Electronic paper display device and electronic device

Abstract

This utility model discloses an electronic paper display device and an electronic device, relating to the technical field of display devices. The electronic paper display device includes a top substrate, a driving substrate, and a dielectric layer. The top substrate includes a top electrode. The driving substrate forms a display area and a non-display area. Multiple pixel units are formed in the display area. Each pixel unit includes a thin-film transistor and a driving electrode electrically connected to the thin-film transistor. Switch lines and test lines are provided in the non-display area. The test lines are electrically connected to the pixel units through the switch lines. The dielectric layer includes an electronic paste and is disposed between the top electrode and the driving electrode.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to a display device, and more particularly to an electronic paper display device and electronic equipment. Background Technology

[0002] Electronic paper, with its passive light emission and paper-like image display characteristics, is widely used in display fields such as e-readers and electronic tags.

[0003] In related technologies, the display area of ​​the driver substrate of an electronic paper display device is usually tested by the test circuit in the IC chip to confirm the display status of the display area. However, the IC chip of some electronic paper display devices is not set on the driver substrate, which makes it impossible to test the driver substrate after it is manufactured. Utility Model Content

[0004] The present invention aims to solve at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. To this end, the present invention proposes an electronic paper display device and an electronic device.

[0005] An electronic paper display device according to a first aspect embodiment of the present invention includes:

[0006] The top substrate includes a top electrode;

[0007] A driving substrate is formed with a display area and a non-display area. A plurality of pixel units are formed in the display area. Each pixel unit includes a thin film transistor and a driving electrode electrically connected to the thin film transistor. The non-display area is provided with a switch line and a test line. The test line is electrically connected to the pixel unit through the switch line.

[0008] A dielectric layer, including an electronic paste, is disposed between the top electrode and the driving electrode.

[0009] In some implementations, the switch line and the test line are located in the same structural layer.

[0010] In some embodiments, the driving substrate includes a first metal layer, an insulating layer, and a second metal layer stacked along the thickness direction of the driving substrate. The switch line and the test line are formed on the first metal layer. A via is provided on the insulating layer corresponding to the position of the test line. The second metal layer is electrically connected or electrically coupled to the test line at the via. The second metal layer can be used to deliver charge to the display area.

[0011] In some embodiments, a semiconductor switch is provided on the test line, and the semiconductor switch is also connected to the second metal layer, the semiconductor switch being adaptable to control the on / off state of the second metal layer at the semiconductor.

[0012] In some implementations, the non-display area is provided with multiple test points, and the test line and the switch line are respectively connected to the test points.

[0013] In some embodiments, the driving substrate may be a quadrilateral, pentagonal, hexagonal, or other polygonal shape.

[0014] In some implementations, the test line is located on the side of the switch line opposite to the display area.

[0015] In some embodiments, each of the pixel units further includes a support wall, the support wall, the driving substrate, and the top substrate together forming a cavity for accommodating the electronic paste.

[0016] In some embodiments, the support wall is formed on the side of the top substrate facing the drive substrate, and / or on the side of the drive substrate facing the top substrate.

[0017] The second aspect of this utility model also provides an electronic device, which includes an electronic paper display device as described in any one of the first aspects of this utility model.

[0018] As can be seen from the above embodiments, the electronic paper display device proposed in this utility model, by setting up switch lines and test lines, can deliver charge to the display area of ​​the driving substrate without setting a control chip on the driving substrate. By observing the actual situation in the display area, the driving substrate can be detected, so as to find driving substrates with display abnormalities, thereby improving the yield of the driving substrate.

[0019] Additional aspects and advantages of this invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0020] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments, wherein:

[0021] Figure 1 This is a partial planar structural diagram of the test line and switch line in the driving substrate in an embodiment of this utility model;

[0022] Figure 2 This is a planar schematic diagram of the driving substrate in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the hierarchy of the electronic paper display device within any pixel unit in another embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 4This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the electronic device in the embodiment of this utility model.

[0025] Reference numerals: 100, top substrate; 110, top electrode; 200, driving substrate; 210, display area; 220, non-display area; 230, first metal layer; 231, switch line; 232, semiconductor switch; 233, test line; 240, insulating layer; 241, via; 250, second metal layer; 260, test point; 270, driving electrode; 300, dielectric layer; 310, support wall; 80, electronic device; 90, electronic paper display device. Detailed Implementation

[0026] The embodiments of this utility model are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying 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 are only used to explain this utility model, and should not be construed as limiting this utility model.

[0027] In the description of this utility model, it should be understood that the directional descriptions, such as up, down, front, back, left, right, etc., indicate the directional or positional relationship based on the directional or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this utility model 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 utility model.

[0028] In the description of this utility model, "several" means one or more, "multiple" means two or more, "greater than," "less than," and "exceeding" are understood to exclude the stated number, while "above," "below," and "within" are understood to include the stated number. The use of "first" and "second" in the description is merely for distinguishing technical features and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance, or implicitly indicating the number of indicated technical features, or implicitly indicating the order of the indicated technical features.

[0029] In the description of this utility model, unless otherwise explicitly defined, terms such as "setting," "installation," and "connection" should be interpreted broadly, and those skilled in the art can reasonably determine the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model in conjunction with the specific content of the technical solution.

[0030] In the description of this utility model, the terms "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiment," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., refer to specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with that embodiment or example, which are included in at least one embodiment or example of this utility model. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0031] Electronic paper (ePaper) is a novel reflective display technology. Its core technology uses electronic ink to display images and text, achieving a display effect close to traditional paper. It boasts unique advantages such as paper-like display, low power consumption, and eye-friendliness. Major applications of ePaper include e-book readers, electronic tags, educational equipment, smart wearable devices, IoT displays, and advertising and information displays. With continuous technological advancements, the application scenarios of ePaper are expected to expand further, making it one of the important future development directions for display technology.

[0032] Microcavity electronic paper displays (MEDs) primarily involve creating a dam structure on the surface of thin-film transistors (TFTs) to surround each pixel unit. An electronic paste containing black and white particles for imaging is then used to fill a fluid dielectric layer 300, and finally, the display is encapsulated with a top glass plate. The cavity formed by the multiple dam structures in the MED is thus called the microcavity structure. MEDs can control the color changes of the particles in the electronic paste using an electric field, achieving high contrast, high reflectivity, and a wide color gamut display effect through particle reflection.

[0033] In related technologies, after the production of the driving substrate 200 in the electronic paper display device 90, the display area 210 of the driving substrate 200 is usually tested by the control chip on the driving substrate 200 to determine whether the display area 210 of the driving substrate 200 can display normally. However, in some electronic paper display devices 90, the control chip is not located on the driving substrate 200, which makes it impossible to test the driving substrate 200 after the production of the driving substrate 200, so the yield of the driving substrate 200 cannot be effectively controlled.

[0034] To solve the above problems, this application provides an electronic paper display device 90. The electronic paper display device 90, by providing a switch line 231 and a test line 233 on the driving substrate 200, enables the detection of the display area 210 of the driving substrate 200 without the presence of a control chip on the driving substrate 200. The switch line 231 controls the connection state between the test line 233 and the pixel unit in the display area 210, and the test line 233 delivers charge to the pixel unit, thereby observing the display status of the pixel unit in the display area 210.

[0035] For example, the electronic paper display device 90 provided in this application can be a micro-cavity electronic paper display (MED) or other electronic paper display devices 90, without specific limitations.

[0036] Among them, microcavity electronic paper display (MED) is a display that uses a dam structure to surround each pixel unit on the surface of a thin film transistor (TFT) and uses electronic paste as display particles. Combined with a glass plate, it forms a microcavity structure. The color change of the particles in the paste is controlled by an electric field, and the display effect of high contrast, high reflection and high color gamut is achieved by the reflection of light by the particles.

[0037] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 2 The first aspect of this application provides an electronic paper display device 90, which includes a top substrate 100, a driving substrate 200, and a dielectric layer 300.

[0038] The top substrate 100 includes a top electrode 110, and the driving substrate 200 forms a display area 210 and a non-display area 220. Multiple pixel units are formed in the display area 210. Each pixel unit includes a thin-film transistor and a driving electrode 270 electrically connected to the thin-film transistor. The non-display area 220 is provided with a switch line 231 and a test line 233. The test line 233 is electrically connected to the pixel unit through the switch line 231. The dielectric layer 300 includes an electronic paste and is disposed between the top electrode 110 and the driving electrode 270. The electronic paste is driven to move by the electric field formed between the top electrode 110 and the driving electrode 270, thereby realizing imaging.

[0039] For example, the top substrate 100 has a display surface of the electronic paper display device 90 formed on the side facing away from the driving substrate 200. When the electronic paper display device 90 is in a flat position, the top substrate 100 is generally disposed on the top of the electronic paper display device 90, and the driving substrate 200 is generally disposed on the bottom of the electronic paper display device 90. The driving substrate 200 can also be referred to as the bottom substrate. Since multiple pixel units arranged in an array are formed on the driving substrate 200, the driving substrate 200 can also be referred to as the array substrate. The top electrode 110 in the top substrate 100 is used to cooperate with the driving electrode 270 in the driving substrate 200 to form an electric field.

[0040] For example, the side of the driving substrate 200 facing away from the driving electrode 270 can also form the display surface of the electronic paper display device 90. In this embodiment, the pixel unit needs to be provided with a light-transmitting part so that the reflected light can be transmitted through the light-transmitting part.

[0041] Specifically, the light-transmitting portion refers to the effective area in the driving substrate 200 through which light can pass. The ratio of the area of ​​the light-transmitting portion to the area of ​​the pixel unit is the ratio of the area of ​​the effective area in the driving substrate 200 through which light can pass to the area of ​​the entire pixel unit area.

[0042] The area of ​​each pixel unit generally includes a light-transmitting area and a non-light-transmitting area. The non-light-transmitting area is generally occupied by devices such as circuits, thin-film transistors, and storage capacitors.

[0043] To ensure the display effect of the electronic paper display device 90, the ratio of the area of ​​the light-transmitting portion to the area of ​​the pixel unit is at least greater than 50%, and is generally 70%-80%. In the electronic paper display device 90, it is generally necessary to maximize the aperture ratio to maximize the area through which light passes, thereby improving the brightness and energy efficiency of the electronic paper display device 90. Therefore, in this embodiment, while ensuring that the circuitry and chip select signal (CS) meet the requirements, the ratio of the area of ​​the light-transmitting portion to the area of ​​the pixel unit can be increased as much as possible, thereby effectively improving the brightness and energy efficiency of the electronic paper display device 90. For example, the shape of the light-transmitting portion includes square, rectangular, circular, hexagonal, or other polygonal shapes, and is not specifically limited herein.

[0044] For example, the electronic paste includes a filler liquid and conductive particles, the conductive particles including black particles and white particles with different electrical properties.

[0045] Specifically, the dielectric layer 300 is disposed between the top substrate 100 and the driving substrate 200, and the dielectric layer 300 forms a sealed cavity containing a filling liquid and conductive particles distributed in the filling liquid.

[0046] For example, black and white particles can have different electrical charges. For instance, white particles may carry a negative charge and black particles may carry a positive charge; or white particles may carry a positive charge and black particles may carry a negative charge. No specific limitation is made here.

[0047] Black and white particles can undergo electrophoresis under the influence of voltage, controlling their positional distribution within the dielectric layer 300. This results in different grayscale levels on the display surface of the electronic paper display device 90. Utilizing the principle of attraction between positive and negative particles, when an electric field is applied, the corresponding black or white particles move to the top of the dielectric layer 300, allowing the user to see black or white within that area (pixel unit). Applying different voltages to the same dielectric layer 300 will result in a half-black, half-white appearance at the top, allowing the user to see gray within that area (pixel unit).

[0048] Specifically, the top electrode 110 and the driving electrode 270 jointly drive the black and white particles within the dielectric layer 300 to arrange themselves to achieve the display and switching of different images. The top substrate 100 may also include a color filter layer, located on the side of the top electrode 110 facing away from the driving substrate 200 and positioned corresponding to the display area 210. When the particles at the top of the dielectric layer 300 reflect light through the light-transmitting area, the reflected light also simultaneously passes through the color filter layer. Therefore, by adjusting the transmittance of the color filter layer, the electronic paper display device 90 can display the corresponding colors, thereby achieving color display in the electronic paper display device 90 and improving the color vibrancy and image clarity of the electronic paper display device 90.

[0049] For example, the color filter layer can be composed of an array of red, green and blue filters. Each pixel is divided into three sub-pixels, each corresponding to a filter of a different color. The brightness of each sub-pixel can be controlled by adjusting the transmittance, and various colors are generated by mixing the three primary colors.

[0050] The driving substrate 200 includes a first metal layer 230, an insulating layer 240, and a second metal layer 250 stacked along the thickness direction of the driving substrate 200. Switch line 231 and test line 233 are formed on the first metal layer 230, and the test line 233 is located on the side of the switch line 231 away from the display area 210. It can be understood that the test line 233 and the switch line 231 are located on the same structural layer. A via 241 is provided on the insulating layer 240 corresponding to the position of the test line 233. The second metal layer 250 is electrically connected or electrically coupled to the test line 233 at the via 241. The second metal layer 250 can be used to deliver charge to the display area 210 so that when the test line 233 is energized, the charge can be conducted to the second metal layer 250 at the via 241. The charge enters the display area 210 of the driving substrate 200 through the second metal layer 250 so that the display area 210 is energized to display the image. Then, the display status of the display area 210 can be used to determine whether there is an abnormality in the driving substrate 200.

[0051] The non-display area 220 is provided with multiple test points 260. Test lines 233 and switch lines 231 are connected to the test points 260 respectively, and both test lines 233 and switch lines 231 are simultaneously energized at the test points 260. A semiconductor switch 232 is provided on the test line 233, and the semiconductor switch 232 is also connected to the second metal layer 250. The semiconductor switch 232 can be used to control the on / off state of the second metal layer 250 at the semiconductor. When the switch line 231 is energized, the semiconductor switch 232 on the switch line 231 is in a connected state, and the second metal layer 250 is in a connected state at the semiconductor switch 232, so that the charge can enter the display area 210 through the second metal layer 250 to complete the energization and lighting of the display area 210.

[0052] For example, a display area 210 and a non-display area 220 are formed on the driving substrate 200. Switch lines 231 and test lines 233 are distributed in the non-display area 220, while multiple pixel units are formed in the display area 220. Each pixel unit includes a thin-film transistor and a driving electrode 270. During testing, charge is provided to the switch lines 231 and test lines 233 through the test point 260. The charge is transferred to the multiple pixel units through the switch lines 231 and test lines 233, and the charge is transferred to the driving electrode 270 through the thin-film transistor so that the driving electrode 270 and the top electrode 110 form an electric field to drive the black and white particles in the electronic paste to move, thereby performing display imaging and observing the display effect in the display area 210.

[0053] By observing the display status within the display area 210, it is determined whether the driver substrate 200 is a good product. When there are pixel units with abnormal display within the display area 210, it can be determined that the driver substrate 200 is abnormal, and it can be inspected, reworked, or discarded. When all pixel units within the display area 210 are displayed normally, the casing determines that the driver substrate 200 is a good product. Due to the setting of test line 233 and switch line 231, the driver substrate 200 can be detected even when no control chip is set on it, thereby distinguishing and eliminating driver substrates 200 with abnormal display, thus improving the yield rate of the electronic paper display device 90.

[0054] In some implementations, the shape of the driving substrate 200 can be quadrilateral, pentagonal, hexagonal or other polygonal, and the specific shape can be selected according to the actual product requirements.

[0055] Please see Figure 3 In some embodiments, each pixel unit also includes a support wall 310. The support wall 310, the driving substrate 200, and the top substrate 100 together form a cavity for accommodating the electronic paste. It is understood that multiple cavities for accommodating the electronic paste are formed within the display area 210 to prevent the electronic paste from overflowing from the side. The support wall 310 is also a dike structure, surrounding each pixel unit. In this case, the cavity formed by the multiple support walls 310 in the microcavity electronic paper display is the microcavity structure. The microcavity electronic paper display (MED) can control the color change of particles in the electronic paste through an electric field, achieving a high-contrast, high-reflection, and high-color-gamut display effect through particle reflection. The support wall 310 can be formed on the side of the top substrate 100 facing the driving substrate 200, or on the side of the driving substrate 200 facing the top substrate 100, or on both sides of the top substrate 100 facing the driving substrate 200 and the driving substrate 200 facing the top substrate 100.

[0056] For example, the electronic paper display device 90 also includes a bezel adhesive layer located in the non-display area 220 and disposed between the top electrode 110 and the driving electrode 270 for bonding the top substrate 100 and the driving substrate 200.

[0057] The frame adhesive layer can be obtained by curing frame adhesive. The frame adhesive is mainly used to fix and seal the non-display area 220 of the electronic paper display device 90. The frame adhesive can include black and white adhesive and square adhesive, etc., without specific limitations.

[0058] Please see Figure 4The second aspect of this application also provides an electronic device 80, which includes an electronic paper display device 90 as provided in the first aspect of this application. It is understood that the electronic paper display device 90 is the same as the electronic paper display device 90 in any of the above claims, and will not be described again here.

[0059] The embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Within the scope of knowledge possessed by those skilled in the art, various changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, the embodiments of the present invention and the features thereof can be combined with each other unless otherwise specified.

Claims

1. An electronic paper display device, characterized in that, include: The top substrate includes a top electrode; A driving substrate is formed with a display area and a non-display area. A plurality of pixel units are formed in the display area. Each pixel unit includes a thin film transistor and a driving electrode electrically connected to the thin film transistor. The non-display area is provided with a switch line and a test line. The test line is electrically connected to the pixel unit through the switch line. A dielectric layer, including an electronic paste, is disposed between the top electrode and the driving electrode.

2. The electronic paper display device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The switch line and the test line are located in the same structural layer.

3. The electronic paper display device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The driving substrate includes a first metal layer, an insulating layer, and a second metal layer stacked along the thickness direction of the driving substrate. The switch line and the test line are formed on the first metal layer. A via is provided on the insulating layer corresponding to the position of the test line. The second metal layer is electrically connected or electrically coupled to the test line at the via. The second metal layer can be used to deliver charge to the display area.

4. The electronic paper display device according to claim 3, characterized in that, A semiconductor switch is provided on the test line, and the semiconductor switch is also connected to the second metal layer. The semiconductor switch can be used to control the on / off state of the second metal layer at the semiconductor.

5. The electronic paper display device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The non-display area is provided with multiple test points, and the test line and the switch line are respectively connected to the test points.

6. The electronic paper display device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The driving substrate includes a quadrilateral, pentagonal, hexagonal, or other polygonal shape structure.

7. The electronic paper display device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The test line is located on the side of the switch line away from the display area.

8. The electronic paper display device according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each of the pixel units also includes a support wall, and the support wall, the driving substrate, and the top substrate together form a cavity for accommodating the electronic paste.

9. The electronic paper display device according to claim 8, characterized in that, The support wall is formed on the side of the top substrate facing the drive substrate, and / or on the side of the drive substrate facing the top substrate.

10. An electronic device, characterized in that, Includes the electronic paper display device as described in any one of claims 1-9.

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