Electronic book

• US 8,427,420 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2010
• Issued: 04/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Yamazaki, Shunpei, Koyama, Jun, Arai, Yasuyuki, Kawamata, Ikuko, Miyaguchi, Atsushi, Moriya, Yoshitaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kevin M
• Application Number:
  US12/769,266
• Publication Number:
  US 20100277443A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• Field of Search: 345/107, 345/98, 345/100, 345/901
• US Class Current: 345/107
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133305 Flexible substrates, e.g. plastics, organic film
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13452 Conductors connecting driver circuitry and terminals of panels
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1368 in which the switching element is a three-electrode device G02F1/136277 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1635 Details related to the integration of battery packs and other power supplies such as fuel cells or integrated AC adapter
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1652 the display being flexible, e.g. mimicking a sheet of paper, or rollable
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/08 Active matrix structure, i.e. with use of active elements, inclusive of non-linear two terminal elements, in the pixels together with light emitting or modulating elements
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/0218 with collection of electrodes in groups for n-dimensional addressing
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/0267 Details of drivers for scan electrodes, other than drivers for liquid crystal, plasma or OLED displays
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/0275 Details of drivers for data electrodes, other than drivers for liquid crystal, plasma or OLED displays, not related to handling digital grey scale data or to communication of data to the pixels by means of a current
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/0281 Arrangement of scan or data electrode driver circuits at the periphery of a panel not inherent to a split matrix structure
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/02 Details of power systems and of start or stop of display operation
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2330/021 Power management, e.g. power saving
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/144 the light being ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/14 Electronic books and readers
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/035 for flexible display surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/20 : for presentation of an assembly of a number of characters, e.g. a page, by composing the assembly by combination of individual elements arranged in a matrix no fixed position being assigned to or needed to be assigned to the individual characters or partial characters
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/2096 : Details of the interface to the display terminal specific for a flat panel suitable for both CRT and flat panel G09G5/006; specific for a CRT G09G1/167
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3225 : using an active matrix
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/344 : based on particles moving in a fluid or in a gas, e.g. electrophoretic devices electrophoretic devices per se G02F1/167
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3648 : using an active matrix G09G3/367 - G09G3/3696 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/003 : Details of a display terminal, the details relating to the control arrangement of the display terminal and to the interfaces thereto specific for a CRT G09G1/165; for a flat panel G09G3/2092

Abstract

An e-book reader in which destruction of a driver circuit at the time when a flexible panel is handled is inhibited. In addition, an e-book reader having a simplified structure. A plurality of flexible display panels each including a display portion in which display control is performed by a scan line driver circuit and a signal line driver circuit, and a binding portion fastening the plurality of display panels together are included. The signal line driver circuit is provided inside the binding portion, and the scan line driver circuit is provided at the edge of the display panel in a direction perpendicular to the binding portion.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a plurality of flexible display panels each including a display portion and a scan line driver circuit;

a signal line driver circuit; and

a binding portion configured to fasten the plurality of flexible display panels,

wherein the signal line driver circuit is provided inside the binding portion.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1,

wherein the scan line driver circuit includes a first transistor,

wherein the signal line driver circuit includes a second transistor, and

wherein the first transistor has a different structure from the second transistor.

3. The electronic device according to claim 2,

wherein the first transistor includes a first channel layer formed of a non-single-crystal semiconductor.

4. The electronic device according to claim 3,

wherein the non-single-crystal semiconductor is amorphous silicon, microcrystalline silicon, polysilicon, or an oxide semiconductor.

5. The electronic device according to claim 4,

wherein each of the plurality of flexible display panels includes a third transistor having a second channel layer, and

wherein the first channel layer and the second channel layer are formed using the same material.

6. The electronic device according to claim 1,

wherein the binding portion further includes at least one of a battery, an antenna, a CPU, and a memory.

7. The electronic device according to claim 1,

wherein the scan line driver circuit includes a plurality of circuit portions, and

wherein the plurality of circuit portions are spaced from each other.

8. The electronic device according to claim 7,

wherein a stress concentration region is provided between the plurality of circuit portions, and

wherein the stress concentration region is formed in a longitudinal direction of the binding portion.

9. The electronic device according to claim 1,

wherein each of the plurality of flexible display panels further comprises a scan line and a signal line,

wherein the signal line is electrically connected to the signal line driver circuit, and

wherein the scan line is electrically connected to the scan line driver circuit.

39. The electronic device according to claim 1,

wherein the signal line driver circuit is a first signal line driver circuit and is provided over one of the flexible display panels,

wherein a second signal line driver circuit is provided the other of the flexible display panels with, and

wherein the first signal line driver circuit and the second signal line driver circuit are electrically connected to each other through a printed board.

40. The electronic device according to claim 1,

wherein the binding portion is provided at an inside edge of each of the flexible display panels.

41. The electronic device according to claim 1,

wherein the scan line driver circuit is provided in a direction to be bent.

10. An electronic device comprising:

a plurality of flexible display panels each including a display portion, a first scan line driver circuit and a second scan line driver circuit;

a signal line driver circuit; and

a binding portion with a hollow, the binding portion being configured to fasten the plurality of flexible display panels,

wherein the signal line driver circuit is provided inside the binding portion, and

wherein the first scan line driver circuit and the second scan line driver circuit are provided on opposite sides in each of the plurality of flexible display panels.

11. The electronic device according to claim 10,

wherein the first scan line driver circuit includes a first transistor,

wherein the signal line driver circuit includes a second transistor, and

wherein the first transistor has a different structure from the second transistor.

12. The electronic device according to claim 11,

wherein the first transistor includes a first channel layer formed of a non-single-crystal semiconductor.

13. The electronic device according to claim 12,

wherein the non-single-crystal semiconductor is amorphous silicon, microcrystalline silicon, polysilicon, or an oxide semiconductor.

14. The electronic device according to claim 13,

wherein each of the plurality of flexible display panels includes a third transistor having a second channel layer, and

wherein the first channel layer and the second channel layer are formed using the same material.

15. The electronic device according to claim 10,

wherein the binding portion further includes at least one of a battery, an antenna, a CPU, and a memory.

16. The electronic device according to claim 10,

wherein the first scan line driver circuit includes a plurality of circuit portions, and

wherein the plurality of circuit portions are spaced from each other.

17. The electronic device according to claim 16,

wherein a stress concentration region is provided between the plurality of circuit portions, and

wherein the stress concentration region is foinied in a longitudinal direction of the binding portion.

18. The electronic device according to claim 10,

wherein each of the plurality of flexible display panels further comprises a first scan line, a second scan line, and a signal line, and

wherein the first scan line is electrically connected to the first scan line driver circuit,

wherein the second scan line is electrically connected to the second scan line driver circuit, and

wherein the signal line is electrically connected to the signal line driver circuit.

42. The electronic device according to claim 10,

wherein the binding portion is provided at an inside edge of each of the flexible display panels.

43. The electronic device according to claim 10,

wherein the first or second scan line driver circuit is provided in a direction to be bent.

19. An electronic device comprising:

a first display panel including a first display portion and a first scan line driver circuit;

a second display panel including a second display portion and a second scan line driver circuit;

a third display panel including a third display portion, a fourth display portion, a third scan line driver circuit, and a fourth scan line driver circuit, wherein the third display panel is interposed between the first display panel and the second display panel;

a signal line driver circuit; and

a binding portion with a hollow, the binding portion being configured to fasten the first display panel, the second display panel, and the third display panel,

wherein the signal line driver circuit is provided inside the binding portion, and

wherein the third display panel is configured to be bent more easily than the first display panel and the second display panel.

20. The electronic device according to claim 19,

wherein the first scan line driver circuit includes a first transistor,

wherein the signal line driver circuit includes a second transistor, and

wherein the first transistor has a different structure from the second transistor.

21. The electronic device according to claim 20,

wherein the first transistor includes a first channel layer formed of a non-single-crystal semiconductor.

22. The electronic device according to claim 21,

wherein the non-single-crystal semiconductor is amorphous silicon, microcrystalline silicon, polysilicon, or an oxide semiconductor.

23. The electronic device according to claim 22,

wherein the first display panel includes a third transistor having a second channel layer, and

wherein the first channel layer and the second channel layer are formed using the same material.

24. The electronic device according to claim 19,

wherein the binding portion further includes at least one of a battery, an antenna, a CPU, and a memory.

25. The electronic device according to claim 19,

wherein the first scan line driver circuit includes a plurality of circuit portions, and

wherein the plurality of circuit portions are spaced from each other.

26. The electronic device according to claim 25,

wherein a stress concentration region is provided between the plurality of circuit portions, and

wherein the stress concentration region is formed in a longitudinal direction of the binding portion.

27. The electronic device according to claim 19,

wherein the first display panel further includes a scan line and a signal line,

wherein the scan line is electrically connected to the first scan line driver circuit, and

wherein the signal line is electrically connected to the signal line driver circuit.

28. The electronic device according to claim 19,

wherein the first display panel includes a first photo sensor configured to control the presence or absence of display on the first display portion and the third display portion,

wherein the second display panel includes a second photo sensor configured to control the presence or absence of display on the second display portion and the fourth display portion, and

wherein the third display panel includes a light-shielding portion configured to prevent the first photo sensor and/or the second photo sensor from light irradiation.

29. An electronic device comprising:

a first display panel including a first display portion, a first scan line driver circuit, and a second scan line driver circuit;

a second display panel including a second display portion and a third scan line driver circuit;

a third display panel including a third display portion, a fourth display portion, a fourth scan line driver circuit, and a fifth scan line driver circuit, wherein the third display panel is interposed between the first display panel and the second display panel;

a signal line driver circuit; and

a binding portion with a hollow, the binding portion being configured to fasten the first display panel, the second display panel, and the third display panel,

wherein the signal line driver circuit is provided inside the binding portion,

wherein the first scan line driver circuit and the second scan line driver circuit are provided on opposite sides in the first display panel, and

wherein the third display panel is configured to be bent more easily than the first display panel and the second display panel.

30. The electronic device according to claim 29,

wherein the first scan line driver circuit includes a first transistor,

wherein the signal line driver circuit includes a second transistor, and

wherein the first transistor has a different structure from the second transistor.

31. The electronic device according to claim 30,

wherein the first transistor includes a first channel layer formed of a non-single-crystal semiconductor.

32. The electronic device according to claim 31,

wherein the non-single-crystal semiconductor is amorphous silicon, microcrystalline silicon, polysilicon, or an oxide semiconductor.

33. The electronic device according to claim 32,

wherein the first display panel includes a third transistor having a second channel layer, and

wherein the first channel layer and the second channel layer are formed using the same material.

34. The electronic device according to claim 29,

wherein the binding portion further includes at least one of a battery, an antenna, a CPU, and a memory.

35. The electronic device according to claim 29,

wherein the first scan line driver circuit includes a plurality of circuit portions, and

wherein the plurality of circuit portions are spaced from each other.

36. The electronic device according to claim 35,

wherein a stress concentration region is provided between the plurality of circuit portions, and

wherein the stress concentration region is formed in a longitudinal direction of the binding portion.

37. The electronic device according to claim 29,

wherein the first display panel further comprises a first scan line, a second scan line, and a signal line, and

wherein the first scan line is electrically connected to the first scan line driver circuit,

wherein the second scan line is electrically connected to the second scan line driver circuit, and

wherein the signal line is electrically connected to the signal line driver circuit.

38. The electronic device according to claim 29,

wherein the first display panel includes a first photo sensor configured to control the presence or absence of display on the first display portion and the third display portion,

wherein the second display panel includes a second photo sensor configured to control the presence or absence of display on the second display portion and the fourth display portion, and

wherein the third display panel includes a light-shielding portion configured to prevent the first photo sensor and/or the second photo sensor from light irradiation.