An electronic paper screen with a missing corner in the display area

Abstract

The present invention provides an electronic paper screen with a missing corner in its display area, which includes a thin film transistor substrate (1) and an electronic paper film (2), in which a polygonal display area (101) is formed on the thin film transistor substrate (1), at least one vertex of the display area (101) is provided with a vacant space (103), and an electrical connection point (4) is provided on the electronic paper film (2) opposite the at least one vacant space (103) for connecting an electrode of the thin film transistor substrate (1) with an electrode of the electronic paper film (2). This invention solves the technical problem of an increase in size and cost of an electronic paper screen due to the deformation of the electronic paper film and protective film caused by the provision of the electrical connection point.

Description

Related Applications

[0001] This application claims priority to a Chinese utility model application bearing application number 202222642433.X (filing date: October 9, 2022) and titled "Electronic paper screen with missing corners in the display area." [Technical Field]

[0002] The present invention relates to the technical field of electronic displays, and in particular to electronic paper screens with missing corners in the display area. [Background technology]

[0003] An electronic paper screen is a display screen manufactured using electrophoretic display technology, and displays an image by applying a driving voltage to each pixel point through a control circuit on a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) substrate. As a reflective display screen, the electronic paper screen can retain the displayed image for a long time without continuous refreshing after updating the image, resulting in low power consumption. Due to its various advantages, such as low power consumption, wide viewing angle, high contrast, and eye protection, electronic paper screens are increasingly being used in fields such as electronic price tags, e-books, and signage.

[0004] The AA area (effective display area) of a conventional electronic paper screen is rectangular, and in order to drive electrodes (e.g., VCOM ITO electrodes) on the FPL (electronic paper film), openings must be reserved in advance in a portion of the FPL's outward extension, electrical connection points (Ag adhesive points) must be provided at the openings, and then Ag adhesive must be applied to connect the electrodes (e.g., VCOM electrodes) on the TFT substrate to the electrodes (e.g., VCOM ITO electrodes) on the FPL. However, the presence of openings deforms the outer shapes of the FPL and PS (i.e., a protective film that mainly includes a waterproof layer and an anti-glare optical layer and is attached to the FPL to provide anti-glare light and block water vapor from entering the FPL), and also increases the sizes of the FPL, PS, and TFT. This not only increases the bezel width of the e-paper screen, reducing the screen occupancy rate, but also reduces the number of FPL, PS, and TFT cuts for the e-paper screen (in the raw material production process, to improve efficiency and reduce costs, FPL, PS, and TFT are all cut in the form of large sheets or mother sheets, and several small sheets may be arranged on one large sheet or mother sheet, where one small sheet means the size and shape actually required for one e-paper screen, and the number of cuts means the most number of small sheets arranged and cut on one large sheet), leading to increased material costs. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Currently, there is no effective solution to the problem in the related art that the size and cost of the electronic paper screen increase due to the deformation of the shape of the electronic paper film and the protective film caused by the installation of electrical connection points.

[0006] To provide an electronic paper screen having a corner-cut portion in a display area, which can prevent the shape of an electronic paper film from being deformed, increase the screen occupancy rate of the electronic paper screen, and reduce costs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The object of the present invention may be achieved by the following means.

[0008] The present invention provides an electronic paper screen having a corner-missing portion in the display area, comprising a thin film transistor substrate and an electronic paper film, wherein a polygonal display area is formed on the thin film transistor substrate, an empty space is reserved in advance at the position of at least one vertex of the display area, and an electrical connection point is provided on the electronic paper film opposite the position of at least one of the empty spaces for connecting an electrode of the thin film transistor substrate with an electrode of the electronic paper film. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0010] In an electronic paper screen having a missing corner in the display area, an empty area is reserved in advance at the position of at least one vertex in the polygonal display area on the thin film transistor substrate, and an electrical connection point is provided in a portion of the electronic paper film opposite the position of the empty area.This results in an opening extending outward in the electronic paper film, while avoiding the need to provide an electrical connection point in the opening, preventing the shape of the electronic paper film from being deformed, increasing the screen occupancy rate of the electronic paper screen, and reducing costs.

[0011] The following accompanying drawings are merely for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of an electronic paper screen according to the present invention, in which a corner of the display area is chipped. [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic plan view of an electronic paper screen according to the present invention, in which a corner of the display area is chipped. [Figure 3] 2 is a second schematic diagram of the planar structure of an electronic paper screen according to the present invention, in which the display area has a missing corner portion. [Figure 4] 3 is a third schematic diagram of the planar structure of an electronic paper screen according to the present invention, in which the display area has a missing corner portion. [Figure 5] 4 is a fourth schematic diagram of the planar structure of an electronic paper screen according to the present invention, in which the display area has a missing corner portion. [Figure 6] 5 is a fifth schematic diagram of the planar structure of an electronic paper screen according to the present invention, in which the display area has a missing corner portion. [Figure 7] 6 is a sixth schematic diagram of the planar structure of an electronic paper screen according to the present invention, in which the display area has a missing corner portion. [Figure 8] 7 is a seventh schematic diagram of the planar structure of an electronic paper screen according to the present invention, in which the display area has a missing corner portion. [Figure 9] 8 is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of an electronic paper screen according to the present invention, in which the display area has a missing corner portion. [Figure 10] 9 is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of an electronic paper screen according to the present invention, in which the display area has a missing corner portion. [Figure 11] 10 is a schematic planar structure diagram of an electronic paper screen according to the present invention, in which the display area has a missing corner portion. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] In order to make the technical features, objects and effects of the present invention more clearly understood, the following describes specific embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0014] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 11, the present invention provides an electronic paper screen having a corner-missing portion in its display area, and the electronic paper screen having a corner-missing portion in its display area includes a thin film transistor substrate 1 and an electronic paper film 2, in which a polygonal display area 101 is formed on the thin film transistor substrate 1, and a vacant area 103 is reserved in advance at the position of at least one vertex of the display area 101, and an electrical connection point 4 (i.e., an Ag adhesive point) is provided on the electronic paper film 2 opposite the position of the at least one vacant area 103 to connect an electrode of the thin film transistor substrate 1 (i.e., a VCOM electrode) and an electrode of the electronic paper film 2 (i.e., a VCOM ITO electrode).

[0015] In the present invention, in the thin film transistor substrate 1, an empty area 103 is reserved in advance at the position of at least one vertex angle in the polygonal display area 101, and the electrical connection point 4 is provided at a location on the electronic paper film 2 opposite the empty area 103, thereby avoiding the need for an opening extending outward in the electronic paper film 2 and preventing the shape of the electronic paper film 2 from being deformed, thereby increasing the screen occupancy rate of the electronic paper screen and reducing costs.

[0016] In an optional embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figures 3 to 6, there are multiple empty areas 103, and electrical connection points 4 are provided at locations on the electronic paper film 2 opposite the positions of each empty area 103.

[0017] Specifically, the display area 101 is rectangular, and as shown in Fig. 3, empty areas 103 may be provided at diagonal positions of the display area 101, and electrical connection points 4 may be provided in two of the empty areas 103. As shown in Fig. 4, empty areas 103 may be provided at two adjacent vertex positions in the display area 101, and electrical connection points 4 may be provided in the two empty areas 103. As shown in Fig. 5, empty areas 103 may be provided at any three vertex positions in the display area 101, and electrical connection points 4 may be provided in the empty areas 103 at two adjacent vertex positions, and no electrical connection points 4 may be provided in another empty area 103. As shown in Figure 6, empty areas 103 are provided at any three vertex positions in the display area 101, and electrical connection points 4 are provided in the empty areas 103 at two diagonal positions, while electrical connection points 4 may not be provided in other empty areas 103.

[0018] In one optional embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of electrical connection points 4 are provided at a location on the electronic paper film 2 opposite the position of one empty area 103 (i.e., a plurality of electrical connection points 4 are provided corresponding to one empty area 103).

[0019] In one optional embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figures 2 to 9, in the plane in which the thin-film transistor substrate 1 is located, two adjacent sides at the same vertex angle position in the display area 101 are connected by a straight line to define an empty area 103 at the vertex angle position in the display area 101.

[0020] In one optional embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 10, in the plane in which the thin film transistor substrate 1 is located, two adjacent sides at the same vertex angle position in the display area 101 are connected by an arc line to define an empty area 103 at the vertex angle position in the display area 101.

[0021] In one optional embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figure 11, in the plane in which the thin film transistor substrate 1 is located, two adjacent sides at the same vertex angle position in the display area 101 are connected by a polyline to define an empty area 103 at the vertex angle position in the display area 101.

[0022] Of course, the free space 103 is not limited to the three shapes shown in Figures 2 to 11, and may be of other shapes, as long as it is possible to form a free space 103 at the apex angle position in the display area 101 in which an opening can be provided.

[0023] 2 to 11, the electrical connection points 4 are point-shaped. Of course, the electrical connection points 4 may be linear (i.e., a plurality of electrical connection points 4 provided corresponding to one empty area 103 are connected to form a line). Furthermore, the shape of the electrical connection points 4 may be designed to be any shape depending on actual design requirements.

[0024] 2, in a thin film transistor substrate 1, a non-display area 106 is formed, and a boundary area (i.e., a border area) is formed between the non-display area 106 and the display area 101. The non-display area 106 is provided around the display area 101, and the boundary area 102 is arranged in a ring shape between the non-display area 106 and the display area 101, and the boundary area 102 serves to separate the non-display area 106 from the display area 101.

[0025] 2, the thin film transistor substrate 1 is rectangular, and the area inside the thin film transistor substrate 1 is a display area 101 (i.e., an AA area, which may also be called an effective display area). The area surrounding the outside of the display area 101 is a non-display area 106, and the annular area having a certain width between the display area 101 and the non-display area 106 is a boundary area 102, and the boundary area 102 serves to distinguish the display area 101 from the non-display area 106.

[0026] In one optional embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the electronic paper film 2 and the thin film transistor substrate 1 are laminated on the front side of the thin film transistor substrate 1, and the electronic paper film 2 covers the display area 101 and the boundary area 102.

[0027] Furthermore, the electrodes of the thin film transistor substrate 1 are located in the empty area 103, and an opening is opened in the portion of the electronic paper film 2 opposite the position of the empty area 103, exposing the electrodes of the electronic paper film 2 to the outside, and the electrical connection point 4 is located in the opening and connects the electrodes of the thin film transistor substrate 1 and the electrodes of the electronic paper film 2.

[0028] In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, an electronic paper screen having a corner-notched portion in the display area further includes a protective film 3, in which the protective film 3, the electronic paper film 2, and the thin film transistor substrate 1 are laminated together, and the protective film 3 covers the electronic paper film 2. The protective film 3 includes a waterproof layer (i.e., a barrier film) and an anti-glare light layer (AG / PET film) laminated together, and the protective film 3 has the functions of preventing light from being glared and blocking water vapor, thereby effectively preventing water vapor from entering the thin film transistor substrate 1.

[0029] In one optional embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figure 1, an edge-bonding structure 5 is provided at the edge of the protective film 3 and the edge of the electronic paper film 2. The edge-bonding structure 5 can further block water vapor.

[0030] Furthermore, the edge-attaching structure 5 may be an edge-attaching adhesive applied to the edge positions of the protective film 3 and the edge positions of the electronic paper film 2, but is not limited to this.

[0031] In one optional embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, the thin film transistor substrate 1 includes a glass plate 104 and a circuit board 7, the glass plate 104 is provided with a thin film transistor array 105 and a driving circuit, the edge-mounted structure 5 is provided with an integrated circuit 6, the driving circuit is connected to the integrated circuit 6 by electrical connection points 4, and the integrated circuit 6 is connected to an external control circuit by the circuit board 7.

[0032] Furthermore, the integrated circuit 6 and the circuit board 7 may be located below the protective film 3, and may be thermocompression bonded to the thin film transistor substrate 1 by an ACF adhesive.

[0033] In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1 , a thin-film transistor substrate 1, an electronic paper film 2, and a protective film 3 are laminated together. An electrical connection point 4 connects the VCOM electrode on the thin-film transistor substrate 1 to the VCOM ITO electrode on the electronic paper film 2. The thin-film transistor substrate 1 is provided with a thin-film transistor array 105 and a drive circuit, which controls the voltage applied to the thin-film transistor array 105. The electronic paper film 2 displays images that can be seen by the human eye. An electric field is generated between the VCOM electrode on the thin-film transistor substrate 1 and the VCOM ITO electrode on the electronic paper film 2, driving the display of images using electronic ink on the electronic paper film 2. An integrated circuit 6 is connected to a circuit board 7, which is connected to an external control circuit to enable signal transmission between the external control circuit and the electronic paper film 2. The integrated circuit 6 converts signals received from the external control circuit into voltage and time-series signals for driving the display of the electronic paper film 2.

[0034] 2, the empty area 103 is located at the upper left corner of the display area 101, and an electrical connection point 4 is provided in the empty area 103. Of course, the empty area 103 may be located at the upper right corner, lower left corner, or lower right corner (not shown) of the display area 101, and the corresponding empty area 103 may be provided with an electrical connection point 4.

[0035] 3, there are two empty areas 103, which are located at the upper left and lower right corners of the display area 101, respectively, and the corresponding empty areas 103 are provided with electrical connection points 4. Of course, the two empty areas 103 may also be located at the upper right and lower left corners (not shown) of the display area 101, respectively, and the corresponding empty areas 103 may also be provided with electrical connection points 4. In this embodiment, there are two empty areas 103 with electrical connection points 4 provided, but in an actual product, depending on the specific situation, only one of the empty areas 103 may be provided with an electrical connection point 4, and the other empty area 103 may not be provided with an electrical connection point 4.

[0036] 4, there are two empty areas 103, and the two empty areas 103 are located at the lower left and lower right corners of the display area 101, respectively, and electrical connection points 4 are provided in the corresponding empty areas 103. Of course, the two empty areas 103 may be located at the upper left and upper right corners of the display area 101, respectively (not shown), or the two empty areas 103 may be located at the upper left and lower left corners of the display area 101, respectively (not shown), or the two empty areas 103 may be located at the upper right and lower right corners of the display area 101, respectively (not shown), and the electrical connection points 4 may be provided in the corresponding empty areas 103. In this embodiment, there are two free areas 103 with electrical connection points 4 provided therein, but in an actual product, depending on the specific situation, only one of the free areas 103 may have an electrical connection point 4 provided therein, and the other free area 103 may not have an electrical connection point 4 provided therein.

[0037] In a specific embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, empty areas 103 are provided at each of any three vertex positions in the display area 101, and electrical connection points 4 are provided in the empty areas 103 at two of the vertex positions, while electrical connection points 4 may not be provided in the empty areas 103 at the other vertex positions. As shown in Figure 5, empty areas 103 are provided at the upper left vertex corner, the lower left vertex corner, and the lower right vertex corner of the display area 101, but electrical connection points 4 are provided only in the empty areas 103 at the lower left vertex corner and the lower right vertex corner of the display area 101. As shown in Figure 6, empty areas 103 are provided at the upper left vertex corner, the upper right vertex corner, and the lower left vertex corner of the display area 101, but electrical connection points 4 are provided only in the empty areas 103 at the upper right vertex corner and the lower left vertex corner of the display area 101.

[0038] In a specific embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figures 7 to 9, a vacant area 103 may be provided at each of the four vertex positions in the display area 101, and an electrical connection point 4 may be provided in the vacant area 103 at at least one of the vertex positions. As shown in Figure 7, a vacant area 103 may be provided at each of the upper left vertex corner, the lower left vertex corner, the upper right vertex corner, and the lower right vertex corner of the display area 101, but an electrical connection point 4 may be provided only in the vacant area 103 at the lower left vertex corner of the display area 101, and no electrical connection point 4 may be provided in the vacant area 103 at the other three vertex positions. As shown in Figure 8, a vacant area 103 may be provided at each of the upper left vertex corner, the lower left vertex corner, the upper right vertex corner, and the lower right vertex corner of the display area 101, but an electrical connection point 4 may be provided only in the vacant area 103 at the lower left vertex corner and the lower right vertex corner of the display area 101, and no electrical connection point 4 may be provided in the vacant area 103 at the other two vertex positions. As shown in FIG. 9, empty areas 103 are provided at the upper left vertex corner, lower left vertex corner, upper right vertex corner, and lower right vertex corner of the display area 101, but empty areas 103 are provided only at the lower left vertex corner and upper right vertex corner, and electrical connection points 4 may not be provided in the empty areas 103 at the other two vertex corner positions.

[0039] Of course, each of the above embodiments can also be applied to free space 103 having other shapes, as long as the installation positions of free space 103 and electrical connection point 4 remain unchanged and only the shape of free space 103 changes without affecting the installation of openings and electrical connection points 4.

[0040] The above are merely illustrative specific embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Any equivalent changes or modifications that can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and principles of the present invention should fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. a thin film transistor substrate and an electronic paper film; a polygonal display area is formed on the thin film transistor substrate; A free area is reserved in advance at at least one vertex position in the display area; an electrical connection point for connecting an electrode of the thin film transistor substrate and an electrode of the electronic paper film is provided at a location of the electronic paper film facing the position of at least one of the empty areas; An electronic paper screen with a missing corner in the display area.

2. the number of free areas is plural, The electrical connection points are provided at the locations of the electronic paper film that face the positions of the respective empty areas. The electronic paper screen according to claim 1, wherein the display area has a chipped corner.

3. 2. The electronic paper screen having a corner-missing portion in the display area according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the electrical connection points are provided in a portion of the electronic paper film opposite to the position of one of the empty areas.

4. two adjacent sides at the same vertex angle position in the display area are connected by a straight line so that the empty area is defined at the vertex angle position in the display area in a plane on which the thin film transistor substrate is located; 4. The electronic paper screen according to claim 1, wherein the display area has a chipped corner.

5. two adjacent sides at the same apex angle position in the display area are connected by an arc line so that the empty area is defined at the apex angle position in the display area in a plane on which the thin film transistor substrate is located; 4. The electronic paper screen according to claim 1, wherein the display area has a chipped corner.

6. two adjacent sides at the same vertex position in the display area are connected by a polyline so that the empty area is defined at the vertex position in the display area in a plane on which the thin film transistor substrate is located; 4. The electronic paper screen according to claim 1, wherein the display area has a chipped corner.

7. The electronic paper screen having a chipped corner in the display area according to claim 1 , wherein the electrical connection points are dot-shaped or linear-shaped.

8. a non-display area is formed on the thin film transistor substrate, A boundary area is formed between the non-display area and the display area. The electronic paper screen according to claim 1, wherein the display area has a chipped corner.

9. The non-display area is provided so as to surround the display area, and the boundary area is arranged in a ring shape between the non-display area and the display area so as to separate the non-display area and the display area. The electronic paper screen according to claim 8, wherein the display area has a chipped corner portion.

10. the electronic paper film and the thin film transistor substrate are laminated together, the electronic paper film covers the display area and the boundary area; The electronic paper screen according to claim 8, wherein the display area has a chipped corner portion.

11. an electrode of the thin film transistor substrate is located in the empty area; an opening is provided in a portion of the electronic paper film facing the empty area so that an electrode of the electronic paper film is exposed to the outside; the electrical connection point is located in the opening and connects the electrode of the thin film transistor substrate and the electrode of the electronic paper film; The electronic paper screen according to claim 9, wherein the display area has a chipped corner portion.

12. Further comprising a protective film, the protective film, the electronic paper film, and the thin film transistor substrate are laminated together, The protective film covers the electronic paper film. The electronic paper screen according to claim 11, wherein the display area has a chipped corner portion.

13. The electronic paper screen having a corner-cut portion in the display area according to claim 12 , wherein an edge-bonding structure is provided at an edge position of the protective film and an edge position of the electronic paper film.

14. The thin film transistor substrate includes a glass plate and a circuit board; the glass plate is provided with a thin film transistor array and a driving circuit; an integrated circuit is provided within the edge-attached structure; the drive circuit is connected to the integrated circuit by the electrical connection points; the integrated circuit is connected to an external control circuit by the circuit board; The electronic paper screen according to claim 13, wherein the display area has a chipped corner portion.

Images