Electro-wetting display
View Patent ↗An electro-wetting display includes a first substrate, a second substrate which faces the first substrate, and a fluid layer between the first and second substrates. The first substrate includes a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of data lines, and a plurality of pixels connected to the gate lines and the data lines. A fluid layer includes a first fluid layer having a color and a second fluid layer which is transparent. Each pixel includes a switching device, a pixel electrode in connection with the switching device, and a spacing electrode. The switching device is connected to an i-th gate line of the gate lines and a j-th data line of the data lines. The spacing electrode is adjacent to a side of the pixel electrode and in connection with a (i−1)th gate line of the gate lines.
1. An electro-wetting display comprising:
a first substrate comprising a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of data lines which cross the gate lines and are insulated from the gate lines, and a plurality of pixels in connection with the gate lines and the data lines;
a second substrate which faces the first substrate; and
a fluid between the first substrate and the second substrate, and comprising a first fluid and a second fluid which are immiscible with each other,
each of the pixels comprising:
a switching device in connection with an i-th gate line of the gate lines and a j-th data line of the data lines, where the “i” is a constant number equal to or larger than 2 and the “j” is a constant number equal to or larger than 1;
a pixel electrode in connection with the switching device; and
further comprising a spacing electrode adjacent to a first side of the pixel electrode and in connection with a (i−1)th gate line of the gate lines.
2. The electro-wetting display of claim 1 , wherein the each of the pixels further comprises a reflective electrode on the pixel electrode, wherein the reflective electrode reflects a light incident to the pixels.
3. The electro-wetting display of claim 1 , wherein the each of the pixels further comprises a notch electrode adjacent to a second side different from the first side of the pixel electrode.
4. The electro-wetting display of claim 3 , wherein the spacing electrode has a U-shape and surrounds the pixel electrode in cooperation with the notch electrode.
5. The electro-wetting display of claim 4 , wherein the notch electrode is adjacent to a side of the pixel electrode, at which the spacing electrode is not positioned.
6. The electro-wetting display of claim 3 , wherein the each of the pixels further comprises an insulating layer which overlaps the pixel electrode, the notch electrode, and the spacing electrode.
7. The electro-wetting display of claim 6 , wherein the first fluid layer comprises oil, the second fluid layer comprises water, and the insulating layer has a hydrophobic property.
8. The electro-wetting display of claim 3 , wherein
the second substrate comprises a common electrode which faces the pixel electrode,
the pixel electrode receives a data voltage through the switching device,
the common electrode and the notch electrode receive a reference voltage, and
the spacing electrode receives a gate voltage applied through the (i−1)th gate line.
9. The electro-wetting display of claim 8 , wherein
the first fluid layer overlaps a portion of the pixel electrode, and
the second fluid layer is on the first fluid layer, wherein the second fluid layer moves according to a level difference between the data voltage and the reference voltage and changes a size of an area of the pixel electrode overlapped by the first fluid layer.
10. The electro-wetting display of claim 8 , wherein
the each of the pixels further comprises a barrier wall which surrounds the pixel electrode and maintains the first fluid layer within the pixel, and
the spacing electrode receives a gate-on voltage of the gate voltage through the (i−1)th gate line, and the first fluid layer moves away from the barrier wall from the spacing electrode receiving the gate-on voltage.
11. An electro-wetting display comprising:
a first substrate comprising a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of data lines which cross the gate lines and are insulated from the gate lines, and a plurality of pixels in connection with the gate lines and the data lines;
a second substrate which faces the first substrate; and
a fluid layer between the first substrate and the second substrate, and comprising a first fluid layer having a color and a second fluid layer which is transparent,
each of the pixels comprising:
a switching device in connection with an i-th gate line of the gate lines and a j-th data line of the data lines, where the “i” is a constant number equal to or larger than 2 and the “j” is a constant number equal to or larger than 1; and
a pixel electrode in connection with the switching device and a (i−1)th gate line of the gate lines.
12. The electro-wetting display of claim 11 , wherein the each of the pixels further comprises a reflective electrode on the pixel electrode, wherein the reflective electrode reflects a light incident to the pixels.
13. The electro-wetting display of claim 11 , wherein the each of the pixels further comprises a notch electrode adjacent to a side of the pixel electrode, wherein the notch electrode controls a direction of movement of the first fluid layer.
14. The electro-wetting display of claim 13 , wherein the each of the pixels further comprises an insulating layer which overlaps the pixel electrode and the notch electrode.
15. The electro-wetting display of claim 14 , wherein the first fluid layer comprises oil, the second fluid layer comprises water, and the insulating layer has a hydrophobic property.
16. The electro-wetting display of claim 13 , wherein
the second substrate comprises a common electrode which faces the pixel electrode,
the pixel electrode receives a data voltage through the switching device and a gate voltage applied through the (i−1)th gate line, and
the common electrode receives a reference voltage.
17. The electro-wetting display of claim 16 , wherein
the each of the pixels further comprises a storage electrode which faces the common electrode, wherein the pixel electrode is between the storage electrode and the common electrode, and
the storage electrode receives the reference voltage.
18. The electro-wetting display of claim 16 , wherein
the first fluid layer overlaps a portion of the pixel electrode, and
the second fluid layer is on the first fluid layer, wherein the second fluid layer moves according to a level difference between the data voltage and the reference voltage and changes a size of an area of which the first fluid layer overlaps the pixel electrode.
19. The electro-wetting display of claim 16 , wherein the each of the pixels further comprises a barrier wall which surrounds the pixel electrode and maintains the first fluid layer within the pixel.
20. The electro-wetting display of claim 19 , wherein the pixel electrode receives a gate-on voltage of the gate voltage through the (i−1)th gate line, and the first fluid layer moves away from the barrier wall from the pixel electrode receiving the gate-on voltage.