrophoretic display module and an electrophoretic display device. The electrophoretic display module comprises a first substrate layer, an electrophoretic display layer and a second substrate layer which are sequentially stacked. The electrophoretic display layer comprises a plurality of microcavities which are independently arranged. Each microcavity is a closed structure. Each microcavity is provided with black display medium and a plurality of color electrophoretic particles. The colors of the color electrophoretic particles in the same microcavity are the same. The colors of the color electrophoretic particles in at least two microcavities are different. The technical scheme can realize color display and ensure better display effect.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of display technology, and more specifically, relates to an electrophoretic display module and an electrophoretic display device. Background Technology

[0002] Existing electronic paper based on electrophoresis technology works by filling the space between two electrodes with black and white electrophoretic particles. Driven by a voltage difference between the upper and lower electrodes, these particles move towards the two substrates, displaying different colors to record information. Therefore, current electronic paper is generally black and white. To meet the need for color display in certain scenarios, existing electronic paper typically achieves color display by adding a color filter to the black and white display. However, in practical applications, it has been found that this method of achieving color display by adding a color filter is an indirect display method, and the display effect is not ideal. Utility Model Content

[0003] This application provides an electrophoretic display module and an electrophoretic display device, aiming to improve the technical problem of poor display effect of existing electronic paper based on electrophoretic technology, which achieves color display by adding a color filter film on the basis of black and white display.

[0004] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide an electrophoretic display module, including a first substrate layer, an electrophoretic display layer, and a second substrate layer stacked sequentially. The electrophoretic display layer includes a plurality of independently arranged microcavities, and each microcavity is a closed structure. Each microcavity is provided with a black display medium and a plurality of colored electrophoretic particles. The colored electrophoretic particles in the same microcavity are set to the same color, and the colored electrophoretic particles in at least two microcavities are set to different colors.

[0005] Optionally, in some embodiments of this application, the colors of the colored electrophoretic particles in any two adjacent microcavities are set to be different.

[0006] Optionally, in some embodiments of this application, the electrophoretic display layer includes at least one first microcavity unit, the first microcavity unit including three adjacently arranged microcavities; in the first microcavity unit, the colored electrophoretic particles in the three microcavities are set to have different colors.

[0007] Optionally, in some embodiments of this application, in the first microcavity unit, the colors of the colored electrophoretic particles in the three microcavities are red, green and blue, respectively;

[0008] Alternatively, in the first microcavity unit, the colors of the colored electrophoretic particles in the three microcavities are magenta, cyan, and yellow, respectively.

[0009] Optionally, in some embodiments of this application, the electrophoretic display layer includes at least one second microcavity unit, the second microcavity unit including four adjacently arranged microcavities; in the second microcavity unit, the colored electrophoretic particles in the four microcavities are set to have different colors.

[0010] Optionally, in some embodiments of this application, in the second microcavity unit, the colors of the colored electrophoretic particles in the four microcavities are red, green, blue and white, respectively;

[0011] Alternatively, in the second microcavity unit, the colors of the colored electrophoretic particles in the four microcavities are red, green, blue, and yellow, respectively.

[0012] Optionally, in some embodiments of this application, the black display medium is a black solvent.

[0013] Optionally, in some embodiments of this application, the black display medium is a transparent solvent mixed with black electrophoretic particles.

[0014] Optionally, in some embodiments of this application, the electrophoretic display layer includes a first border and a plurality of first partitions;

[0015] The first frame is connected between the first substrate layer and the second substrate layer, and together with the first substrate and the second substrate, forms a first accommodating cavity;

[0016] The first partition walls are arranged horizontally, vertically, or in a staggered manner to divide the first accommodating chamber into multiple microcavities with interconnected cavity walls.

[0017] Optionally, in some embodiments of this application, either the first substrate layer or the second substrate layer is the display-side substrate layer of the electrophoretic display module, the main body layer of the display-side substrate layer is a transparent substrate, and the electrode layer of the display-side substrate layer is a transparent electrode.

[0018] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a display device, including a driving circuit and at least one of the above-described electrophoretic display modules, wherein the driving circuit is electrically connected to all of the electrophoretic display modules.

[0019] The electrophoretic display module and electrophoretic display device provided in this application have the following structural arrangement for the electrophoretic display layer: each microcavity contains a black display medium and multiple colored electrophoretic particles, the colored electrophoretic particles in the same microcavity are set to the same color, and the colored electrophoretic particles in at least two microcavities are set to different colors. Thus, when the electrophoretic display module performs color display, the corresponding colored electrophoretic particles move towards the two substrates under the influence of positive and negative voltage differences to display the corresponding color. That is, the electrophoretic display module can perform direct color display, thereby achieving color display while ensuring a superior display effect. Attached Figure Description

[0020] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a first structure of the electrophoretic display module provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0022] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the electrophoretic display layer of the electrophoretic display module shown;

[0023] Figure 3 for Figure 1 Another schematic diagram of the electrophoretic display layer of the electrophoretic display module shown;

[0024] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a second structure of the electrophoretic display module provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0025] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a third structure of the electrophoretic display module provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0026] The following are the labeling elements in the figure:

[0027] 10-Electrophoretic display module; 11-First substrate layer; 111-First main body layer; 112-First electrode layer; 12-Electrophoretic display layer; 121-Microcavity; 122-Color electrophoretic particles; 123-First frame; 124-First partition wall; 125-Second partition wall; 13-Second substrate layer; 131-Second main body layer; 132-Second electrode layer; 14-First microcavity unit; 15-Electrode coating; 16-Gap. Detailed Implementation

[0028] To make the technical problems, technical solutions, and beneficial effects to be solved by this application clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and are not intended to limit the scope of this application.

[0029] It should be noted that when a component is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another component, it can be directly on or indirectly on that other component. When a component is referred to as being "connected to" another component, it can be directly connected to or indirectly connected to that other component.

[0030] It should be understood that the terms "length", "width", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application.

[0031] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0032] Furthermore, the accompanying drawings are not drawn to a 1:1 scale, and the relative dimensions of the components are shown in the drawings only as examples and not necessarily to actual scale.

[0033] Electronic paper (E-Paper) is a display device that closely resembles paper, offering advantages such as a wide viewing angle and low power consumption. The display principle of electronic paper differs from that of conventional flat panel displays; it does not require a backlight, relying instead on reflected ambient light to display images, and it can retain the displayed image even without power. Therefore, electronic paper is widely used in retail price tags, digital signage, bus arrival timetables, electronic bulletin boards, mobile phone screens, and e-book readers. Electrophoresis-based electronic paper is currently the most widely used.

[0034] Existing electronic paper based on electrophoresis technology works by filling the space between two electrodes with black and white electrophoretic particles. Driven by a voltage difference between the upper and lower electrodes, these particles move towards the two substrates under the influence of positive and negative voltage differences, thus displaying different colors and recording information. Therefore, current electronic paper is generally black and white. To meet the need for color display in certain scenarios, existing electronic paper typically uses color filters to achieve color display. However, this indirect method of achieving color display results in poor display quality.

[0035] Therefore, it is necessary to provide an electrophoretic display module and an electrophoretic display device, which aim to improve the technical problem of poor display effect of existing electrophoretic electronic paper that achieves color display by adding a color filter film on the basis of black and white display.

[0036] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2 The electrophoretic display module 10 provided in the embodiments of this application will now be described. The electrophoretic display module 10 includes a first substrate layer 11, an electrophoretic display layer 12, and a second substrate layer 13. The first substrate layer 11, the electrophoretic display layer 12, and the second substrate layer 13 are stacked sequentially. The electrophoretic display layer 12 includes a plurality of independently arranged microcavities 121. Each microcavity 121 is a closed structure. Each microcavity 121 contains a black display medium (not shown) and a plurality of colored electrophoretic particles 122. The colored electrophoretic particles in the same microcavity 121 are set to the same color, and the colored electrophoretic particles in at least two microcavities 121 are set to different colors.

[0037] It is understood that the electrophoretic display module 10 in this application mainly refers to devices or modules that utilize electrophoretic technology to achieve display, such as electronic paper. Furthermore, this electrophoretic display module 10 primarily employs a microcavity 121 structure. Therefore, its electrophoretic display layer 12 may specifically include multiple independently arranged microcavities 121, and each microcavity 121 is a closed structure to ensure that there is no crosstalk problem between the electrophoretic particles. Unlike existing electrophoretic display modules, where the microcavities 121 contain a solution (i.e., electrophoretic liquid), black electrophoretic particles, and white electrophoretic particles, the microcavities 121 of the electrophoretic display module 10 in this application contain a black display medium and several colored electrophoretic particles 122. The black display medium mentioned here is mainly used to carry the electrophoretic particles, providing space for their movement. Therefore, the main component of the black display medium is still the solution (i.e., electrophoretic solution) of the existing electrophoretic display module. However, unlike the solution of the existing electrophoretic display module which is mainly transparent, the black display medium of this application embodiment is black. In this way, black display can be directly achieved through the black display medium when the colored electrophoretic particles of the electrophoretic display module 10 are not working.

[0038] Generally speaking, the colored electrophoretic particles 122 mentioned in the embodiments of this application specifically refer to other monochromatic electrophoretic particles besides black and white electrophoretic particles, including but not limited to red, green, blue, reddish-brown, cyan, yellow, and purple electrophoretic particles.

[0039] The first substrate layer 11 and the second substrate layer 13 mentioned above mainly serve to protect the electrophoretic display layer 12, and to set up corresponding electrodes when needed to form the electric field required to drive the electrophoretic display layer 12 to work. The specific implementation method can be referred to below, and will not be elaborated here.

[0040] In addition, since all the colored electrophoretic particles 122 in the same microcavity 121 of the electrophoretic display module 10 of this application embodiment have the same color, that is, only one color of colored electrophoretic particles is provided in each microcavity 121, compared with the electrophoretic display module of the related technology, which achieves color display by setting two or more colored electrophoretic particles in each microcavity 121, the driving mechanism of the electrophoretic display module 10 of this application embodiment is simpler and has a faster response speed. This is because, compared with setting two or more colored electrophoretic particles in each microcavity 121, each microcavity 121 needs to apply a complex electric field sequence to two or more different colored electrophoretic particles (with different charges or polarities), which greatly increases the difficulty of its driving circuit and timing control, and is prone to crosstalk or response speed reduction. With only one color of electrophoretic particles set in each microcavity 121, the up-and-down movement of only one color of electrophoretic particles within each microcavity 121 can be controlled to achieve the corresponding color display. Its electric field direction is unidirectional, and the driving waveform is simple, thus resulting in a simpler driving mechanism and faster response speed. Furthermore, setting only one color of electrophoretic particles in each microcavity 121, compared to setting two or more colors, avoids the problem of different colors of electrophoretic particles potentially agglomerating or depositing due to electrostatic attraction / repulsion, which could affect the display uniformity and lifespan of the electrophoretic display module 10.

[0041] Thus, the electrophoretic display module 10 provided in this embodiment has the following structure for its electrophoretic display layer 12: each microcavity 121 contains a black display medium and multiple colored electrophoretic particles 122, the colored electrophoretic particles in the same microcavity 121 are set to the same color, and the colored electrophoretic particles in at least two microcavities 121 are set to different colors. Therefore, when the electrophoretic display module 10 performs color display, the corresponding colored electrophoretic particles 122 move towards the two substrates under the action of positive and negative voltage differences to display the corresponding color. That is, the electrophoretic display module 10 can perform direct color display, thus achieving color display while ensuring a better display effect.

[0042] In some examples, such as Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the colors of the electrophoretic particles in any two adjacent microcavities are set to be different. Thus, through the above structural configuration, any area of ​​the electrophoretic display module 10 in this example can display a richer range of colors.

[0043] It is understandable that, in this example, "any adjacent" generally refers to... Figure 2 The horizontal left-right and / or vertical top-bottom arrangements shown are further illustrated. To enable richer color display in any area of ​​the electrophoretic display module 10 in this example, it can also be... Figure 2 The diagram shows any diagonally adjacent elements.

[0044] In some examples, such as Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, the electrophoretic display layer 12 includes at least one first microcavity unit 14, and the first microcavity unit 14 includes three adjacent microcavities 121. In the first microcavity unit 14, the colored electrophoretic particles in the three microcavities 121 are each a different color. Thus, through the above structural arrangement, the electrophoretic display module 10 of this example can form a three-color system in the area where each first microcavity unit 14 is located, enabling richer color display. Furthermore, by forming one first microcavity unit 14 for every three adjacent microcavities 121, the electrophoretic display layer 12 of the electrophoretic display module 10 of this example is composed of multiple first microcavity units 14, allowing the electrophoretic display layer 12 to form a three-color system in the area where each first microcavity unit 14 is located, thus enabling richer color display.

[0045] In some examples, such as Figure 2As shown, in the first microcavity unit 14, the colors of the colored electrophoretic particles 122 in the three microcavities 121 are red, green, and blue, respectively. Thus, through the above structural arrangement, each of the first microcavity units 14 in the electrophoretic display module 10 of this example can serve as a pixel unit. Each pixel unit directly participates in color mixing using the three primary colors of red, green, and blue light, resulting in a wide color gamut coverage and accurate reproduction of rich colors. In other words, the electrophoretic display module 10 of this example combines colors through microcavity unitization and independent driving of RGB particles (i.e., colored electrophoretic particles 122 representing red, green, and blue, respectively), without the need for additional color filters or complex optical structures. Full-color display can be achieved simply through the arrangement of microcavity units, offering advantages such as energy saving, high color gamut, and ease of manufacturing.

[0046] Understandably, the microcavity 121 in this example can be miniaturized (e.g., to the tens of micrometers level) to achieve high PPI (pixel density) through densely packed RGB units, meeting the requirements of high-definition displays. In this example, the colored electrophoretic particles 122 (red, green, and blue) within each microcavity 121 migrate under the influence of an electric field. By controlling the voltage polarity of the electrodes on both sides of the microcavity 121, the colored electrophoretic particles 122 can be attracted to the top (display state) or the bottom (hidden state). For example, if a red electrophoretic particle is attracted to the top of the microcavity 121, red is displayed; if it sinks to the bottom, red is not visible. Similarly, controlling the positions of the green and blue electrophoretic particles allows for independent switching of the three primary colors.

[0047] In some examples, such as Figure 3 As shown, in the first microcavity unit 14, the colors of the colored electrophoretic particles 122 in the three microcavities 121 are magenta, cyan, and yellow, respectively. Thus, through the above structural arrangement, each of the first microcavity units 14 in the electrophoretic display module 10 of this example can serve as a pixel unit. Each pixel unit directly participates in color mixing using the three primary colors of magenta, cyan, and yellow pigments, resulting in a wide color gamut coverage and accurate reproduction of rich colors. In other words, the electrophoretic display module 10 of this example achieves color combination through microcavity unitization and independent driving of CMY particles (i.e., colored electrophoretic particles 122 of magenta, cyan, and yellow, respectively), without the need for additional color filters or complex optical structures. Full-color display can be achieved simply through the arrangement of microcavity units, offering advantages such as energy saving, high color gamut, and ease of manufacturing.

[0048] In some examples, the electrophoretic display layer 12 includes at least one second microcavity unit, which comprises four adjacent microcavities 121. Within each of the four microcavities 121, the colored electrophoretic particles are configured to have different colors. Thus, through this structural arrangement, the electrophoretic display module 10 of this example can form a four-color system in the area of ​​each second microcavity unit to achieve richer color display. Furthermore, by forming one second microcavity unit for every four adjacent microcavities 121, the electrophoretic display layer 12 of the electrophoretic display module 10 of this example can be composed of multiple second microcavity units, allowing the electrophoretic display layer 12 to form a four-color system in the area of ​​each second microcavity unit for richer color display.

[0049] In some examples, the colors of the electrophoretic particles in the four microcavities 121 of the second microcavity unit are red, green, blue, and white, respectively. Thus, with the above structural arrangement, each of the second microcavity units in the electrophoretic display module 10 of this example can function as a pixel unit. Each pixel unit uses the three primary colors of red, green, and blue light, plus white for color mixing. This gives it advantages such as wide color gamut coverage and accurate reproduction of rich colors, while also improving display brightness and energy efficiency (especially when displaying white or light colors), and improving color performance (i.e., reducing color deviation caused by the mixing of the three colors).

[0050] In some examples, the colors of the electrophoretic particles in the four microcavities 121 of the second microcavity unit are red, green, blue, and yellow, respectively. Thus, with the above structural configuration, each of the second microcavity units in the electrophoretic display module 10 of this example can function as a pixel unit. Each pixel unit uses the three primary colors of red, green, and blue light, plus yellow for color mixing. This gives it advantages such as wide color gamut coverage and accurate reproduction of rich colors, while also improving display brightness and energy efficiency (especially when displaying yellow or orange), and reducing color deviation (i.e., avoiding inaccurate yellow colors caused by uneven red-green mixing).

[0051] In some examples, such as Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3As shown, the black display medium is a black solvent. Alternatively, the black display medium is a transparent solvent mixed with black electrophoretic particles. Thus, with the above structural configuration, when the electrophoretic display module 10 in this example uses a black solvent or a transparent solvent mixed with black electrophoretic particles, it can form a black background to absorb scattered light from the ambient light, reduce glare on the display surface, and improve reading comfort. Simultaneously, the black background can also mask the optical differences of the electrophoretic particles at different viewing angles, maintaining display consistency. Furthermore, compared to a black solvent, when the electrophoretic display module 10 in this example uses a transparent solvent mixed with black electrophoretic particles, since the black electrophoretic particles are dispersed in the transparent liquid, the aggregation or dispersion of the black electrophoretic particles can be controlled by an electric field to dynamically adjust the reflectivity. At the same time, the black electrophoretic particles and colored electrophoretic particles in each microcavity can carry opposite charges to achieve different control of the two types of electrophoretic particles. Furthermore, although using a transparent solvent mixed with black electrophoretic particles creates a technical solution with two types of electrophoretic particles in each microcavity, reducing the particle response speed to some extent, its actual impact on the response speed is only equivalent to the existing black and white display solution with black and white electrophoretic particles. Moreover, compared to the solution with more than two types of color electrophoretic particles, it still has a significant advantage in response speed.

[0052] It is understood that the black electrophoretic particles in this example may specifically include any one or more of the following: iron oxide black electrophoretic particles, copper chromium black electrophoretic particles, and carbon black electrophoretic particles.

[0053] In some examples, such as Figure 1 As shown, the electrophoretic display layer 12 includes a first frame 123 and a plurality of first partitions 124. The first frame 123 is connected between the first substrate layer 11 and the second substrate layer 13, and together with the first substrate layer 11 and the second substrate layer 13, forms a first accommodating chamber. The plurality of first partitions 124 are arranged laterally, longitudinally, or crisscrossed to divide the first accommodating chamber into a plurality of interconnected microcavities 121. Thus, through the above structural arrangement, the electrophoretic display layer 12 of the electrophoretic display module 10 of this example can form a frame + grid partition microcavity 121 structure design, which comprehensively improves the following performance of the electrophoretic display module 10: 1. High reliability: The physical isolation formed by the first frame 123 and the plurality of first partitions 124 can effectively enhance the packaging stability and environmental tolerance of its electrophoretic display layer 12. 2. High display quality: The spacing of several first partition walls 124 in various directions can form a uniform size of microcavities 121, ensuring high resolution and high contrast of the electrophoretic display layer 12. 3. Anti-crosstalk: Each microcavity 121 is a closed structure, effectively preventing crosstalk between different microcavities 121 caused by color electrophoretic particles 122.

[0054] It is understood that the first frame 123 in this example can specifically be a rectangular frame to cooperate with the first substrate layer 11 and the second substrate layer 13 to form a closed first accommodating cavity. This first accommodating cavity can effectively prevent solvent leakage or intrusion of external contaminants, improving the overall packaging reliability (especially suitable for flexible display substrates). The cavity wall in this example generally refers to the cavity wall formed by the first partition wall 124, that is, excluding the cavity wall formed by the first frame 123. Therefore, the cavity wall connection mentioned in this example generally means that two adjacent microcavities 121 are separated only by a first partition wall 124, and the two share the first partition wall 124 as the cavity wall on the corresponding side. When multiple first partition walls 124 are arranged laterally in this example, they can cooperate with the laterally extended sidewalls of the first frame 123 to form a single row of multiple microcavities 121 with connected cavity walls arranged laterally. When multiple first partition walls 124 are arranged longitudinally in this example, they can cooperate with the longitudinally extended sidewalls of the first frame 123 to form a single column of multiple microcavities 121 with connected cavity walls arranged laterally. When the multiple first partitions 124 in this example are arranged in a crisscross pattern, they may cooperate with the sidewalls of the first frame 123 extending laterally, or with the sidewalls of the first frame 123 extending longitudinally, or the multiple first partitions 124 may cooperate to form multiple microcavities 121 with multiple rows and columns of interconnected cavity walls. At this time, the multiple first partitions 124 can provide uniform mechanical support for the upper and lower substrates (i.e., the first substrate layer 11 and the second substrate layer 13) through the crisscrossing partition network, avoiding the substrate layer from being deformed by pressure or the microcavities 121 from collapsing. That is, the grid-like distribution of the multiple first partitions 124 can disperse external pressure (such as touch or bending stress), which is especially suitable for the application of flexible electronic paper.

[0055] In some examples, such as Figure 1 As shown, either the first substrate layer 11 or the second substrate layer 13 is the display-side substrate layer of the electrophoretic display module 10. The main body layer of the display-side substrate layer is a transparent substrate, and the electrode layer of the display-side substrate layer is a transparent electrode. Thus, with the above structural arrangement, since both the transparent substrate and the transparent electrode allow light to pass through efficiently, by placing the transparent substrate and the transparent electrode on the display side of the electrophoretic display module 10, the electrode arrangement of the corresponding side substrate layer can be satisfied while ensuring that the display brightness and display effect of the electrophoretic display layer 12 are not affected by the obstruction of the main board layer and the electrode layer on that side.

[0056] It is understood that the first substrate layer 11 in this example may specifically include a first main layer 111 and a first electrode layer 112. The second substrate layer 13 in this example may specifically include a second main layer 131 and a second electrode layer 132. In this case, if the first substrate layer 11 is the display-side substrate layer of the electrophoretic display module 10, then the first main layer 111 is a transparent substrate, the first electrode layer 112 is a transparent electrode, and the second main layer 131 and the second electrode layer 132 can be transparent or non-transparent structures. If the second substrate layer 13 is the display-side substrate layer of the electrophoretic display module 10, then the second main layer 131 is a transparent substrate, the second electrode layer 132 is a transparent electrode, and the first main layer 111 and the first electrode layer 112 can be transparent or non-transparent structures. The transparent electrode in this example may specifically be an ITO (indium tin oxide) electrode. Since the ITO electrode is a transparent conductive material layer, it allows light to pass through efficiently (visible light transmittance is typically >85%), thus ensuring the display brightness and display effect of the electrophoretic display layer 12. In this example, the transparent substrate can be either a transparent rigid substrate or a transparent flexible substrate. When both the first substrate layer 11 and the second substrate layer 13 in this example are transparent rigid substrates, the electrophoretic display module 10 in this example can be a rigid display module, which can be extended to applications such as electronic shelf labels (ESL), electronic billboards, and smart blackboards. When both the first substrate layer 11 and the second substrate layer 13 in this example are transparent flexible substrates, the electrophoretic display module 10 in this example can be a flexible display module, that is, the electrophoretic display module 10 can be bent, rolled, or folded, which can be extended to applications such as flexible e-books and wearable devices. In this case, since the flexible substrate in the flexible display module may repeatedly bend, it may cause problems such as cracks in the ITO electrode. In this case, the ITO electrode plating process can be optimized (such as using a mesh-like ITO electrode or alternative materials such as silver nanowires). In addition, the first partition wall 124 in this example can be a polymer wall formed by photocuring an integrally molded photocurable material. Thus, by using ultraviolet (UV) photopolymerization technology in conjunction with photomasks, precise patterning of the first partition wall at the 124-micron level (e.g., 10-50 μm) can be achieved, meeting the requirements of high-resolution displays (e.g., above 300 PPI). Simultaneously, the photopolymer forms a continuous, seamless partition wall network through in-situ curing, avoiding interface defects inherent in traditional splicing or printed partition walls and improving overall mechanical strength. Furthermore, the polymer walls bond firmly to the ITO electrode or substrate surface (after plasma treatment), effectively reducing the risk of interface delamination.

[0057] In some examples, such as Figure 4As shown, the main layer of the display side substrate layer is a transparent substrate. In each microcavity 121, at least one pair of opposing cavity walls are provided with an electrode coating 15. Thus, through the above structural arrangement, compared to the example above which forms an upper and lower electrode structure by setting a first electrode layer 112 and a second electrode layer 132 on the upper and lower sides respectively, this example forms a horizontal electrode structure by setting electrode coatings 15 on the left and right or front and back sides of each microcavity 121. This provides a faster response in electrophoretic displays (because the resistance of electrophoretic particles moving horizontally in a liquid medium is usually less than that moving vertically (less affected by gravity and fluid resistance), thus resulting in a faster response time (which can be shortened to tens of milliseconds)), higher brightness (because the upper and lower electrode structure requires transparent electrodes to cover the entire substrate, while the left and right electrodes can be arranged only on the sidewalls of the microcavity 121, reducing the shading of light by the electrodes and increasing the light-transmitting area (aperture ratio) of the pixels. At the same time, transparent electrodes are not required (i.e., the electrode coating 15 does not need to use ITO material; ITO material can be replaced with non-transparent, highly conductive electrode materials (such as metallic silver or copper) to avoid the loss of ITO transmittance (ITO transmittance is about 85%, and metal electrodes can be made with narrow linewidths)), and higher contrast (because the upper In the lower electrode structure, electrophoretic particles traverse the entire height of the microcavity 121 during vertical movement, potentially causing light scattering. Horizontal movement requires only a short displacement (the width of the microcavity 121 is typically less than its height), reducing interference with light. Simultaneously, the left and right electrodes can be driven in sections, enabling horizontal stacking of electrophoretic particles within the microcavity 121 (e.g., left-to-right aggregation), facilitating the formation of uniform color states, improving contrast (e.g., >15:1), reducing power consumption (because after reaching the electrode sidewalls horizontally, electrophoretic particles can maintain their position through van der Waals forces or electrode adsorption, eliminating the need for continuous power supply (bistable characteristics), thus reducing power consumption (suitable for electronic paper applications). Furthermore, selective driving of specific microcavity 121's left and right electrodes allows for localized pixel updates (e.g., refreshing only part of the text on an electronic tag), reducing overall energy consumption), and better flexibility compatibility (because the horizontal electrode structure is easier to integrate with flexible substrates (e.g., PET), as the electrodes do not need to traverse multiple layers, reducing the risk of breakage during bending). This makes it particularly suitable for next-generation electrophoretic display technologies requiring high resolution, dynamic display, and flexibility.

[0058] It is understood that if the first substrate layer 11 in this example is the display-side substrate layer of the electrophoretic display module 10, then the first main layer 111 is a transparent substrate, and the second main layer 131 can be a transparent or non-transparent structure. If the second substrate layer 13 in this example is the display-side substrate layer of the electrophoretic display module 10, then the second main layer 131 is a transparent substrate, and the first main layer 111 can be a transparent or non-transparent structure.

[0059] In some examples, such as Figure 5As shown, the electrophoretic display layer 12 includes a second frame (not shown) and a plurality of second partitions 125. The second frame is connected between the first substrate layer 11 and the second substrate layer 13, and together with the first substrate layer 11 and the second substrate layer 13, forms a second accommodating chamber. The plurality of second partitions 125 are arranged laterally, longitudinally, or crisscrossed to separate a plurality of microcavities 121 with independent cavity walls in the second accommodating chamber. Thus, through the above structural arrangement, the electrophoretic display layer 12 of the electrophoretic display module 10 of this example can form another frame + grid partition microcavity 121 structure design, which comprehensively improves the following performance of the electrophoretic display module 10: 1. High reliability: The physical isolation formed by the second frame and the plurality of second partitions 125 can effectively enhance the packaging stability and environmental resistance of its electrophoretic display layer 12. 2. High Display Quality: The staggered arrangement of several second partition walls 125 forms a uniform microcavity 121 size, ensuring high resolution and high contrast of the electrophoretic display layer 12. Furthermore, compared to the previous example where multiple interconnected microcavities 121 are formed, this example creates multiple microcavities 121 with independent walls. This ensures that each microcavity 121 is independently encapsulated, preventing electrophoretic particles from migrating across cavities. Manufacturing defects in a single microcavity 121 (such as uneven filling) are less likely to spread to surrounding areas, resulting in higher product yield. Simultaneously, the electric field of each microcavity 121 can be better controlled independently (e.g., zoned refresh), making it suitable for dynamic content display.

[0060] It is understood that the second frame in this example can specifically be a rectangular frame to cooperate with the first substrate layer 11 and the second substrate layer 13 to form a closed second accommodating cavity. This second accommodating cavity can effectively prevent solvent leakage or intrusion of external contaminants, improving the overall packaging reliability (especially suitable for flexible display substrates). The cavity wall in this example generally refers to the cavity wall formed by the second partition wall 125, that is, excluding the cavity wall formed by the second frame. Therefore, the cavity wall independence mentioned in this example generally means that two adjacent microcavities 121 are separated by two second partition walls 125, and the two adjacent cavity walls are independent of each other and are spaced apart. When the multiple second partition walls 125 in this example are arranged laterally, they can cooperate with the laterally extended sidewalls of the second frame to form a single row of multiple laterally arranged microcavities 121 with independent cavity walls. When the multiple second partition walls 125 in this example are arranged longitudinally, they can cooperate with the longitudinally extended sidewalls of the second frame to form a single row of laterally arranged microcavities 121 with independent cavity walls. When the multiple second partitions 125 in this example are arranged in a crisscross pattern, they may cooperate with the sidewalls extending laterally from the second frame, or with the sidewalls extending longitudinally from the second frame, or the multiple second partitions 125 may cooperate with each other to form multiple microcavities 121 with independent cavity walls distributed in multiple rows and columns. At this time, the multiple second partitions 125 can provide uniform mechanical support for the upper and lower substrates (i.e., the first substrate layer 11 and the second substrate layer 13) through the partition network formed by the crisscrossing partitions, avoiding the substrate layers from being deformed by pressure or the microcavities 121 from collapsing. That is, the grid-like distribution of the multiple second partitions 125 can disperse external pressure (such as touch or bending stress), which is especially suitable for the application of flexible electronic paper.

[0061] In some examples, such as Figure 5 As shown, the main layer of the display side substrate layer is a transparent substrate. In each microcavity 121, at least one pair of opposing second partitions 125 are electrode partitions. Thus, with the above structural arrangement, compared to the example above which forms an upper and lower electrode structure by respectively setting a first electrode layer 112 and a second electrode layer 132 on the upper and lower sides, this example forms a horizontal electrode structure by using two second partitions 125 on the left, right, or front and back sides of each microcavity 121 as electrode partitions. This provides faster response, higher brightness, higher contrast, lower power consumption, and better flexibility compatibility in electrophoretic displays, making it particularly suitable for next-generation electrophoretic display technologies with high resolution, dynamics, and flexibility.

[0062] It is understood that if the first substrate layer 11 in this example is the display-side substrate layer of the electrophoretic display module 10, then the first main layer 111 is a transparent substrate, and the second main layer 131 can be a transparent or non-transparent structure. If the second substrate layer 13 in this example is the display-side substrate layer of the electrophoretic display module 10, then the second main layer 131 is a transparent substrate, and the first main layer 111 can be a transparent or non-transparent structure. Specifically, the electrode partition in this example refers to the partition being mainly made of electrode materials (such as ITO or metallic silver, copper, etc.), achieving isolation of individual microcavities 121 while forming left-right or front-back electrode arrangements for each microcavity 121. Furthermore, to avoid electric field leakage in individual microcavities 121, the gap 16 between adjacent microcavities 121 can be filled with insulating material.

[0063] In one embodiment, this application provides an electrophoretic display device, which includes a driving circuit and at least one electrophoretic display module 10 as described in the above embodiment. The driving circuit is electrically connected to all electrophoretic display modules 10. Because this electrophoretic display device uses the electrophoretic display module 10 of the previous embodiment, it can achieve color display while ensuring a better display effect.

[0064] It is understood that the electrophoretic display device in this application embodiment includes, but is not limited to, any product or component with display function such as electronic paper (E-paper), foldable reader, electronic shelf label (ESL), smart blackboard, digital signage, bus arrival timetable, electronic bulletin board, and mobile phone screen.

[0065] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit this application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. An electrophoretic display module, characterized in that: The device includes a first substrate layer, an electrophoretic display layer, and a second substrate layer stacked sequentially. The electrophoretic display layer includes multiple independently arranged microcavities, each of which is a closed structure. Each microcavity contains a black display medium and multiple colored electrophoretic particles. The colored electrophoretic particles in the same microcavity are set to the same color, while the colored electrophoretic particles in at least two microcavities are set to different colors.

2. The electrophoretic display module as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The colors of the colored electrophoretic particles in any two adjacent microcavities are set to be different.

3. The electrophoretic display module as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The electrophoretic display layer includes at least one first microcavity unit, and the first microcavity unit includes three adjacent microcavities; in the first microcavity unit, the colored electrophoretic particles in the three microcavities are set to be of different colors.

4. The electrophoretic display module as described in claim 3, characterized in that: In the first microcavity unit, the colors of the colored electrophoretic particles in the three microcavities are red, green and blue, respectively; Alternatively, in the first microcavity unit, the colors of the colored electrophoretic particles in the three microcavities are magenta, cyan, and yellow, respectively.

5. The electrophoretic display module as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The electrophoretic display layer includes at least one second microcavity unit, and the second microcavity unit includes four adjacent microcavities; in the second microcavity unit, the colored electrophoretic particles in the four microcavities are set to be of different colors.

6. The electrophoretic display module as described in claim 5, characterized in that: In the second microcavity unit, the colors of the colored electrophoretic particles in the four microcavities are red, green, blue, and white, respectively; Alternatively, in the second microcavity unit, the colors of the colored electrophoretic particles in the four microcavities are red, green, blue, and yellow, respectively.

7. The electrophoretic display module as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The black display medium is a black solvent.

8. The electrophoretic display module as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The black display medium is a transparent solvent mixed with black electrophoretic particles.

9. The electrophoretic display module as described in any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that: The electrophoretic display layer includes a first frame and a plurality of first partitions; The first frame is connected between the first substrate layer and the second substrate layer, and together with the first substrate and the second substrate, forms a first accommodating cavity; The first partition walls are arranged horizontally, vertically, or in a staggered manner to divide the first accommodating chamber into multiple microcavities with interconnected cavity walls.

10. An electrophoretic display module as claimed in any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that: Either the first substrate layer or the second substrate layer is the display-side substrate layer of the electrophoretic display module, the main body layer of the display-side substrate layer is a transparent substrate, and the electrode layer of the display-side substrate layer is a transparent electrode.

11. An electrophoretic display device, characterized by: It includes a driving circuit and at least one electrophoretic display module as described in any one of claims 1-10, wherein the driving circuit is electrically connected to all of the electrophoretic display modules.

Images