Bar Structure Display Substrate for Electronic Paper

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Solution Overview

Problem

The electronic paper market is hindered by the high technical barrier and monopolistic control of microcup/microcapsule electronic paper film manufacturers, limiting shipment volume and price, which restricts market expansion.

Innovation Solution

A display substrate with a base substrate, gate lines, data lines, sub-pixel electrodes, driving transistors, and a bar structure that accommodates charged particles, allowing for a higher ratio of sub-pixel electrode area to sub-pixel region area, reducing dependence on microcapsules/microcups and enabling lower driving voltage and higher resolution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If microcup/microcapsule electronic paper film is used, then display function is achieved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase due to high technical barrier

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing processVSAvoidtechnical barrier

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the charged particles from the complex microcapsule/microcup structure and places them directly in the bar structure on the array substrate. This eliminates the need for microcapsule manufacturing while maintaining the electrophoretic display function, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and technical barriers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a simplified version of the microcapsule system by using a bar structure that mimics the particle-containing capsule function. Instead of manufacturing complex microcapsules, the invention copies the essential function (holding charged particles) using a simpler bar structure that can be directly formed on the substrate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Adaptability or versatility

If microcup/microcapsule structure is used, then display is achieved, but market control and price increase due to monopoly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemarket expansionVSAvoidtechnology monopoly

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the expensive, proprietary microcapsule technology with a simpler, more accessible bar structure that can be manufactured using conventional semiconductor processing techniques. This enables multiple manufacturers to produce electronic paper displays, breaking the monopoly and facilitating market expansion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Manufacturing precision

If traditional electrode arrangement is used, then manufacturing is simple, but display resolution is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay resolutionVSAvoidelectrode structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent increases the sub-pixel electrode area ratio to greater than 70% by optimizing the two-dimensional layout of electrodes and bars. The bar structure extends in both first and second directions, creating a grid that allows larger electrode areas within the same pixel region, thereby improving resolution without complicating the manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Use of energy by moving object

If microcapsule electronic paper film is used, then display function is achieved, but driving voltage remains high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedriving voltageVSAvoidmanufacturing process

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the local electrical properties by positioning the bar structure with charged particles in close proximity to the sub-pixel electrodes. This reduced distance between electrodes and particles lowers the electrical field strength required for particle movement, thereby reducing driving voltage while maintaining effective display operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution simplifies the manufacturing process, increases display resolution and contrast, and reduces the market's reliance on a single manufacturer, facilitating market expansion by using a bar structure to accommodate charged particles instead of microcapsules/microcups.

Implementation Method 1

a bar structure on a side of a layer where the plurality of sub-pixel electrodes are located away from the base substrate, where the bar structure has an opening region for accommodating charged particles

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrostatic force: Electrostatics

Data Source

PatentUS20250004344A1Display substrate, display device and manufacturing method

Publication Date: 2025.01.02 BEIJING BOE OPTOELECTRONCIS TECH CO LTD

AI summary

Disclosed are a display substrate, a display device, and a manufacturing method. The display substrate includes: a base substrate; gate lines and data lines which define a plurality of sub-pixel regions; sub-pixel electrodes located in the plurality of sub-pixel regions on the base substrate; driving transistors disposed on the base substrate and electrically connected with the data lines, the gate lines and the sub-pixel electrodes; and a bar structure on a side of a layer where the sub-pixel electrodes are located away from the base substrate. The bar structure has an opening region for accommodating charged particles in each sub-pixel region, an orthographic projection of the bar structure at least partially covers orthographic projections of the gate lines and the data lines on the base substrate, and a ratio of an area of a sub-pixel electrode to an area of a sub-pixel region is greater than 70%.