Display device and manufacturing method therefor

Abstract

The present invention provides a display device for use in a microcapsule type electrophoretic display apparatus and a manufacturing method therefor, in which microcapsules can be aligned so as to form a monolayer, and accordingly, the microcapsules can be efficiently used. In addition, a display device is provided in which a color display can be created, positioning of the microcapsules can be easily performed, and accordingly, the contrast is improved, and a manufacturing method therefor is also provided. The display device of the present invention includes a substrate, an insulating liquid, charged color particles dispersed therein, a first electrode formed on the substrate, and a second electrode, wherein a display is created by causing the migration of the charged color particles toward the first electrode or the second electrode by a voltage applied therebetween. The microcapsules are each formed by enclosing the insulating liquid and the charged color particles in a transparent container, and the microcapsules are aligned and are enclosed in fibers composed of a light transmissive resin.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A display device comprising: 
 a substrate;    an insulating liquid;    charged color particles dispersed in the insulating liquid;    a first electrode formed on the substrate; and    a second electrode;    wherein the charged color particles migrate between the first electrode and the second electrode by applying a voltage therebetween so that a display is created,    the insulating liquid and the charged color particles are enclosed in transparent containers so as to form microcapsules, and    the microcapsules are aligned and are enclosed in resin fibers composed of the light transmissive resin.    
     
     
         2 . A display device according to  claim 1 , 
 wherein one line of aligned microcapsules is enclosed in each resin fiber.    
     
     
         3 . A display device according to  claim 2 , wherein the diameter of the resin fiber is approximately equal to the diameter of the microcapsule.  
     
     
         4 . A display device according to  claim 1 , wherein the length of the microcapsule in the direction parallel to the substrate is larger than the length of the microcapsule in the direction perpendicular to the substrate.  
     
     
         5 . A display device according to  claim 4 , wherein the microcapsule has a flat spheroidal shape.  
     
     
         6 . A display device according to  claim 4 , wherein the microcapsule has a semispherical shape.  
     
     
         7 . A display device according to  claim 1 , wherein the resin fibers enclosing the microcapsules therein are aligned on the substrate.  
     
     
         8 . A display device according to  claim 7 , wherein the microcapsules enclosed in each resin fiber show a color of one of yellow, cyan, and magenta.  
     
     
         9 . A method for manufacturing an electrophoretic display device including a substrate; an insulating liquid; charged color particles dispersed in the insulating liquid; and a first electrode and a second electrode provided on the substrate for applying a voltage to the insulating liquid; in which the charged color particles migrate between the first electrode and the second electrode by applying a voltage therebetween so that a display is created, the method comprising: 
 a preparing step of preparing microcapsules comprising the insulating liquid and the charged color particles therein;    a forming step of forming fibers each comprising a light transmissive resin and the microcapsules which are aligned and enclosed in the light transmissive resin; and    a disposing step of disposing the fibers on the substrate provided with at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode.    
     
     
         10 . A method for manufacturing an electrophoretic display device, according to  claim 9 , wherein the forming step is a step of forming the fibers by extruding the microcapsules with the light transmissive resin from a nozzle so that the microcapsules are aligned and enclosed in the light transmissive resin.  
     
     
         11 . A method for manufacturing an electrophoretic display device, according to  claim 10 , wherein the disposing step is a step of disposing fibers, which are extruded from the nozzle and in a semi-cured state, on the substrate by moving the nozzle.  
     
     
         12 . A method for manufacturing an electrophoretic display device, according to  claim 10 , wherein the disposing step is a step of disposing fibers, which are cured and have a predetermined length, on the substrate.  
     
     
         13 . A method for manufacturing an electrophoretic display device, according to  claim 9 , further comprising a step of compressing the microcapsules into a flat shape, and a step of curing the light transmissive resin for forming the fibers which enclose the microcapsules in the flat shape.  
     
     
         14 . A method for manufacturing an electrophoretic display device, according to  claim 9 , further comprising a step of curing the light transmissive resin for forming the fibers which enclose microcapsules in a deformed state by its own weight.  
     
     
         15 . A method for manufacturing an electrophoretic display device, according to  claim 9 , wherein the disposing step is a step of aligning fibers having a plurality of colors on the substrate.  
     
     
         16 . Microcapsules for use in an electrophoretic display comprising: 
 charged color particles;    an insulating liquid in which the charged color particles are dispersed; and    transparent containers each enclosing the charged color particles and the insulating liquid;    wherein the microcapsules in an aligned state are enclosed in a light transmissive resin, and    the light transmissive resin is in the form of a fiber.