Electrophoretic Display Shielding Signal Lines to Prevent Trace Marks
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current segmented electrophoretic displays face challenges in performing partial updates due to trace line marks, requiring additional driver chips and costly three photomask manufacturing processes, which increase production costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
The electrophoretic display device employs a substrate with a first conductive layer, insulating patterns formed by screen printing that cover and bridge signal lines, and a second conductive layer with conductive patterns that bridge to adjacent background patterns, effectively shielding the electric field generated by signal lines, thereby preventing trace line marks without increasing the number of photomasks and reducing manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the waveform is controlled to reduce trace line marks, then the product price becomes competitive, but the display cannot perform partial updates
Solution Approach 1:
The display is divided into background patterns and data lines on opposite sides of the circuit board, with conductive vias connecting them. This segmentation allows the background to remain static while only the data line regions are updated, enabling partial updates without requiring waveform control adjustments that would compromise pricing.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution moves from a single-plane structure to a three-dimensional structure by placing background patterns and data lines on opposite sides of the circuit board and connecting them through conductive vias. This dimensional change allows independent control of background and data line regions, enabling partial updates while maintaining cost-effectiveness.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If data lines are set up on a different side from background patterns connected through conductive vias, then trace lines are not visible during update, but additional driver chips are required increasing manufacturing cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the background pattern layer and data line layer into a single integrated structure on the same circuit board, eliminating the need for separate driver chips. The background patterns and data lines are positioned adjacent to each other and connected through conductive vias within the same board structure, reducing component count and manufacturing cost while preventing trace visibility.
3Manufacturing precision
If three photomask manufacturing processes are used to create the same structure, then the structure can be formed, but the process is time-consuming and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a single photomask that serves multiple functions: it defines both the background patterns and the data lines in their respective regions, and also defines the conductive via locations. This universal photomask approach eliminates the need for three separate photomask processes, reducing manufacturing time and cost while maintaining the required structural precision.
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 approach allows for partial updates without additional driver chips and reduces manufacturing costs by eliminating the need for three photomask processes, while ensuring that the electric field generated by signal lines is shielded, preventing trace line marks and maintaining a competitive product pricing.
Implementation Method 1
the second conductive layer including the multiple conductive patterns may have a same potential as the background patterns, so as to shield an electric field generated by the signal lines
Data Source
AI summary
An electrophoretic display device, including a substrate, a first conductive layer, multiple insulating patterns, a second conductive layer, an adhesive layer, and an electrophoretic display film, is provided. The first conductive layer is disposed on the substrate, and includes multiple background patterns and multiple signal lines. Each of the signal lines is located between two adjacent background patterns. Each of the insulating patterns covers each of the signal lines and bridges to the two adjacent background patterns. The second conductive layer includes multiple conductive patterns. Each of the conductive patterns covers the each of the insulating patterns and bridges to the two adjacent background patterns. The adhesive layer is disposed on and in direct contact with the background pattern and the second conductive layer. The electrophoretic display film is disposed above the adhesive layer.