JP2014170188A - Reflection type display apparatus and manufacturing method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

A reflective display device and a method of manufacturing the reflective display device in which air is confined in a cell located in a display region of the display device and bubbles are formed are suppressed.
A display medium containing at least one kind of electrically responsive material is sealed between two opposing substrates, at least one of which is transparent and on which electrodes are formed, and the two substrates are disposed between the two substrates. A reflective display device in which the display medium performs a predetermined display when a predetermined electric field is applied thereto, and includes a display area used for a predetermined display of the one substrate on one substrate. A first partition arranged in a region in a first pattern so as to partition a plurality of partitioning portions partially communicating with each other in the first notch, and on the first partition and in the first notch And an adhesive disposed on the surface.
[Selection] Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a reflective display device applied to electronic paper or the like and a method for manufacturing the same.

  Recently, as a reflective display device, an electrophoretic display device using an electrophoretic material as an electroresponsive material contained in a display medium has been widely used. An electrophoretic display device is a device that displays information by using electrophoretic migration, that is, particle movement, of an electrophoretic body (usually electrophoretic particles) in air or in a solvent. In general, an electrophoretic state is controlled by applying an electric field between two substrates, thereby realizing a desired display. As the electrophoretic body, charged powder as well as charged particles can be used. In that case, the charged powder electrophoreses in the gas.

  In recent years, the electrophoretic display device has attracted attention especially as an electronic paper. When applied as an electronic paper, it is possible to enjoy advantages such as visibility at the printed matter level (easy for eyes), ease of information rewriting, low power consumption, and light weight.

  However, in an electrophoretic display device, display defects, particularly display unevenness, may occur due to sedimentation or uneven distribution of particles or powder. In order to prevent this phenomenon, it is used to form partition walls between the upper and lower electrode substrates and divide the migration space of the particles and powder to be electrophoresed, that is, the movement space into minute spaces. This minute space is called a cell. In each cell, ink or gas (display medium) containing an electrophoretic body is enclosed.

  The partition wall is held between the opposing substrates by being bonded to the substrate via the adhesive layer. For example, Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-202245) discloses a method of forming an adhesive layer on such a partition wall.

  Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2009-251215) and Patent Document 3 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-26705) disclose conventional examples of partition walls constituting a cell for enclosing a display medium. .

JP-A-2005-202245 JP 2009-251215 A JP 2008-26705 A

  By the way, if bubbles exist in the cell, or if moisture, oxygen, or the like enters the display medium sealed in the cell from the outside and the properties of the display medium change, the display quality of the reflective display device deteriorates. However, the inventor of the present invention has obtained the following knowledge while earnestly researching this problem.

  First, in order to prevent the display medium from moving between cells and causing display unevenness, the top surface of the partition formed on one substrate is bonded to the other substrate with an adhesive. At that time, as shown in FIG. 15, there is a problem that air existing between the display medium and the other substrate is confined in the cell and bubbles are formed in the cell.

  For this reason, in order to prevent bubbles from being formed in the cell, a partition substrate is disposed while a display medium exceeding the cell volume is disposed in the cell, and an excess display medium exceeding the cell volume overflows from the cell. And the other electrode substrate are used. However, in this case, if the amount of the display medium overflowing from the cell is too large, the amount of the display medium remaining on the adhesive on the partition wall also increases. As a result, there is a problem that the adhesion between the adhesive and the other substrate is hindered by the display medium, and the adhesive strength does not exceed a desired level.

  The present invention has been made based on such circumstances, and its purpose is a reflection type in which air is confined in a cell located in a display area of a display device and bubbles are formed. The object is to provide a display device and a method of manufacturing a reflective display device.

  In the present invention, a display medium containing at least one or more kinds of electrically responsive materials is sealed between two opposing substrates, at least one of which is transparent and on which an electrode is formed, between the two substrates. A reflective display device in which the display medium performs a predetermined display when a predetermined electric field is applied thereto, and includes a display area used for a predetermined display of the one substrate on one substrate. A first partition disposed in a region in a first pattern that partitions a plurality of partition portions that are partially in communication with each other in the first notch, and disposed on the first partition and in the first notch An adhesive material, a display medium disposed in each region surrounded by the first partition and the adhesive, and the other substrate adhered to the adhesive disposed on the first partition. And a reflection type display device.

  According to the present invention, the first partition arranged so as to divide a plurality of partition parts in the display area is provided with a first notch so that the partition parts partially communicate with each other. For this reason, the top surface of the first partition and the other substrate are bonded to each other while letting the air existing between the display medium in the partition and the other substrate escape through the first notch. As a result, it is suppressed that air is confined in the partition and bubbles are formed. In addition, even when the top surface of the first partition and the other substrate are bonded in a state where the surplus display medium is disposed in the partition part, at least a part of the surplus display medium exceeding the capacity of the partition part is Since it is escaped from the partition part through the first notch part, the amount of the display medium that escapes from the partition part over the adhesive of the first partition is reduced. As a result, the occurrence of poor adhesion between the adhesive and the other substrate is suppressed.

  Preferably, the first notch portion is provided in a region where three or more partition portions are adjacent to each other. In this case, since the first notch is surrounded by the partition walls at least on three sides, the adhesive can be supplied to the first notch from at least three directions. For this reason, the adhesive material arrange | positioned at the top face of the 1st partition is pushed into at least 3 sides to the 1st notch part, and can block a division effectively.

  Preferably, the reflective display device is disposed between the one substrate and the other substrate so as to surround the first region, and the first region together with the one substrate and the other substrate. A sealing member for sealing the upper space is further provided. In this case, it is possible to prevent moisture, oxygen, and the like from entering the partition portion arranged in the display area from the outside.

  In a preferred embodiment, the reflective display device includes a second area partially surrounding each other in a second area including at least a part of the area around the first area and not used for predetermined display of the one substrate. It further includes a second partition wall arranged in a second pattern so as to partition a plurality of partition portions communicating with each other in the notch portion. In this case, since the second partition wall is provided with the second notch, the second partition wall has few continuous portions or is discontinuous. As a result, even if the sealing member is disposed in the region where the second partition wall is disposed, moisture, oxygen, or the like can enter the partition portion disposed in the display area via the second partition wall from the outside of the display region. It is suppressed.

  Preferably, the first pattern and the second pattern are configured by a common unit pattern. In this case, the partition wall can be easily formed. Further, when the top surface of the partition of one substrate and the other substrate are bonded, it is easy to align the partition and the other substrate.

  Preferably, the adhesive is a moisture-proof resin. In this case, it is possible to prevent moisture from entering the partition portion arranged in the display area via the adhesive from the outside of the display area.

  Alternatively, in the present invention, a display medium containing at least one kind of electrically responsive material is sealed between two opposing substrates, at least one of which is transparent and on which an electrode is formed, A method of manufacturing a reflective display device in which a predetermined display is performed by a display medium when a predetermined electric field is applied between substrates, and used for a predetermined display on the one substrate on one substrate A partition formation step of forming a first partition in a first pattern that partitions a plurality of partitions that are partially connected to each other at the first notch in the first region including the display region to be displayed; An adhesive material disposing step of disposing an adhesive material on one partition, a display medium disposing step of disposing the display medium in each partition section surrounded by the first partition, and after the display medium is disposed, Adhesion placed on the first bulkhead The adhesive is disposed on the first partition so that the display medium is sealed in each region surrounded by the first partition and the adhesive while pressing the first notch into the first notch. And a counter substrate bonding step for bonding the other substrate to the reflective substrate.

  According to the present invention, the first partition arranged so as to divide a plurality of partition parts in the display area is provided with a first notch so that the partition parts partially communicate with each other. For this reason, the top surface of the first partition and the other substrate are bonded to each other while letting the air existing between the display medium in the partition and the other substrate escape through the first notch. As a result, it is suppressed that air is confined in the partition and bubbles are formed. In addition, even when the top surface of the first partition and the other substrate are bonded in a state where the surplus display medium is disposed in the partition part, at least a part of the surplus display medium exceeding the capacity of the partition part is Since it is escaped from the partition part through the first notch part, the amount of the display medium that escapes from the partition part over the adhesive of the first partition is reduced. As a result, the occurrence of poor adhesion between the adhesive and the other substrate is suppressed.

  Preferably, the first notch portion is provided in a region where three or more partition portions are adjacent to each other. In this case, since the first notch is surrounded by the partition walls at least on three sides, the adhesive can be supplied to the first notch from at least three directions. For this reason, the adhesive material arrange | positioned at the top face of the 1st partition is pushed into at least 3 sides to the 1st notch part, and can block a division effectively.

  Preferably, the manufacturing method of the reflective display device is disposed between the one substrate and the other substrate so as to surround the first region, together with the one substrate and the other substrate, A sealing member arranging step of arranging a sealing member that seals the space on the first region is further provided. In this case, it is possible to prevent moisture, oxygen, and the like from entering the partition portion arranged in the display area from the outside.

  Preferably, in the partition formation step, a second notch is partially formed in a second area including at least a part of the area around the first area and not used for predetermined display of the one substrate. The second partition wall is formed in a second pattern that partitions a plurality of partition portions communicating with each other. In this case, since the second partition wall is provided with the second notch, the second partition wall has few continuous portions or is discontinuous. As a result, even if the sealing member is disposed in the region where the second partition wall is disposed, moisture, oxygen, or the like can enter the partition portion disposed in the display area via the second partition wall from the outside of the display region. It is suppressed.

  Preferably, the first pattern and the second pattern are configured by a common unit pattern. In this case, the partition wall can be easily formed. When the top surface of the partition of one substrate and the other substrate are bonded, it is easy to align the partition and the other substrate.

  Preferably, the adhesive is a moisture-proof resin. In this case, it is possible to prevent moisture from entering the partition portion arranged in the display area via the adhesive from the outside of the display area.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the reflection type display apparatus which suppressed that air was confine | sealed in the cell located in a display area, and a bubble was formed, and the manufacturing method of a reflection type display apparatus can be provided.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart schematically showing a manufacturing method of a reflective display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the partition wall forming step. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a relationship among a region where a first pattern partition is formed, a display region, a region where a second pattern partition is formed, and an outer periphery according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. Specifically, in FIG. 3A, the same display area as the area where the first pattern barrier ribs are formed is shown as a hatched portion, and in FIG. 3B, the second pattern barrier ribs are formed. The display area that is the same as the display area is indicated by the hatched portion. FIG. 4 is a plan view schematically showing an example of the first pattern and the second pattern according to the embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, FIG. 4A is a diagram showing the first lattice-like pattern and the second pattern as a whole having notches, and FIG. 4B is the first honeycomb-like pattern as a whole having notches. It is a figure which shows a 2nd pattern, and FIG.4 (c) is a figure which has a notch part and is a grid | lattice form as a whole, but shows a mutually different 1st pattern and 2nd pattern. FIG. 5 is a plan view schematically showing details of the shape of the notch according to the embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, FIG. 5A is a diagram showing a square cutout as a whole, and FIG. 5B is a diagram showing a cross-shaped cutout as a whole. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the definition of the width of the top surface of the partition wall. FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the adhesive layer forming step. FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the display medium arranging step. FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the counter substrate bonding step. FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing how the adhesive on the partition wall is arranged in the notch in the counter substrate bonding step. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an arrangement relationship among a partition wall having a notch, an adhesive, and a sealing member in the display device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, FIG. 11A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line aa of FIG. 4A of the display device having the first partition and the second partition having the pattern shown in FIG. ) Is a cross-sectional view taken along line bb of FIG. 4A of a display device having a first partition and a second partition having the pattern shown in FIG. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an arrangement relationship between a partition wall having a notch, an adhesive, and a sealing member in a display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, FIG. 12A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line aa in FIG. 4A of the display device having the first partition and the second partition having the pattern shown in FIG. ) Is a cross-sectional view taken along line bb of FIG. 4C of a display device having a first partition and a second partition having the pattern shown in FIG. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an arrangement relationship between a partition wall having a notch, an adhesive, and a sealing member in a display device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Specifically, FIG. 13A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line aa of FIG. 4A of the display device having the first partition and the second partition having the pattern shown in FIG. ) Is a cross-sectional view taken along line bb of FIG. 4A of a display device having a first partition and a second partition having the pattern shown in FIG. FIG. 14 is a plan view schematically showing an example of a partition pattern according to a comparative example of the present invention. Specifically, FIG. 14A is a plan view showing a continuous lattice pattern as a whole, and FIG. 14B shows an adhesive and the other substrate arranged on the partition wall shown in FIG. FIG. 14A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line cc of FIG. 14A in a state where FIG. 14C is a state in which the adhesive and the other substrate are arranged on the partition wall illustrated in FIG. FIG. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating how bubbles are formed in a cell in a display device having barrier ribs formed in a continuous pattern shown in FIG. 15. FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining the manufacturing conditions and evaluation results of the display devices of the examples and comparative examples of the present invention.

  In FIGS. 1 to 16, electrodes are provided on each surface of one substrate 11 and the other substrate 16, but illustration of these electrodes is omitted. In the present embodiment, one substrate 11 is disposed on the viewing side, and the other substrate 16 is disposed on the non-viewing side.

  As one substrate 11, transparent film such as polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethersulfone (PES), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), transparent glass, indium tin oxide (ITO), zinc oxide What attached | subjected transparent electrodes, such as (ZnO), can typically be used. In the present embodiment, one substrate 11 is shown as an example arranged on the viewing side.

  The transparent electrode can be formed by a coating method, a vapor deposition method, or the like. Since the transparent electrode is used as a common electrode in the case of active matrix driving and segment driving, it is not always necessary to form a pattern, and the entire surface of the substrate may be an electrode. On the other hand, in the case of passive matrix driving, since both opposing substrates need to be pattern electrodes, the transparent electrode is also formed in a pattern such as a stripe.

  The electrode pattern can be formed by a photolithography method, a laser drawing method, an ink jet method, a screen printing method, a flexographic printing method, or the like.

  The thickness of one substrate 11 is preferably 10 μm to 1 mm. If it is thinner than 10 μm, the strength as a panel cannot be obtained and the risk of breakage increases. On the other hand, if it is thicker than 1 mm, the panel weight becomes too heavy and the handling becomes inconvenient and the cost also increases. Because. A suitable thickness range that is difficult to break and easy to handle is about 50 μm to 700 μm.

  The surface of one substrate 11 may be subjected to an oxidation preventing process by a plating process. Further, a barrier layer may be provided on the back surface (outside) of one substrate 11. The function of the barrier layer is to prevent display deterioration caused by the ink adsorbing moisture. In the present embodiment, when the barrier layer is provided on one substrate disposed on the viewing side, the barrier layer needs to be transparent and can be obtained by depositing an inorganic film. Or the film in which the barrier layer was previously formed may be bonded together.

  One substrate 11 can be applied in either a roll shape or a sheet shape.

  As the other board | substrate 16, what formed the electrode by electroconductive materials, such as a metal, on the surface, such as a resin film, a resin board, glass, epoxy glass (glass epoxy), may be used. The other substrate 16 may be a light transmissive base material. Furthermore, it may be a light-transmitting and opaque substrate, such as an opaque glass substrate, resin film, resin plate, glass, epoxy glass (glass epoxy) with the other surface different from the electrode surface roughened. Can be used. In the present embodiment, the other substrate 16 is disposed at a position opposite to the viewing side, and thus is not necessarily transparent. However, when the same physical properties as the one substrate 11 such as thermal expansion characteristics are required, a transparent member similar to the one substrate 11 can be used. However, as the other substrate 16, like the one substrate 11, a transparent film such as polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethersulfone (PES), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), or transparent glass, You may use what attached | subjected transparent electrodes, such as indium tin oxide (ITO) and zinc oxide (ZnO).

  As the electrode, a pattern electrode is used in the case of segment drive and passive matrix drive, and a pixel electrode in which a TFT (Thin Film Transistor) is arranged in the case of active matrix drive.

  The thickness of the other substrate 16 is preferably 10 μm to 1 mm, similarly to the thickness of the one substrate 11. If it is thinner than 10 μm, the strength as a panel cannot be obtained and the risk of breakage increases. On the other hand, if it is thicker than 1 mm, the panel weight becomes too heavy and the handling becomes inconvenient and the cost also increases. Because. A suitable thickness range that is difficult to break and easy to handle is about 50 μm to 700 μm.

  Further functional layers can be added to the other substrate 16. For example, a barrier film can be attached to the surface of the other substrate 16. Even if a transparent film in which a barrier layer of a transparent inorganic film is previously formed by vapor deposition or the like is employed as the other substrate 16, the same function as this can be exhibited. Alternatively, an ultraviolet cut film can be attached to the surface of the other substrate 16. Even if the other substrate 16 is subjected to other ultraviolet cut processing, the same function can be exhibited. As other surface coat layers, an AG layer (antiglare layer), an HC layer (scratch prevention layer), an AR layer (antireflection layer) and the like can be added.

  The other substrate 16 can be applied in either a roll shape or a sheet shape.

<Method for manufacturing reflective display device>
FIG. 1 is a flowchart schematically showing a manufacturing method of a reflective display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the partition wall forming step. As shown in FIG. 2, first, a partition wall having a predetermined pattern is formed on the upper surface of one substrate 11 generally placed in a horizontal direction by, for example, photolithography (exposure by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation → development → firing). 12 is formed. The partition wall 12 is a member that partitions a plurality of partition portions that partially communicate with each other in the cutout portion in the region including the display region 60. In the specification and claims of the present application, the meaning of the term “a plurality of compartments partially communicating with each other in the notch” means “almost surrounded by the partition wall but open in the notch”. This means "a plurality of compartments that are connected to each other". The communication between the partition portions by the cutout portions is blocked by the adhesive material 12 being placed in the cutout portions in the counter substrate placement step described later. And each area | region enclosed with the partition 12 and the adhesive material arrange | positioned in a notch part functions as a cell. Here, the “cell” means a minute particle or powder that is formed between the upper and lower electrode substrates to prevent display defects due to sedimentation or uneven distribution of particles or powder, in particular, display unevenness. It means a simple electrophoretic space, that is, a moving space.

  The partition wall 12 can be composed of an ultraviolet curable resin, a thermosetting resin, a room temperature curable resin, or the like. As a method for forming the partition wall 12, a mold transfer method such as embossing can be adopted in addition to the photolithography method. Furthermore, a method of manufacturing a structure having a desired pattern as the partition wall 12 and attaching the structure to the one substrate 11 may be employed.

  The partition 12 is formed in a first pattern in a region including the display region 60 (hereinafter referred to as “first region”), and is at least a region around the first region and not used for desired display of one substrate. A region including a part (hereinafter referred to as “second region”) is formed in a second pattern. In the present embodiment, the first area and the display area 60, and the second area and the outer peripheral portion 70 coincide with each other as shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b).

  In the specification and claims of the present application, the meaning of the term “(first) region including the display region” means only “the first region including the display region (first) region”. In addition, the meaning of “(first) area that matches the display area” as shown in FIG. 3 is also included.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4A, the first pattern and the second pattern are configured by a common unit pattern that forms a lattice shape as a whole. However, the first pattern and the second pattern may be different patterns, and the outer peripheral portion 70 may not have a partition wall. The “unit pattern” of the partition wall 12 is a minimum pattern (a rectangular pattern in the case of FIG. 4A) constituting the entire pattern (a grid pattern in the case of FIG. 4A). 1), and the minimum pattern group is simply arranged periodically with a predetermined interval and a predetermined positional relationship to form a whole pattern (in the case of FIG. 4A, a lattice-like pattern). Pattern) is a group of minimum patterns that can be formed. Specifically, the unit pattern in the case of FIG. 4A is one rectangular pattern arranged in the vertical direction of FIG. 4A and 1 arranged in the horizontal direction adjacent to the rectangular pattern. Consists of two rectangular patterns.

  Further, the partition walls of the first pattern and the second pattern are provided with cutout portions 62 and 63, respectively, and the plurality of partition portions communicate with each other at the cutout portions. In addition, in order to prevent moisture, oxygen, and the like from entering the display region 60 from the outside through the partition wall 12 and the adhesive layer 22, the first pattern partition wall 121 and the second pattern partition wall 122 are continuous. Absent.

  The width of the top face of the first pattern partition wall 121 is 9 μm to 50 μm, preferably 9 μm to 20 μm. 9 μm is the lower limit of the line width at which the partition wall 12 can be patterned without falling down. When the width of the top surface of the partition wall 12 is less than 9 μm, in a pattern in which the length of the partition wall 12 is 60 μm or more, at least a part of the partition wall 12 falls, peels off, or the separated partition wall 12 moves over the substrate. Or move. In that case, the function of preventing the movement of particles by the partition wall 12 is lost, and the display quality is deteriorated. On the other hand, the upper limit of 50 μm, which is the upper limit of the preferred range, is an upper limit at which the partition wall 12 is not too conspicuous when visually observed.

  The definition of the width of the top surface of the partition wall 12 is shown in FIG. If the corners of the top surface are not rounded, the width of the top surface is defined as it is, as shown in FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b). On the other hand, when the corner of the top surface is rounded, it is understood as the width between the intersection lines of the extended surface of the top surface and the extended surface of the wall surface as shown in FIG. 6 (c) and FIG. 6 (d). The As a measuring method for evaluation, one substrate 11 on which the partition wall 12 was formed was cut out by a microtome (manufactured by Daiwa Koki Kogyo Co., Ltd .: FX-801), embedded in a curable resin, Each width can be measured based on an image taken with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) after polishing until the observation position is exposed.

  On the other hand, the width of the top surface of the partition wall 122 of the second pattern is 5 μm to 200 μm, preferably 10 μm to 100 μm. In the case where the width of the top surface of the partition wall 122 is less than 5 μm, even if the length of the partition wall 122 is short, a part of the partition wall 122 falls or peels off, or the separated partition wall 122 moves on the substrate.

The length _{L a} of the partition wall 121 and the second pattern of the partition wall 122 of the first pattern, as shown in FIG. 5 (a), and preferably about 50 microns and 500 microns. In particular, when the length of the partition 121 of the first pattern is 50 μm or less, the number of partition portions in the display region 60 is too large, and as a result, the ratio of the partition area to the opening area increases and the aperture ratio is increased. Will go down. The decrease in the aperture ratio has an adverse effect on display characteristics such as a decrease in contrast in the display panel. On the other hand, when the length of the partition 121 of the first pattern is 500 μm or more, the size of the partition portion is too large, and as a result, communication between the partition portions is blocked in the counter substrate placement step described later. The size of the formed cell is too large. An excessively large cell cannot sufficiently function as a cell, that is, a function of preventing display defects such as display unevenness due to sedimentation or uneven distribution of particles or powder, and suppresses display deterioration. It is not possible to achieve the effect.

  The shape of the first pattern 121 arranged in the display area 60 may be a honeycomb shape (hexagonal shape) as a whole as shown in FIG. 4B, or may be other polygons or circles. Is basically arbitrary. Further, the first pattern does not have to be a periodic pattern, and may be a non-periodic pattern. The aperture ratio is preferably 70% or more, and particularly preferably 90% or more. The higher the aperture ratio, the wider the displayable area, so that high contrast can be obtained.

  Further, the shape of the second pattern is basically arbitrary, and may be a honeycomb shape (hexagonal shape) as shown in FIG. 4B, or may be other polygons or circles. Is basically arbitrary. The first pattern need not be a periodic pattern, and may be a non-periodic pattern.

  The thickness of the partition wall 12 is 5 to 50 μm, preferably 10 to 50 μm. If the thickness is 5 μm or less, the amount of ink to be filled is small and sufficient display characteristics, particularly contrast, cannot be obtained. From the viewpoint that good display characteristics can be obtained at a low driving voltage, a thickness in the range of 10 to 50 μm is preferable.

  The size of the partition portion depends on the size of the display panel, but is 0.05 to 1 mm pitch, preferably 0.1 to 0.5 mm pitch. Here, the pitch means a distance between the center points of adjacent partition portions, that is, a distance necessary to move adjacent partition portions so as to overlap each other.

  The first pattern partition 121 is provided with a notch 62 so that adjacent partition sections partitioned by the partition 121 communicate with each other. In the present embodiment, the notch 62 is provided in a region where three or more partition portions are adjacent to each other, but may be provided in another region such as a region where only two partition portions are adjacent. .

As shown in FIGS. 5A and _5B , the lower limit value of the width Lb of the notch 62 of the partition 121 of the first pattern, that is, the lower limit of the distance between the adjacent partitions 12 with the notch 62 interposed therebetween. The value is about 5 μm considering the limit of patterning. The upper limit value of the width _{L b} of the notch 62 of the first pattern of the partition wall 121 is preferably about 20 [mu] m. This is because the width L _b is larger than 20μm of the notch 62 of the first pattern of the partition wall 121, the counter substrate bonding step to be described later, it can not be closed fully by the adhesive 221 a notch 62, between the partition portion This is because the communication may not be completely blocked.

  In the present embodiment, the partition wall 122 of the second pattern is provided with the notch 63 so that adjacent partition portions partitioned by the partition wall 122 communicate with each other. In the present embodiment, the notch 63 is provided in a region where three or more partitions are adjacent, but may be provided in another region such as a region where two partitions are adjacent.

The lower limit of the width L _b of the notch 63 of the second pattern of the partition wall 122, considering the limitations of patterning, is about 5 [mu] m. However, the upper limit value of the width _{L b} of the notch 63 of the second pattern of the partition wall 122 may be greater than 20 [mu] m. This is because the outer peripheral portion 70 is not used for a predetermined display in the reflective display device according to the present embodiment, and therefore, between the partition portions by the notch portions 63 of the partition walls 122 of the second pattern by an adhesive in the counter substrate bonding step described later. This is because it is not necessary to completely cut off the communication. However, the upper limit value of the width _{L b} of the notch 63 is preferably 100 times the partition wall height (partition wall height is in the case of 30 [mu] m 3 mm) is. This is because the distance between the one substrate 11 and the other substrate 16 cannot be maintained if it is more than this.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the notch 62 of the first pattern partition 121 and the notch 63 of the second pattern partition 122 extend from the top surface of the partition to the surface of one substrate. In other words, the depth of the notches 62 and 63 is equal to the thickness of the partition wall. However, the notches 62 and 63 do not have to extend to the surface of one of the substrates as long as it includes the top surface of the partition wall.

Further, in the present embodiment, the shape of the notch 62 of the first pattern partition 121 and the notch 63 of the second pattern partition 122 is a square as a whole as shown in FIG. For example, a cross shape as shown in FIG. 5B may be used as a whole, or another shape may be used. The shape of the notch 62 of the first pattern of the partition wall 121, FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b), the that spacing L _c aspect of opposed partition walls is constant across the cutout portion 62 In this case, the adhesive 221 can be uniformly pushed into the notch 62 in the counter substrate bonding step, and therefore, it is easy to block communication between all the partitions in the display area 60.

  Next, the adhesive layer 22 is formed on the partition wall 12 (adhesive layer forming step: step (2) in FIG. 1). In the present embodiment, the adhesive layer 22 is disposed only on the partition wall 121 disposed in the display region 60, but may be disposed on the partition wall 122 disposed in the outer peripheral portion 70.

  In this adhesive layer forming step, a heat sealant 221 such as a polyester-based thermoplastic adhesive is formed with a thickness of 1 μm to 100 μm by, for example, a transfer method or a printing method. Preferably, it is formed with a thickness of 1 μm to 50 μm, particularly preferably with a thickness of 1 μm to 20 μm.

  Supplementing a specific description of an example of a typical thermal transfer method as the transfer method, as shown in FIG. 7, a heat seal agent 221 such as a polyester-based thermoplastic adhesive having a thickness of 20 μm on a PET film 21, for example. The surface of the transfer sheet 20 on the side of the heat sealant 221 is placed on the partition wall 12 and laminated at room temperature with a pressure of 1 kPa. This is heated for 1 minute on a hot plate maintained at, for example, 120 ° C., which is equal to or higher than the softening temperature of the heat sealant 221, and then the transfer sheet 20 is peeled off. Thereby, the adhesive layer 22 is formed on the partition wall 12.

  The adhesive 221 for forming the adhesive layer 22 is not particularly limited as long as it is a material that can bond the substrate 16 and the partition wall 12. In addition to a heat sealant, an ultraviolet curable resin, a thermosetting resin, a room temperature curable resin, and the like. In particular, a material that has the property of being softened by heating and solidifying when cooled, and is preferably a material whose plasticity is reversibly maintained when repeated cooling and heating, for example, a thermoplastic material. A heat sealant using is preferred.

  When a heat seal agent made of a thermoplastic material is used as an adhesive layer, the heat seal agent solidified on the transfer film substrate is softened by heating to a temperature exceeding its softening temperature, and the partition upper surface It is also possible to reliably heat transfer the heat sealant only. Moreover, since the heat sealant after heat transfer is cooled to room temperature and solidified again, tackiness, that is, stickiness, is eliminated. Further, since there is no tack, that is, stickiness, the display medium filled in the compartment does not adhere to the heat sealant. Then, the heat sealant on the top surface of the partition wall is again heated to a temperature exceeding its softening temperature and softened, so that it has tackiness, that is, stickiness, so that it is securely bonded to the other substrate. . Since the heat sealant after bonding to the other substrate is not tacky, that is, sticky at normal temperature again, the display medium will not adhere to the heat sealant, and there is no risk of deterioration in display quality. .

  Specifically, thermoplastic base polymers such as ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyester, polyamide, polyolefin, polyurethane, natural rubber, styrene-butadiene block copolymer, styrene-isoprene block copolymer, styrene-ethylene. A resin mainly composed of a thermoplastic elastomer such as a butylene-styrene block copolymer or a styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene copolymer, and a tackifier resin or a plasticizer is mainly used.

  In the present embodiment, the adhesive layer 22 is formed so that the thickness thereof is larger than the size of the particles included in the display medium disposed on the one substrate 11 in the display medium disposing step described later. When the thickness of the adhesive layer 22 is equal to or smaller than the size of the particles, the particles that have entered between the adhesive layer 22 and the other substrate 16 interfere with each other, and adhesion between the adhesive layer 22 and the other substrate 16 is prevented. This is because the strength cannot be increased beyond a desired level.

  In order to increase the adhesion between the partition wall 12 and the heat sealant 221, the partition wall 12 may be subjected to surface treatment by ultraviolet irradiation, plasma treatment, or the like, or a primer may be formed. Alternatively, a silane coupling agent may be added to the heat seal agent 221.

  Next, the sealing member 61 is arrange | positioned so that a 1st area | region may be enclosed in a 2nd area | region (sealing member arrangement | positioning process: process (3) of FIG. 1).

  If a specific description is supplemented about an example of the arrangement method of the sealing member 61, the sealing member 61 is made of an adhesive such as an ultraviolet curable resin with a line width of 0.5 mm and a height of 50 μm using a dispenser. It arrange | positions by apply | coating to linear form.

  The sealing member 61 can be constituted by a thermosetting resin, a room temperature curable resin, a heat seal resin, or the like, in addition to the ultraviolet curable resin obtained by curing the ultraviolet curable resin. In addition to the dispenser, the sealing member 61 can be arranged by various printing methods or thermocompression bonding, and may be arranged on the other substrate 16.

  Next, the ink 13 as a display medium is arranged on one substrate 11 (display medium arranging step: step (4) in FIG. 1). FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing an example of the display medium arranging step. Here, (1) the ink 13 is dropped from the dispenser 31 or inkjet or die coat (ink dropping step), and (2) the ink 13 is made uniform in the surface by the applicator 32 or doctor blade, doctor knife, and central squeegee. It is applied (ink application process).

  As the display medium 13, a display medium containing at least one or more kinds of electrically responsive materials can be used. Examples of the electroresponsive material include a charged particle material and a liquid crystal material, and the charged particle material includes a so-called electrophoretic material in which colored particles such as white, black, and color move in response to an electric field, or two particles. There are materials typified by twist balls that are color-coded and rotated by an electric field, or nanoparticle materials that move by an electric field. On the other hand, the liquid crystal material includes a material for electrically controlling transmission and scattering known as PDLC (Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal), a material in which a liquid crystal is mixed with a dye, a cholesteric liquid crystal material, and the like. These materials that have electrical responsiveness and change optical properties need to be isolated in the compartments regardless of the type, and are subject to application of the present invention.

  After the display medium arranging step, a conductive paste applying step is performed (not shown). The conductive paste is a metal paste such as a silver paste, for example, and is applied to a predetermined position by, for example, a dispenser, ink jet, tampo printing, pad printing, or stacking printing. The conductive paste functions as a wiring for applying a voltage to the other substrate 16. When a predetermined electric field (voltage) is applied between the electrode pattern on one substrate 11 and the electrode pattern on the other substrate 16, the electrically responsive material in the ink 13 which is a display medium is driven, and a character pattern or the like Predetermined information is displayed. Thereafter, even if the electric field is no longer applied, the information display state is maintained until a new electric field is applied between the two substrates.

  Thereafter, the adhesive layer 22 on the partition wall 12 and the other substrate 16 facing the one substrate 11 are bonded (opposed substrate bonding step: step (5) in FIG. 1).

    In the counter substrate bonding step, as shown in FIG. 9, the heat sealing agent 221 transferred as the bonding layer 22 is heated to obtain an adhesive force. Specifically, while applying a predetermined thermocompression bonding pressure (laminating pressure) by the laminator 91, the heat sealant 221 is heated from the periphery to a temperature exceeding the softening temperature to be softened, as shown in FIG. In addition, the partition wall 12 and the other substrate 16 are bonded together while a part of the adhesive 221 of the adhesive layer 22 is pushed into the notches 62 and 63. However, other thermocompression bonding modes may be employed. A cell is configured by blocking communication between the partition portions by the adhesive 221 pushed into the notches 62 and 63. Here, the “cell” is an electrophoretic particle or powder formed between the upper and lower electrode substrates to prevent display defects due to sedimentation or uneven distribution of particles or powder, in particular, display unevenness. It means a minute migration space, that is, a movement space. In the present specification, the cell is a region surrounded by the partition wall 12 disposed in the first region including the display region 60 and the adhesive 221 disposed in the cutout portion of the partition wall 12.

  In the counter substrate bonding step, the other substrate 16 is curled so that no air bubbles remain in the cell between the one substrate 11 and the other substrate 16, and from one side (left side in the case of FIG. 9). A portion where the one substrate 11 and the other substrate 16 are pressed against each other by the laminator 91 is moved toward the opposite side (the right side in the case of FIG. 9), and between the ink 13 and the other substrate 16. The excess ink on one substrate 11 is pushed out from each partitioning part while extruding the air from between the two. At this time, the air between the ink 13 and the other substrate 16 and the excess ink 13 can flow through the notches 62 and 63 unless the notches 62 and 63 are blocked by the adhesive 221. it can. Accordingly, even after the adhesive layer 22 and the other substrate 16 are brought into contact with each other, if the notches 62 and 63 are not blocked by the adhesive 221, they are pushed out from the respective partition portions through the notches 62 and 63. Is possible. Thereby, the display medium (ink 13) is sealed in each cell.

  Thereafter, the sealing member 61 is cured to seal the outer periphery of the display region, and the mother panel substrate 81 is manufactured.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 1, the sheet is cut into a predetermined size by a cutting device 51 such as a guillotine, an upper blade slide device, a laser cutting device, a laser cutter, etc. (cutting step: step (6) in FIG. 1), and desired reflection The production of the mold display device is completed.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the first partition 121 arranged so as to partition a plurality of partition portions in the display area 60 is first connected so that the partition portions are partially communicated with each other. A notch 62 is provided. For this reason, the top surface of the first partition 121 and the other substrate are bonded to each other while letting the air existing between the display medium 13 and the other substrate 16 in the partition part pass through the first notch 62. As a result, it is suppressed that air is confined in the cell and bubbles are formed. Further, even when the top surface of the first partition 121 and the other substrate 16 are bonded in a state where the surplus display medium 13 is disposed in the partition part, the surplus display medium 13 exceeding the capacity of the partition part Since at least a part is escaped from the partition through the first notch 62, the amount of the display medium 13 that is released from the partition through the adhesive of the first partition wall 121 is reduced. As a result, the occurrence of poor adhesion between the adhesive 221 and the other substrate is suppressed.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the first notch 62 is provided in a region where three or more partition parts are adjacent to each other, and the first notch 62 is surrounded by a partition wall at least in three directions. The adhesive material 221 can be supplied to the first notch 62 from at least three directions. For this reason, the adhesive material 221 arrange | positioned at the top face of the 1st partition 121 is pushed in into the 1st notch part 62 at least from three directions, and can block a division effectively.

  Further, in the present embodiment, a sealing member 61 is disposed between the one substrate 11 and the other substrate 16 so as to surround the first region, and together with the one substrate 11 and the other substrate 16. The space on the first area is sealed. For this reason, it is suppressed that a water | moisture content, oxygen, etc. penetrate | invade into the division part arrange | positioned at the display area 60 from the outside.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the second notch 63 is partly formed in the second region including at least a part of the region around the first region and not used for the predetermined display of the one substrate 11. A second partition wall 122 is provided which is arranged in a second pattern so as to partition a plurality of partition portions communicating with each other. In this case, since the second partition wall is provided with the second notch, the second partition wall has few continuous portions or is discontinuous. As a result, even if the sealing member 61 is disposed in the region where the second partition wall 122 is disposed, the sealing member 61 is not divided into the second partition wall 122, so that moisture, oxygen, and the like are generated from the outside of the display region. Intrusion into the partition portion arranged in the display area 60 via the two partition walls 122 is suppressed.

  In the present embodiment, the first pattern and the second pattern are configured by a common unit pattern. In this case, the partition walls 121 and 122 can be easily formed. In addition, when the top surface of the partition wall 121 of one substrate 11 and the other substrate 16 are bonded, it is easy to align the partition wall 121 and the other substrate 16.

  Further, when the heat sealant of the adhesive layer 22 is made of a thermoplastic material, it is very easy to handle because it has no tack or stickiness at room temperature. Further, since there is no tack, that is, stickiness, the subsequent display medium arranging step is easy. Specifically, even if the display medium is arranged using a squeegee, a doctor blade, a doctor knife, or the like, the display medium (ink 13) does not adhere to the heat sealant of the adhesive layer 22.

  In addition, when a moisture-proof resin is used as the adhesive 221, moisture can be prevented from entering the display area 60 from the outside of the display area 60 through the adhesive 221. Here, in the present specification and claims, the “moisture-proof resin” means a resin having low moisture permeability, and specifically, a resin such as a sealant 8724L2 manufactured by Kyoritsu Chemical Industry. It is done.

  In addition, when a predetermined electric field (voltage) is applied between an electrode (not shown) of one substrate 11 and an electrode (not shown) of the other substrate 16, an electrically responsive material in the ink 13 as a display medium. Is driven and predetermined information such as a character pattern is displayed. Thereafter, even if the electric field is no longer applied, the information display state is maintained until a new electric field is applied between the two substrates.

  Next, practical examples actually performed will be described.

<Example of Reflective Display Device>
<Example 1>
As one substrate 11, an indium tin oxide (ITO) vapor deposition film (thickness 0.2 μm) as a transparent electrode on one surface of 300 mm × 400 mm × 0.5 mm non-alkali glass (OA-10G manufactured by Nippon Electric Glass) ) Was prepared. The transparent electrode is formed by a general film formation method such as sputtering, vacuum evaporation, or CVD, and is also formed by zinc oxide (ZnO), tin oxide (SnO), etc. in addition to indium tin oxide (ITO). obtain.

Next, a negative photosensitive resin material (DuPont MRC Dry Film Resistry Dry Film Resist) is laminated on the one substrate 11 to a thickness of 30 μm and heated at 100 ° C. for 1 minute. Then, exposure is performed using an exposure mask (exposure amount: 500 mJ / cm ² ), and thereafter development using a 1% KOH aqueous solution is performed for 30 seconds, followed by baking at 200 ° C. for 60 minutes, so that the cell pitch is 175 μm. A partition wall 12 having a lattice pattern as a whole was formed. The width of the adhesive layer side top surface of the partition wall 12 was 20 μm, and the distance L _c between the side surfaces of the partition walls facing each other of the notches 62 and 63 was about 5 μm at the shortest portion.

  Then, a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film 21 (manufactured by Teijin DuPont) having a thickness of 50 μm is used as the transfer film substrate 21, and a heat sealant 221 (Byron UR3200, manufactured by Toyobo Co., Ltd.) is applied to the film by a die coater and dried. It was done. Thereby, a roll-shaped transfer sheet 20 having an adhesive layer 22 of 10 μm was produced. The softening temperature of the heat sealant 221 was about 90 ° C.

  Then, in the state where the transfer sheet 20 is placed on the adhesive layer side top surface of the partition wall 12, while further applying a pressing force of about 1 kPa, the temperature around the heat seal agent 221 exceeds the softening temperature, for example, about 100 ° C. As a result, the heat sealant 221 was thermally transferred to the entire top surface of the partition wall 121 disposed in the display region 60. The height from the adhesive layer side top surface of the partition wall 121 to the top of the heat sealant 221 was about 10 μm.

  Subsequently, an ink 13 having the following components is used as a display medium, dropped from the dispenser 31, and squeegeeed by a central squeegee 32 (Neurong squeegee 1: made of urethane resin), and then in each compartment. Filled. Excess ink that protruded in the substrate width direction was scraped off by another squeegee 33a, 33b (Nelogue Squeegee 2: made of urethane resin), and further wiped off by a roll wiper 34.

<Ink component>
・ Electrophoretic particles (titanium dioxide): 60 parts by weight ・ Dispersion liquid: 40 parts by weight

  Subsequently, a silver paste (manufactured by Fujikura Kasei Co., Ltd.) was spot-coated by a dispenser on a part of the outer periphery of the partition wall pattern (square area of 2 mm × 2 mm).

  Next, as the other substrate 16, an indium tin oxide (ITO) vapor deposition film (thickness 0.2 μm) is provided as a transparent electrode on one surface of a 300 mm × 400 mm × thickness 125 μm PET film (Toyobo A4100). An electrode substrate was prepared. The transparent electrode is formed by a general film formation method such as sputtering, vacuum evaporation, or CVD, and is also formed by zinc oxide (ZnO), tin oxide (SnO), etc. in addition to indium tin oxide (ITO). obtain. A silicon nitride oxide (SiON) sputtered film (thickness: 1 μm) was formed as a barrier layer on the other surface of the other substrate 16 where the transparent electrode was not formed.

  Then, an ultraviolet curable resin (LCB-610, manufactured by EACH Co., Ltd.) is used as the sealing member 61 on the other substrate 16, and the display area 60 is surrounded by the outer peripheral portion 70 using a dispenser (not shown). So that it was coated.

  Then, in the atmosphere, the other substrate 16 is overlaid on the adhesive layer 22 on the partition wall 12 of the one substrate 11 and is disposed in the display region 60 while further applying a certain thermocompression pressure by the laminator 91. The adhesive layer 22 on the partition wall 12 of one substrate 11 is pushed out while surplus ink exceeding the volume of each region surrounded by the partition wall 12 and the adhesive material 22 disposed in the notch 62 of the partition wall 12 is pushed out. And the other substrate 16 were bonded together.

  The temperature at the time of thermocompression bonding was 60 ° C. to 150 ° C., preferably 80 ° C. to 120 ° C. at which deformation of the adhesive layer 22 was promoted, and was 100 ° C. in this example. The thermocompression bonding pressure is preferably 0.01 MPa to 0.7 MPa, particularly preferably 0.1 MPa to 0.4 MPa, and 0.3 MPa in this example.

Thereafter, ultraviolet rays were exposed (exposure amount: 700 mJ / cm ² ) to be cured (peripheral sealing process), and cut into a predetermined size by the cutting device 51. Thus, a display panel was produced.

  The appearance of the display surface of the display panel obtained as described above was confirmed. As a result, there was no bubble and a good display surface was obtained. This is because the air between the ink 13 and the other substrate 16 can escape through the notch even after the adhesive layer on the partition wall and the other substrate 16 come into contact with each other in the counter substrate bonding step. This is probably because

  Further, when the display panel was stored in a constant temperature and humidity chamber at 50 ° C. and a relative humidity (RH) of 90% for 100 hours, the display panel was good without display deterioration. As shown in FIG. 11B, the sealing member 61 can enter the notch 63 of the partition wall 122 and completely cover the partition wall 122, and there is a continuous portion of the partition wall 12 in the sealing member 61. This is thought to be because there was not.

  Furthermore, the display quality of the display panel was evaluated, but the display color in the cell was uniform throughout the display panel. Further, uneven distribution of particles in the display medium 13 was not confirmed in each cell. This is presumably because the adhesive 221 of the adhesive layer 22 entered the notch 62 provided in the partition wall 121 of the display area 60 in the counter substrate bonding process, and communication between the partition portions was blocked.

  Furthermore, a change in display quality was evaluated by applying local pressure from the outside. Specifically, a metal piece having an area of 10 mm × 10 mm was pressurized at 1 MPa for 10 seconds, then returned to atmospheric pressure, and the change in display quality was evaluated. As a result, display unevenness and display failure did not occur. That is, the strength of the partition wall 12 itself was high, and the adhesive strength between the adhesive layer provided on the partition wall 12 and the other substrate 16 was also high. This is because, in the counter substrate bonding step, a part of the ink 13 pushed out from each partition part can pass through the notch part, and as a result, the amount of the ink 13 passing over the adhesive layer on the partition is reduced, and the adhesive layer This is considered to be because the amount of ink 13 remaining on the top is also reduced.

<Example 2>
In contrast to the first embodiment, the partition walls 121 and 122 are separated from each other by a distance L _c between the side surfaces of the partition walls facing the notch 63 in the outer peripheral portion 70 as shown in FIG. formed to be longer than the opposing distance L _c of the side face of the partition walls, others in the same step to produce a display panel.

  With respect to the display panel obtained as described above, the appearance of the display surface was confirmed. As a result, a good display surface without bubbles was obtained. This is because the air between the ink 13 and the other substrate 16 can escape through the notch even after the adhesive layer on the partition wall and the other substrate 16 come into contact with each other in the counter substrate bonding step. This is probably because

  Further, when the display panel was stored in a constant temperature and humidity chamber at 50 ° C. and a relative humidity (RH) of 90% for 100 hours, the display panel was good without display deterioration. This is considered to be because the sealing member 61 could completely cover the partition wall 122 and there was no continuous portion of the partition wall 12 in the sealing member 61 as shown in FIG.

  Furthermore, the display quality of the display panel was evaluated, but the display color in the cell was uniform throughout the display panel. Further, uneven distribution of particles in the display medium 13 was not confirmed in each cell. This is presumably because the adhesive 221 of the adhesive layer 22 entered the notch 62 provided in the partition wall 121 of the display area 60 in the counter substrate bonding process, and communication between the partition portions was blocked.

  Furthermore, a change in display quality was evaluated by applying local pressure from the outside. Specifically, a metal piece having an area of 10 mm × 10 mm was pressurized at 1 MPa for 10 seconds, then returned to atmospheric pressure, and the change in display quality was evaluated. As a result, display unevenness and display failure did not occur. That is, the strength of the partition wall 12 itself was high, and the adhesive strength between the adhesive layer provided on the partition wall 12 and the other substrate 16 was also high. This is because, in the counter substrate bonding step, a part of the ink 13 pushed out from each partition part can pass through the notch part, and as a result, the amount of the ink 13 passing over the adhesive layer on the partition is reduced, and the adhesive layer This is considered to be because the amount of ink 13 remaining on the top is also reduced.

<Example 3>
In contrast to Example 1, a moisture-proof resin was used as an adhesive, and an adhesive layer was formed on the entire top surfaces of the partition walls of both the display region 60 and the outer peripheral portion 70, and the other processes were the same, and a display panel was manufactured. .

  With respect to the display panel obtained as described above, the appearance of the display surface was confirmed. As a result, a good display surface without bubbles was obtained. This is because the air between the ink 13 and the other substrate 16 can escape through the notch even after the adhesive layer on the partition wall and the other substrate 16 come into contact with each other in the counter substrate bonding step. This is probably because

  Further, when the display panel was stored in a constant temperature and humidity chamber at 50 ° C. and a relative humidity (RH) of 90% for 100 hours, the display panel was good without display deterioration. As shown in FIG. 13B, although there is a continuous portion of the adhesive material 221 in the sealing member 61, the adhesive material 221 has moisture resistance, so that moisture causes the adhesive material 221 to be removed from the outside. It is considered that this is because the entry into the display area 60 via the display is suppressed.

  Furthermore, the display quality of the display panel was evaluated, but the display color in the cell was uniform throughout the display panel. Further, uneven distribution of particles in the display medium 13 was not confirmed in each cell. This is presumably because the adhesive 221 of the adhesive layer 22 entered the notch 62 provided in the partition wall 121 of the display area 60 in the counter substrate bonding process, and communication between the partition portions was blocked.

  Furthermore, a change in display quality was evaluated by applying local pressure from the outside. Specifically, a metal piece having an area of 10 mm × 10 mm was pressurized at 1 MPa for 10 seconds, then returned to atmospheric pressure, and the change in display quality was evaluated. As a result, display unevenness and display failure did not occur. That is, the strength of the partition wall 12 itself was high, and the adhesive strength between the adhesive layer provided on the partition wall 12 and the other substrate 16 was also high. This is because, in the counter substrate bonding step, a part of the ink 13 extruded from each partition or cell can pass through the notch, and as a result, the amount of the ink 13 passing over the adhesive layer on the partition is reduced, This is presumably because the amount of ink 13 remaining on the adhesive layer was also reduced.

<Comparative Example 1>
In contrast to Example 1, partition walls were formed in a continuous pattern as shown in FIG. 14A, and the other processes were the same, and a display panel was manufactured.

  As for the display panel obtained as described above, the appearance of the display surface was confirmed. As a result, many bubbles were confirmed. This is because, in the counter substrate bonding step, the air between the ink 13 and the other substrate 16 cannot escape from the cell at the location where the adhesive layer on the partition wall and the other substrate 16 are in contact with each other. This is thought to be due to being trapped inside.

  Further, when the display panel was stored for 100 hours in a constant temperature and humidity chamber at 50 ° C. and a relative humidity (RH) of 90%, a display defect occurred in which the display could not be switched in the vicinity of the sealing member 61. As shown in FIG. 14B, the sealing member 61 is disposed on the outer peripheral portion 70 so as to surround the display region 60. However, as shown in FIG. 14C, the display region 60 and the outer peripheral portion 70 are arranged. This is considered to be because a continuous portion of the partition wall 12 exists in the sealing member 61 and moisture has entered the display region 60 through the continuous portion. Moreover, although display quality was evaluated about the said display panel, the display nonuniformity did not generate | occur | produce and was favorable. However, when pressure is applied for 10 seconds at 1 MPa with a metal piece having an area of 10 mm × 10 mm, and then returned to atmospheric pressure, the flow of ink 13 between the cells is excessively generated, and the display unevenness is observed in the part where the partition walls are peeled off due to the pressure. Has occurred. This is presumably because the surplus ink 13 was pushed out over the adhesive layer 22 on the partition wall 12 and the adhesion amount of the ink 13 on the adhesive layer 22 was increased.

  The production conditions and evaluation results for each example and comparative example are summarized in FIG. As can be seen from the results shown in FIG. 16, in the display panel using the partition wall provided with the notch, there was no bubble in the cell, and there was little intrusion of moisture and oxygen from the outside into the display region 60. . That is, the sealing performance by the sealing member 61 or the moisture-proof resin was sufficiently exhibited. On the other hand, in a display panel using a continuous partition wall not provided with a notch, a large number of bubbles were confirmed in the cell, and the sealing performance by the sealing member 61 was not sufficiently exhibited.

11 One substrate 12 Partition 13 Ink (display medium)
14 Silver paste 16 Other substrate 22 Adhesive layer 221 Adhesive (heat sealant)
31 Dispenser 32 Central Squeegee (Squeegee 1)
33a, 33b Both-end squeegee (squeegee 2)
34 Roll wiper 41 Dispenser 51 Cutting device 60 Display area 61 Sealing member 62 First notch 63 Second notch 70 Outer periphery 91 Laminator

Claims (12)

A display medium containing at least one or more kinds of electrically responsive materials is sealed between two opposing substrates, at least one of which is transparent and each has electrodes, and a predetermined electric field is interposed between the two substrates. A reflective display device in which the display medium performs a predetermined display when
On the one substrate, a first pattern that partitions a plurality of partition portions that partially communicate with each other in the first notch portion in a first region including a display region used for predetermined display of the one substrate. A first bulkhead arranged in
An adhesive disposed on the first partition and in the first notch, and
A display medium disposed in each region surrounded by the first partition and the adhesive;
The other substrate bonded to the adhesive disposed on the first partition;
A reflection type display device comprising: The reflection type display device according to claim 1, wherein the first notch is provided in a region where three or more partition portions are adjacent to each other. A sealing member is further provided between the one substrate and the other substrate so as to surround the first region and seals a space on the first region together with the one substrate and the other substrate. The reflective display device according to claim 1, wherein the reflective display device is a reflective display device. A plurality of partition portions that are partially connected to each other at the second notch portion are defined in a second region that includes at least a part of the region around the first region and is not used for predetermined display of the one substrate. The reflective display device according to claim 1, further comprising a second partition wall arranged in a second pattern. The reflective display device according to claim 4, wherein the first pattern and the second pattern are configured by a common unit pattern. 6. The reflective display device according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive is a moisture-proof resin. A display medium containing at least one or more kinds of electrically responsive materials is sealed between two opposing substrates, at least one of which is transparent and each has electrodes, and a predetermined electric field is interposed between the two substrates. A method of manufacturing a reflective display device, wherein the display medium displays a predetermined display when
On one substrate, a first region including a display region used for a predetermined display on the one substrate is divided into a plurality of partition portions that partially communicate with each other at the first notch portion. A partition formation step of forming the first partition in one pattern;
An adhesive placement step of placing an adhesive on the first partition;
A display medium disposing step of disposing the display medium in each partition section surrounded by the first partition;
After the display medium is disposed, each region in which the display medium is surrounded by the first partition and the adhesive while pushing the adhesive disposed on the first partition into the first notch. A counter substrate bonding step of bonding the other substrate on the adhesive disposed on the first partition so as to be sealed in,
A method of manufacturing a reflective display device, comprising: The method for manufacturing a reflective display device according to claim 7, wherein the first notch is provided in a region where three or more partition portions are adjacent to each other. Sealing disposed between the one substrate and the other substrate so as to surround the first region, and a sealing member for sealing the space on the first region together with the one substrate and the other substrate. The method for manufacturing a reflective display device according to claim 7, further comprising a member arranging step. In the partition forming step, the second notch portion partially communicates with the second region including at least a part of the region around the first region and not used for the predetermined display of the one substrate. The method for manufacturing a reflective display device according to claim 7, wherein the second partition wall is formed in a second pattern that partitions a plurality of partition portions. The method of manufacturing a reflective display device according to claim 10, wherein the first pattern and the second pattern are configured by a common unit pattern. The method for manufacturing a reflective display device according to claim 7, wherein the adhesive is a moisture-proof resin.

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