Electropheretic display device and method for manufacturing the same

• US 8,542,428 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2011
• Issued: 09/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Inventors: Lee, Byeong-Jin, Roh, Nam-Seok, Kim, Myung-Hwan, Kim, Sang-Il, Hwang, Tae-Hyung, Lee, Son-Uk, Kim, Yu Jin, Bae, Ju-Han
• Primary Examiner(s): Ben, Loha
• Application Number:
  US13/184,323
• Publication Number:
  US 20120218622A1
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 359/296, 345/85, 345/105, 345/107, 438/28, 438/29, 438/158, 427/64, 427/66, 427/162, 427/164, 427/256, 427/266, 294/28, 295/921, 257/40, 257/59, 257/E21.414, 257/E33.056, 156/60, 445/24
• US Class Current: 359/296
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/167 by electrophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1677 Structural association of cells with optical devices, e.g. reflectors or illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/1681 having two or more microcells partitioned by walls, e.g. of microcup type

Abstract

An electrophoretic display device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a lower substrate; an upper substrate; a thin film transistor disposed on the lower substrate; a pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor; an electronic ink layer positioned between the lower substrate and the upper substrate; a plurality of partitions disposed on the upper substrate; a reflecting layer disposed on the partitions; a color filter disposed between the partitions.

Claims

1. An electrophoretic display device, comprising:

a lower substrate;

an upper substrate;

a thin film transistor disposed on the lower substrate;

a pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor;

an electronic ink layer positioned between the lower substrate and the upper substrate;

a plurality of partitions disposed on the upper substrate;

a reflecting layer disposed on the partitions; and

a color filter disposed between adjacent partitions of the plurality of partitions.

2. The electrophoretic display device of claim 1, wherein the electronic ink layer includes:

a plurality of spherical microcapsules; and

a supporting layer supporting the plurality of spherical microcapsules,

wherein each of the plurality of spherical microcapsules includes a plurality of white charged particles or a plurality of black charged particles disposed therein.

3. The electrophoretic display device of claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of spherical microcapsules includes a plurality of white charged particles and a plurality of black charged particles and the white charged particles and the black charged particles are charged with opposite polarities.

4. The electrophoretic display device of claim 2, wherein the electronic ink layer further includes a common electrode disposed on the microcapsules.

5. The electrophoretic display device of claim 2, further comprising a groove disposed at the upper substrate between the partitions.

6. The electrophoretic display device of claim 5, wherein the color filter is positioned at the groove.

7. The electrophoretic display device of claim 1, wherein the height of each of the plurality of partitions is in the range of 20 to 25 μ

m.

8. The electrophoretic display device of claim 1, wherein the reflecting layer is made of a metal having high reflectivity.

9. The electrophoretic display device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of partitions is made of a white photosensitive film.

10. The electrophoretic display device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of partitions is made of a black photosensitive film.

11. The electrophoretic display device of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive layer disposed on the reflecting layer and the color filter, wherein the adhesive layer is applied as a liquid adhesive and adheres an upper panel comprising the upper substrate, the plurality of partitions, the reflecting layer, and the color filter to the electronic ink layer.

12. The electrophoretic display device of claim 11, wherein the thickness of the adhesive layer is in the range of 20 to 25 μ

m.

13. A method for manufacturing an electrophoretic display device, comprising:

forming a thin film transistor on a lower substrate;

forming a pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor;

forming an electronic ink layer on the pixel electrode;

etching an upper substrate to form a groove and a partition;

forming a reflecting layer on the partition;

forming a color filter in the groove;

forming an adhesive layer on the reflecting layer and the color filter; and

adhering the adhesive layer to the electronic ink layer.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the etching of the upper substrate to form the groove and the partition includes:

forming a metal pattern on the upper substrate;

forming a first photosensitive film on the metal pattern; and

etching the upper substrate by using the first photosensitive film as a mask.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the forming of the reflecting layer on the partition include

surface-treating an interior of the groove to form a surface treated portion thereof;

forming a second photosensitive film on the surface treated portion of the groove;

forming the reflecting layer on the second photosensitive film and the partition; and

removing the reflecting layer on the second photosensitive film and the second photosensitive film.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the electronic ink layer includes:

a plurality of spherical microcapsules; and

a supporting layer supporting the plurality of spherical microcapsules, wherein each of the plurality of spherical microcapsules includes a plurality of white charged particles or a plurality of black charged particles disposed therein.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of spherical microcapsules includes a plurality of white charged particles and a plurality of black charged particles and the white charged particles and the black charged particles are charged with opposite polarities.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the electronic ink layer further includes a common electrode formed on the plurality of microcapsules.

19. An electrophoretic display device, comprising:

a lower substrate;

a thin film transistor disposed on the lower substrate;

a pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor;

an upper substrate facing the lower substrate and including a plurality of partitions and a plurality of grooves disposed between the partitions;

a common electrode disposed on the grooves and the partitions;

a lateral reflector disposed on the common electrode on the partitions;

color filters disposed in the grooves; and

a plurality of electrically charged particles disposed on the color filters.

20. The electrophoretic display device of claim 19, wherein the common electrode includes a plurality of cutouts.

21. The electrophoretic display device of claim 19, further comprising a first organic layer disposed on the pixel electrode.

22. The electrophoretic display device of claim 21, further comprising a white reflector disposed on the first organic layer.

23. The electrophoretic display device of claim 22, wherein the white reflector includes an opening.

24. The electrophoretic display device of claim 19, wherein the electrically charged particles are black and the device further comprises a white solvent positioned in the grooves.

25. The electrophoretic display device of claim 19, wherein the electrically charged particles are white and the device further comprises a black solvent positioned in the grooves.

26. The electrophoretic display device of claim 19, wherein the electrically charged particles include white electrically charged particles and black electrically charged particles, and the device further comprises a transparent solvent positioned in the grooves.

27. An electrophoretic display device comprising:

a lower substrate;

an upper substrate;

a thin film transistor disposed on the lower substrate;

a pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor;

an electronic ink layer positioned on the pixel electrode between the lower substrate and the upper substrate;

a lens positioned on the electronic ink layer; and

a plurality of color filters disposed on the upper substrate.

28. The electrophoretic display device of claim 27, wherein the electronic ink layer includes:

a plurality of spherical microcapsules; and

a supporting layer supporting the plurality of spherical microcapsules,

wherein each of the plurality of spherical microcapsules includes a plurality of white charged particles or a plurality of black charged particles disposed therein.

29. The electrophoretic display device of claim 27, wherein the electronic ink layer includes:

a plurality of spherical microcapsules; and

a supporting layer supporting the plurality of spherical microcapsules,

wherein each of the plurality of spherical microcapsules includes a plurality of white charged particles and a plurality of black charged particles and the white charged particles and the black charged particles are charged with opposite polarities.

30. The electrophoretic display device of claim 29, wherein the electronic ink layer further includes a common electrode disposed on the plurality of spherical microcapsules.

31. The electrophoretic display device of claim 29, further comprising a piezoelectric member positioned between the supporting layer and the upper substrate.

32. The electrophoretic display device of claim 27, wherein the plurality of color filters include a first color filter and a second color filter.

33. The electrophoretic display device of claim 32, further comprising an opening positioned between the first color filter and the second color filter.

34. The electrophoretic display device of claim 27, wherein each of the plurality of color filters is separated from other color filters of the plurality of color filters.

35. The electrophoretic display device of claim 34, further comprising a supporting member positioned on the lower substrate.

36. The electrophoretic display device of claim 35, further comprising a piezoelectric member positioned between the supporting member and the upper substrate.