JP2012022065A - Manufacturing method of information display panel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a manufacturing method of an information display panel that can be easily cut off a removal-desired part of a substrate, without cutting another substrate or damaging wiring even after two facing substrates are bonded.SOLUTION: The information display panel includes two substrates in which at least a display area of one substrate is transparent, and pixel electrodes are formed in the display areas; a display medium which is electrically driven and arranged between the two substrates; and connection electrodes arranged outside the display area of at least one of the substrates. The manufacturing method of the information display panel includes, when cutting off and removing a cut part of a substrate which is one of the two substrates and faces the connection electrodes, and the cut part covers the connection electrodes, a step of arranging a rib for cutting between the two substrates corresponding to a cutting position, and a step for removing the cut off part and exposing the connection electrodes.

Description

  In the present invention, at least one display area is transparent, and a display medium disposed between two substrates having pixel electrodes formed in the display area is electrically driven to display information such as an image. The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an information display panel.

  A display medium disposed between two opposing panel substrates is driven only by applying an electric field, applying a voltage, or applying a charge. That is, the display information on the information display panel cannot be rewritten unless the display medium is driven. A driving device for supplying electricity for driving a display medium to a pixel electrode provided in a display area of the information display panel is required separately from the information display panel, and the pixel electrode of the information display panel And the drive device are electrically connected. With this configuration, the display medium disposed between the panel substrates is electrically driven by a signal from the driving device.

  As described above, as an example for electrically connecting the pixel electrode of the information display panel and the driving device, a technique of forming the connection electrode on the substrate is known. Normally, as shown in FIG. 10, the connection electrode 12 a is formed on the substrate by forming a space on the other substrate 1 so that the substrate 2 is not located at a portion facing the connection electrode 12 a. An electronic circuit component is connected to the connection electrode 12a so as to be electrically connected to the driving device.

  Conventionally, as a method for producing an information display panel, a production method in which a plurality of panels are obtained from a single substrate is used instead of a method of producing a single panel from a single substrate. That is, a panel obtained by placing a display medium between two substrates using two substrates (also referred to as a mother substrate) imprinted for multi-piece fabrication, and then bonding the two substrates together ( (Also called a mother panel) is divided into a plurality of pieces to produce a plurality of information display panels. In the information display panel thus manufactured, the two opposing substrates (substrate 1 and substrate 2) have substantially the same size, and the portion facing the connection electrode 12a is covered with the substrate 2. End up. Therefore, in order to connect the connection electrode 12a and the driving device, it is preferable to provide a space in a portion facing the connection electrode 12a (above the connection electrode 12a in FIG. 10).

  Conventionally, in order to realize the above-described configuration in which the connection electrode 12a is exposed, the two substrates are bonded together via an inter-substrate gap securing member (partition wall), and then the substrate on the side facing the connection electrode 12a. The portion was cut and removed using a blade, laser, ultrasonic wave, or the like, and a space was formed above the connection electrode 12a as described above. However, in order to expose the connection electrode 12a, it is necessary to remove only the counter substrate facing the connection electrode 12a. However, in cutting by laser processing or ultrasonic processing, one of the two substrates is used. It is difficult to selectively irradiate only the (opposite substrate) with a laser for cutting. As another method, there is a method using a rotary blade such as a dicer, a pushing blade or a cutting blade such as a Thomson blade, but this method also damages the substrate to be cut as well as the opposite substrate. Therefore, there is a problem that it is extremely difficult to cut only one of the opposing substrates.

  On the other hand, Patent Document 1 employs a method of providing an opening in advance in order to realize the above-described configuration in which the connection electrode 12a is exposed. As a result, an opening for exposing the connection electrode 12a is formed on the substrate facing the connection electrode 12 before the two substrates are bonded together via the inter-substrate gap securing member (partition wall). Therefore, it is not necessary to cut only one substrate after bonding the two substrates.

JP 2006-3761 A

  However, when a configuration in which openings are provided in advance on one substrate as described in Patent Document 1, if a large number of information display panels are manufactured using a large-sized substrate or a continuous long substrate, the openings When the substrate sheet having a large area is transported or bonded, the opening is provided, so that the substrate is easily deformed, and accurate alignment may not be achieved. In order to avoid this problem, it is necessary to manufacture not only a large number of information display panels but also one by one, which in turn causes a problem in productivity. In particular, if a flexible substrate is used, roll-to-roll production is possible. However, in the case of a flexible long substrate having an opening, the above-mentioned substrate deformation is possible. Becomes prominent, and there also arises a problem that roll-to-roll production is not possible.

  Therefore, in the present invention, even after two opposing substrates are bonded together, the substrate that is not the object to be cut is cut without cutting or damaging the connection electrode formed on this substrate. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for manufacturing an information display panel that can easily cut and remove only one of the substrate portions without causing the above problem.

In order to achieve the above object, a method for manufacturing an information display panel according to the present invention comprises:
At least one display region is transparent, and two substrates on which pixel electrodes are formed in the display region; an electrically drivable display medium disposed between the two substrates; and the two substrates A connection electrode provided on the outside of the display area on at least one of the substrates, and a manufacturing method of an information display panel comprising:
In cutting and removing the cut portion covering the connection electrode of the substrate on the side facing the connection electrode out of the two substrates,
Arranging a cutting rib between the two substrates corresponding to the position to be cut;
Removing the cut portion that has been cut and exposing the connection electrode;
It is characterized by including.

Here, the “display medium” refers to a medium that gives a display change to the observer. In addition, “electrically drivable display medium” refers to a case where the display medium moves by applying a voltage to opposing pixel electrode pairs provided on two substrates, for example, or between two substrates. The arranged liquid crystal or organic EL layer shall be said. When using a liquid crystal as a display medium, the phase state of the liquid crystal is changed. When using an organic EL layer as a display medium, these electrons are emitted by injecting electrons and holes into the organic EL layer. The information such as an image can be displayed by electrically driving each of them with a known method.
The “connection electrode” is an electrode drawn from a display pixel electrode provided in a display region of a substrate or an electrode drawn from a display pixel electrode, as will be described later. And an electrode connected to the driving device side at the other end.
Further, the “cutting portion covering the connection electrode” is a part of the substrate on the side facing the connection electrode, and a portion where the connection electrode and the region overlap when the information display panel is projected from the upper surface. Refers to a substrate containing

  In the present invention relating to the method for manufacturing an information display panel, it is preferable that the cutting step is a step of cutting the substrate on the side facing the connection electrode on the cutting rib.

  Further, in the present invention relating to the method for manufacturing an information display panel, the step of disposing the cutting rib includes a step of forming a plurality of cutting ribs to form a cutting rib space, and the cutting step. Is preferably a step of cutting the substrate on the side facing the connection electrode on the cutting rib space.

  In the present invention relating to the method for manufacturing an information display panel, the substrate facing the connection electrode is preferably a resin substrate.

  Further, in the present invention relating to the method for manufacturing an information display panel, the step of arranging the cutting rib is a step of forming and arranging the cutting rib on at least one of the two substrates. Preferably there is.

  Furthermore, in the present invention relating to the method for manufacturing an information display panel, the step of disposing the cutting rib is a step of forming the cutting rib simultaneously with the partition on a substrate provided with at least the partition. preferable.

  According to the method for manufacturing an information display panel of the present invention, even after two substrates are bonded together via an inter-substrate gap securing member (partition wall), the connection electrode is cut or damaged, or connected. Without cutting or damaging the substrate on which the connection electrode is formed, only the portion of the substrate facing the connection electrode can be easily cut and removed to leave the connection electrode exposed.

(A), (b) is a figure for demonstrating an example of the drive method of the information display panel produced with the manufacturing method of the information display panel of this invention, respectively. (A), (b) is a figure for demonstrating the other example of the drive method of the information display panel produced with the manufacturing method of the information display panel of this invention, respectively. (A), (b) is a figure for demonstrating the further another example of the drive method of the information display panel produced with the manufacturing method of the information display panel of this invention, respectively. (A) to (d) each show a process of obtaining one information display panel using two substrates, and an example of a basic method of forming a partition and an example of a method of exposing an electrode. It is a figure for demonstrating. (A) to (e) each show a process of obtaining a plurality of information display panels using two substrates configured for multi-piece fabrication, and a basic method of forming partition walls and electrodes It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the method of exposing. (A) to (d) each show a process of obtaining a plurality of information display panels using two substrates configured for multi-piece fabrication, and a basic method of forming partition walls and electrodes It is a figure for demonstrating the other example of the method of exposing. It is a figure which shows the 1st Example of the manufacturing method of the information display panel according to this invention. It is a figure which shows the 2nd Example of the manufacturing method of the information display panel according to this invention. It is a figure which shows the 3rd Example of the manufacturing method of the information display panel according to this invention. It is a figure which shows that the electrode for a connection is in the state exposed on the board | substrate so that it can connect with the drive device side.

  First, the configuration of the information display panel of the present invention will be described. However, the information display panel described below is an information display panel which is an example of the subject of the present invention using chargeable particles as a display medium, and the information display panel of the present invention is other than the following examples In addition, it should be noted that the present invention can be applied to an information display panel using another display medium such as liquid crystal or organic EL.

  In an information display panel using a particle group including an exemplary chargeable particle as a display medium, an electric field is applied to the particle group (display medium) including the chargeable particle sealed between two opposing substrates. Along with the applied electric field direction, the display medium is attracted by an electric field force or a Coulomb force, and the display medium is moved by a change in the electric field direction, whereby information such as an image is displayed. Therefore, it is necessary to design the information display panel so that the display medium can move uniformly and maintain the stability when the display information is rewritten or when the display information is continuously displayed. Here, as the force applied to the particles constituting the display medium, in addition to the force attracting each other by the Coulomb force between the particles, an electric mirror image force between the electrode and the substrate, an intermolecular force, a liquid crosslinking force, gravity, and the like can be considered.

  An example of driving an information display panel using the chargeable particles that are the subject of the present invention as a display medium will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 (a), (b) to 3 (a), (b).

  In the example shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b), at least two types of display media having different optical reflectivity and charging characteristics (here, they are configured as a particle group including particles having optical reflectivity and chargeability (here, A white display medium 3W configured as a particle group including the negatively charged white particles 3Wa and a black display medium 3B configured as a particle group including the positively charged black particles 3Ba) are also used as the inter-substrate gap securing member. In each cell formed by the functioning partition walls 4, a pixel electrode pair formed by the pixel (stripe) electrode 5 provided on the substrate 2 and the stripe pixel (stripe) electrode 5 provided on the substrate 1 intersecting each other at right angles. The passive matrix drive system is configured to move perpendicularly to the substrates 1 and 2 in accordance with the electric field generated by applying a voltage to the substrate. Then, the white display medium 3W is visually recognized by the observer as shown in FIG. 1A, or the black display medium 3B is visually recognized by the observer as shown in FIG. 1B. Are displayed in a matrix with black and white dots. In addition, in FIG. 1 (a), (b), the partition in front is abbreviate | omitted. Further, here, the pixels and the cells are made to correspond one-to-one. Furthermore, the color of the display medium is not necessarily limited to black and white, and any combination of colors may be used as long as they are different from each other.

  In the example shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, at least two types of display media having different optical reflectivity and charging characteristics (here, the particle group including particles having optical reflectivity and chargeability) A white display medium 3W configured as a particle group including the negatively charged white particles 3Wa and a black display medium 3B configured as a particle group including the positively charged black particles 3Ba) are also used as the inter-substrate gap securing member. In each cell formed by the functioning partition wall 4, the pixel electrode 5 (pixel electrode with TFT) provided on the substrate 1 and the pixel electrode 5 (common electrode) provided on the substrate 2 are formed to face each other. The active matrix driving system is configured to move perpendicularly to the substrates 1 and 2 in accordance with an electric field generated by applying a voltage to the pair. Then, the white display medium 3W is visually recognized by the observer as shown in FIG. 2A, or the white display is displayed by the observer, or the black display medium 3B is visually recognized by the observer as shown in FIG. 2B. Are displayed in a matrix with black and white dots. In addition, in FIG. 2 (a), (b), the partition in front is abbreviate | omitted. Further, here, the pixels and the cells are made to correspond one-to-one. Furthermore, the colors of the white display medium 3W and the black display medium 3B are not necessarily limited to black and white, and any combination of colors may be used as long as they are different from each other.

  Further, as in the example shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, a microcapsule in which particles having different optical reflectivity and charged polarity, which are composed of two kinds of chargeable particles, together with a transparent insulating liquid are sealed. Is arranged in a space facing the common electrode substrate on the observation side and the TFT substrate on the back side, and an electric field generated by a voltage applied to the counter electrode pair in units of pixels formed by the counter electrode pair, Dot matrix display is performed by active driving to move the particle group. In the example of FIGS. 3A and 3B, one microcapsule is arranged for each pixel electrode pair. However, the number of pixel electrode pairs, the number of microcapsules, the pixel size, and the microcapsule size correspond to each other. It may or may not correspond. Then, the particles in the microcapsule move in a direction perpendicular to the panel substrate, and display for each pixel, that is, dot display is performed. In such a configuration, an inter-substrate gap securing member (partition wall) is provided in a rib shape at least around the display area, and a microcapsule enclosing the display medium is accommodated and disposed inside the rib.

  Next, a basic method for forming the substrate of the information display panel, the electrodes, and a method for exposing the connection electrodes will be described with reference to an example shown in FIGS.

  First, as shown in FIG. 4A, on the first substrate 1 on the back side, for example, a first stripe electrode 10 made of a conductive metal film, a first lead line 11 and a second lead line are formed. Line 12 is formed by patterning at the same time.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 4B, indium tin oxide is placed at a position corresponding to at least the display region D (shown by a dotted line) of the second substrate 2 on the observation side, which is a transparent substrate. The second stripe electrode 13 composed of a transparent conductive film such as (ITO) is formed by patterning. At this time, the first stripe electrode 10 is formed when the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 are bonded to each other at a position corresponding to at least the display region D on the first substrate 1. 13 so as to be substantially orthogonal to 13. A portion where the two stripe electrodes intersect and overlap each other is a pixel, which is arranged in a matrix.

  The first lead line 11 is connected to the first stripe electrode 10 at a position outside the display area D on the first substrate 1 and led to one end face of the panel (part connected to the driving device side). Is formed. When the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 are bonded to each other at a position outside the display area D of the first substrate 1, the second lead line 12 is connected to the end of the second stripe electrode 13. It is formed at a position where the end of the second lead line 12 overlaps with the top and bottom.

  Thereafter, for example, as shown in FIG. 4C, an adhesive 14 (anisotropic conductive adhesive) containing conductive particles and having anisotropic conductivity is disposed outside the display region D, and the second The first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 are bonded together in a state where the end portion of the stripe electrode 13 and the end portion of the second lead line 12 are disposed so as to overlap each other. Thereafter, the second substrate 2 which is a transparent substrate is cut along the line L shown in FIG. 4C, and a part of the substrate 2 (in FIG. By removing the lower portion, as shown in FIG. 4D, an information display panel having a structure in which the connection electrodes 11a and 12a connected to the driving device side are exposed is obtained.

  In order to drive the information display panel shown in FIG. 4D, for example, the end 11a of the first lead line 11 and the end 12a ( A drive device (not shown here) including a drive power supply is electrically connected to the connection electrode in the present invention, and information is displayed on the display region D by supplying electricity. become.

In the example shown in FIGS. 4A to 4D, the case where one information display panel is manufactured using two substrates has been described. However, FIGS. 5A to 5D are used. It is also possible to assemble a plurality of information display panels at the same time by using two substrates (substrate 1 and substrate 2) configured for multi-cavity as shown in FIG.
In this case, after manufacturing the panel obtained by bonding the substrate 1 and the substrate 2 in the same manner as described above with reference to FIGS. 4A to 4C, the panel (mother panel) is formed along the broken line. By dividing (FIGS. 5A to 5C), a plurality of information display panels similar to those in FIG. 4C are obtained (FIG. 5D). Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 5E, the second substrate 2 which is a transparent substrate is cut along the line L, and a part of the substrate 2 is removed to connect to the driving device side. An information display panel having a structure in which the electrodes 11a and 12a are exposed is obtained.

In the example shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the connection electrode connected to the driving device side is pulled out from the first stripe electrode 10 on the first substrate, and the end portion 11a of the first lead wire 11 is drawn. The connection electrode connected to the driving device side is on the first substrate 1 as shown in FIGS. 6A to 6D. And it is good also as a structure arrange | positioned on each on the 2nd board | substrate 2. FIG.
In this case, similarly to the above, a panel (mother panel) obtained by bonding the substrate 1 and the substrate 2 is manufactured, and then the panel is divided along a broken line to obtain a plurality of information display panels. (FIGS. 6A to 6C). After that, as shown in FIG. 6D, a part of the substrate 2 is cut along the line L1 to expose the connection electrode 11a which is the end of the first stripe electrode, and the substrate along the line L2. A part of 1 is cut to expose the connection electrode 12a which is the end of the second stripe electrode.

  As described above, even when the information display panel is assembled for each substrate or when the information display panel is assembled using multiple substrates, the substrate 1 and the substrate 2 are substantially the same size. When both substrates are bonded together, the connection electrodes 11a and 12a connected to the driving device side are covered with the opposing substrate. Therefore, it is preferable to provide a space above the connection electrodes 11a and 12a because it is easy to connect the connection electronic circuit component to the drive device to the connection electrode. Therefore, a step of removing a part of the substrate covering the connection electrodes 11a and 12a and exposing the connection electrodes 11a and 12a is necessary.

  However, in order to remove a part of the substrate covering the electrodes 11a and 12a, for example, when a Thomson blade is pressed along the line L shown in FIGS. In the conventional method, even when only the target substrate is to be cut, the blade reaches the substrate side under the line L, and the connection electrode on the opposite substrate is cut or damaged. There was a risk of letting it go.

  Therefore, in the information display panel according to the present invention, the dummy rib (cutting rib) is used in various forms in the step of cutting the opposing substrate portion covering the connection electrode, so that one of the substrates and the substrate can be used. It is possible to easily cut only a part of the other substrate (on the side where the connection electrode is not formed) that covers the connection electrode without damaging the connection electrode or electric wires provided in It is characterized by that.

  In the following, for the sake of simplicity, a method of cutting a part of one substrate after the panel is formed will be described in detail using an example of the information display panel shown in FIG.

<Example 1>
FIG. 7 is a view for explaining a procedure for obtaining the information display panel according to the present invention, and is a view taken along the dotted line AA ′ shown in FIG. On the substrate 1, partition walls are formed in a lattice shape so that the cells and the pixels correspond one-to-one, and one cutting rib 6 is provided outside the display region D and inside the connection electrode 12 a. The form of Example 1 arrange | positioned is shown. In addition, for the sake of easy understanding, the dimensions are different from the actual dimensions, and this is only one step for manufacturing the information display panel of the present invention, and can be manufactured by other methods. Please note that.

First, a rib (hereinafter simply referred to as a rib for functioning as an inter-substrate gap securing member in a region corresponding to the display region D on the first substrate 1 on the back side and also serving as a partition for forming a cell space). (Referred to as “partition 4”). The partition 4 is constructed by a photolithographic method using a resist material, and can be a partition that surrounds the display area D and partitions the display area D into, for example, a lattice shape. As a specific forming material, a liquid resist material or a dry film resist material is preferable. As the dry film resist, for example, Alfo NIT2 (manufactured by Nichigo Morton) or PDF300 (manufactured by Nippon Steel Chemical Co., Ltd.) can be used. In addition, as a method for forming the partition walls, a mold transfer method, a screen printing method, a sand blast method, and an additive method can be used. Any of these methods can be suitably used for the information display panel of the present invention, and among these, a photolithography method using a resist material and a mold transfer method are suitably used.
The partition wall surrounding the display area D is preferably a continuous partition wall, but the partition wall provided in the display area D may not be continuous. In addition, a honeycomb shape or a mesh shape may be used instead of the lattice shape. The partition wall surrounding the display area D is preferably provided as an inter-substrate gap securing member.

  And in the manufacturing method of the information display panel of this Example 1, simultaneously with the construction of the partition walls 4 forming these cell spaces, from the location where the second substrate 2 is to be cut, that is, from the outer periphery and the electrode of the display area D The cutting rib 6 is constructed between the ends of the lead wires (here, 12a). This is because the number of man-hours can be reduced if the cutting ribs are formed at the same time when the partition walls are formed. The method for constructing the cutting rib 6 is the same as the method for constructing the partition wall 4. The cutting rib 6 and the partition 4 may be formed on either the substrate 1 or the substrate 2. When the cutting rib 6 and the partition wall 4 are formed on the same substrate side, both can be formed at the same time using the same technique. Further, the cutting rib 6 and the partition wall 4 may be formed on different substrate sides.

  When the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 are bonded to each other, the cutting rib 6 is provided between the end portion 12a of the lead line and the display region D in the horizontal cross section on the first substrate 1. It arrange | positions and it extends so that the straight line LL 'used as the cut surface of the 2nd board | substrate 2 may be straddled.

And the 1st board | substrate 1 and the 2nd board | substrate 2 are bonded together ensuring the space | interval (gap between board | substrates) of both board | substrates. The distance between the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 (inter-substrate gap) is only required to maintain the drive and contrast of the display medium, and is usually adjusted to 2 μm to 500 μm, preferably 5 μm to 200 μm. When the information display panel is a moving system in charged particle gas (including vacuum), the distance between the first substrate and the second substrate is adjusted in the range of 10 μm to 200 μm, preferably 10 μm to 100 μm. .
In addition, when bonding two board | substrates, you may bond together without arrange | positioning an adhesive agent on the cutting rib 6, and you may arrange | position an adhesive agent also on the cutting rib 6, and may bond together. .

  Thereafter, the second substrate 2 is cut along the straight line L-L ′. Examples of the method for cutting the substrate include pressing with a Thomson blade whose position is precisely controlled, cutting with a knife blade, laser, and ultrasonic cutting.

  When cutting the second substrate 2, according to the method of the first embodiment, the cutting rib 6 extends between the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2. Even if the blade used for cutting reaches a position deeper than the thickness of the second substrate 2, the blade contacts the cutting rib 6 and cuts only a part of the cutting rib 6. . On the other hand, since the blade penetrates the thickness of the second substrate 2, the second substrate 2 can be cut at a desired position along the straight line L-L ′.

  As described above, according to the method of the first embodiment, when a part of the substrate covering the connection electrode connected to the driving device side is cut and removed, the cutting rib is formed and the cutting rib is formed on the cutting rib. Since a cutting machine such as a blade or a laser is positioned on the cutting part, the cutting part is cut without damaging the connecting electrode or the board located opposite to the substrate part (cutting part) to be cut by the cutting machine. can do. Thereafter, by removing the cut portion, the connection electrode can be exposed to a state where it can be connected to the drive device side.

When the partition wall 4 and the cutting rib 6 are formed at the same time, the height of the cutting rib 6 is preferably the same as the height of the partition wall 4 provided as the inter-substrate gap securing member.
Further, when the partition 4 and the cutting rib 6 are separately formed and the flexibility of the substrate is small, the height of the partition 4 is preferably equal to or higher than the height of the cutting rib 6. . This is because if the height of the cutting rib 6 is increased, the substrate may be expanded so as to increase the gap between the substrates, and the partition wall and the substrate may not be favorably bonded. On the other hand, when the substrate has flexibility, the height of the partition walls 4 is preferably equal to or less than the height of the cutting ribs 6. Since there is no gap between the cutting rib 6 and the substrate, the cutting force by the blade does not escape from the blade, particularly when the substrate to be cut is cut off by the Thomson blade or by the knife blade. This is because it can be cut efficiently by sufficiently conveying the above. In any case, it is preferable to adjust the difference in height between the partition 4 and the cutting rib 6 to about 0 to 10 μm.

In the first embodiment, the cutting rib is formed on one of the substrates and disposed between the two substrates. However, the cutting rib is a substrate different from the substrate constituting the information display panel. It is also possible to cut the substrate by inserting it into the cutting position of one substrate between the two substrates after being formed and bonded. In this case, after performing the cutting step using a sheet having a gap thickness between the substrates as a substitute for the cutting rib 6, this sheet may be removed to obtain an information display panel.
In the first embodiment, the partition 4 and the cutting rib 6 are formed on the substrate 1. However, the partition 4 and the cutting rib 6 may be formed on the substrate 2. It should be noted that the cutting ribs formed on the substrate do not necessarily have to be bonded to the substrate, and may only be disposed on the substrate for cutting.

  In addition, when the cutting rib is formed on one of the substrates, it is preferable not to dispose an adhesive on the cutting rib when the other substrate is bonded. This is because, when an unnecessary portion (cut portion) of the substrate cut on the cutting rib is removed, a problem that a section formed by breaking a part of the cutting rib adheres to the panel as a foreign object is avoided. Therefore, it is preferable that the cutting ribs be formed on the respective substrates in the panel having the configuration in which the connection electrodes connected to the drive device side are arranged on the two adjacent sides.

<Example 2>
FIG. 8 is a view for explaining the form of Example 2 which is a modification of the method for manufacturing the information display panel of Example 1. Like FIG. 7, the cross-sectional view of the information display panel of the present invention is shown. Show.

In the second embodiment, when the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 are bonded together, the cutting rib 6 is connected to the end portion 12a of the lead line and the display area in the horizontal direction of the cross section on the first substrate 1. It differs from the configuration of the first embodiment in that it is positioned so as to be positioned between D and so as to sandwich a straight line LL ′ serving as a cut surface of the second substrate 2. That is, in FIG. 6 showing a cross section orthogonal to the cut surface, two cutting ribs 6a and 6b are arranged with the cut surface interposed therebetween. Therefore, although not shown here, for example, when the cutting ribs 6a and 6b extend in parallel with the cutting surface, two parallel cutting rib rows are arranged along the outer edge of the display region D. Is done.
Then, after the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 are bonded to each other with an interval (gap between the substrates) secured between the two substrates, the second substrate is taken along the line LL ′ indicating the cut surface. 2 is cut.

  When the second substrate 2 is cut in this way, the blade for cutting the second substrate 2 is in contrast to the second substrate 2 located on the space S formed by the cutting ribs 6a and 6b. Will be cut vertically. Therefore, since there is a space formed by the two cutting ribs 6a and 6b between the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2, the blade used for cutting the substrate is the second one. Even if it reaches a position deeper than the thickness of the substrate, the blade is positioned in the space S and does not contact anything. On the other hand, since the blade penetrates the thickness of the second substrate, the second substrate 2 is cut at a desired position along the straight line L-L ′.

  In addition, it is preferable that the space | interval of the two cutting ribs 6a and 6b is 50 micrometers-5000 micrometers, More preferably, they are 100 micrometers-1000 micrometers. If it is narrower than 50 μm, it is difficult to cut without bringing the blade into contact with the cutting rib due to the accuracy of alignment accuracy. If it is larger than 5000 μm, the substrate to be cut at the time of cutting is bent, and the substrate facing this This is because the connection electrode formed on the portion and connected to the driving device side is damaged.

As described above, if two cutting ribs are provided across the cutting surface and the blade is positioned on the space between the two cutting ribs, not only the first substrate, The connection electrode and the electric wire provided on the first substrate are not damaged by the blade, and the second substrate can be easily cut. In addition, according to the cutting method of the second embodiment, the cutting blade does not come into contact with the cutting ribs, so that no pieces of ribs due to the contact are generated. Therefore, when mounting an electronic circuit component for connection to the drive device side on the manufactured information display panel, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of a bad effect such as a fragment mixed into the connection portion to cause conduction failure.
Then, by removing the cut second substrate (cut portion) on the end portion of the lead line, the end portion (connecting electrode) of the lead line provided on the first substrate is removed. Then, it can be exposed to a state where it can be connected to the driving device side.

Here, an example in which a plurality of cutting ribs are formed on the substrate 1 and the cutting rib spaces are arranged between the two substrates has been described. However, the plurality of cutting ribs and the cutting rib spaces are used for information display. It may be formed on a substrate different from the substrate constituting the panel and prepared as a separate body. In this case, by arranging the cutting rib and the cutting rib space so as to be inserted between the two bonded substrates at a desired cutting position of one substrate, the arranged cutting rib and A part of the substrate to be cut can be cut using the cutting rib space.
As described above, the configuration is such that a cutting device such as a blade or a laser is positioned on the cutting rib or on the space between the cutting ribs, so that the facing electrode that covers the connecting electrode connected to the driving device side is covered. When cutting and removing a part of the substrate, the other substrate facing the substrate to be cut is not cut, or the connection electrodes and the substrate on the other substrate are not damaged, and these are protected. Can be cut. Then, by removing a part of the substrate covering the connection electrode connected to the drive device side, the connection electrode can be exposed to be connectable to the drive device side.

<Example 3>
FIG. 9 is a view for explaining the form of Example 3 which is a modification of the method for manufacturing the information display panel of Example 1. Like FIG. 7, a cross-sectional view of the information display panel of the present invention is shown. Show.

In Example 3, the cutting rib 6 is positioned between the lead line end 12a and the display region D when the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2 are bonded together, and Although it is the same as the configuration of the second embodiment in that the second substrate 2 is arranged so as to sandwich the straight line LL ′ that indicates the plane of the cut surface of the second substrate 2, many of the cutting ribs 6 are densely arranged. This is different from the configuration of the second embodiment. That is, in FIG. 7 showing a cross section orthogonal to the cut surface, not only the two cutting ribs 6a and 6b that sandwich the cutting surface, but also a plurality of cutting ribs (for example, FIG. 7) on both sides thereof. In the example shown in FIG. 6, cutting ribs 6c, 6d, 6e, 6f) are arranged.
Then, after the first substrate and the second substrate are bonded to each other while ensuring the distance between the two substrates (inter-substrate gap), the second substrate 2 is attached along the straight line LL ′ indicating the cut surface. Disconnect.

  When the second substrate 2 is cut in this way, there is a space S formed by the two cutting ribs 6a and 6b between the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2. Even if the blade used for cutting the substrate reaches a position deeper than the thickness of the second substrate 2, the blade is positioned in the space S and does not contact anything.

In other words, if such a configuration is adopted in which a plurality of cutting ribs are arranged in parallel to each other, the arrangement area of the cutting ribs increases, so even if the alignment accuracy of the cutting machine is rough, the tip of a blade or the like Can be guided to the cutting rib to position the cutting machine at the desired position.
Further, even when the cutting line is cut obliquely with respect to these cutting ribs, the tip of the blade or the like is guided to the space S by the cutting ribs as described above, and therefore along the straight line LL ′. The substrate can be cut at the desired position. Therefore, the contact between the blade and the cutting rib 6 and the occurrence of rib fragments caused by this can be suppressed, and it is possible to avoid the occurrence of adverse effects such as the occurrence of poor conduction due to the fragments mixed in the connecting portion during mounting.

  In this way, it is possible to cut only one substrate to be cut at a desired position without damaging the substrate facing the substrate to be cut or the connection electrodes on the substrate. Then, by removing the cut second substrate (cut portion) on the end portion of the lead line, the end portion (connecting electrode) of the lead line provided on the first substrate is removed. Then, it can be exposed to a state where it can be connected to the driving device side.

  After the first substrate and the second substrate are bonded together, the cutting substrate is used to cut the second substrate that covers the connection electrode as in the first to third embodiments. Even so, a part of the substrate covering the electrode for connection with the drive device side is cut at a desired position, and the electrode for connection with the drive device side which is an end portion of the lead line is exposed, and the drive device side An electronic circuit component for connecting to can be mounted.

  In the above embodiment, the back side substrate is the first substrate and the observation side substrate is the second substrate, and the connection electrodes are arranged on the first substrate, and the end portions of the lead lines from the connection electrodes are arranged. In order to expose, the configuration of the information display panel shown in FIG. 4 using the second substrate as the cutting target substrate has been described as an example. However, naturally, for example, as shown in FIGS. The arrangement of the ribs and the objects to be cut and exposed can be changed as appropriate according to the configuration of the information display panel.

  Next, each member constituting the information display panel formed by the above cutting method according to the present invention will be described.

  The substrate of the information display panel according to the present invention is a transparent substrate in which at least the display area of the substrate on the observation side can confirm the color of the display medium from the outside of the information display panel, and has a high visible light transmittance and A substrate made of a material having good heat resistance is preferable. The first substrate on the back side may be transparent or opaque.

  As the substrate, for example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), polyethersulfone (PES), polyethylene (PE), polycarbonate (PC), polyimide (PI), acrylic resin substrate, An insulating coated metal substrate, glass substrate, or the like can be used. Any substrate material may be used as long as it can be cut by a blade, laser processing, or ultrasonic processing. The thickness of the substrate is preferably in the range of 25 μm to 1000 μm, more preferably in order to facilitate cutting, but if the thickness is too thin, the handleability in the manufacturing process deteriorates. Is in the range of 25 μm to 500 μm.

Examples of materials for forming electrodes and conductive films include metals such as aluminum, silver, nickel, copper, and gold, indium tin oxide (ITO), indium zinc oxide (IZO), aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO), indium oxide, conductive Examples include conductive metal oxides such as conductive tin oxide, antimony tin oxide (ATO), and conductive zinc oxide, and conductive polymers such as polythiophene including polyaniline, polypyrrole, PEDOT / PSS, etc. Used. As a method for forming an electrode or a conductive film, a method of patterning the above-exemplified materials into a thin film by a sputtering method, a vacuum deposition method, a CVD (chemical vapor deposition) method, a coating method, or the like, a metal foil (for example, a rolled copper foil) Or a method of patterning by mixing a conductive agent with a solvent or a synthetic resin binder and applying it. The electrodes and the conductive film provided in the display area of the observation side substrate need to be transparent, but the electrodes and the conductive film provided outside the back side substrate and the display area do not need to be transparent. In any case, the above-mentioned material that is conductive and capable of pattern formation can be suitably used. In addition, the thickness of an electrode or an electrically conductive film is determined in view of electrical conductivity and light transmittance, and is 0.01 μm to 10 μm, preferably 0.05 μm to 5 μm.
In addition, since a metal oxide-based transparent material such as ITO suitable as a conductive film provided in the display region of the observation-side substrate is less flexible than a metal material, particularly when the transparent conductive film is in a line shape In order to prevent disconnection in a metal oxide material, it is preferable to use a thin metal wire in combination. The width of the fine metal wire provided in the display region of the observation side substrate is preferably 1 μm to 10 μm so as not to disturb display.
With respect to the material and thickness of the conductive film provided outside the back side substrate and the display region, it is not necessary to consider light transmittance. Therefore, it is preferable to use a metal material as described above that has low electrical resistance and excellent flexibility.

  When charging particles are used as the display medium of the information display panel, the charging particles (hereinafter also referred to as particles) have an average particle diameter d (0.5) in the range of 1 μm to 20 μm and are uniform. It is preferable. If the average particle diameter d (0.5) is larger than this range, the display is not clear. If the average particle diameter d (0.5) is smaller than this range, the cohesive force between the particles becomes too large, which hinders movement as a display medium.

Furthermore, regarding the particle size distribution, the particle size distribution Span represented by the following formula is less than 5, preferably less than 3.
Span = (d (0.9) −d (0.1)) / d (0.5)
(However, d (0.5) is a numerical value expressing the particle diameter in μm that 50% of the particles are larger than this and 50% is smaller than this, and d (0.1) is a particle in which the ratio of the smaller particles is 10%. (Numerical value expressed in μm, and d (0.9) is a numerical value expressed in μm for a particle diameter of 90% or less.)
By keeping Span within a range of 5 or less, the size of the chargeable particles is uniform, and movement as a uniform display medium becomes possible.

  Furthermore, when two types of chargeable particles having different charge polarities are used as the display medium, the average particle diameter d () is larger than the average particle diameter d (0.5) of the chargeable particles having a large average particle diameter d (0.5). It is important that the ratio of the average particle diameter d (0.5) of the charging particles having a small 0.5) is 10 or less. Even if the particle size distribution Span is reduced, the chargeable particles having different charge polarities move. Therefore, it is preferable because the particle size can be easily moved as a display medium by making the particle sizes of each other comparable. Is in this range.

The particle size distribution and the particle size can be obtained from a laser diffraction / scattering method or the like. When laser light is irradiated onto particles to be measured, a light intensity distribution pattern of diffracted / scattered light is spatially generated, and this light intensity pattern has a corresponding relationship with the particle diameter, so that the particle diameter and particle diameter distribution can be measured. .
Here, the particle size and the particle size distribution are obtained from a volume-based distribution. Specifically, using a Mastersizer2000 (Malvern Instruments Ltd.) measuring instrument, particles are introduced into a nitrogen stream, and the attached analysis software (software based on volume-based distribution using Mie theory) The diameter and particle size distribution can be measured.

Furthermore, when a display medium configured as a particle group including a chargeable particle is driven in a gas (including a vacuum) space, the gas in the gap surrounding the display medium between panel substrates can be managed. It is important and contributes to improved display stability. Specifically, it is important that the relative humidity at 25 ° C. is 60% RH or less, and preferably 50% RH or less for the humidity of the gas in the gap.
1A, 1B, 2A, and 2B, the gap portion is defined as a pixel electrode 5, 5 (the electrode is connected to the substrate) from a portion sandwiched between the opposing substrate 1 and substrate 2. ), The gas portion in contact with the so-called display medium excluding the occupied portion of the display medium 3, the occupied portion of the partition wall 4, and the seal portion of the panel.
The gas in the gap is not limited as long as it is in the humidity region described above, but dry air, dry nitrogen, dry argon, dry helium, dry carbon dioxide, dry methane, and the like are preferable. This gas needs to be sealed in the panel so that the humidity is maintained. For example, the display medium is filled and the panel is assembled in a predetermined humidity environment. It is important to apply a sealing material and a sealing method to prevent it.

Further, the volume occupancy of the display medium in the gas (including vacuum) space between the substrates is preferably 5 to 70%, and more preferably 5 to 60%. When it exceeds 70%, the movement of particles as a display medium is hindered, and when it is less than 5%, the contrast tends to be unclear.
Although there is a system in which the charged particles are moved and displayed, the charged particles are sealed in a cell together with an insulating liquid. However, the present invention can also be applied to an information display panel of such a system.

  Information display panels manufactured by applying the present invention include notebook computers, electronic notebooks, portable information devices called PDA (Personal Digital Assistants), display units of mobile devices such as mobile phones and handy terminals, electronic books, electronic Electronic paper such as newspapers, signboards, posters, bulletin boards such as blackboards (whiteboards), electronic desk calculators, display units for home appliances, automobile supplies, card display units such as point cards and IC cards, electronic advertisements, information boards, In addition to electronic POP (Point Of Presence, Point Of Purchase advertising), electronic price tags, electronic shelf labels, electronic musical scores, RF-ID device display units, POS terminals, car navigation devices, display units of various electronic devices such as watches In addition to being used suitably, it is used as an information display panel that is connected to an external rewriting device (drive device) and rewrites display information. The

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 1st (back side) board | substrate 2 2nd (observation side) board | substrate 3W White display medium 3Wa White negatively charged particle 3B Black display medium 3Ba Black positively charged particle 4 Bulkhead 5 Pixel electrode 6 Cutting rib DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 1st stripe electrode 11 1st lead-out line 11a Electrode for connection with drive device side 12 2nd lead-out line 12a Electrode for connection with drive device side 13 2nd stripe electrode 14 Adhesive 20 Lead-out line D Display Region S Space

Claims (6)

At least one display region is transparent, and two substrates on which pixel electrodes are formed in the display region; an electrically drivable display medium disposed between the two substrates; and the two substrates A connection electrode provided on the outside of the display area on at least one of the substrates, and a manufacturing method of an information display panel comprising:
In cutting and removing the cut portion covering the connection electrode of the substrate on the side facing the connection electrode out of the two substrates,
Arranging a cutting rib between the two substrates corresponding to the position to be cut;
Removing the cut portion that has been cut and exposing the connection electrode;
A method for manufacturing an information display panel.   2. The method for manufacturing an information display panel according to claim 1, wherein the cutting step is a step of cutting a substrate facing the connection electrode on the cutting rib. 3. The step of disposing the cutting rib includes a step of forming a plurality of cutting ribs to form a cutting rib space,
The method for manufacturing an information display panel according to claim 1, wherein the cutting step is a step of cutting the substrate on the side facing the connection electrode on the cutting rib space.   The method for manufacturing the information display panel according to claim 1, wherein the substrate on the side facing the connection electrode is a resin substrate.   The step of disposing the cutting rib is a step of forming and disposing the cutting rib on at least one of the two substrates. Manufacturing method of information display panel.   6. The method for manufacturing an information display panel according to claim 5, wherein the step of disposing the cutting rib is a step of forming a cutting rib simultaneously with the partition on a substrate provided with at least the partition.

Images