CN114078449B - Driving device and driving method for electronic paper display panel and display device - Google Patents

Abstract

The embodiment of the present invention discloses a driving device and a driving method for an electronic paper display panel, and a display device. In a specific embodiment, the electronic paper display panel includes a display area and a virtual display area for displaying a solid-color picture, the display area includes pixel units arranged in an array, and the pixel units include first pixel electrodes. The dummy display area includes a second pixel electrode; the driving device includes: a first driving module, which is used to send a first pulse signal to the first pixel electrodes arranged in an array in the writing phase of each picture period, so that the The display area displays a picture; the second driving module is used to send a plurality of second pulse signals with a first set interval to the second pixel electrode in the writing phase of each picture period, so that the virtual display area displays Solid color picture. This implementation mode can avoid failure of the paper film in the virtual display area without affecting the display of the virtual display area.

Description

Driving device and driving method for electronic paper display panel, and display device

technical field

The present invention relates to the field of display technology, and more specifically, to a driving device and a driving method for an electronic paper display panel, and a display device.

Background technique

The electronic paper display technology in the prior art mainly utilizes the principle of electrophoretic display (EPD) to drive two different electrically dyed particles to move back and forth, so that the color of the particles is displayed on the display side. After the power is turned off, the particles can remain in place, exhibiting a "steady state." Among them, the more common ones are black (positive charge), white (negative charge) and red (positive charge) three-color heteroelectric mixed display products.

The virtual display area (Border area, such as a ring around the display area) outside the display area usually displays a solid-color picture, and the driving waveform for displaying a solid-color picture in the virtual display area is similar to the driving waveform for displaying a solid-color picture in the display area. The inventors found that the virtual display area will be continuously affected by high-level voltage, resulting in that when the particles have moved to the top, they will still continue to receive excess thrust, and the top particles will continue to squeeze the edge paper film, resulting in changes in characteristics , the particles can’t move eventually, causing part of the paper film in the virtual display area to fail, and the electronic paper display device is defective, especially in a high-temperature and high-humidity environment, such defects are more likely to occur.

Contents of the invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a driving device and a driving method for an electronic paper display panel, and a display device, so as to solve at least one of the problems existing in the prior art.

To achieve the above object, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions:

The first aspect of the present invention provides a driving device for an electronic paper display panel, the electronic paper display panel includes a display area and a virtual display area for displaying a solid-color picture, and the display area includes pixel units arranged in an array , the pixel unit includes a first pixel electrode, and the virtual display area includes a second pixel electrode;

The drive unit includes:

The first driving module is configured to respectively send first pulse signals to the first pixel electrodes arranged in the array in the writing phase of each picture cycle so that the display area displays pictures;

The second driving module is used for sending a plurality of second pulse signals with a first set interval to the second pixel electrode in the writing phase of each picture cycle, so that the virtual display area displays a solid-color picture.

Optionally, the picture period further includes a reverse phase before the writing phase,

The first driving module is further configured to send a third pulse signal to the first pixel electrodes arranged in an array in the reverse phase;

The second driving module is further configured to send a plurality of fourth pulse signals with a second set interval to the second pixel electrode in the reverse phase.

Optionally, the picture period further includes an activation phase between the inversion phase and the writing phase,

The first driving module is further configured to send a fifth pulse signal with alternate polarity having a third set interval to the first pixel electrodes arranged in an array during the activation phase;

The second driving module is further configured to send to the second pixel electrode a group of sixth pulse signals with alternate polarities having a third set interval during the activation phase, wherein each sixth pulse signal group includes a group with a fourth set interval. A plurality of sixth pulse signals with the same polarity at regular intervals.

Optionally, the activation phase includes a first activation sub-phase and a second activation sub-phase after the first activation sub-phase, and the fifth pulse signal includes a first fifth pulse sub-signal and a second fifth Pulse sub-signals, the sixth pulse signal group includes the first sixth pulse signal subgroup and the second sixth pulse signal subgroup,

The first driving module is configured to send the first fifth pulse sub-signals with alternate polarities having a fifth set interval to the first pixel electrodes arranged in the array in the first activation sub-phase, and in the second activation sub-phase Sending alternate polarity second and fifth pulse sub-signals with a sixth set interval to the first pixel electrodes arranged in an array, wherein the duration of the first and fifth pulse sub-signals is shorter than that of the second and fifth pulse sub-signals The duration of the fifth set interval is less than the sixth set interval;

The second driving module is configured to send the first and sixth pulse signal subgroups with alternate polarities having a fifth set interval to the second pixel electrode in the first activation sub-phase, and send the second pulse signal subgroup to the second pixel electrode in the second activation sub-phase. The pixel electrode transmits the second and sixth subgroups of alternate polarities with a sixth set interval, wherein the duration of the first and sixth subgroups of pulse signals is shorter than the duration of the second and sixth subgroups of pulse signals, and each subgroup of sixth pulse signals A sixth pulse signal subgroup and each second sixth pulse signal subgroup respectively include a plurality of sixth pulse signals with a fourth set interval.

Optionally, the duration of a single second pulse signal is longer than the duration of a single first pulse signal;

In the case where there is a fourth pulse signal, the duration of a single fourth pulse signal is longer than the duration of a single first pulse signal;

In the case of the sixth pulse signal, the duration of the single sixth pulse signal is longer than the duration of the single first pulse signal.

Optionally, the value range of the duration of the single second pulse signal is between 2-3 times the duration of the single first pulse signal;

In the case that there is a fourth pulse signal, the value range of the duration of the single fourth pulse signal is between 2-3 times of the duration of the single first pulse signal;

In the case that the sixth pulse signal exists, the value range of the duration of the single sixth pulse signal is between 2-3 times of the duration of the single first pulse signal.

Optionally, when there is a fourth pulse signal, the duration of a single fourth pulse signal is equal to the duration of a single second pulse signal;

In the case of the sixth pulse signal, the duration of a single sixth pulse signal is equal to the duration of a single second pulse signal.

Optionally, the writing phase includes a plurality of frame periods, wherein each frame period that needs to be driven by the second pulse signal includes a period of the second pulse signal and a period of the first pulse signal respectively. set intervals;

In the case that there is a reverse phase, the reverse phase includes a plurality of frame periods, and each frame period in the frame periods that need to be driven by the fourth pulse signal includes a period of the fourth pulse signal and a period of the first pulse signal respectively. 2. Set the interval period;

In the case that there is an activation phase, the activation phase includes a plurality of frame periods, and each frame period in the frame periods that need to be driven by the sixth pulse signal respectively includes a period of the sixth pulse signal and a period of the fourth setting time intervals.

Optionally, in each picture period, the total duration of the multiple second pulse signals and the first set interval is equal to the number of pulses sent by the first driving module to a column of first pixel electrodes when the solid-color picture is displayed in the display area. The total duration of the first pulse signal.

A second aspect of the present invention provides an electronic paper display device, including an electronic paper display panel and the driving device according to the first aspect of the present invention.

A third aspect of the present invention provides a driving method for an electronic paper display panel, the electronic paper display panel includes a display area and a virtual display area for displaying a solid-color picture, the display area includes pixel units arranged in an array, The pixel unit includes a first pixel electrode, and the dummy display area includes a second pixel electrode;

The driving method includes:

In the writing stage of each frame period, the first pulse signal is sent to the first pixel electrodes arranged in the array and the second pulse signal with the first set interval is sent to the second pixel electrodes, so that the display area A picture is displayed in a picture period, and the virtual display area displays a solid color picture in each picture period.

Optionally, the picture period also includes a reverse phase before the writing phase, and the driving method further includes:

In the reverse phase, a third pulse signal is sent to the first pixel electrodes arranged in an array, and a plurality of fourth pulse signals with a second set interval are sent to the second pixel electrodes.

Optionally, the picture period further includes an activation phase between the inversion phase and the writing phase,

In the activation stage, the fifth pulse signal with alternate polarity having the third set interval is sent to the first pixel electrodes arranged in the array, and the fifth pulse signal with the alternate polarity having the third set interval is sent to the second pixel electrode in the active stage. Six pulse signal groups, wherein each sixth pulse signal group includes a plurality of sixth pulse signals with the same polarity with a fourth set interval.

Optionally, the activation phase includes a first activation sub-phase and a second activation sub-phase after the first activation sub-phase, and the fifth pulse signal includes a first fifth pulse sub-signal and a second fifth Pulse sub-signals, the sixth pulse signal group includes the first sixth pulse signal subgroup and the second sixth pulse signal subgroup,

The fifth pulse signal with alternating polarity having a third set interval is sent to the first pixel electrodes arranged in an array during the activation phase, and the alternate polarity signal having a third set interval is sent to the second pixel electrodes during the activation phase. The sixth pulse signal group consists of:

In the first activation sub-phase, send the first and fifth pulse sub-signals with alternating polarities with a fifth set interval to the first pixel electrodes arranged in the array, and send the first and fifth pulse sub-signals to the first pixel electrodes in the array in the second activation sub-phase Sending the second and fifth pulse sub-signals with alternate polarities at the sixth setting interval, wherein the duration of the first fifth pulse sub-signal is shorter than the duration of the second and fifth pulse sub-signals, and the fifth setting the interval is smaller than the sixth set interval;

And in the first activation sub-phase, send to the second pixel electrode the first and sixth pulse signal subgroups with alternating polarity having the fifth setting interval, and send the sixth pulse signal subgroup with the sixth setting to the second pixel electrode in the second activation sub-phase The second and sixth pulse signal subgroups with alternating polarities at intervals, wherein the duration of the first sixth pulse signal subset is less than the duration of the second sixth pulse signal subgroup, and each first and sixth pulse signal subgroup and Each second and sixth pulse signal subgroup respectively includes a plurality of sixth pulse signals with a fourth set interval.

Optionally, the duration of a single second pulse signal is longer than the duration of a single first pulse signal;

In the case where there is a fourth pulse signal, the duration of a single fourth pulse signal is longer than the duration of a single first pulse signal;

In the case of the sixth pulse signal, the duration of the single sixth pulse signal is longer than the duration of the single first pulse signal.

Optionally, the value range of the duration of the single second pulse signal is between 2-3 times the duration of the single first pulse signal;

In the case that there is a fourth pulse signal, the value range of the duration of the single fourth pulse signal is between 2-3 times of the duration of the single first pulse signal;

In the case that the sixth pulse signal exists, the value range of the duration of the single sixth pulse signal is between 2-3 times of the duration of the single first pulse signal.

Optionally, when there is a fourth pulse signal, the duration of a single fourth pulse signal is equal to the duration of a single second pulse signal;

In the case of the sixth pulse signal, the duration of a single sixth pulse signal is equal to the duration of a single second pulse signal.

Optionally, the writing phase includes a plurality of frame periods, wherein each frame period that needs to be driven by the second pulse signal includes a period of the second pulse signal and a period of the first pulse signal respectively. set intervals;

In the case that there is a reverse phase, the reverse phase includes a plurality of frame periods, and each frame period in the frame periods that need to be driven by the fourth pulse signal includes a period of the fourth pulse signal and a period of the first pulse signal respectively. 2. Set the interval period;

In the case that there is an activation phase, the activation phase includes a plurality of frame periods, and each frame period in the frame periods that need to be driven by the sixth pulse signal respectively includes a period of the sixth pulse signal and a period of the fourth setting time intervals.

Optionally, in each picture period, the total duration of the plurality of second pulse signals and the first set interval is equal to the total of the first pulse signals sent to a column of first pixel electrodes when the solid color picture is displayed in the display area. duration.

The beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:

According to the technical solution of the present invention, for the display area where the first pixel electrodes arranged in the array are usually driven by row-by-row scanning, the first pixel electrodes arranged in the array are separately Send the first pulse signal to make the display area display a picture; for the virtual display area using the second pixel electrode as a whole, the second driving module sends a pulse signal with the first pulse signal to the second pixel electrode in the writing phase of each picture cycle. A plurality of second pulse signals at intervals is set so that the virtual display area displays a solid-color picture, so that the particles in the virtual display area will not continue to be subjected to excess thrust while reaching the top of the paper film, thereby not affecting The continuous extrusion of the edge paper film can avoid the failure of the paper film in the virtual display area without affecting the display of the virtual display area.

Description of drawings

The specific implementation manners of the present invention will be further described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of defective electronic paper products.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of an electronic paper display panel of the electronic paper display device.

FIG. 3 shows another schematic diagram of the electronic paper display panel.

4 shows a schematic diagram of driving waveforms in one picture period when both the display area and the virtual display area of the electronic paper display panel of the three-color electronic paper display device provided by the embodiment of the present invention display a white picture.

5 shows a schematic diagram of driving waveforms in one frame period when both the display area and the virtual display area of the electronic paper display panel of the three-color electronic paper display device provided by an embodiment of the present invention display a black image.

6 shows a schematic diagram of driving waveforms in one frame period when both the display area and the virtual display area of the electronic paper display panel of the three-color electronic paper display device provided by an embodiment of the present invention display a red image.

Detailed ways

In order to illustrate the present invention more clearly, the present invention will be further described below in conjunction with the embodiments and accompanying drawings. Similar parts in the figures are denoted by the same reference numerals. Those skilled in the art should understand that the content specifically described below is illustrative rather than restrictive, and should not limit the protection scope of the present invention.

Electrophoretic displays (EPD) is a new type of display technology, which uses the principle of electrophoresis to make the charged substances sandwiched between the electrodes move under the action of the electric field, and alternately display two or more different colors through the movement of the charged substances . Taking one electrophoretic unit as a pixel, the electrophoretic units are arranged in a two-dimensional matrix to form a display plane. The pixels can display different colors according to requirements, and a plane image can be obtained by combining them. Electrophoretic display technology combines the advantages of ordinary paper and electronic display, so it is the most likely technology to realize the industrialization of "electronic paper". Electrophoretic electronic paper has the following advantages: First, low energy consumption. Since the density of electrophoretic dyed particles is equivalent to that of the electrophoretic liquid, after the drive is completed, the electrophoretic particles on the display side can stay on the display side, thereby maintaining the display characteristics. Electronic paper products have a "bistable state" of display, and after the power is turned off, the image can still be retained on the display for several days or months; the second is a reflective display, which has good daylight readability, so it is more In line with people's reading habits; third, the preparation cost of particles is low, and the electronic paper manufacturing process is simple, so it has the potential for low production costs; fourth, electrophoretic displays are characterized by flexible shapes and can be made on plastic, metal or glass surfaces, so It is the best choice for flexible display technology; fifth, it has the characteristics of environmental protection, and it can be made into e-books, e-newspapers, e-journals, etc. in the future, which can save a lot of wood. Based on the above reasons, electronic paper based on electrophoresis technology will become the mainstream of electronic paper, and it is also one of the flat panel display technologies with the greatest development potential.

In addition to black/white two-color electronic paper, common electronic paper also includes black/white/red three-color electronic paper, black/white/yellow three-color electronic paper, etc. For black/white two-color electronic paper, generally the writing voltage corresponding to black particles is +15V, and the writing voltage corresponding to white particles is -15V (or the writing voltage corresponding to black particles is -15V, and the writing voltage corresponding to white particles is +15V). is +15V). The three-color electronic paper generally mixes colored particles with different charge-to-mass ratios to produce electrophoretic mobility different from other colored particles of the same charge, and writes colors through voltages of different amplitudes.

As shown in Figure 1, in the existing electronic paper products, 11 is the blackened area of the paper film in the virtual display area, and 12 is the area where the paper film cannot be refreshed in the virtual display area. The failure rate of some paper films in the virtual display area is as high as 35%. The inventors found that all defects occurred in the virtual display area, and the paper film in the display area was normal. Remove the paper film above the virtual display area of defective products and observe the electronic paper display. The virtual display area of the electronic paper display panel of the device, as shown in Figure 2, the virtual display area is located in the leftmost two column pixel areas and the bottom two bottom row pixel areas of the electronic paper display panel shown in Figure 2. , the ITO in the virtual display area is complete and there is no abnormal area, and after replacing the paper film, the virtual display area can be refreshed normally, so it is not caused by the electronic paper display panel; in addition, if it is water vapor corrosion, it is impossible to only corrode the virtual display area. There is a clear boundary, and the AA area will also be affected by corrosion. Therefore, the inventor thinks that the reason is that the driving waveform of the virtual display area to display a solid-color picture is similar to the driving waveform of the display area to display a solid-color picture. In this way, the virtual display area will be continuously affected by the high-level voltage, causing the particle to still move to the top. Continuously under the action of excess thrust, the top particles will continue to squeeze the edge paper film, which will lead to changes in characteristics, and the particles will eventually be unable to move, causing part of the paper film in the virtual display area to fail, and the electronic paper display device will be defective, especially in In a high-temperature and high-humidity environment, this defect is more likely to occur, which can be solved by designing the driving waveform on the virtual display area.

The inventor believes that the reason why the above defects all occur in the virtual display area and the paper film in the display area is normal is that the electronic paper display panel includes a display area (AA area) and a virtual display area (Border area) surrounding the display area, which can be referred to as BD for short. district). The display area is driven to display different colors according to the voltage sequence applied to the pixel electrodes, and combined to obtain a flat image; the virtual display area is usually displayed as a solid color in order to avoid no display outside the display area and affect the appearance of the product after the module. screen, when the virtual display area is white, its driving waveform is similar to the driving waveform of each data line when the display area displays a pure white screen; when the virtual display area is black, its driving waveform is similar to that of a pure black screen in the display area When the driving waveform of each data line is similar. Although the driving waveform of the virtual display area displaying a solid-color picture is similar to the driving waveform of each data line when the display area displays a solid-color picture, the driving principle is different, specifically:

The display area is actively driven, and it is turned on row by row (that is, displayed in a row-scanning manner), so in a frame, the turn-on time T of each row is T=one frame time/number of rows;

Although the virtual display area also has TFTs, but there is no switch connected to the TFTs, so the virtual display area is passively driven, and the pixel electrodes in the virtual display area are all connected together to form a whole pixel electrode, and the virtual display area displays a solid-color picture waveform with the same display The driving waveform of each data line is similar when the area displays a solid-color image. In a frame, the virtual display area will be continuously affected by high-level voltage, resulting in that when the particles have moved to the top, they will still continue to receive excess thrust. The particles continuously squeeze the edge paper film, which leads to changes in characteristics, and the particles cannot move eventually, causing part of the paper film in the virtual display area to fail.

However, when the display area displays a solid-color picture, although the driving waveform of each data line is similar to that of the virtual display area to display a solid-color picture, the action time of the paper film (turning on line by line) in the display area is much shorter than that of the virtual display area. The above-mentioned disadvantages will not occur in the district.

In view of this, in order to solve the above-mentioned disadvantages of the virtual display area through the design of the driving waveform on the virtual display area, an embodiment of the present invention provides a driving device for an electronic paper display panel, as shown in FIG. 3 , the The electronic paper display panel includes a display area 310 and a virtual display area for displaying a solid color picture, the display area includes pixel units arranged in an array, the pixel units include a first pixel electrode 311, and the virtual display area includes a second A pixel electrode 321, wherein the display area is within the dotted line box in FIG. 3 , and the position projection of the virtual display area corresponds to the second pixel electrode 321;

The drive unit includes:

The first driving module 331 is configured to respectively send a first pulse signal to the first pixel electrodes 311 arranged in the array in the writing phase of each picture cycle so that the display area displays a picture;

The second driving module 332 is configured to send a plurality of second pulse signals with a first set interval to the second pixel electrode 321 in the writing phase of each picture period, so that the virtual display area displays a solid color picture.

For example, as shown in FIG. 3 , the electronic paper display panel is provided with a plurality of first data lines 341 and a plurality of gate lines (scanning lines) 343, and one first data line 341 is connected to the thin-film transistor TFT (in FIG. 3 ) of a row of pixel units. Not shown), such as the first pole of the drain, the second pole of the TFT of the pixel unit, such as the source, is connected to the first pixel electrode 311, a gate line 343 is connected to the gate of the thin film transistor TFT of a row of pixel units, and the driving device It also includes a gate driving circuit 333 for sending gate signals to each gate line 343 during row scanning. In each picture period, the gate drive circuit 333 scans the pixel units row by row through the gate line 343 (the TFT of the pixel unit is turned on row by row). 341 sends a pulse signal (pixel voltage) to the first pixel electrode 311 of the pixel unit. The electronic paper display panel is also provided with a second data line 342 , and in each frame period, the second driving module 332 sends a pulse signal to the second pixel electrode 321 in the virtual display area through the second data line 342 .

In a possible implementation manner, one picture period includes multiple frame periods, and each picture period includes a reverse phase, an activation phase, and a writing phase that are executed in sequence, wherein the reverse phase of one picture period includes multiple frames period, the activation phase of one picture period includes multiple frame periods, and the writing phase of one picture period also includes multiple frame periods. Among them, the reverse stage is a preprocessing stage for balancing the charges from the startup to the subsequent writing stage and giving the reverse drive voltage (in addition, the reverse stage can also be set to balance the charge from the electronic paper display device to the current display moment. The pretreatment stage of accumulating charge) to maintain charge conservation; the activation stage includes multiple positive and negative pressure alternating cycles to fully mix the charged particles and make the electrophoretic particles in the microstructure evenly dispersed; the writing stage, given a certain time (number of frames ) driving voltage to complete the display of electrophoretic particles.

In a specific example, the driving device includes a first driving module and a second driving module, and the first driving module sends pulse signals to the first pixel electrodes arranged in an array in a progressive scanning driving manner to drive the display of the electronic paper display device. area for image display; the second driving module sends pulse signals to the second pixel electrode in the driving manner of a plurality of narrow pulses at intervals to drive the virtual display area of the electronic paper display device for solid-color image display.

For example, the electronic paper display device provided in this embodiment is black/white/red three-color electronic paper. For example, the writing voltage corresponding to black particles is +15V, the writing voltage corresponding to red particles is +6V, and the writing voltage corresponding to white particles is +15V. The write voltage is -15V. When the picture to be refreshed has three colors of black, white and red at the same time, the display area can display a display screen containing three different colors of black, white and red, and the virtual display area can display a solid color picture of any one of the three different colors of black, white and red .

Next, as shown in waveform a, waveform b, and waveform c in FIG. 4 , it will be described by taking the display area and the virtual display area of the three-color electronic paper display panel as an example to display pure white images.

In the writing phase of a picture period, the first driving module applies a first pulse signal to the first pixel electrodes arranged in an array, and the waveform a shows the first pulse signal applied to a first pixel electrode by the first driving module, as shown in As shown in waveform a, the applied first pulse signal 411 is -15V, and the first pulse signal 411 is used to make the white particles approach the display side of the display area, so that the display area displays a white picture. When each row of pixel units is scanned, the first driving module applies a -15V first pulse signal 411 to each first pixel electrode connected to the data line, and the pulse signal of one data line in the writing phase of one frame cycle The waveform is shown as waveform b (the driving waveform of the existing virtual display area when displaying a pure white screen is similar to waveform b), and a plurality of -15V first pulse signals 411 form a pulse signal with a longer duration. In the writing phase of one frame period, the waveform c shows the second pulse signal applied by the second driving module to the second pixel electrode. As shown in the waveform c, the second driving module applies a pulse signal with the first setting A plurality of second pulse signals 421 at intervals, the applied second pulse signal 421 is -15V, the second pulse signal 421 is used to make the white particles approach the display side of the virtual display area, so that the virtual display area displays a white picture.

In a specific example, since there is no storage capacitor Cst in the virtual display area, in this embodiment, the duration of the single second pulse signal applied is appropriately longer than the duration of the single first pulse signal applied in the display area.

In a possible implementation manner, the duration of a single second pulse signal is longer than that of a single first pulse signal. For example, as shown in FIG. 4 , the duration of a single second pulse signal 421 is longer than that of a single first pulse signal 411 .

In a possible implementation manner, the value range of the duration of the single second pulse signal is between 2-3 times of the duration of the single first pulse signal.

In a possible implementation manner, each frame period in the frame periods that need to be driven by the second pulse signal respectively includes a period of the second pulse signal and a period of the first set interval.

In a possible implementation manner, in the writing phase of each picture period, the total duration of the plurality of second pulse signals and the first set interval is equal to that of the first drive when the solid-color picture is displayed in the display area. The total duration of the first pulse signal sent by the module to a column of first pixel electrodes. For example, as shown in FIG. 4 , in the writing phase of one picture cycle in which both the display area and the virtual display area display a white picture, a plurality of second pulse signals 421 with a first set interval shown in waveform c are consistent with the first set interval. The overall duration of the fixed interval is equal to the duration of waveform b.

In a specific example, assuming that the refresh frequency of the electronic paper in this embodiment is 50 Hz, and the number of rows of pixel units in the display area is 100 rows, as shown in FIG. 4 , one frame period (one frame period) is 0.02s ( 1s/50=0.02s), the turn-on time of each row of the display area is 0.0002s (0.02s/100=0.0002s), and the total duration of the first pulse signal of the display area in the writing phase shown by waveform b is 1s , the pulse level is -15V; the value range of the duration of the single second pulse signal 421 in the virtual display area is between 2-3 times of the duration of the single first pulse signal, for example, 2.5 times, then the first pulse signal in the virtual display area The duration of the second pulse signal 421 is 0.0005s, and one frame period is 0.02s, so the first set interval is 0.0195s. It can be understood that, in practice, the ratio between the duration of the single second pulse signal 411 of 0.0002s and the total duration of the first pulse signal of 1s in the display area of the writing stage shown in waveform b should be much smaller than that shown in Figure 4 shown in Figure 4 is for illustration only.

In a possible implementation manner, the picture period further includes a reverse phase before the writing phase,

The first driving module is further configured to send a third pulse signal to the first pixel electrodes arranged in an array in the reverse phase of each frame period;

The second driving module is further configured to send a plurality of fourth pulse signals with a second set interval to the second pixel electrode in the reverse phase of each frame period.

In this implementation, for the display area where the first pixel electrodes arranged in the array are usually driven by row-by-row scanning, the first driving module sends a third pulse signal to the first pixel electrodes arranged in the array in the reverse phase of the picture cycle. To make the display area maintain charge conservation; for the virtual display area using the second pixel electrode as a whole, a plurality of fourth pixel electrodes with a second set interval are sent to the second pixel electrode by the second driving module in the reverse phase of the frame cycle. Pulse signal, so that the virtual display area maintains charge conservation, and can also avoid paper film failure in the virtual display area during the reverse phase.

Continuing the above example, as shown in FIG. 4, in the reverse phase of a frame period, the first driving module applies a third pulse signal 412 to the first pixel electrodes arranged in an array, and the applied third pulse signal 412 is +15V, The third pulse signal 412 is used to balance the -15V applied in the subsequent writing stage, so as to maintain charge conservation. In the reverse phase of a picture period, the second drive module applies a plurality of fourth pulse signals 422 with a second set interval to the second pixel electrode, the applied fourth pulse signal 422 is +15V, and the fourth pulse signal 422 -15V for balancing subsequent write phases to maintain charge conservation.

In a possible implementation manner, the total duration of the plurality of fourth pulse signals and the second set interval is equal to the first pulse signal sent by the first driving module to a column of first pixel electrodes when the solid-color picture is displayed in the display area. The total duration of the pulse signal is shown in Figure 4.

It can be understood that the duration of the single third pulse signal sent by the first driving module is the same as the duration of the single first pulse signal. Since there is no storage capacitor in the virtual display area, the duration of the single fourth pulse signal applied is appropriately longer than the duration of the single third pulse signal applied in the display area.

In a possible implementation manner, the duration of a single fourth pulse signal is longer than the duration of a single third (first) pulse signal.

In a possible implementation manner, the duration of the single fourth pulse signal ranges from 2-3 times the duration of the single third (first) pulse signal.

In a possible implementation manner, each frame period in the frame periods driven by the fourth pulse signal respectively includes a period of the fourth pulse signal and a period of the second set interval.

In a possible implementation manner, the duration of a single fourth pulse signal is equal to the duration of a single second pulse signal.

Continuing the above example, as shown in FIG. 4, the duration of the single third pulse signal 412 is 0.0002s, and the value range of the duration of the single fourth pulse signal 422 is between 2-3 times the duration of the single third pulse signal, For example, taking 2.5 times, the duration of the fourth pulse signal 422 in the virtual display area is 0.0005s, one frame period is 0.02s, and the second setting interval is 0.0195s.

In a possible implementation manner, the picture period further includes an activation phase between the inversion phase and the writing phase,

The first driving module is further configured to send a fifth pulse signal with alternate polarity having a third set interval to the first pixel electrodes arranged in an array during the active phase of each frame period;

The second driving module is further configured to send to the second pixel electrode a sixth pulse signal group with alternate polarities at a third set interval during the active phase of each frame period, wherein each sixth pulse signal group It includes a plurality of sixth pulse signals with the same polarity having a fourth set interval.

In this implementation mode, for the display area that usually drives the first pixel electrodes arranged in the array in a row-by-row manner, the first driving module sends the first pixel electrodes with the third setting to the first pixel electrodes arranged in the array in the active phase of the frame cycle. The fifth pulse signal with alternating polarity at intervals, so that the charged particles in the display area are uniformly dispersed; for the virtual display area using the second pixel electrode as a whole, it is sent to the second pixel electrode by the second driving module in the active phase of the picture cycle The sixth pulse signal group with alternating polarity at the third set interval enables the charged particles in the virtual display area to disperse evenly, and also prevents paper film failure in the virtual display area during the activation phase.

Combining with the aforementioned solution, the effect of failure of the paper film in the virtual display area can be improved by adopting multiple pulse signals with set intervals in the reverse phase, the activation phase and the writing phase respectively.

In a specific example, after the sub-pixels displaying white are synchronously reversed in the reverse phase, they are set with a common zero voltage (at least one frame of zero-crossing phase), which can buffer the process from reverse to activation more smoothly, allowing particles On the one hand, maintain inertia and use one frame to steadily consolidate the reverse effect; on the other hand, avoid immediately entering the activation stage of rapid high and low voltage mutations, resulting in drive abnormalities.

Continuing with the above example, in the active phase of one frame period, the first driving module applies a fifth pulse signal with alternating polarity with a third set interval to the first pixel electrodes arranged in the array, that is, within one frame period, the A plurality of fifth pulse signals with alternate polarities having a third set interval, the polarity is alternately applied with +15V voltage first, and then with -15V voltage, so as to fully mix the charged particles and evenly disperse the electrophoretic particles in the microstructure; The second driving module applies to the second pixel electrode a group of sixth pulse signals with alternate polarities having a third set interval, that is, within one frame period, a plurality of sixth pulse signals with alternate polarities having a third set interval are applied. Pulse signal group, the polarity is alternately applied +15V voltage first, and then -15V voltage is applied to fully mix the charged particles, so that the electrophoretic particles in the microstructure are evenly dispersed. Each sixth pulse signal group includes a fourth set interval Multiple sixth pulse signals with the same polarity.

In a specific example, the duration of the single fifth pulse signal sent by the first driving module, the duration of the single third pulse and the duration of the single first pulse are the same, since there is no storage capacitor in the virtual display area, the applied single sixth The duration of the pulse signal is appropriately longer than the duration of a single fifth pulse signal applied to the display area.

In a possible implementation manner, the duration of a single sixth pulse signal is longer than the duration of a single fifth (first) pulse signal.

In a possible implementation manner, the duration of the single sixth pulse signal ranges from 2-3 times the duration of the single fifth (first) pulse signal.

In a possible implementation manner, each frame period in the frame periods driven by the sixth pulse signal respectively includes a period of the sixth pulse signal and a period of the fourth set interval.

In a possible implementation manner, the duration of the single second pulse signal, the duration of the single fourth pulse signal and the duration of the single sixth pulse signal are the same and greater than the duration of the single first pulse signal and the duration of the single third pulse signal. duration and the duration of a single fifth pulse signal.

Continuing the above example, the duration of the single fifth pulse signal 413 is 0.0002s, and the value range of the duration of the single sixth pulse signal 423 is between 2-3 times of the duration of the single fifth pulse signal, for example, 2.5 times, then The duration of the sixth pulse signal 423 in the virtual display area is 0.0005s, and one frame period is 0.02s, so the fourth set interval is 0.0195s.

In a possible implementation manner, the activation phase includes a first activation sub-phase and a second activation sub-phase after the first activation sub-phase, and the fifth pulse signal includes the first and fifth pulse sub-signals and the second and fifth pulse sub-signals, the sixth pulse signal group includes the first sixth pulse signal subgroup and the second sixth pulse signal subgroup,

The first driving module is configured to send the first fifth pulse sub-signals with alternate polarities having a fifth set interval to the first pixel electrodes arranged in the array in the first activation sub-phase, and in the second activation sub-phase Sending alternate polarity second and fifth pulse sub-signals with a sixth set interval to the first pixel electrodes arranged in an array, wherein the duration of the first and fifth pulse sub-signals is shorter than that of the second and fifth pulse sub-signals The duration of the fifth set interval is less than the sixth set interval;

The second driving module is configured to send the first and sixth pulse signal subgroups with alternate polarities having a fifth set interval to the second pixel electrode in the first activation sub-phase, and send the second pulse signal subgroup to the second pixel electrode in the second activation sub-phase. The pixel electrode transmits the second and sixth subgroups of alternate polarities with a sixth set interval, wherein the duration of the first and sixth subgroups of pulse signals is shorter than the duration of the second and sixth subgroups of pulse signals, and each subgroup of sixth pulse signals A sixth pulse signal subgroup and each second sixth pulse signal subgroup respectively include a plurality of sixth pulse signals with a fourth set interval.

In a specific example, as shown in waveform a, waveform b and waveform c in FIG. 4 , the activation phase includes activation phase 1 and activation phase 2. In the activation phase 1, the first driving module sends The first and fifth pulse sub-signals with alternating polarities at the fifth set interval; the second drive module sends a subgroup of the first and sixth pulse signals with alternate polarities at the fifth set interval to the second pixel electrode in the activation phase one , wherein the duration of the first driving module acting in the first activation phase is the same as the duration of the second driving module acting in the first activation phase.

The first driving module sends the second and fifth pulse sub-signals with alternating polarities with a sixth set interval to the first pixel electrodes arranged in the array in the second activation phase, and the second driving module sends the second fifth pulse sub-signals to the second pixel electrodes in the second activation phase. Sending a second and sixth subgroup of alternating polarity pulse signals with a sixth set interval, wherein the duration of the first driving module acting in the second activation phase is the same as the duration of the second driving module acting in the first activation phase. The duration of the first fifth pulse sub-signal is less than the duration of the second fifth pulse sub-signal (the duration of each combination formed by a single first fifth pulse sub-signal in the polarity alternation is less than each of the polarity alternation a combined duration formed by a single second fifth pulse sub-signal), the fifth set interval is less than the sixth set interval; wherein, the duration of the first sixth pulse signal subgroup is shorter than the second and sixth For the duration of the pulse signal subgroups, each first sixth pulse signal subgroup and each second sixth pulse signal subgroup respectively include a plurality of sixth pulse signals with a fourth set interval.

Continuing the above example, the duration of the single first fifth pulse signal and the single second fifth pulse signal are 0.0002s respectively.

In summary, in the above example, as shown in FIG. 4 , each frame period in the plurality of frame periods driven by the second pulse signal 421 in the writing stage includes a period of 0.0005s of the second pulse signal 421 and a period of the second pulse signal 421 respectively. The period of the first set interval is 0.0195s; each frame period in the frame period driven by the fourth pulse signal 422 in the reverse phase includes a period of 0.0005s of the fourth pulse signal 422 and a period of 0.0005s of the first pulse signal 422 The period of two setting intervals is 0.0195s; each frame period in the frame period driven by the sixth pulse signal 423 in the activation phase includes a period of 0.0005s of the sixth pulse signal 423 and a period of the fourth setting The period of interval is 0.0195s.

In a specific example, the first driving module sends the third pulse signal 412, the fifth pulse signal 413, and the first pulse signal 411 to the first pixel electrodes arranged in an array in a row-by-row scanning manner during the frame period. (Scanning line), all row pixel units are scanned once in each frame period. Different from the dummy display area which is only provided with one second pixel electrode and one data line, the display area is provided with multiple data lines, and each data line is connected to a column of first pixel electrodes. As shown in Figure 4, the white particles are negatively charged, and the waveform a is the waveform of the pulse signal applied by the first driving module to a first pixel electrode within one frame period when the display area displays a pure white image. Driving waveforms of the third pulse signal 412 , the fifth pulse signal 413 and the first pulse signal 411 applied by the first driving module to a first pixel electrode within one frame period when a pure white screen is displayed. Waveform b is the pulse signal waveform of one data line in one picture period when the display area displays a pure white picture (the driving waveform of the existing virtual display area when displaying a pure white picture is similar to waveform b). Waveform c is the waveform of the pulse signal applied by the second drive module to the second pixel electrode within one frame period when the virtual display area displays a pure white image in the embodiment of the present invention, specifically, the virtual display area in the embodiment of the present invention is displaying The driving waveforms of the fourth pulse signal 422 , the sixth pulse signal 423 , and the second pulse signal 421 applied by the second driving module to the second pixel electrode within one frame period of a pure white screen. Waveform a shows that the first driving module sends a third pulse signal 412 of +15V to each first pixel electrode in the reverse phase, and sends a pulse signal 412 with a fifth set interval to each first pixel electrode in the first activation sub-phase. The first and fifth pulse sub-signals 413 of ±15V with alternating polarities at equal intervals, in the second activation sub-stage, send the first and fifth pulse sub-signals 413 of ±15V with alternate polarities at equal intervals with the sixth set interval to each first pixel electrode. Two fifth pulse sub-signals 413, send a first pulse signal 411 of -15V to each first pixel electrode in the writing phase, so that the display area is in a white screen (for waveform b, each data line The pulse signals sent by the first pixel electrodes in a column are all waveform b). Waveform c shows that the second drive module sends a plurality of +15V fourth pulse signals 422 with a second set interval to the second pixel electrode in the reverse phase, and sends a plurality of +15V fourth pulse signals 422 to the second pixel electrode in the first activation sub-phase. The first and sixth pulse signal subgroups of ±15V with alternating polarities at the fifth set interval transmit the second ±15V second pulse signal with alternate polarities at the sixth set interval to the second pixel electrode in the second activation sub-phase. Six pulse signal subgroups, wherein each first sixth pulse signal subgroup and each second sixth pulse signal subgroup respectively include a plurality of +15V or -15V sixth pulse signals with a fourth set interval 423. Send a plurality of -15V second pulse signals 421 with a first set interval to the second pixel electrode in the writing phase, so that the virtual display area displays a white picture, wherein a single fourth pulse signal 422, The duration of the single sixth pulse signal 423 and the single second pulse signal 412 are the same, and the durations of the second set interval, the fourth set interval and the first set interval are the same. In Figure 3, the parameters of waveform b and waveform c in the reverse phase, activation phase 1 (first activation sub-phase), activation phase 2 (second activation sub-phase) and writing phase are shown in Table 1.

Table 1

Figure 5 shows the driving waveforms in one picture period when both the display area and the virtual display area of the three-color electronic paper display panel display a black picture, wherein waveform d is the first picture period in a picture period when the display area displays a pure black picture A pulse signal waveform applied by a driving module to a first pixel electrode, and waveform e is a pulse signal waveform of a data line in a picture period when the display area displays a pure black picture (the existing virtual display area displays a pure black picture When the driving waveform is similar to waveform e), waveform f is the pulse signal waveform of one data line in one frame period when the display area displays a pure black screen. As shown in Figure 5, the black particles are positively charged, and waveform d shows that the third pulse signal 513 applied by the first driving module to the first pixel electrode in the reverse phase is -15V, and the pulse signal 513 applied to the first pixel electrode in the writing phase is -15V. The applied first pulse signal 511 is +15V, and the activation phase is consistent with the driving waveform (waveform a) in which the display area of the three-color electronic paper display panel displays a white picture. Waveform f shows that the second driving module sends a plurality of fourth pulse signals 522 with a second set interval to the second pixel electrode in the reverse phase, which is -15V, and the multiple pulse signals 522 applied to the second pixel electrode in the writing phase The multiple second pulse signals 521 with the first set interval are +15V, and the activation phase is consistent with the driving waveform (waveform c) for displaying a white picture in the virtual display area of the three-color electronic paper display panel.

Figure 6 shows the driving waveforms in one picture period when both the display area and the virtual display area of the three-color electronic paper display panel display a red picture, where waveform j is the first picture in a picture period when the display area displays a pure red picture A pulse signal waveform applied by a driving module to a first pixel electrode, and the waveform h is the pulse signal waveform of a data line in a frame period when the display area displays a pure red image (the existing virtual display area displays a pure red image When the driving waveform is similar to the waveform h), the waveform i is the pulse signal waveform of one data line in one picture period when the display area displays a pure red picture. As shown in Figure 6, the red particle is positively charged, but the charge-to-mass ratio of the red particle is smaller than that of the black particle, and the charge of the red particle is also smaller than that of the black particle. When +6V is applied to the pixel electrode, the driving force makes the red particle be pushed, and the black particle The particles are not pushed, therefore, the waveform j shows that the first driving module applies the third pulse signal 612 of -15V to the first pixel electrode in the reverse phase, and applies - The first pulse signal 612 of 15V makes the black particles on the top move down and there are no black particles on the top of the display area, and then the first pulse signal 612 of +6V is applied to the first pixel electrode to activate the phase and three-color electronic paper display The display area of the panel displays the same driving waveform (waveform a) as the white screen. Waveform i shows that the second driving module sends a plurality of fourth pulse signals 622 with the second set interval to the second pixel electrode in the reverse phase, which is -15V, and the pulse signal with The multiple second pulse signals 621 at the first set interval are -15V and then the multiple second pulse signals 621 with the first set interval applied to the second pixel electrode are +6V, the activation stage and the three-color electronic paper The virtual display area of the display panel displays the same driving waveform (waveform c) of the white picture.

In the driving device for electronic paper display panel provided by the present invention, for the display area of the first pixel electrodes arranged in an array usually driven by progressive scanning, the first driving module writes to the array in the writing stage of each frame The first pixel electrodes of the distribution respectively send the first pulse signal to make the display area display a picture; for the virtual display area using the second pixel electrode as a whole, the second driving module writes to the first pulse signal in the writing phase of each picture cycle. The two pixel electrodes send a plurality of second pulse signals with a first set interval, so that the virtual display area displays a solid color picture, so that the particles in the virtual display area can reach the top of the paper film and will not continue to receive unnecessary thrust Therefore, it will not continue to squeeze the edge paper film, and can avoid the failure of the paper film in the virtual display area without affecting the display of the virtual display area.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides an electronic paper display device, the electronic paper display device includes an electronic paper display panel and the above-mentioned driving device, wherein,

The display area of the electronic paper display panel includes pixel units (Pixels) arranged in an array, and the pixel units include first pixel electrodes. During the process of refreshing the picture in the display area, the first driving module is used to send data to each pixel according to the pixel data of each pixel. The included first pixel electrode applies a corresponding data signal to drive the display area to display a picture corresponding to the picture data. For example, if the pixel data of a pixel is white pixel data, a white driving signal is applied to the first pixel electrode of the pixel, so that after the picture refresh is completed, the white particles in the pixel are suspended in a position close to the display surface, so that the pixel Display white; if the pixel data of a pixel is black pixel data, a black driving signal is applied to the first pixel electrode of the pixel, so that after the screen refresh is completed, the black particles in the pixel are suspended near the display surface, so that the The pixel displays black; if the pixel data of a pixel is red pixel data, a red driving signal is applied to the first pixel electrode of the pixel, so that after the picture refresh is completed, the red particles in the pixel are suspended near the display surface, thereby The pixel displays red.

The virtual display area of the electronic paper display panel includes dummy pixel units (Dummy Pixel) arranged in an array, and all the dummy pixel units are integrally connected to form a ring-shaped virtual pixel unit, for example, surrounding the display area. The dummy pixel unit can also be called a pseudo pixel unit. , a redundant pixel unit or an invalid pixel unit, the dummy pixel unit includes a second pixel electrode. The virtual display area of the electronic paper display device is used to display a solid-color image, usually a white image (or black and red images). The second driving module is used for driving the virtual display area to display a solid-color image.

The electronic paper display device may be any product or component with a display function such as an electronic book, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present invention.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides a driving method for an electronic paper display panel, the electronic paper display panel includes a display area and a virtual display area for displaying a solid-color picture, and the display area includes pixels arranged in an array A unit, the pixel unit includes a first pixel electrode, and the virtual display area includes a second pixel electrode;

The driving method includes:

In the writing stage of each frame period, the first pulse signal is sent to the first pixel electrodes arranged in the array and the second pulse signal with the first set interval is sent to the second pixel electrodes, so that the display area A picture is displayed in a picture period, and the virtual display area displays a solid color picture in each picture period.

In a possible implementation manner, the picture period further includes a reverse phase before the writing phase, and the driving method further includes:

In the reverse phase, a third pulse signal is sent to the first pixel electrodes arranged in an array, and a plurality of fourth pulse signals with a second set interval are sent to the second pixel electrodes.

In a possible implementation manner, the picture period further includes an activation phase between the inversion phase and the writing phase,

In the activation stage, the fifth pulse signal with alternate polarity having the third set interval is sent to the first pixel electrodes arranged in the array, and the fifth pulse signal with the alternate polarity having the third set interval is sent to the second pixel electrode in the active stage. Six pulse signal groups, wherein each sixth pulse signal group includes a plurality of sixth pulse signals with the same polarity with a fourth set interval.

In a possible implementation manner, the activation phase includes a first activation sub-phase and a second activation sub-phase after the first activation sub-phase, and the fifth pulse signal includes the first and fifth pulse sub-signals and the second and fifth pulse sub-signals, the sixth pulse signal group includes the first sixth pulse signal subgroup and the second sixth pulse signal subgroup,

The fifth pulse signal with alternating polarity having a third set interval is sent to the first pixel electrodes arranged in an array during the activation phase, and the alternate polarity signal having a third set interval is sent to the second pixel electrodes during the activation phase. The sixth pulse signal group consists of:

In the first activation sub-phase, send the first and fifth pulse sub-signals with alternating polarities with a fifth set interval to the first pixel electrodes arranged in the array, and send the first and fifth pulse sub-signals to the first pixel electrodes in the array in the second activation sub-phase Sending the second and fifth pulse sub-signals with alternate polarities at the sixth setting interval, wherein the duration of the first fifth pulse sub-signal is shorter than the duration of the second and fifth pulse sub-signals, and the fifth setting the interval is smaller than the sixth set interval;

And in the first activation sub-phase, send to the second pixel electrode the first and sixth pulse signal subgroups with alternating polarity having the fifth setting interval, and send the sixth pulse signal subgroup with the sixth setting to the second pixel electrode in the second activation sub-phase The second and sixth pulse signal subgroups with alternating polarities at intervals, wherein the duration of the first sixth pulse signal subset is less than the duration of the second sixth pulse signal subgroup, and each first and sixth pulse signal subgroup and Each second and sixth pulse signal subgroup respectively includes a plurality of sixth pulse signals with a fourth set interval.

In a possible implementation manner, the duration of a single second pulse signal is longer than the duration of a single first pulse signal;

In the case where there is a fourth pulse signal, the duration of a single fourth pulse signal is longer than the duration of a single first pulse signal;

In the case of the sixth pulse signal, the duration of the single sixth pulse signal is longer than the duration of the single first pulse signal.

In a possible implementation manner, the value range of the duration of the single second pulse signal is between 2-3 times the duration of the single first pulse signal;

In the case that there is a fourth pulse signal, the value range of the duration of the single fourth pulse signal is between 2-3 times of the duration of the single first pulse signal;

In the case that the sixth pulse signal exists, the value range of the duration of the single sixth pulse signal is between 2-3 times of the duration of the single first pulse signal.

In a possible implementation manner, when there is a fourth pulse signal, the duration of a single fourth pulse signal is equal to the duration of a single second pulse signal;

In the case of the sixth pulse signal, the duration of a single sixth pulse signal is equal to the duration of a single second pulse signal.

In a possible implementation manner, the writing phase includes a plurality of frame periods, wherein each frame period that needs to be driven by the second pulse signal includes a period of the second pulse signal and a period of said first set interval;

In the case that there is a reverse phase, the reverse phase includes a plurality of frame periods, and each frame period in the frame periods that need to be driven by the fourth pulse signal includes a period of the fourth pulse signal and a period of the first pulse signal respectively. 2. Set the interval period;

In the case that there is an activation phase, the activation phase includes a plurality of frame periods, and each frame period in the frame periods that need to be driven by the sixth pulse signal respectively includes a period of the sixth pulse signal and a period of the fourth setting time intervals.

In a possible implementation manner, in each picture period, the total duration of multiple second pulse signals and the first set interval is equal to the first pulse signal sent to a column of first pixel electrodes when the solid-color picture is displayed in the display area. The total duration of a pulse signal.

It should be noted that the driving method for the electronic paper display panel provided in this embodiment is similar to the principle and work flow of the above-mentioned driving device for the electronic paper display panel, and relevant parts can refer to the above description, and will not be repeated here. .

In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that the orientation or positional relationship indicated by the terms "upper", "lower", etc. is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, and is only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description. It is not intended to indicate or imply that the referred device or element must have a particular orientation, be constructed in a particular orientation, and operate in a particular orientation, and thus should not be construed as limiting the invention. Unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installation", "connection" and "connection" should be interpreted in a broad sense, for example, it may be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it may be a mechanical connection, It can also be an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection, or an indirect connection through an intermediary, or an internal communication between two components. Those of ordinary skill in the art can understand the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention according to specific situations.

It should also be noted that in the description of the present invention, relative terms such as first and second are only used to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply these No such actual relationship or order exists between entities or operations. Furthermore, the term "comprises", "comprises" or any other variation thereof is intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion such that a process, method, article, or apparatus comprising a set of elements includes not only those elements, but also includes elements not expressly listed. other elements of or also include elements inherent in such a process, method, article, or device. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising a ..." does not exclude the presence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article or apparatus comprising said element.

Apparently, the above-mentioned embodiments of the present invention are only examples for clearly illustrating the present invention, and are not intended to limit the implementation of the present invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art can also make It is not possible to exhaustively list all the embodiments here, and any obvious changes or changes derived from the technical solutions of the present invention are still within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims (19)

1. The driving device for the electronic paper display panel is characterized in that the electronic paper display panel comprises a display area and a virtual display area for displaying a solid-color picture, the display area comprises pixel units which are arranged in an array, the pixel units comprise first pixel electrodes, and the virtual display area comprises second pixel electrodes;

the driving device includes:

the first driving module is used for respectively sending first pulse signals to the first pixel electrodes arranged in the array in the writing stage of each picture period so that the display area displays pictures;

and the second driving module is used for sending a plurality of second pulse signals with a first set interval to the second pixel electrode in the writing stage of each picture period so that the virtual display area displays a pure-color picture.

2. The drive device of claim 1, wherein the picture period further comprises a reverse phase prior to the write phase,

the first driving module is further used for sending a third pulse signal to the first pixel electrodes arranged in the array at a reverse stage;

the second driving module is further configured to send a plurality of fourth pulse signals with a second set interval to the second pixel electrode in a reverse phase.

3. The drive of claim 2, wherein the picture period further comprises an active phase between the reverse phase and the write phase,

the first driving module is further used for sending a fifth pulse signal with a third set interval and alternating polarity to the first pixel electrodes arranged in the array in an activation stage;

the second driving module is further configured to send, in an activation phase, a sixth pulse signal group with polarity alternation having a third set interval to the second pixel electrode, where each sixth pulse signal group includes a plurality of sixth pulse signals with same polarity having a fourth set interval.

4. The driving device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the activation phase comprises a first activation sub-phase and a second activation sub-phase subsequent to the first activation sub-phase, the fifth pulse signal comprises a first fifth pulse sub-signal and a second fifth pulse sub-signal, the sixth pulse signal group comprises a first sixth pulse signal sub-group and a second sixth pulse signal sub-group,

The first driving module is configured to send, in a first activation sub-stage, a first fifth pulse sub-signal with a fifth set interval and alternating polarity to a first pixel electrode arranged in an array, and send, in a second activation sub-stage, a second fifth pulse sub-signal with a sixth set interval and alternating polarity to a first pixel electrode arranged in the array, where a duration of the first fifth pulse sub-signal is less than a duration of the second fifth pulse sub-signal, and the fifth set interval is less than the sixth set interval;

the second driving module is configured to send, in a first activation sub-stage, a first sixth pulse signal subgroup with polarity alternation having a fifth set interval to the second pixel electrode, and send, in a second activation sub-stage, a second sixth pulse signal subgroup with polarity alternation having a sixth set interval to the second pixel electrode, where a duration of the first sixth pulse signal subgroup is smaller than a duration of the second sixth pulse signal subgroup, and each of the first sixth pulse signal subgroup and each of the second sixth pulse signal subgroup includes a plurality of sixth pulse signals having a fourth set interval.

5. The drive device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a duration of a single second pulse signal is longer than a duration of a single first pulse signal;

In the presence of the fourth pulse signal, the time length of the single fourth pulse signal is longer than the time length of the single first pulse signal;

in the case where the sixth pulse signal is present, the duration of the single sixth pulse signal is longer than the duration of the single first pulse signal.

6. The driving device according to claim 5, wherein the duration of the single second pulse signal is in a range between 2-3 times the duration of the single first pulse signal;

under the condition that the fourth pulse signal exists, the value range of the duration of the single fourth pulse signal is 2-3 times of the duration of the single first pulse signal;

in the case where the sixth pulse signal is present, the duration of the single sixth pulse signal has a value ranging between 2-3 times the duration of the single first pulse signal.

7. The drive device according to claim 6, wherein in the presence of the fourth pulse signal, a duration of a single fourth pulse signal is equal to a duration of a single second pulse signal;

in the case where the sixth pulse signal is present, the duration of the single sixth pulse signal is equal to the duration of the single second pulse signal.

8. The drive device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the writing phase includes a plurality of frame periods, wherein each frame period in the frame periods required to be driven with the second pulse signal includes a period of the second pulse signal and a period of the first set interval, respectively;

In the case where there is a reverse phase, the reverse phase includes a plurality of frame periods, each frame period in the frame periods required to be driven with a fourth pulse signal includes a period of the fourth pulse signal and a period of the second set interval, respectively;

in the case where there is an active phase, the active phase includes a plurality of frame periods, and each frame period in the frame periods required to be driven with a sixth pulse signal includes a period of the sixth pulse signal and a period of the fourth set interval, respectively.

9. The driving apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein a total duration of the plurality of second pulse signals and the first set interval in each frame period is equal to a total duration of the first pulse signals transmitted by the first driving module to a row of first pixel electrodes when the solid-color frame is displayed in the display area.

10. An electronic paper display device comprising an electronic paper display panel and the driving device according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. The driving method for the electronic paper display panel is characterized in that the electronic paper display panel comprises a display area and a virtual display area for displaying a solid-color picture, wherein the display area comprises pixel units which are arranged in an array, the pixel units comprise first pixel electrodes, and the virtual display area comprises second pixel electrodes;

The driving method includes:

and in the writing stage of each picture period, a first pulse signal is sent to the first pixel electrodes arranged in an array, and a second pulse signal with a first set interval is sent to the second pixel electrodes, so that the display area displays pictures in each picture period and the virtual display area displays solid-color pictures in each picture period.

12. The driving method according to claim 11, wherein the picture period further includes a reverse phase preceding the writing phase, the driving method further comprising:

and transmitting a third pulse signal to the first pixel electrodes arranged in the array and transmitting a plurality of fourth pulse signals with a second set interval to the second pixel electrodes in the reverse stage.

13. The driving method according to claim 12, wherein the picture period further includes an activation phase between the reverse phase and the writing phase,

and transmitting fifth pulse signals with third set intervals and with alternating polarities to the first pixel electrodes arranged in the array in the activation stage, and transmitting sixth pulse signal groups with third set intervals and with alternating polarities to the second pixel electrodes in the activation stage, wherein each sixth pulse signal group comprises a plurality of sixth pulse signals with fourth set intervals and with the same polarities.

14. The driving method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the active phase includes a first active sub-phase and a second active sub-phase subsequent to the first active sub-phase, the fifth pulse signal includes a first fifth pulse sub-signal and a second fifth pulse sub-signal, the sixth pulse signal group includes a first sixth pulse signal group and a second sixth pulse signal group,

the transmitting the fifth pulse signal with the third set interval and the sixth pulse signal group with the third set interval and the polarity alternation to the first pixel electrode arranged in the array in the activation stage comprises the following steps:

transmitting a first fifth pulse sub-signal with alternating polarity and a fifth set interval to a first pixel electrode arranged in an array in a first activation sub-stage, and transmitting a second fifth pulse sub-signal with alternating polarity and a sixth set interval to the first pixel electrode arranged in the array in a second activation sub-stage, wherein the duration of the first fifth pulse sub-signal is smaller than that of the second fifth pulse sub-signal, and the fifth set interval is smaller than that of the sixth set interval;

And transmitting a first and a sixth pulse signal sub-groups with polarity alternation of a fifth set interval to the second pixel electrode in the first activation sub-stage, and transmitting a second and a sixth pulse signal sub-groups with polarity alternation of a sixth set interval to the second pixel electrode in the second activation sub-stage, wherein the duration of the first and the sixth pulse signal sub-groups is smaller than that of the second and the sixth pulse signal sub-groups, each of which comprises a plurality of sixth pulse signals with a fourth set interval.

15. The driving method according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein a duration of the single second pulse signal is longer than a duration of the single first pulse signal;

in the presence of the fourth pulse signal, the time length of the single fourth pulse signal is longer than the time length of the single first pulse signal;

in the case where the sixth pulse signal is present, the duration of the single sixth pulse signal is longer than the duration of the single first pulse signal.

16. The driving method according to claim 15, wherein the duration of the single second pulse signal has a value ranging between 2-3 times the duration of the single first pulse signal;

Under the condition that the fourth pulse signal exists, the value range of the duration of the single fourth pulse signal is 2-3 times of the duration of the single first pulse signal;

in the case where the sixth pulse signal is present, the duration of the single sixth pulse signal has a value ranging between 2-3 times the duration of the single first pulse signal.

17. The driving method according to claim 16, wherein in the presence of the fourth pulse signal, a duration of a single fourth pulse signal is equal to a duration of a single second pulse signal;

in the case where the sixth pulse signal is present, the duration of the single sixth pulse signal is equal to the duration of the single second pulse signal.

18. The driving method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the writing phase includes a plurality of frame periods, wherein each frame period in the frame periods required to be driven with the second pulse signal includes a period of the second pulse signal and a period of the first set interval, respectively;

in the case where there is a reverse phase, the reverse phase includes a plurality of frame periods, each frame period in the frame periods required to be driven with a fourth pulse signal includes a period of the fourth pulse signal and a period of the second set interval, respectively;

In the case where there is an active phase, the active phase includes a plurality of frame periods, and each frame period in the frame periods required to be driven with a sixth pulse signal includes a period of the sixth pulse signal and a period of the fourth set interval, respectively.

19. The driving method according to claim 11, wherein a total duration of the plurality of second pulse signals and the first set interval is equal to a total duration of the first pulse signals transmitted to the one row of first pixel electrodes when the solid-color picture is displayed in the display area in each picture period.

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