Display panel and display apparatus having the same

• US 8,866,732 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2010
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hydis Technology Company Limited (E Ink Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Display Company Limited (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: Kim, Ji-Sun, Lee, Seongyoung
• Primary Examiner(s): Bibbins, Latanya
• Application Number:
  US12/820,619
• Publication Number:
  US 20110181502A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,582 Days
• Field of Search: 345/107, 359/296
• US Class Current: 345/107
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/167 by electrophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/16757 Microcapsules
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/16766 for active matrices
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2300/0439 Pixel structures
• 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 3/2003 Display of colours specific for liquid crystal displays G09G3/3607
• 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

Abstract

A display panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate, an electrophoretic layer, and a shielding electrode. The first substrate includes a first base substrate and pixel electrodes disposed on the first base substrate. The second substrate includes a second base substrate and a common electrode disposed on the second base substrate to face the pixel electrodes. The electrophoretic layer is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate to display a gray-scale image. The shielding electrode is disposed between the pixel electrodes and faces the common electrode with the electrophoretic layer interposed between the shielding electrode and the common electrode to receive a voltage corresponding to a black gray-scale.

Claims

1. A display panel comprising:

a first substrate including a first base substrate and pixel electrodes disposed on the first base substrate, wherein at least one pixel electrode of the pixel electrodes is connected with a drain electrode of a thin film transistor disposed on the first substrate;

a second substrate including a second base substrate and a common electrode disposed on the second base substrate;

an electrophoretic layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate to display a gray-scale image; and

a shielding electrode disposed between the pixel electrodes, the shielding electrode facing the common electrode with the electrophoretic layer interposed between the shielding electrode and the common electrode, the shielding electrode not connected with the drain electrode of the thin film transistor, wherein a black gray scale voltage is applied to the shielding electrode, and wherein the shielding electrode is connected with a driver configured to drive the thin film transistor.

2. The display panel of claim 1, wherein the first substrate further comprises:

a gate line arranged on the first base substrate;

a data line insulated from the gate line and crossing the gate line;

a plurality of switching devices each electrically connected to a respective gate line and a respective data line; and

an insulating layer arranged on the switching devices and the data line,

wherein the pixel electrodes are disposed on the insulating layer and electrically connected to the switching devices, respectively, and the shielding electrode is electrically insulated from the pixel electrodes and disposed on the insulating layer.

3. The display panel of claim 2, wherein the data line is disposed below the shielding electrode.

4. The display panel of claim 2, wherein the gate line is disposed below the shielding electrode.

5. The display panel of claim 2, wherein the switching devices are covered by the shielding electrode.

6. The display panel of claim 1, wherein the shielding electrode comprises a same material as the pixel electrodes.

7. The display panel of claim 1, wherein the electrophoretic layer comprises a plurality of microcapsules each comprising a transparent insulative liquid having a spherical shape, a plurality of first particles, and a plurality of second particles having a polarity different from a polarity of the first particles.

8. The display panel of claim 7, wherein the black gray scale voltage has the same polarity as a polarity of black-colored particles of the plurality of first particles or the plurality of second particles.

9. The display panel of claim 1, wherein the etectrophoretic layer comprises a transparent insulative liquid, a plurality of first particles, a plurality of second particles having a polarity different from a polarity of the first particles, and a plurality of barrier walls.

10. The display panel of claim 9, wherein the shielding electrode receives a voltage having the same polarity as a polarity of black-colored particles of the first particles or the second particles.

11. A display apparatus comprising:

a data driver that receives an image signal and a data control signal and outputs a data signal;

a gate driver that receives a gate control signal and outputs a gate signal; and

a display panel that displays an image in response to the gate signal and the data signal,

wherein the display panel comprises;

a first substrate including a first base substrate and pixel electrodes disposed on the first base substrate, wherein at least one pixel electrode of the pixel electrodes is connected with a drain electrode of a thin film transistor disposed on the first substrate;

a second substrate including a second base substrate and a common electrode disposed on the second base substrate;

an electrophoretic layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate to display a gray-scale image; and

a shielding electrode disposed between the pixel electrodes, the shielding electrode facing the common electrode with the electrophoretic layer between the shielding electrode and the common electrode, the shielding electrode not connected with the drain electrode of the thin film transistor, wherein a black gray scale voltage is applied to the shielding electrode, and wherein the shielding electrode is connected with the data driver or the gate driver.

12. The display apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first substrate further comprises:

a gate line arranged on the first base substrate;

a data line insulated from the gate line and crossing the gate line;

a plurality of switching devices each electrically connected to a respective gate line and a respective data line; and

an insulating layer arranged on the switching devices and the data line,

wherein the pixel electrodes are disposed on the insulating layer and electrically connected to the switching devices, respectively, and the shielding electrode is electrically insulated from the pixel electrodes and disposed on the insulating layer.

13. The display apparatus of claim 12, wherein the data line is disposed below the shielding electrode.

14. The display apparatus of claim 12, wherein the gate line is disposed below the shielding electrode.

15. The display apparatus of claim 12, wherein the switching devices are covered by the shielding electrode.

16. The display apparatus of claim 11, wherein the shielding electrode comprises a same material as the pixel electrodes.

17. The display apparatus of claim 11, wherein the electrophoretic layer comprises a plurality of microcapsules each comprising a transparent insulative liquid having a spherical shape, a plurality of first particles, and a plurality of second particles having a polarity different from a polarity of the first particles.

18. The display apparatus of claim 17, wherein the black gray scale voltage has the same polarity as a polarity of black-colored particles of the plurality of first particles or the plurality of second particles.

19. The display apparatus of claim 11, wherein the electrophoretic layer comprises a transparent insulative liquid, a plurality of first particles, a plurality of second particles having a polarity different from a polarity of the first particles, and a plurality of barrier walls.

20. The display apparatus of claim 19, wherein the shielding electrode receives a voltage having the same polarity as a polarity of black-colored particles of the first particles or the second particles.

21. The display apparatus of claim 11, wherein the shielding electrode is electrically connected to the data driver to receive the black gray scale voltage having the same polarity as a polarity of black-colored particles of the first particles or the second particles.

22. A display apparatus comprising:

a first substrate including a first base substrate and pixel electrodes disposed on the first base substrate, wherein at least one pixel electrode of the pixel electrodes is connected with a drain electrode of a thin film transistor disposed on the first substrate;

a second substrate including a second base substrate and a common electrode disposed on the second base substrate;

an electrophoretic layer disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate to display a gray-scale image; and

a shielding electrode disposed between the pixel electrodes, the shielding electrode facing the common electrode with the electrophoretic layer interposed between the shielding electrode and the common electrode, the shielding electrode not connected with the drain electrode of the thin film transistor, wherein the shielding electrode is connected with a driver configured to drive the thin film transistor.