E-paper screen with a corner missing 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 Application

[0001] This application claims the priority of a Chinese utility model application with an application number of 202222642433.X (filing date: October 9, 2022) and an invention title of "Electronic Paper Screen with a Corner Missing Part in the Display Area".

Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to the technical field of electronic display, and particularly to an electronic paper screen with a corner missing part in the display area.

Background Art

[0003] An electronic paper screen is a display screen manufactured by electrophoretic display technology, and achieves the effect of displaying 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 hold the displayed image for a long time without continuously refreshing after the image is updated, so it has low power consumption. The electronic paper screen has various advantages such as low power consumption, wide viewing angle, high contrast, and being beneficial to eye protection, so it is being more widely applied in fields such as electronic price tags, e-books, and billboards.

[0004] In conventional electronic paper screens, the AA area (effective display area) is rectangular. To drive the electrodes on the FPL (electronic paper film) (e.g., VCOM ITO electrodes), it is necessary to reserve an opening in a portion of the area extending outward from the FPL, and then connect the electrodes on the TFT substrate (e.g., VCOM electrodes) to the electrodes on the FPL (e.g., VCOM ITO electrodes) by first setting up an electrical connection point (Ag adhesive point) at the opening and then applying Ag adhesive. However, the presence of the opening causes the external shape of the FPL and PS (i.e., protective film, which mainly includes a waterproof layer and an anti-glare layer, and is attached to the FPL to prevent glare from light and block water vapor from entering the FPL) to become irregular, and at the same time, the size of the FPL, PS, and TFT also increases. This results in a wider bezel for the e-paper screen, reducing the screen-to-body ratio, and also reduces the number of cuts of FPL, PS, and TFT 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 a few smaller sheets may be placed on one large sheet or mother sheet, where one small sheet is the size and shape actually required for one e-paper screen, and the number of cuts is the number of small sheets that are most frequently placed and cut on the large sheet), which leads to an increase in material costs. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0005] Currently, there is no effective solution to the problem of increased electronic paper screen size and higher costs resulting from the deformation of the electronic paper film and protective film due to the placement of electrical connection points in related technologies.

[0006] The present invention aims to provide an electronic paper screen with a corner cutout in the display area, which can avoid irregularities in the shape of the electronic paper film, increase the screen coverage ratio 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 cutout 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, a blank area is reserved in advance at at least one vertex position in the display area, and an electrical connection point for connecting the electrode of the thin-film transistor substrate and the electrode of the electronic paper film is provided at a location on the electronic paper film opposite to at least one of the blank areas. [Effects of the Invention]

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

[0010] In an electronic paper screen with a corner cutout in the display area, a vacant area is reserved in advance at at least one vertex corner position in the polygonal display area on the thin-film transistor substrate. By providing an electrical connection point at a location on the electronic paper film opposite the vacant area, an opening extending outward in the electronic paper film is created, while avoiding the provision of an electrical connection point in the opening. This prevents deformation of the electronic paper film, increases the screen coverage ratio of the electronic paper screen, and reduces costs.

[0011] The following accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only and do not limit the scope of the present invention. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] This is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of an electronic paper screen with a corner cutout in the display area according to the present invention. [Figure 2] This is one schematic diagram of the planar structure of an electronic paper screen having a corner cutout in the display area according to the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of an electronic paper screen with a corner cutout in the display area according to the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of an electronic paper screen with a corner cutout in the display area according to the present invention. [Figure 5] This is diagram four of the planar structure of an electronic paper screen with a corner cutout in the display area according to the present invention. [Figure 6] This is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of an electronic paper screen having a corner cutout in the display area according to the present invention. [Figure 7] This is schematic diagram 6 of the planar structure of an electronic paper screen with a corner cutout in the display area according to the present invention. [Figure 8] This is schematic diagram seven of the planar structure of an electronic paper screen having a corner cutout in the display area according to the present invention. [Figure 9] This is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of an electronic paper screen with a corner cutout in the display area according to the present invention. [Figure 10] This is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of an electronic paper screen with a corner cutout in the display area according to the present invention. [Figure 11] This is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of an electronic paper screen having a corner cutout in the display area according to the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] To provide a clearer understanding of the technical features, objectives, and effects of the present invention, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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

[0015] In this invention, in the thin-film transistor substrate 1, an empty area 103 is reserved in advance at at least one vertex angle position 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. This avoids the provision of an outward-extending opening in the electronic paper film 2, prevents deformation of the electronic paper film 2, increases the screen occupancy rate of the electronic paper screen, and reduces costs.

[0016] In a selective embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figures 3 to 6, there are multiple empty regions 103, and an electrical connection point 4 is provided at the location of the electronic paper film 2 opposite to each empty region 103.

[0017] Specifically, the display area 101 is rectangular. As shown in FIG. 3, at the diagonal positions of the display area 101, empty areas 103 are provided respectively, and electrical connection points 4 may be provided on the two empty areas 103. As shown in FIG. 4, at two adjacent vertex positions in the display area 101, empty areas 103 are provided respectively, and electrical connection points 4 may be provided on the two empty areas 103. As shown in FIG. 5, at any three vertex positions in the display area 101, empty areas 103 are provided respectively. Electrical connection points 4 are provided on the empty areas 103 at two adjacent vertex positions, and electrical connection points 4 may not be provided on another empty area 103. As shown in FIG. 6, at any three vertex positions in the display area 101, empty areas 103 are provided respectively. Electrical connection points 4 are provided on the empty areas 103 at two diagonal positions, and electrical connection points 4 may not be provided on another empty area 103.

[0018] In a selective embodiment of the present invention, at the location of the electronic paper film 2 facing the position of one empty area 103, a plurality of electrical connection points 4 are provided (that is, a plurality of electrical connection points 4 are correspondingly provided for one empty area 103).

[0019] In a selective embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 9, on the plane where the thin film transistor substrate 1 is located, by connecting two adjacent sides at the same vertex position in the display area 101 with a straight line, an empty area 103 is defined at the vertex position in the display area 101.

[0020] In a selective embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 10, on the plane where the thin film transistor substrate 1 is located, by connecting two adjacent sides at the same vertex position in the display area 101 with an arc line, an empty area 103 is defined at the vertex position in the display area 101.

[0021] In a selective embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figure 11, an empty region 103 is defined at the vertex angle position in the display region 101 by connecting two adjacent sides at the same vertex angle position in the display region 101 with a polyline in the plane on which the thin-film transistor substrate 1 is located.

[0022] Of course, the empty area 103 is not limited to the three shapes shown in Figures 2 to 11, but may be of other shapes as long as it can form an empty area 103 for providing an opening at the vertex angle position in the display area 101.

[0023] In a selective embodiment of the present invention, the electrical connection point 4 is point-shaped, as shown in Figures 2 to 11. Of course, the electrical connection point 4 may also be linear (i.e., a linear shape is formed by connecting multiple electrical connection points 4 provided corresponding to one empty area 103). Furthermore, the shape of the electrical connection point 4 may be designed to any shape according to the actual design requirements.

[0024] In a selective embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figure 2, a non-display region 106 is formed on the thin-film transistor substrate 1, and a boundary region (i.e., a border region) is formed between the non-display region 106 and the display region 101. The non-display region 106 is provided encircling the display region 101, and the boundary region 102 is arranged in a ring shape between the non-display region 106 and the display region 101, with the boundary region 102 being for separating the non-display region 106 and the display region 101.

[0025] Specifically, as shown in Figure 2, the thin-film transistor substrate 1 is rectangular, and the region inside the thin-film transistor substrate 1 is the display region 101 (i.e., the AA region, which may also be called the effective display region). The region encircling the outside of the display region 101 is the non-display region 106, and the annular region with a certain width between the display region 101 and the non-display region 106 is the boundary region 102, which is used to distinguish the display region 101 from the non-display region 106.

[0026] In a selective 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 surface 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 region 103, and an opening is provided in the electronic paper film 2 opposite the empty region 103, exposing the electrodes of the electronic paper film 2 to the outside. 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 a selective embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, an electronic paper screen having a corner cutout in the display area further includes a protective film 3, 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 laminated waterproof layer (i.e., a barrier film) and an anti-glare light layer (AG / PET film), and the protective film 3 exhibits the function of preventing glare from light and blocking water vapor, thereby effectively preventing water vapor from entering the thin-film transistor substrate 1.

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

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

[0031] In a selective embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figure 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 drive circuit, an integrated circuit 6 is provided within the edge-bonded structure 5, the drive 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 thermocompressed onto the thin-film transistor substrate 1 using ACF adhesive.

[0033] In this invention, as shown in Figure 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, and the drive circuit enables voltage control for the thin-film transistor array 105. The electronic paper film 2 is for displaying images that can be seen with the human eye. An electric field is formed between the VCOM electrode on the thin-film transistor substrate 1 and the VCOM ITO electrode on the electronic paper film 2 to drive the display of images using electronic ink on the electronic paper film 2. The integrated circuit 6 and the circuit board 7 are connected, and the circuit board 7 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 the signals transmitted by the received external control circuit into voltage and time-series signals to drive the refresh of the electronic paper film 2.

[0034] In one specific embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figure 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 also be located at the upper right corner, lower left corner, or lower right corner (not shown) of the display area 101, and an electrical connection point 4 may be provided in the corresponding empty area 103.

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

[0036] In one specific embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figure 4, there are two empty areas 103, each located at the lower left and lower right corners of the display area 101, and an electrical connection point 4 is 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 (not shown) of the display area 101, or at the upper left and lower left corners (not shown) of the display area 101, or at the upper right and lower right corners (not shown) of the display area 101, and an electrical connection point 4 may be provided in the corresponding empty areas 103. In this embodiment, there are two empty areas 103 where electrical connection points 4 are provided. However, in actual products, depending on the specific circumstances, electrical connection points 4 may be provided in only one of the empty areas 103, and the other empty area 103 may not have electrical connection points 4.

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

[0038] In one specific embodiment of the present invention, as shown in Figures 7 to 9, an empty area 103 is provided at each of the four vertex angle positions in the display area 101, and an electrical connection point 4 may be provided in the empty area 103 at at least one of these vertex angle positions. As shown in Figure 7, an empty area 103 is provided at any of the upper left vertex angle, lower left vertex angle, upper right vertex angle, and lower right vertex angle in the display area 101, but an electrical connection point 4 may be provided only in the empty area 103 at the lower left vertex angle in the display area 101, and an electrical connection point 4 may not be provided in the empty areas 103 at the other three vertex angle positions. As shown in Figure 8, an empty area 103 is provided at any of the upper left vertex angle, lower left vertex angle, upper right vertex angle, and lower right vertex angle in the display area 101, but an empty area 103 is provided only at the lower left vertex angle and lower right vertex angle in the display area 101, and an electrical connection point 4 may not be provided in the empty areas 103 at the other two vertex angle positions. As shown in Figure 9, empty areas 103 are provided at all of the upper left vertex corner, lower left vertex corner, upper right vertex corner, and lower right vertex corner in the display area 101. However, empty areas 103 are provided only at the lower left vertex corner and the upper right vertex corner, and electrical connection points 4 do not need to be provided at the empty areas 103 at the other two vertex corner positions.

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

[0040] The above are merely exemplary specific embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will know that equivalent changes and modifications that can be implemented without deviating from the spirit and principles of the present invention should all fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. It includes a thin-film transistor substrate and an electronic paper film disposed on the thin-film transistor substrate, The thin-film transistor substrate has a polygonal display area formed therein. At least one vertex angle position in the aforementioned display area has a pre-formed empty area. At least one location of the electronic paper film opposite to the empty area is provided with an electrical connection point for connecting the electrodes of the thin-film transistor substrate and the electrodes of the electronic paper film. There are two of the aforementioned empty areas, each of which is located diagonally opposite the display area, and the electrical connection points are provided at the locations of the electronic paper film opposite to the positions of the two aforementioned empty areas. An edge-bonding structure is provided at the edge of the electronic paper film, and an integrated circuit is provided within the edge-bonding structure for converting signals received from an external control circuit into a drive voltage and a time-series signal for updating the display on the electronic paper film. An e-paper screen with a corner missing in the display area.

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

3. In the plane on which the thin-film transistor substrate is located, two adjacent sides at the same vertex angle position in the display area are connected by a straight line such that the empty area is defined at the vertex angle position in the display area. An electronic paper screen having a corner cutout in the display area according to claim 1 or 2.

4. In the plane on which the thin-film transistor substrate is located, two adjacent sides at the same vertex angle in the display area are connected by an arc so that the empty area is defined at the vertex angle position in the display area. An electronic paper screen having a corner cutout in the display area according to claim 1 or 2.

5. In the plane on which the thin-film transistor substrate is located, two adjacent sides at the same vertex angle position in the display area are connected by a polyline such that the empty area is defined at the vertex angle position in the display area. An electronic paper screen having a corner cutout in the display area according to claim 1 or 2.

6. The electronic paper screen according to claim 1, wherein the electrical connection points are point-shaped or linear, and the display area has a corner cutout.

7. In the thin-film transistor substrate, a non-display region is formed, A boundary region is formed between the non-display region and the display region. An electronic paper screen having a corner cutout in the display area as described in claim 1.

8. 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. An electronic paper screen having a corner cutout in the display area as described in claim 7.

9. The electronic paper film and the thin-film transistor substrate are arranged in a stacked manner. The electronic paper film covers the display area and the boundary area. An electronic paper screen having a corner cutout in the display area as described in claim 7.

10. The electrodes of the thin-film transistor substrate are located in the empty area. An opening is provided in the electronic paper film opposite to the location of the empty area, such that the electrodes of the electronic paper film are exposed to the outside. The electrical connection point is located in the opening and connects the electrodes of the thin-film transistor substrate and the electrodes of the electronic paper film. An electronic paper screen having a corner cutout in the display area as described in claim 8.

11. It further contains a protective film, The protective film, the electronic paper film, and the thin-film transistor substrate are arranged in a laminated manner. The protective film covers the electronic paper film. An electronic paper screen having a corner cutout in the display area as described in claim 10.

12. An electronic paper screen having a corner-cut portion in the display area according to claim 11, wherein an edge-bonding structure is also provided at the edge of the protective film.

13. 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 drive circuit. The drive circuit is connected to the integrated circuit by the electrical connection point, The integrated circuit is connected to an external control circuit by the circuit board. An electronic paper screen having a corner cutout in the display area as described in claim 1.

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