JP4876686B2 - Display device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention also relates to a display equipment using a pressure sensitive paint.

  In recent years, devices using light energy, which is clean and abundant in resources, have attracted attention as energy sources, and devices that use light energy have also been proposed for display devices such as light-emitting display panels (for example, patent documents). 1).

  A light emitting display device using these light energies employs a system in which light energy is converted into electric energy using a solar power generation system or the like, and the light emitting device is driven by the electric energy.

On the other hand, a technique has been proposed in which a pressure distribution of an oxygen-containing gas on the surface of an object to which a pressure-sensitive paint is applied is visually obtained as image information using the pressure-sensitive paint (see, for example, Patent Document 2). .
JP 2005-157096 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-12661

  However, according to the conventional light-emitting display device described in Patent Document 1, in order to drive the light-emitting device, it is necessary to convert light energy into electrical energy once, which causes a problem that energy efficiency is lowered. .

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its object is to provide a display equipment with increased energy efficiency by converting light energy directly to the emission energy.

To achieve the above object, one aspect of the present invention provides the following display equipment.

  [1] Light emitting portions that receive light energy and emit light at an intensity corresponding to the internal oxygen concentration are arranged in m rows and n columns (where m is an integer of 1 or more and n is an integer of 2 or more), and the row direction Is a display device in which one pixel is configured by j light emitting units arranged adjacent to each other (where j is an integer of 2 or more), and a voltage is applied and the plurality of light emitting units are heated. An oxygen ion conductor that lowers the oxygen concentration on the surface of the light emitting portion, and extends in a column direction on one surface of the oxygen ion conductor, arranged in a row direction, and applies a voltage to the oxygen ion conductor A strip electrode, a counter electrode formed on the other surface of the oxygen ion conductor, and n / j heating elements (where n / j is an integer of 1 or more) arranged in the row direction. A column selection voltage is applied between the heating element row and the n strip electrodes and the counter electrode An electrode driving unit, a heating element driving unit that heats the n / j heating elements in synchronization with the application of the column selection voltage based on image data, and heat generation that moves the heating element column in the column direction. A display device comprising: a body row moving unit.

  According to the above [1], the oxygen concentration on the surface of each light emitting part can be changed by adjusting the voltage applied to the oxygen ion conductor and the heating time. Thus, by giving light energy to each light emission part in the state which changed oxygen concentration, each light emission part light-emits with the intensity | strength according to oxygen concentration, and an image is displayed by each light emission part. Therefore, it is possible to display an image by directly converting light energy into light emission energy.

  In addition, since one heating element corresponds to a plurality of electrodes, pixels can be controlled in units of light emitting units that are smaller in size than the heating element, and an image display with high resolution can be performed. In addition, the heat generating part row is provided in, for example, a thermal head and moves by moving the thermal head.

  [2] The display device according to [1], wherein the j light-emitting portions constituting the one pixel are configured of a plurality of types of light-emitting portions that emit light of different colors. Thereby, the display state of arbitrary colors is realizable by assigning a mutually different color to each light emission part.

  [3] The display device according to [2], wherein two light emitting units constitute one pixel (j = 2), and the two light emitting units emit light in different colors. .

  [4] The display device according to [2], wherein the three light emitting units constitute one pixel (j = 3), and the three light emitting units emit light in different colors. .

  [5] The display device according to [4], wherein the three light emitting units emit light in red, green, and blue, respectively. Thereby, RGB display can be performed.

  [6] Four light emitting units constitute one pixel (j = 4), and the four light emitting units include two light emitting units that emit light of a first color, and a first color. The display device according to [2], including two light emitting units that emit light of a second color different from the above. Thereby, multicolor display and gradation display can be realized simultaneously.

  [7] The display device according to [1], wherein all the j light emitting units constituting the one pixel are configured by the light emitting units that emit light of the same color. According to this, by adjusting the light emission / extinction state of each light emitting unit in the pixel, the brightness of the displayed color can be controlled, and so-called color gradation control can be performed.

  [8] The display device according to [1], wherein the n strip-shaped electrodes include j sets of electrodes formed by electrically connecting the n / j strip-shaped electrodes to each other. Thereby, the electrode electrically controlled separately can be reduced as much as possible, and the number of contacts of the electric circuit for energizing each electrode can be reduced. In addition, since the common wiring can be used for the electrodes constituting the electrode set, the space required for the wiring can be remarkably reduced. The electrodes forming the electrode set are preferably connected to each other at the end in the one direction. Thereby, the space efficiency of wiring improves.

  [9] The display device according to [1], wherein the light emitting unit includes an oxygen-sensitive light emitting layer that emits light with an intensity corresponding to an oxygen concentration on the surface.

  [10] The display device according to [9], wherein the oxygen-sensitive light-emitting layer is made of a pressure-sensitive paint (PSP).

  [11] The display device according to [1], wherein the oxygen ion conductor is a zirconia fixed electrolyte.

  [12] The oxygen sensitive light emitting layer and the oxygen ion conductor are disposed to face each other, and a sealed space is provided between the oxygen sensitive light emitting layer and the oxygen ion conductor. The display device described in 1.

[13] The display device according to [9], wherein a spacer is provided between the oxygen-sensitive light emitting layer and the oxygen ion conductor.

  According to the present invention, energy efficiency can be dramatically improved by directly converting light energy into light emission energy. In addition, since the number of contacts of the electric circuit for energizing each electrode can be reduced, the connector and the like can be reduced in size, and electrical control can be easily and easily performed. Furthermore, the space required for wiring can be remarkably reduced, and the manufacturing cost of a substrate or the like on which wiring is formed is extremely advantageous in practical use.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the X direction and the Y direction indicate the arrangement direction of the light emitting units.

  The display device 100 includes a display medium 110 in which a plurality of light emitting units 120 are arranged in an array in m rows and n columns. Each light emitting unit 120 emits light with an intensity corresponding to the oxygen concentration on the surface when receiving light energy, and one light emitting unit 120 arranged in the X direction (row direction) constitutes one pixel. . One of red, green, and blue is assigned to the three light emitting units 120 constituting one pixel, and the displayed color is adjusted according to the light emitting state of each light emitting unit 120. 1 shows a case where the light emitting units 120 are arranged in 4 rows and 12 columns and are composed of 4 × 4 pixels. The number of 120 arranged in the X direction and the Y direction and the number of pixels are arbitrary.

  In addition, the display device 100 includes a thermal head 170 that is spaced apart from the back surface of the display medium 110 by a predetermined distance and that heats an oxygen ion conductor, which will be described later, constituting the display medium 110. The thermal head 170 extends in the X direction and is movable in the Y direction, and has a heating element array in which a plurality of heating elements are arranged in the X direction. The heating element will be described later.

  Further, the display device 100 includes an electrode driving unit 180 that applies a voltage to an electrode, which will be described later, constituting the display medium 110 via an electrode line, and a head drive as a heating element row moving unit that scans the thermal head 170 in the Y direction. Unit 182, heating element driving unit 184 that controls the amount of heat generated by each heating element, and electrode driving unit 180, head driving unit 182, and heating element driving unit 184 based on image data stored in image storage unit 186. A drive control unit 188 that performs display control by controlling, and a power supply unit 190 that supplies power to the electrode drive unit 180, the head drive unit 182, and the heating element drive unit 184 are provided.

  The drive control unit 188 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a timing signal generation circuit, and the like. The CPU performs display control according to a control program stored in the ROM.

  The image storage unit 186 may have a configuration in which image data is input via a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a rewritable flash memory, or a network such as a LAN (Local Area Network).

  The head drive unit 182 scans the linear thermal head 170 based on a signal from the drive control unit 188.

  The heating element driving unit 184 heats each heating element based on a signal from the drive control unit 188. The heating element driving unit 184 can control each heating element so that the oxygen ion conductor corresponding to the light emitting unit 120 has a suitable temperature each time the thermal head 170 moves in the Y direction by one line of the light emitting unit 120. . That is, by moving the thermal head 170 in the Y direction, the light emitting units 120 can emit light independently of each other over the entire display area.

(Layer structure of display medium)
FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing the layer structure of the display medium. In addition to each light emitting unit 120 described above, the display medium 110 includes an oxygen ion conductor 130 that moves oxygen when a voltage is applied to change the oxygen concentration inside each light emitting unit 120, and the oxygen ion conductor 130. A first electrode 142 that is a plurality of strip-like electrodes to which a voltage is applied and a second electrode 144 that is one full-surface electrode as a counter electrode are provided. Further, the electrodes 142 and 144 are energized via electrode lines from the electrode driving unit 180 shown in FIG.

  The display medium 110 includes, for example, a transparent substrate 122 made of glass or the like, a plurality of oxygen-sensitive light-emitting layers 124 made of pressure-sensitive paint (PSP (Pressure Sensitive Paint)) provided on the back surface of the transparent substrate 122, and each oxygen-sensitive layer. A light reflecting layer 126 provided on each of the light emitting layers 124. That is, the oxygen-sensitive light-emitting layer 124 and the light reflecting layer 126 are laminated on one surface of the transparent substrate 122, and when the oxygen-sensitive light-emitting layer 124 emits light, the light-emitting state is visually recognized from the other surface side of the transparent substrate 122. The surface of the transparent substrate 122 on which the oxygen-sensitive light emitting layer 124 and the light reflecting layer 126 are laminated faces the oxygen ion conductor 130.

  In addition, the display medium 110 is provided with a spacer 150 that partitions each light emitting unit 120 between the light emitting unit 120 and the oxygen ion conductor 130, and is sealed by the light emitting unit 120, the oxygen ion conductor 130, and the spacer 150. 160 is defined. As the spacer 150, for example, a metal such as Ta, W, Ti, Al, or duralumin can be used in addition to glass or ceramic.

  Further, the display medium 110 is provided with a UV light source 174 on the side of the transparent substrate 122. The UV light source 174 irradiates light in the extending direction into the plate-like transparent substrate 122. The irradiated light reaches all the oxygen-sensitive light-emitting layers 124 while repeating reflection on the front and back surfaces of the transparent substrate 122 as indicated by arrows in the figure. Note that external light may be introduced to the oxygen-sensitive light emitting layer 124 without providing a light source device such as the UV light source 174.

(Oxygen-sensitive luminescent layer)
The pressure-sensitive paint used for the oxygen-sensitive light-emitting layer 124 emits light according to the oxygen concentration on the surface when light energy such as ultraviolet (UV) rays is obtained. When the oxygen concentration on the surface is high, energy is lost to oxygen, and thus light emission does not occur (oxygen quenching action). Therefore, the lower the surface oxygen concentration, the stronger the light emission. In addition, since the oxygen quenching action acts on a plurality of dye molecules with one oxygen molecule, switching efficiency is high. The color that emits light depends on the type of material constituting the oxygen-sensitive light-emitting layer 124. The pressure-sensitive paint used for the oxygen-sensitive light-emitting layer 124 is formed of a dye that emits light and a binder for fixing the dye to the object surface. Examples of the dye include porphyrin compounds such as PtOEP, polycyclic aromatic compounds such as Pyrene, ruthenium complexes such as Ru (dpp) ₃ , iridium complexes such as Ir (ppy) ₃ , Eu (tta) ₃ phen, and the like. The europium complex can be used. The binder is selected according to the material of the pigment, and for example, polymers such as polypropylene, polystyrene, low density polyethylene, natural rubber, and silicon rubber, and inorganic porous materials such as an aluminum oxide film and a silica gel plate can be used.

(Light reflecting layer)
The light reflecting layer 126 is made of, for example, a porous material such as white paint obtained by adding ethyl alcohol and titanium oxide fine particles to polyvinyl butyral resin (PVB), and a transparent substrate such as glass with a metal such as Al translucent. A mirror deposited on the substrate can be used. The light reflecting layer 126 reflects the light of the oxygen-sensitive light emitting layer 124 toward the transparent substrate 122, whereby the brightness of the light emitting unit 120 can be improved.

(Oxygen ion conductor)
The oxygen ion conductor 130 has a flat plate shape, is formed as one sheet over the entire display region so as to correspond to all the light emitting units 120, and is sandwiched between the first electrode 142 and the second electrode 144. The oxygen ion conductor 130 includes, for example, zirconia solid electrolyte, stabilized zirconia doped with an impurity element such as Y, Sc, Ca, Mg, Ce, Al, Ti, Si, Fe, and Hf, Ca, Nd, and the like. it can be used doped CeO _2, perovskite _BaCe 1-x _Gd x _{O 3} and the like. Further, the oxygen ion conductor 130 can be used alone by increasing the film thickness from 50 μm to 1 mm, or can be used by reducing the film thickness on a porous alumina substrate.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an arrangement state of the light emitting unit, the first electrode, the wiring, and the thermal head of the display medium.

(electrode)
As shown in FIG. 3, the first electrode 142 extends in the Y direction across the light emitting units 120 and is shared by the light emitting units 120 arranged in the Y direction. Here, the second electrode 144 (not shown) is one full surface electrode corresponding to all the light emitting units 120. Note that the second electrode 144 may be a similar strip electrode arranged in the same direction as the first electrode 142. For the first electrode 142 and the second electrode 144, for example, a conductive material such as Pt, Au, Ag, UScO ₂ , perovskite La _1-x Sr _x Co _1-y Ni _y O ₃ can be used. Among these, Pt is preferable in that it is stable against oxidation and reduction and can be a porous electrode.

  In FIG. 3, nine light emitting units are arranged in the X direction and three are arranged in the Y direction. However, this is only for the purpose of explanation, and in the X direction and the Y direction as in FIG. The number of lines is arbitrary. By arranging the electrodes 142 extending in the Y direction in this way in the X direction, the entire display area is covered.

  In the present embodiment, the light emitting units 120 adjacent in the Y direction have the same color. In the X direction, the light emitting units 120 are arranged so as to repeat in order of red, green, and blue from the left side to the right side in FIG. In FIG. 3, the red light emitting unit 120 is indicated by “R”, the green light emitting unit 120 is indicated by “G”, and the blue light emitting unit 120 is indicated by “B”. That is, each electrode 142 corresponds in common to the light emitting units 120 of the same color in the Y direction.

  As shown in FIG. 3, each electrode 142 corresponding to the light emitting unit 120 of the same color is electrically connected at the end in the Y direction and forms an electrode set that is energized at the same time. Since the wiring at the connection portion of each electrode 142 extends in the X direction, the wiring at each electrode 142 and the connection portion has a substantially comb shape as a whole. In the present embodiment, each electrode 142 constitutes a wiring of “R-line” corresponding to red, “G-line” corresponding to green, and “B-line” corresponding to blue. . Each electrode 142 corresponding to the red and green light emitting units 120 is connected at one end in the Y direction (the upper end in FIG. 3), and each electrode 142 corresponding to the blue light emitting unit 120 is connected to the other end in the Y direction (see FIG. 3 at the lower end).

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the display device 100 includes a thermal head 170 as a heating unit that is spaced apart from the second electrode 144 by a predetermined distance and heats the oxygen ion conductor 130. In addition, you may comprise so that the thermal head 170 and the 2nd electrode 144 may contact. The thermal head 170 extends in the X direction and is movable in the Y direction, and has a plurality of heating elements 172 arranged in the X direction.

  FIG. 4 is an enlarged view showing the positional relationship between the heating element of the thermal head and the first electrode. In the present embodiment, as shown in the figure, the heating element 172 has a substantially square shape and has a size corresponding to the three first electrodes 142 adjacent in the X direction. Thus, one red, green, and blue light emitting unit 120 is assigned to each heating element 172. Note that the heating element 172 has a size that is substantially the same as or slightly smaller than that of one pixel including the red, green, and blue light emitting units 120.

  The head driver 182 scans the line-shaped thermal head 170 based on a signal from the drive controller 188. Further, the heating element driving unit 184 heats each heating element 172 based on a signal from the drive control unit 188. The heating element driving unit 184 can control each heating element 172 so that the oxygen ion conductor 130 corresponding to the light emitting unit 120 has a suitable temperature each time the thermal head 170 moves by one line of the light emitting unit 120 in the Y direction. It is. That is, by moving the thermal head 170 in the Y direction, the light emitting units 120 can emit light independently of each other over the entire display area.

(Operation of display device)
Here, an example of the light emitting operation of each light emitting unit 120 in the display device 100 will be described with reference to the operation explanatory diagrams of the light emitting unit in FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 5, a voltage is applied between the first electrode 142 and the second electrode 144 by the DC power supply 200 so that the first electrode 142 is negative and the second electrode 144 is positive. When a current is passed through the plate-like oxygen ion conductor 130, oxygen ion conduction occurs, and oxygen in the sealed space 160 passes through the oxygen ion conductor 130 as oxygen ions O ²⁻ and is discharged to the outside of the sealed space 160. Is done.

At this time, the oxygen ion conductor 130 is preferably controlled to have a temperature suitable for ion conduction. Suitable temperatures are, for example, 350 ° C. or higher for zirconia solid electrolyte and 300 ° C. or higher for perovskite BaCe _1-x Gd _x O ₃ . Although the thermal head 170 is not shown in FIGS. 5 to 9, in this embodiment, the oxygen ion conductor 130 is heated by each of the heating elements 172 described above, and can be heated to a temperature suitable for ion conduction. It is configured.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 6, when the dye in the oxygen-sensitive light emitting layer 124 is excited by irradiating UV light in a state where almost no oxygen exists in the sealed space 160, the excitation energy is lost due to the oxygen quenching action. Therefore, the oxygen-sensitive light emitting layer 124 emits light.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 7, when the oxygen-sensitive light-emitting layer 124 is left standing, the excitation energy is gradually lost due to light emission, and the light is quenched after a predetermined time. At this time, the sealed space 160 is in a state where almost no oxygen is present. Here, the predetermined time can be adjusted by selecting a material of the oxygen-sensitive light emitting layer 124, and includes a case where the light is extinguished almost at the same time as the light irradiation is stopped.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 8, when light is irradiated again toward the oxygen-sensitive light-emitting layer 124, light emission occurs again. As shown in FIG. 9, in a state where the oxygen-sensitive light emitting layer 124 emits light, a voltage is applied between the first and second electrodes 142 and 144 in the direction opposite to that shown in FIG. When a current is passed through 130, oxygen ion conduction occurs, oxygen is injected into the sealed space 160, and is quenched by the oxygen quenching action. Also at this time, it is preferable that the oxygen ion conductor 130 is controlled to have a temperature suitable for ion conduction.

  The operation of the display device 100 configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 10 and the operation explanatory diagrams of FIGS. Here, with reference to FIGS. 11 to 14, (a) is a schematic diagram showing the energized state of each electrode 142, and (b) is a schematic diagram showing the moving state of the thermal head 170. Here, in FIGS. 11 to 14, the energized electrode 142 is shown by hatching. It is assumed that light is always irradiated toward the oxygen-sensitive light emitting layer 124 during the operation of the display device 100.

  First, as shown in FIG. 11A, all the first electrodes 142 are formed so that oxygen ion conduction occurs in the oxygen ion conductor 130 in the direction in which oxygen flows into the sealed space 160 in the light emitting unit 120. A voltage is applied between the second electrode 144 (step S10). In this state, as shown in FIG. 11B, the thermal head 170 is moved from the other end side in the Y direction to the one end side, and all the oxygen ion conductors 130 are heated, so that all the display media 110 can be heated. The light emitting unit 120 is extinguished (initialized) (step S20).

  Next, as shown in FIG. 12A, the first corresponding to “R-line” so that oxygen ion conduction occurs in the oxygen ion conductor 130 in the direction in which oxygen flows out from the sealed space 160 in the light emitting unit 120. A voltage is applied between the first electrode 142 and the second electrode 144 (step S30). In this state, as shown in FIG. 12B, the thermal head 170 is moved from one end side to the other end side in the Y direction, and the red light emitting unit 120 is heated based on the input image data to red. The components are colored (step S40). As a result, as shown in FIG. 12B, an R region 210 colored in red is formed.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 13A, it corresponds to “G-line” so that oxygen ion conduction occurs in the oxygen ion conductor 130 in the direction in which oxygen flows out from the sealed space 160 in the light emitting unit 120. A voltage is applied between the first electrode 142 and the second electrode 144 (step S50). In this state, as shown in FIG. 13B, the thermal head 170 is moved from the other end side in the Y direction to the one end side, and the green light emitting unit 120 is heated based on the input image data to turn green. The components are colored (step S60). Thereby, as shown in FIG.13 (b), the G area | region 212 colored green is formed. If the R region 210 that has been colored red is further colored in green, a yellow Y region 214 is formed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 14A, the second corresponding to “B-line” is such that oxygen ion conduction occurs in the oxygen ion conductor 130 in the direction in which oxygen flows out from the sealed space 160 in the light emitting unit 120. A voltage is applied between the first electrode 142 and the second electrode 144 (step S70). In this state, as shown in FIG. 14B, the thermal head 170 is moved from one end side to the other end side in the Y direction, and the blue light emitting unit 120 is heated based on the input image data to The components are colored (step S80). Thereby, as shown in FIG.14 (b), the B area | region 216 colored blue is formed. When the R region 210 that has been colored red is further colored in blue, a magenta M region 218 that is an additive color mixture is formed. Similarly, when the G region 212 is further colored in blue, a cyan C region 220 is formed, and when the Y region 214 is further colored in blue, a white W region 222 is formed. In this way, full color image display is performed. Thereafter, it is determined whether or not to update the display image (step 90). If it is determined to update, the process returns to step S10 to perform initialization, and if it is determined not to update, the operation is terminated.

  As described above, in the display method of the display device 100 according to the present embodiment, the oxygen concentration of the light emitting unit 120 is controlled by controlling the energy application step of applying light energy to the light emitting unit 120 and the energization state of the first electrode 142. And an energization adjusting step of adjusting the light emission intensity of the light emitting unit 120 by changing. And the heating adjustment process of adjusting the light emission intensity | strength of the light emission part 120 by changing the ion conductivity of the oxygen ion conductor 130 by controlling the heating state of the oxygen ion conductor 130 by the thermal head 170 is also included.

  Hereinafter, a specific operation example will be described using the display medium 110 having 2 × 2 pixels (one set of red, green, and blue light emitting units 120 is one pixel).

  15A (a) to 15 (d) and FIGS. 15B (e) to (h) are schematic diagrams illustrating an operation example of the display device. In the drawing, R1, G1, B1, R2, G2, and B2 are respectively the first electrode 142 (R1, R2) corresponding to the light emitting unit 120 that emits red light, and the first electrode corresponding to the light emitting unit 120 that emits green light. 142 (G1, RG) represents the first electrode 142 (B1, B2) corresponding to the light emitting unit 120 that emits blue light. Further, the state where the light emitting unit 120 emits light is indicated by hatching in the drawing.

  First, as shown in FIGS. 15A (a) and 15 (b), the light emitting unit 120 is interposed between all the first electrodes 142 (R1, G1, B1, R2, G2, B2) and the second electrode 144. A voltage is applied in a direction in which oxygen flows into the inner sealed space 160, and all pixels are heated while scanning the thermal head 170 from the first row to the second row. Thereby, all the light emission parts 120 of the display medium 110 will be in a quenching state (initialization of a display state).

  Next, as shown in FIG. 15A (c), the sealed space 160 in the light emitting unit 120 is interposed between the first electrode 142 (R1, R2) corresponding to the red light emitting unit 120 and the second electrode 144. A voltage is applied in the direction in which oxygen flows out from the substrate, and the thermal head 170 heats the pixels in the second row and the first column. As a result, red light is emitted from the pixels in the second row and the first column.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 15A (d), the sealed space 160 in the light emitting unit 120 is interposed between the first electrode 142 (R1, R2) corresponding to the red light emitting unit 120 and the second electrode 144. While the voltage is applied in the direction in which oxygen flows out from the thermal head 170, the thermal head 170 is moved to the first row, and the pixels in the first row and the second column are heated. Thereby, red light emission occurs in the pixels in the first row and the second column.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 15B (e), the sealed space 160 in the light emitting unit 120 is between the first electrode 142 (G1, G2) corresponding to the green light emitting unit 120 and the second electrode 144. A voltage is applied in a direction in which oxygen flows out of the thermal head 170 to heat the pixels in the first row and the first column. Thereby, green light emission occurs in the pixels in the first row and the first column.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 15B (f), the sealed space 160 in the light emitting unit 120 is between the first electrode 142 (G1, G2) corresponding to the green light emitting unit 120 and the second electrode 144. While the voltage is applied in the direction in which oxygen flows out from the thermal head 170, the thermal head 170 is moved to the second row, and the pixels in the second row and the second column are heated. Thereby, green light emission occurs in the pixels in the second row and the second column.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 15B (g), the sealed space 160 in the light emitting unit 120 is between the first electrode 142 (B1, B2) corresponding to the blue light emitting unit 120 and the second electrode 144. A voltage is applied in the direction in which oxygen flows out of the head, and heating by the thermal head 170 is not performed.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 15B (h), the sealed space 160 in the light emitting unit 120 is between the first electrode 142 (B1, B2) corresponding to the blue light emitting unit 120 and the second electrode 144. While the voltage is applied in the direction in which oxygen flows out from the thermal head 170, the thermal head 170 is moved to the first row, and the pixels in the first row, the first column, and the pixels in the first row and the second column are heated. As a result, blue light emission occurs in the pixels in the first row, the first column, and the pixels in the first row, the second column.

  As a result of the above operations, light emission of green and blue occurs in the pixels in the first row and the first column, and therefore cyan is displayed by a mixed color of green and blue. Further, since red and blue light emission occurs in the pixels in the first row and the second column, magenta is displayed by a mixed color of red and blue. Further, red light is generated in the pixels in the second row and the first column, and therefore red is displayed. The pixels in the second row and the second column emit green light, so that green is displayed.

  FIG. 16 is a time chart of voltage application operation and heating operation in the operation example of the display device shown in FIGS. 15A (a) to (d) and FIGS. 15B (e) to (h). A to h in the figure correspond to the times (a) to (h) in FIGS. 15A and 15B.

  In the time chart of the voltage application operation, the upward convex portion indicates that the voltage is applied in the direction in which oxygen flows out from the sealed space 160 in the light emitting unit 120, and the downward convex portion is the sealed space in the light emitting unit 120. 160 indicates that a voltage is applied in a direction in which oxygen flows, and a flat portion indicates that no voltage is applied. In the time chart of the heating operation, the upward convex portion indicates that heating is performed, and the flat portion indicates that heating is not performed.

  In the time chart, when the voltage application operation is flat, oxygen does not flow into or out of the sealed space 160 in the light emitting unit 120 (for example, electrodes G1, B1, G2, and B2 at time c).

  In addition, in the time chart, at the time when the heating operation is flat, inflow or outflow of oxygen does not occur in the sealed space 160 in the light emitting unit 120 (for example, electrodes R2, G2, and B2 at time c).

  In the time chart, oxygen flows out from the sealed space 160 in the light emitting unit 120 at a time when the voltage application operation is upwardly convex and the heating operation is upwardly convex (for example, the electrode R1 at time c).

  In the time chart, when the voltage application operation is convex downward and the heating operation is upward convex, oxygen flows into the sealed space 160 in the light emitting unit 120 (for example, electrodes R1, G1, B1, R2, G2, B2).

(Effects of the first embodiment)
According to the display device 100 according to the first embodiment, the oxygen concentration on the surface of each light emitting unit 120 can be changed by adjusting the voltage applied to the oxygen ion conductor 130 and the heating temperature. By applying light energy to each light emitting unit 120 with the oxygen concentration changed, each light emitting unit 120 emits light with an intensity corresponding to the oxygen concentration, and an image is displayed by each light emitting unit 120. Therefore, it is possible to display an image by directly converting light energy into light emission energy.

  In addition, since one heating element 172 of the thermal head 170 is made to correspond to the three RGB electrodes 142, the first electrodes 142 corresponding to pixels of the same color are connected to each other as a common wiring. It is possible to control light emission. By performing the writing operation for each color, the light emitting unit 120 having a pixel smaller than the size of the heat generating element 172 can be controlled without providing the heat generating element 172 for each light emitting unit 120, and an image display with high resolution can be performed. It can be performed.

  Here, the electrodes 142 are shared by the light emitting units 120 aligned in one direction so as to extend in one direction, and the electrodes 142 corresponding to the light emitting units 120 of the same color are electrically connected to each other and energized simultaneously. The electrode set is made. Thereby, the number of electrodes 142 that are separately electrically controlled can be reduced as much as possible, and the number of contact points of the electrode driving unit 180 for energizing each electrode 142 can be reduced. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, since the electrodes 142 constituting the electrode set can be used as a common wiring, the space required for the wiring can be remarkably reduced.

  Therefore, according to the display device 100 of the present embodiment, the energy efficiency can be dramatically increased by directly converting the light energy into the light emission energy. In addition, since the number of contacts of the electrode driving unit 180 for energizing each electrode 142 can be reduced, the connector and the like can be reduced in size, and electrical control can be easily and easily performed. Furthermore, the space required for wiring can be remarkably reduced, and the manufacturing cost of a substrate or the like on which wiring is formed is extremely advantageous in practical use.

  FIG. 17A is a schematic diagram of a display region and a wiring state when the electrodes 142 and 144 are not shared, and FIG. 17B is a schematic diagram of a display region and a wiring state in the present embodiment. As is apparent from FIG. 17, since the electrodes of the same color form an electrode set, the space necessary for wiring is significantly reduced, and the display area is significantly widened.

  In the above embodiment, each of the light emitting units 120 is assigned one of red, green, and blue. However, the emission color is not limited to this, and at least three different colors may be assigned. It is possible to adjust the color displayed in the light emission state.

  In the above embodiment, the application of the electrodes 142 and 144 can be independently controlled with respect to the matrix light emitting unit 120 in the X direction, and each of the thermal heads 170 in the Y direction. Although the heating element 172 has been shown so that the heating control can be performed independently, if any one of the heating and application is controlled for each light emitting unit 120, the entire light emitting unit 120 can be controlled. Light emission control is possible.

  In the above embodiment, the first electrode 142 is a plurality of strip electrodes extending in one direction, and the second electrode 144 is a single full surface electrode corresponding to all the light emitting units 120. The first electrode 142 may be a full surface electrode, and the second electrode 144 may be a strip electrode. Further, both the first and second electrodes 142 and 144 may be a plurality of strip electrodes extending in the same direction. In short, an electrode set including a plurality of electrodes extending in one direction and arranged in the other direction, sharing the electrodes for the light emitting units 120 arranged in one direction, and at least two of the electrodes being electrically connected to each other and energized simultaneously. You just have to.

  In the above-described embodiment, the shape of the spacer 150 is arbitrary, and it is needless to say that other specific detailed structures can be appropriately changed.

[Second Embodiment]
The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the combination of the number of light emitting units 120 assigned to one heating element 172 of the thermal head 170 and the color emitted by each light emitting unit 120. Note that description of the same parts as in the first embodiment, such as other configurations and operation methods, is omitted.

  FIG. 18 is an enlarged view showing the positional relationship between the heating element and the first electrode of the thermal head according to the second embodiment. The heating element 172 has a substantially square shape and has a size corresponding to the two first electrodes 142 adjacent in the X direction. Moreover, as for the light emission part 120, what is light-emitted red and what is light-emitted green are located in a line by turns about the X direction. Note that the light emitting units 120 of the same color are arranged in the Y direction as in the first embodiment. As a result, one red and green light emitting unit 120 is assigned to each heating element 172.

  The first electrode 142 indicated by R in the drawing is an electrode corresponding to the red light emitting unit 120, and the first electrode 142 indicated by G is an electrode corresponding to the green light emitting unit 120. In the drawing, the first electrodes 142 indicated by R and the first electrodes 142 indicated by G are electrically connected at the end portions to form an electrode set that is energized at the same time.

  With such a configuration, the display medium 110 can display red, green, and yellow and black (non-light emitting pixels) that are additive color mixture of red and green. The color combination is not limited to red and green. In the case where the second electrode 144 is a strip electrode, FIG. 18 shows an arrangement relationship between the heating element 172 and the second electrode 144.

(Effect of the second embodiment)
According to the display device 100 according to the second embodiment, the display color is reduced as compared with the first embodiment, but the number of electrodes is reduced and the display control is simplified. The manufacturing cost of the apparatus 100 and the power consumption during operation can be suppressed.

[Third Embodiment]
The third embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the combination of colors emitted by the light emitting units 120 of the thermal head 170. Note that description of the same parts as in the first embodiment, such as other configurations and operation methods, is omitted.

  FIG. 19 is an enlarged view showing the positional relationship between the heating element and the first electrode of the thermal head according to the third embodiment. The heating element 172 has a substantially square shape and has a size corresponding to the three first electrodes 142 adjacent in the X direction. Moreover, all the light emission parts 120 light-emit red. As a result, three red light emitting units 120 are assigned to one heating element 172.

  In the figure, the first electrodes 142 indicated by R1, the first electrodes 142 indicated by R2, and the first electrodes 142 indicated by R3 are electrically connected at the ends, and energized simultaneously. The electrode set is made.

  With such a configuration, the display medium 110 displays gradation in one pixel by properly using the case where one light emitting unit 120 that emits red light emits light, the case where two light emitting elements emit light, and the case where three light emitting elements emit light. It can be carried out. The color emitted by the light emitting unit 120 is not limited to red. In the case where the second electrode 144 is a strip electrode, FIG. 18 shows an arrangement relationship between the heating element 172 and the second electrode 144.

(Effect of the third embodiment)
According to the display device 100 according to the third embodiment, the display colors are two colors, red and black (non-light emitting pixels), but red can be displayed with three gradations. Note that the number of light emitting units 120 assigned to one heating element 172 is not limited to three, and the gradation can be increased by the assigned number.

[Fourth Embodiment]
The fourth embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the combination of the number of light emitting units 120 assigned to one heating element 172 of the thermal head 170 and the color emitted by each light emitting unit 120. Note that description of the same parts as in the first embodiment, such as other configurations and operation methods, is omitted.

  FIG. 20 is an enlarged view showing the positional relationship between the heating element and the first electrode of the thermal head according to the fourth embodiment. The heating element 172 has a substantially square shape and has a size corresponding to the four first electrodes 142 adjacent in the X direction. In the light emitting unit 120, two light emitting elements emitting red light and two light emitting elements emitting green light are alternately arranged in the X direction. Note that the light emitting units 120 of the same color are arranged in the Y direction as in the first embodiment. As a result, two red and green light emitting units 120 are assigned to each heating element 172.

  In the drawing, the first electrodes 142 indicated by R1 and R2 are electrodes corresponding to the red light emitting unit 120, and the first electrodes 142 indicated by G1 and G2 are electrodes corresponding to the green light emitting unit 120. . In the figure, the first electrodes 142 indicated by R1, the first electrodes 142 indicated by R2, the first electrodes 142 indicated by G1, and the first electrodes 142 indicated by G2 are respectively end-to-end. The electrodes are electrically connected to each other and are simultaneously energized.

  With such a configuration, the display medium 110 can perform gradation display in one pixel by selectively using the case where each of the light emitting units 120 that emit red and green emits one light and the case where two light emitting units emit light. . As a result, red, green, and yellow, which is an additive color mixture of red and green, can be displayed in two gradations. Further, two light emitting units 120 that emit red and one light emitting unit 120 that develops green are displayed. By emitting light, it is possible to display yellow that is closer to red, by emitting one light emitting unit 120 that develops red and two light emitting units 120 that develop green.

  The light emitting units 120 that emit red light and the light emitting units 120 that emit green light may be arranged alternately one by one in the X direction instead of two each. Further, the combination of colors is not limited to red and green. In the case where the second electrode 144 is a strip electrode, FIG. 18 shows an arrangement relationship between the heating element 172 and the second electrode 144.

(Effect of the fourth embodiment)
According to the display device 100 according to the fourth embodiment, multi-color display and gradation display can be realized simultaneously by assigning two light emitting units 120 of two colors to one heating element. it can. In addition, the color of the light emission part 120 allocated to one heat generating body 172, and the number of the light emission parts 120 of the same color are not restricted to two, respectively.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the heating elements 172 of the thermal head 170 are not limited to those arranged in one row in the X direction, but may be those arranged in two or more rows. In particular, when the number of array rows is equal to or greater than the number of pixels of the display medium 110 in the Y direction, an image is displayed without scanning the thermal head 170 by scanning the heat generation locations of the plurality of heating elements 172 in the Y direction. be able to.

  In addition, the constituent elements of the above embodiments can be arbitrarily combined without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a partially expanded sectional view which shows the layer structure of the display medium which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the arrangement | positioning state of the light emission part of the display medium which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, a 1st electrode, wiring, and a thermal head. It is an enlarged view which shows the arrangement | positioning relationship between the heat generating body of the thermal head which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, and a 1st electrode. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the light emission part of the display apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the light emission part of the display apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the light emission part of the display apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the light emission part of the display apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the light emission part of the display apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the display apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the display apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: (a) is a schematic diagram which shows the energization state of each electrode, (b) is a schematic diagram which shows the movement state of a thermal head. It is. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the display apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: (a) is a schematic diagram which shows the energization state of each electrode, (b) is a schematic diagram which shows the movement state of a thermal head. It is. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the display apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: (a) is a schematic diagram which shows the energization state of each electrode, (b) is a schematic diagram which shows the movement state of a thermal head. It is. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the display apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: (a) is a schematic diagram which shows the energization state of each electrode, (b) is a schematic diagram which shows the movement state of a thermal head. It is. (A)-(d) is a schematic diagram which shows the operation example of the display apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. (E)-(h) is a schematic diagram which shows the operation example of the display apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a time chart of the voltage application operation | movement and heating operation | movement in the operation example of the display apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. (A) is a schematic diagram of a display region and a wiring state when each electrode is not shared, and (b) is a schematic diagram of a display region and a wiring state in the first embodiment of the present invention. It is an enlarged view which shows the arrangement | positioning relationship between the heat generating body of the thermal head which concerns on 2nd Embodiment, and a 1st electrode. It is an enlarged view which shows the arrangement | positioning relationship between the heat generating body of the thermal head which concerns on 3rd Embodiment, and a 1st electrode. It is an enlarged view which shows the arrangement | positioning relationship between the heat generating body of the thermal head which concerns on 4th Embodiment, and a 1st electrode.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Display apparatus 110 Display medium 120 Light emission part 122 Transparent substrate 124 Oxygen sensitive light emission layer 126 Light reflection layer 130 Oxygen ion conductor 142 1st electrode 144 2nd electrode 150 Spacer 160 Sealing space 170 Thermal head 172 Heating body 174 UV light source 180 Electrode Drive Unit 182 Head Drive Unit 184 Heating Element Drive Unit 186 Image Storage Unit 188 Drive Control Unit 190 Power Supply Unit 200 DC Power Supply 210 R Region 212 G Region 214 Y Region 216 B Region 218 M Region 220 C Region 222 W Region

Claims (13)

Light emitting portions that receive light energy and emit light with an intensity corresponding to the internal oxygen concentration are arranged in m rows and n columns (where m is an integer of 1 or more and n is an integer of 2 or more) and are adjacent in the row direction. A display device in which one pixel is constituted by j (where j is an integer greater than or equal to 2) light emitting units arranged in a row,
An oxygen ion conductor that reduces the oxygen concentration on the surfaces of the plurality of light emitting portions by applying a voltage and heating;
N strip-shaped electrodes extending in a column direction on one surface of the oxygen ion conductor, arranged in a row direction, and applying a voltage to the oxygen ion conductor;
A counter electrode formed on the other surface of the oxygen ion conductor;
A heating element array composed of n / j heating elements (where n / j is an integer of 1 or more) arranged in the row direction;
An electrode driver for applying a column selection voltage between the n strip electrodes and the counter electrode;
A heating element driving unit that generates heat from the n / j heating elements in synchronization with application of the column selection voltage based on image data;
A heating element row moving section for moving the heating element row in the row direction;
A display device comprising:   2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the j light emitting units constituting the one pixel are configured by a plurality of types of the light emitting units that emit light of different colors. Two light emitting units constitute one pixel (j = 2),
The display device according to claim 2, wherein the two light emitting units emit light in different colors. The light emitting section is composed of three pixels to form one pixel (j = 3),
The display device according to claim 2, wherein the three light emitting units emit light in different colors.   The display device according to claim 4, wherein the three light emitting units emit light in red, green, and blue, respectively. The light emitting unit is composed of four pixels to form one pixel (j = 4),
The four light emitting units are composed of two light emitting units that emit light in a first color and two light emitting units that emit light in a second color different from the first color. The display device according to claim 2, wherein the display device is characterized.   2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein all of the j light-emitting portions constituting the one pixel are configured of the light-emitting portions that emit light of the same color.   2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the n strip-shaped electrodes are composed of j electrode sets in which n / j strip-shaped electrodes are electrically connected to each other.   The display device according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting unit includes an oxygen-sensitive light emitting layer that emits light with an intensity corresponding to an oxygen concentration on the surface.   The display device according to claim 9, wherein the oxygen-sensitive light-emitting layer is made of a pressure-sensitive paint (PSP).   The display device according to claim 1, wherein the oxygen ion conductor is a zirconia fixed electrolyte.   The display according to claim 9, wherein the oxygen-sensitive light-emitting layer and the oxygen ion conductor are disposed to face each other, and a sealed space is provided between the oxygen-sensitive light-emitting layer and the oxygen ion conductor. apparatus.   The display device according to claim 9, wherein a spacer is provided between the oxygen-sensitive light emitting layer and the oxygen ion conductor.

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