JP2007322617A - Information display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information display device for displaying handwritten writing information on a display panel in the state where rewriting information is displayed. <P>SOLUTION: The display panel 12 in the information display device 11 integrated with the display panel 12 and a touch panel 13, encloses three kinds of display media (3W, 3B and 3R) composed of three-color display color particles mutually different in charge characteristics in the same cell of a plurality of the cells provided in a space between substrates 1 and 2 respectively. The information display device comprises: a function for rewriting and displaying information such as images by giving an electric field between the substrates by a voltage applied on electrodes 5 and 6 in response to position information input through the touch panel 13 and moving the display media; and a function for displaying the handwritten writing information by pushing the touch panel 13 by a writing unit and deforming a front substrate 2 of the display panel 12 to move the display media. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a display panel that performs display by moving charged particles and a touch panel that has a touch-type position detection function and is transparent and flexible, with the touch panel on the front and the display panel on the back. The present invention relates to an information display device configured integrally.

  As a conventional example of an information display device integrated with a touch panel, for example, there is an information display device in which a touch panel is stacked on a liquid crystal display (LCD) such as an ATM (automated teller machine) installed in a bank. Such a conventional information display device rewrites display contents displayed on the liquid crystal display based on information such as menus displayed on the liquid crystal display that is the display device and position information input by the touch panel. It has a function.

  The information display device of the above conventional example is an information display device that combines a touch panel having a function of only inputting position information and a display device having a function of displaying rewrite information based on the position information input from the touch panel. For this reason, in this conventional information display device, information (handwritten writing information) written using a writing device such as a pen cannot be displayed on the touch panel.

  An object of this invention is to provide the information display apparatus which can display handwritten writing information on the display panel in the state which displays the rewriting information.

  In order to achieve the above object, an information display device of the present invention includes a display panel that performs display by moving charged particles, and a transparent and flexible touch panel that has a touch-type position detection function. Is an information display device that is integrally configured so that the front panel is the front panel and the display panel is the rear panel, and the display panel is in contact with the touch panel and is transparent and flexible. A plurality of cells partitioned by partition walls are provided between the electrode and the substrate with electrodes facing each other, and each of the cells is composed of display color particles of three or more colors having different colors and charging characteristics. More than one type of display medium is enclosed, and an electric field is applied between the substrates by the voltage applied to the electrodes according to the position information input via the touch panel, and the display medium is moved to display the image. Etc. and a function to display handwritten writing information by moving the display medium by pressing the touch panel with a writer and deforming the front substrate of the display panel. It is characterized by.

  Moreover, as a suitable example of the information display apparatus of the present invention, the transparent and flexible touch panel is a resistive touch panel, a capacitive touch panel, or a dot spacer touch panel, and the three or more types of displays. The medium is a three-color, three-type display medium, and the combination of the three-color display color particles constituting the three types of display medium is a combination of two-color display color particles having a positive charge and a different charge amount, and negative colors. It is a combination with the other colored particles for display, and the three or more types of display media are three colors and three types of display media, and the three colors for the display medium constituting the three types of display media The combination of the color particles is a combination of two color display particles with negative charge and different charge amount and another color particle with positive charge, and the three colors and three types of display. The combination of display color particles of three colors having different charging characteristics constituting the body is any one of display white particles, display black particles, and the display white particles and the display black particles having different charge polarities. It is a combination of another display color particle having the same charge polarity and different charge amount from the other (display white particles and display black particles are display color particles having different charge polarities), The inter-substrate space of the display panel in which the display medium is enclosed is filled with gas, and the display panel is integrated with the touch panel by being a flexible display panel. The information display device as a whole has been given flexibility.

  According to the touch panel integrated information display device of the present invention configured as described above, a display panel that performs display by moving charged particles, and a transparent and flexible touch panel that has a touch-type position detection function, A substrate with an electrode, which is in contact with the touch panel and is transparent and flexible, in the information display device integrally configured so that the touch panel is on the front and the display panel is on the back, and A plurality of cells partitioned by a partition wall are provided between the opposing electrode-attached substrates, and each of them is composed of three or more display color particles having different colors and charging characteristics in the same cell. The above display medium is enclosed and configured to move the display medium by applying an electric field between the substrates by the voltage applied to the electrodes in accordance with the position information input via the touch panel. It has a function to rewrite and display information such as images and a function to display handwritten writing information by moving the display medium by pushing the touch panel with a writer and deforming the front substrate of the display panel. Thus, it is possible to provide an information display device capable of displaying handwritten writing information on the display panel in a state where the rewriting information is displayed.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of use of the information display device of the present invention. The information display device 11 of the present invention includes a display panel 12 for displaying information, a transparent touch panel (position information input device) 13 having a touch type position detection function and inputting position information, and a rewrite information display drive. The touch panel 13 is integrally disposed on the front surface of the display panel 12.
The display panel 12 has a display memory property, which will be described later, and is a passive drive or active drive that is sequentially addressed for each scan electrode, and the display surface side substrate is made of a transparent and flexible material. A particle-driven display panel is used. The touch panel 13 is configured to detect a position touched by a writing device such as a finger or a pen and input it as a voltage to an electrode disposed on the display panel substrate, and strongly presses only a predetermined area. The display panel substrate located in the predetermined region can be deformed by the above-described deformation. The information display device 11 uses a response input function performed by touching (touching) the touch panel with a finger or a pen for information rewritten on the screen, and a writing device such as a pen. The touch panel and the front substrate of the display panel are deformed in a narrow area on the screen pushed by the writer, and new handwritten writing information is written and displayed on the screen on which the rewriting information is displayed. It is comprised so that it may have a function. That is, when touched lightly, the function to input a response to the rewritten display information displayed at the touched position on the screen works, so that the response can be input and the writing with a small contact area is possible. When the object is moved by pressing strongly using a device (for example, a pen), information (handwritten characters, lines, etc.) according to the locus is written and displayed. As the touch panel 13, a touch panel with a dot spacer type switch structure or a touch panel with a resistance film type switch structure is preferably used. However, the touch panel 13 can be easily deformed by a pressed contact type writing device (for example, a pen) 13p. What uses a transparent film material with flexibility is preferable.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams illustrating a state when the information display apparatus of the present invention is used. FIG. 2 (a) shows information at the same time that writing information (character “I”) is additionally written by hand by pressing a pen on the margin of the screen of the information display device on which the rewrite information (character “A”) is displayed. (Character “ai”) is displayed on the information display device. In FIG. 2B, a pen is pressed on the rewrite information (painting image) displayed on the information display device, and writing information (character “ai”) is additionally written by hand, and at the same time, the painting information is displayed on the information display device. And character information (character “ai”).
FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C are diagrams illustrating a state in use of the information display device of the present invention. FIG. 3A shows characters such as “1...”, “2...”, “3...”, Etc. in the drawing by the rewrite information display driving device 15 that rewrites information to be displayed. Information (in this case, a question sentence) is shown being displayed on the touch panel 13 as information. 3B and 3C, the writing device such as a pen is moved by pressing the touch panel 13, and character information (in this case, answer) such as “NO” and “YES” is handwritten. A state of being written as information and a state of being written are shown. In this case, the third color display medium (particle) in the display panel 12 below the position where the handwritten character information such as “NO” and “YES” on the touch panel 13 is input is driven to “ Character information (answer) such as “NO” and “YES” is displayed in the third color. The written character information such as “NO” and “YES” continues to be displayed together with the original information as shown in FIG.

  The information display device according to the present invention performs rewrite display with, for example, white particles / black particles, and in writing display performed after rewrite display, red underlines and memos using red particles arranged on the display panel The handwriting information is added to the rewriting display screen and displayed. The rewrite display and the write display are performed by three or more charged color particles filled in the cells of the display panel, and the color combination at that time is white (negatively charged) / black (positively charged) / red (negatively) 3 colors of charging) or 3 colors of white (negatively charged) / black (positively charged) / red (positively charged) can be suitably used. After displaying rewrite information in a combination of white / black The handwritten information can be displayed in red on a white background (margin).

FIGS. 4A and 4B are views for explaining a storage state when the information display device of the present invention is configured with a flexible touch panel and a flexible display panel. When the information display device 11 of the present invention is configured by the flexible touch panel 13 and the flexible display panel 12, it is used in an expanded state from the storage portion 14 as shown in FIG. However, when not in use, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), it can be wound and stored in the storage portion 14, so that the storage property is improved. In order to make the entire information display device of the present invention flexible, the panel substrate constituting the touch panel and the display panel is made of a flexible film, and the color filter etc. What is necessary is just to use what consists of a flexible material as a structural member other than this, and it becomes an information display apparatus which has flexibility and can be bent and rounded.
As the touch panel 13, a resistive touch panel, a capacitive touch panel, or a dot spacer touch panel is provided on the front surface of the display panel.

  Next, a basic configuration of the charged particle driving type display panel used for the display panel in the information display apparatus of the present invention will be described. This charged particle drive type display panel comprises three or more kinds of display media composed of three or more kinds of colored particles for display (color particles for display) each having different charging characteristics and colors (optical reflectance). At least one has a structure enclosed in the same cell of a plurality of cells partitioned by a partition between transparent substrates. When an electric field is applied to a display medium enclosed between two substrates, the charged display medium is attracted by the electric field force or Coulomb force along the applied electric field direction, and the display medium changes in the electric field direction. Information is displayed by changing the moving direction by. Therefore, it is necessary to design the display panel so that the display medium can move uniformly and maintain stability when rewriting the display repeatedly or when displaying the display information continuously. Here, the force applied to the display color particles constituting the display medium includes, in addition to the force attracted by the Coulomb force between the particles, the electric mirror image force between the electrode and the substrate, the intermolecular force, the liquid bridging force, gravity and the like. Conceivable.

  The principle configuration of the display panel used in the information display device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 5, three types of display medium 3 (here, white display display particles 3 </ b> Wa) including different colors (optical reflectance) and charging characteristics composed of at least one kind of particles. The electrode 5 and the substrate 2 provided on the substrate 1 are shown a medium 3W, a black display medium 3B composed of particles of display black particles 3Ba, and a red display medium 3R composed of particles of display red particles 3Ra). In accordance with the electric field generated by applying a voltage between the electrode 6 and the electrode 6 provided on the substrate 6, the substrate 1 and 2 are moved vertically and the black display medium 3 B is visually recognized by the observer, or black display is performed. The white display medium 3W can be visually recognized by the observer to perform white display, or the red display medium 3R can be visually recognized by the observer to perform red display. In the example shown in FIG. 5, for example, a partition 4 is provided between the substrates 1 and 2 in a lattice shape to form a cell. Further, in FIG. 5, the front partition is omitted. The electrode may be provided outside the substrate or may be provided so as to be embedded inside the substrate.

  In the above description, the white display medium 3W composed of particle groups is used as the white display medium composed of powder fluid, the black display medium 3B composed of particle groups is used as the black display medium composed of powder fluid, and the red display medium 3R composed of the particle groups is used. The same can be applied to the case where each is replaced with a red display medium made of powdered fluid. The powder fluid will be described later.

The basic configuration of the touch panel used in the information display device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
The touch panel 13 shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 6 is a dot spacer type touch panel used in the present invention, for example, and is formed at a predetermined position on the lower panel substrate 13b on which the lower conductive layer 13a is laminated and the lower conductive layer 13a. Insulating protrusion spacer 13c, upper panel substrate 13e having upper surface conductive layer 13d stacked thereon, and press-deformable gap spacer 13f for forming a predetermined gap between lower panel substrate 13b and upper panel substrate 13e Become.

The lower conductive layer 13a and the upper conductive layer 13d are each made of a conductive material such as indium oxide doped with tin (indium tin oxide; ITO) on the lower panel substrate 13b and the upper panel substrate 13e. It is formed, and can be formed by a vacuum deposition method, a sputtering method, a CVD method, a printing method, or the like. A pair of upper surface side electrodes (not shown) are formed at both ends of the upper conductive layer 13d, and a pair of lower surface electrodes (not shown) are formed at both ends of the lower surface conductive layer 13a in a direction orthogonal to the upper surface side electrode. ing.
The insulating protruding spacer (dot spacer) 13c is provided so as not to contact the conductive layers of the portion other than the pressed portion, and is made of acrylic resin, epoxy resin, urethane resin, or other transparent insulation. The conductive resin material can be formed in a predetermined shape by a method such as screen printing at regular intervals, and then subjected to a curing treatment with heat or ultraviolet rays. This insulating protruding spacer 13c is designed to have a height of approximately 2 to 5 μm and a diameter of 20 to 60 μm.
The gap spacer 13f in FIG. 6 also functions as a sealing material, and is formed by printing a thermosetting epoxy resin adhesive or acrylic resin adhesive in which the spacer is dispersed by a method such as screen printing. Can do. The spacer used here is provided to keep the gap between the substrates constant, and a spherical plastic resin, fiber glass, or the like having a predetermined size of insulation can be used. The size of the spherical plastic resin, fiber glass, or the like varies depending on the material and thickness of the substrate to be used, but one having a diameter of approximately 10 μm can be selected. After the gap spacer 13f that also serves as the sealing material is printed on one of the panel substrates in a frame shape, the positions of both panel substrates are aligned, and adhesive layers (not shown) arranged and formed on both end faces of the gap spacer 13f. ), The outer circumferences of both panel substrates are bonded together, subjected to heat treatment under pressure, cured, and bonded and fixed so that the lower conductive layer 13a and the upper conductive layer 13d face each other at a predetermined interval. A touch panel can be manufactured. The gap spacer 13f, which also serves as the sealing material, functions to fix both panel substrates and prevent moisture and dust from entering the substrates.
The touch panel 13 configured as described above has a position detecting coordinate function, and the pair of upper surface side electrodes and the pair of lower surface side electrodes are connected to a control circuit (not shown).

  In the touch panel 13 configured as described above, when the lower panel substrate 13b, which is a position detection coordinate substrate, is pressed with a finger or a pen-type indicator via the upper panel substrate 13e, the upper panel substrate 13e bends. Therefore, the pressed portion of the upper panel substrate 13e contacts the lower panel substrate 13b. Then, a predetermined voltage is sequentially applied from the control circuit to the upper surface side electrode and the lower surface side electrode, and the pressed portion of the upper panel substrate 13e is determined based on the voltage ratio between the upper surface side electrode and the lower surface side electrode. The position coordinate information can be obtained by detecting the lower panel substrate 13b.

  Hereinafter, specific configuration examples of the display panel and the touch panel used in the information display device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 7, 8 </ b> A, 8 </ b> B, 9 </ b> A, and 9 </ b> B.

The display panel 12 shown in FIG. 7 has three colors having different colors (optical reflectivity) and charging characteristics in a plurality of cells partitioned by a partition wall 4 between the display surface side transparent substrate 2 and the back side substrate 1. Display medium (in the example shown, display media 3W, 3B, 3R of white, black, and red), and a predetermined voltage is applied between the electrode 5 and the transparent electrode 6 to display the display media 3W, 3B, By applying an electric field to 3R, the display medium 3W, 3B, 3R is moved, and the multicolor display panel 12 is configured to display information. The electrode 5 and the transparent electrode 6 are actively driven as individual electrodes corresponding to the cell, but may be passively driven as line electrodes orthogonal to each other.
The multicolor display panel 12 includes display color particles of two colors having positive charge and different charge amounts in a plurality of cells partitioned by a partition wall 4 between the display side transparent substrate 2 and the back side substrate 1. Encapsulating three colors and three types of display media composed of a combination of negatively charged display color particles, two negatively charged display color particles having different charge amounts, and positively charged display color particles 3 colors or 3 types of display media comprising a combination of the above, or display white particles, display black particles having different charging characteristics, and any one of the display white particles and the display black particles It can be configured by enclosing three colors and three types of display media composed of a combination of other color particles for display with the same charge polarity and different charge amount. White particles for charging indication A combination of a white display medium composed of a red display medium composed of negatively-charged display red particles and a black display medium composed of positively-charged display black particles, or "negatively charged display A combination of a white display medium composed of white particles, a black display medium composed of positively charged display black particles, and a red display medium composed of positively charged display red particles ”is possible. The range in which multicolor display can be performed using the difference in driveability based on the difference in charge amount is multicolor display of up to 4 colors in total, up to 2 colors each on the positive charge side and the negative charge side. It is preferable. In addition, as a combination of colors for performing multicolor display using a difference in driveability based on a difference in charge amount, a bright color such as white and a clear color such as red on one polarity side (for example, a negative charge side) It is preferable to use a combination of a dark color such as black and another dark color with the opposite polarity (for example, positively charged side). In addition, if the size of the cell corresponding to the pixel unit is increased, the deformation range of the display surface side substrate can be greatly increased, so that the deformation amount can be easily controlled, and multicolor display of four or more colors is possible. In this case, since the pixel becomes coarse, it is necessary to design in consideration of the balance between the increase in color and the pixel density.

The display panel 12 shown in FIG. 8A is obtained by changing the display panel 12 shown in FIG. 7 to the electrode 5 and the transparent electrode 6 that are passively driven as line electrodes orthogonal to each other. The display panel 12 shown in FIG. 8B is configured the same as the display panel 12 shown in FIG.
The touch panel 13 shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B is a different type from the touch panel 13 shown in FIG. 7, and includes an upper transparent conductive film 13g, a lower transparent conductive film 13h, an upper transparent conductive film 13g, and a lower It is comprised as a resistive film type touch panel which consists of the resistive film 13i arrange | positioned between the side transparent conductive films 13h.

In the display panel 12 shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the display panel 12 shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B is changed to be filled with the insulating liquid 16 in the cell. Is.
The touch panel 13 shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B includes an upper transparent conductive film 13g, a lower transparent conductive film 13h, and a resistance film 13i disposed between the upper transparent conductive film 13g and the lower transparent conductive film 13h. Is configured as a resistive film type touch panel.
The information display device shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B having the above-described configuration is configured as a charged particle drive type information display device in an insulating liquid.

  The partition 4 constituting the cell is an intermittent one that forms a cell completely surrounded by each partition, even if it is a continuous one that completely forms a cell surrounded by each partition. It may be provided that it has a function of preventing the uneven distribution of the display medium and a function of maintaining the gap between the substrates at a predetermined size.

Next, the principle of rewrite display operation in the information display device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 (a) and 10 (b) and FIGS. 11 (a) and 11 (b).
The information display device of the present invention shown in FIGS. 10 (a) and 10 (b) performs rewrite display, for example, in black and white using the difference in driveability based on the difference in charge polarity and charge amount. The display color particles used for writing display have a structure corresponding to multicolor display that performs writing display in red, which is the color, and compared with the display white particles that are display color particles used for rewriting display. The charge amount of a certain display red particle is small (the polarity is the same). First, before rewriting, as shown in FIG. 10A, the rewritten information is displayed in black / black in the two cell areas on the display portion of the display panel 12, and the displayed information Trying to enter a response with a pen. Next, when the upper panel substrate 13e of the touch panel is lightly pressed (touched) with a pen for rewriting input, as shown in FIG. 10 (b), the upper panel substrate 13e is bent and the switch of the touch panel is turned on. Location information is detected. At the same time, the rewrite information display driving device of the information display device is operated, and a voltage that can drive the display white particles (high charge amount) used for rewrite display is applied to the counter electrode, but the write amount is small. The display red particles for display are not driven, only the display black particles and display white particles used for the rewrite display are driven, and the rewrite information is displayed on the display portion (in the illustrated example, two cell regions). The rewrite information is rewritten from black / black to black / white).

  The information display device of the present invention shown in FIGS. 11 (a) and 11 (b) performs rewrite display using, for example, two colors of black and white using the difference in drivability based on the difference in charge polarity and charge amount. The display color particles used for writing display have a structure corresponding to multicolor display that performs writing display in red, which is the color, and compared with the display white particles that are display color particles used for rewriting display. The charge amount of a certain display red particle is small (the polarity is the same). First, before rewriting, as shown in FIG. 11A, the rewritten information is displayed in black / black in the two cell areas on the display portion of the display panel 12, and the displayed information Trying to enter a response with a pen. Next, when the upper panel substrate 13e of the touch panel is lightly pressed (touched) with a pen for rewriting input, as shown in FIG. 11 (b), the upper panel substrate 13e is bent, and the touch panel switch is turned on. Location information is detected. At the same time, the rewrite information display driving device of the information display device is operated, and a voltage that can drive the display white particles (high charge amount) used for rewrite display is applied to the counter electrode, but the write amount is small. The display red particles for display are not driven, only the display black particles and display white particles used for the rewrite display are driven, and the rewrite information is displayed on the display portion (in the illustrated example, two cell regions). The rewrite information is rewritten from black / black to black / white).

Next, an example of the writing display operation principle in the information display apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The information display device of the present invention shown in FIGS. 12 (a) to 12 (c) performs rewrite display using, for example, two colors of black and white using the difference in driveability based on the difference in charge polarity and charge amount, and other than black and white. The display color particles used for writing display have a structure corresponding to multicolor display that performs writing display in red, which is the color, and compared with the display white particles that are display color particles used for rewriting display. The charge amount of a certain display red particle is small (the polarity is the same, and three colors of white (negatively charged) / black (positively charged) / red (negatively charged) are used). First, before writing, as shown in FIG. 12A, the rewritten information is displayed in white / black in the two cell areas on the display portion of the display panel 12, and the margin of the displayed information is displayed. Information to be written and input with a pen is displayed in the part (left cell). Next, when a position different from the position where the response of the upper panel substrate 13e of the touch panel is input with a pen for writing input is strongly pressed, as shown in FIG. 12B, the touch panel and the display panel below the touch panel are displayed. Since the front substrate of the plate is deformed and the distance between the counter electrodes is shortened, the strength of the electric field between the counter electrodes formed by the voltage applied for rewriting display is increased, and the writing amount is smaller than the white particles for display. The display red particles used for display are driven and move to the display surface side substrate to which the display white particles are adhered, and adhere to the display surface side substrate so as to fill the gaps between the display white particles. As a result, the display color of the margin part strongly touched with the pen on the touch panel changes from white to red, and the writing information is displayed in red. Thereafter, when the pen is moved away from the upper panel substrate 13e, the display red particles are arranged on the display surface side so as to fill the gaps between the display white particles as shown in FIG. To do. At that time, the actual display color is pink because the display red particles and the display white particles are mixed.

Next, another example of the writing display operation principle in the information display device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The information display device shown in FIGS. 13A to 13C performs rewriting display using, for example, two colors of black and white using a difference in driveability based on a difference in charge polarity and charge amount, and has a color other than black and white. For display that is a display color particle that is used for writing display as compared with black particles for display that are display color particles that are used for rewriting display, and that has a configuration corresponding to multicolor display that performs writing display in red The charge amount of the red particles is small (the polarity is the same, and the three colors of white (negative charge) / black (positive charge) / red (positive charge) are used). First, before writing, as shown in FIG. 13A, the rewritten information is displayed in white / black in the two cell areas on the display portion of the display panel 12, and the margin of the displayed information is displayed. Information to be written and input with a pen is displayed in the part (left cell). Before writing, a voltage smaller than the rewrite voltage is applied so that the electric field direction is reversed. At this time, the white particles for display and the black particles for display do not move in this weak reverse electric field because of the adhesive force with the substrate. Next, when the position of the touch panel corresponding to the blank portion (left cell) of the displayed information is displayed with the pen for displaying the written input information, as shown in FIG. Because the front substrate of the lower display panel is deformed and the distance between the counter electrodes is reduced, the electric field strength in the direction of the electric field due to the previously applied voltage is increased, and the amount of charge that is easy to move because it is not attached to the substrate Small display red particles are driven. At this time, before switching the electric field direction, the display black particles having a large charge amount that are strongly attached to the opposite electrode are difficult to drive, so they try to drive behind the display red particles. The display by writing input is completed in a state where the display black particles are not moved, and the display red particles are moved to the display surface side as shown in FIG. 13C. Is displayed in red.

  14 (a) to 14 (c) and FIGS. 15 (a) to 15 (c), respectively, the touch panels in FIGS. 12 (a) to 12 (c) and FIGS. 13 (a) to 13 (c) are replaced with resistive touch panels. It is a structural example. The information display device of the present invention shown in FIGS. 14A to 14C performs rewrite display, for example, in black and white using the difference in driveability based on the difference in charge polarity and charge amount. The display color particles used for writing display have a structure corresponding to multicolor display that performs writing display in red, which is the color, and compared with the display white particles that are display color particles used for rewriting display. The charge amount of a certain display red particle is small (the polarity is the same, and three colors of white (negatively charged) / black (positively charged) / red (negatively charged) are used). First, before writing, as shown in FIG. 14A, the rewritten information is displayed in white / black in the two cell areas on the display portion of the display panel 12, and the margin of the displayed information is displayed. Information to be written and input with a pen is displayed in the part (left cell). Next, when a position different from the position where the response of the upper panel substrate 13e of the touch panel is input with a pen for writing input is strongly pressed, as shown in FIG. 14B, the touch panel and the display panel below the touch panel are displayed. Since the front substrate of the plate is deformed and the distance between the counter electrodes is shortened, the strength of the electric field between the counter electrodes formed by the voltage applied for rewriting display is increased, and the writing amount is smaller than the white particles for display. The display red particles used for display are driven and move to the display surface side substrate to which the display white particles are adhered, and adhere to the display surface side substrate so as to fill the gaps between the display white particles. As a result, the display color of the margin part strongly touched with the pen on the touch panel changes from white to red, and the writing information is displayed in red. Thereafter, when the pen is separated from the upper panel substrate 13e, the display red particles are arranged on the display surface side so as to fill the gaps between the display white particles as shown in FIG. 14C, and the writing display is completed. To do. At that time, the actual display color is pink because the display red particles and the display white particles are mixed.

  The information display device shown in FIGS. 15A to 15C uses a difference in drivability based on the difference in charge polarity and charge amount, for example, rewrites and displays in two colors, black and white, and colors other than black and white. For display that is a display color particle that is used for writing display as compared with black particles for display that are display color particles that are used for rewriting display, and that has a configuration corresponding to multicolor display that performs writing display in red The charge amount of the red particles is small (the polarity is the same, and the three colors of white (negative charge) / black (positive charge) / red (positive charge) are used). First, before writing, as shown in FIG. 15A, the rewritten information is displayed in white / black in the two cell areas on the display portion of the display panel 12, and the margin of the displayed information is displayed. Information to be written and input with a pen is displayed in the part (left cell). Before writing, a voltage smaller than the rewrite voltage is applied so that the electric field direction is reversed. At this time, the white particles for display and the black particles for display do not move in this weak reverse electric field because of the adhesive force with the substrate. Next, when the position of the touch panel corresponding to the blank portion (left cell) of the displayed information is displayed with a pen to display the written input information, as shown in FIG. Because the front substrate of the lower display panel is deformed and the distance between the counter electrodes is reduced, the electric field strength in the direction of the electric field due to the previously applied voltage is increased, and the amount of charge that is easy to move because it is not attached to the substrate Small display red particles are driven. At this time, before switching the electric field direction, the display black particles having a large charge amount that are strongly attached to the opposite electrode are difficult to drive, so they try to drive behind the display red particles. The display by writing input is completed while the black particles for display are not moved, and the red particles for display are moved to the display surface side as shown in FIG. 15C. Is displayed in red.

  According to the information display device of the present invention, the display panel 12 in the information display device 11 in which the display panel 12 and the touch panel 13 are integrally formed is opposed to the display surface side transparent substrate 2 with the electrodes 6. A plurality of cells partitioned by partition walls 4 are provided between the substrate 1 with electrodes 5 to be displayed, and display colors of three or more colors (three colors in this example) having different colors and charging characteristics in the same cell. Three or more types (three types in this example) of display media 3 each composed of particles are encapsulated, and the substrate is determined by the voltage applied to the electrodes according to the positional information input via the touch panel 13. A function of rewriting and displaying information such as an image by applying an electric field between them and moving the display medium, and pressing the touch panel 13 with a writer to deform the front substrate 2 of the display panel 12 to display the display medium It is so arranged and a function of displaying the handwritten writing information by moving to the display panel of the state of displaying the rewrite information, the information display device capable of displaying a handwritten writing information.

Further, according to the information display device of the present invention, when the charged particle driving type display panel used for the display panel 12 is a “type in which charged particles are driven in a gas phase”, the display panel 12 is excellent. Since it has a display memory property, it can be displayed over the contents displayed by moving the particles by applying a voltage to the counter electrodes 5 and 6 so as to add writing information via the touch panel 13 and information. Even if the power of the display device 11 is turned off, the information such as the image displayed last as the combined information of the contents written and displayed on the information display device 11 (handwritten characters, etc.) and the rewritten display information remains as it is. It can remain in the information display device 11.
Further, according to the information display device of the present invention, even when the charged particle drive type display panel used as the display panel 12 is configured as passive drive, the drive response speed can be set to 0.2 msec or less, for example. Yes, a sufficient rewriting speed can be obtained for rewriting input of a still image, so that it has a sufficient response speed compared with a conventional liquid crystal drive type display panel that performs high speed rewriting by active driving. An information display device can be provided at low cost. Of course, if active driving is used in the present invention, higher-speed rewriting display and writing display can be performed.

  Hereinafter, each member which comprises the display panel used with the information display apparatus of this invention is demonstrated.

  As for the substrate, the display surface side substrate is a transparent substrate on which the color of the display medium can be confirmed from the outside of the panel, and a material having high visible light transmittance and good heat resistance is preferable. The back substrate may be transparent or opaque. Examples of the substrate include inorganic substrates such as glass and ceramics, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene terephthalate (PEN), polyethylene (PE), polycarbonate (PC), polyimide (PI), and polyethersulfone (PES). Organic polymer substrates such as acrylic can be used. Among these, a transparent and flexible substrate is used for the front panel (side in contact with the touch panel) substrate. The thickness of the substrate is preferably from 2 to 5000 μm, more preferably from 5 to 2000 μm. If it is too thin, it will be difficult to maintain strength and spacing uniformity between the substrates, and if it is thicker than 5000 μm, it will be a thin display panel. There is an inconvenience. In particular, the panel front substrate is preferably a thin film.

  As an electrode forming material of an electrode provided on a substrate, metals such as aluminum, silver, nickel, copper, and gold, indium tin oxide (ITO), indium oxide, conductive tin oxide, antimony tin oxide (ATO), conductive Examples include conductive metal oxides such as zinc oxide, and conductive polymers such as polyaniline, polypyrrole, and polythiophene, which are appropriately selected and used. The electrode can be formed by patterning the above-described materials into a thin film by sputtering, vacuum deposition, CVD (chemical vapor deposition), coating, or the like, or by mixing a conductive agent with a solvent or synthetic resin binder. A method of applying and patterning is used. The electrode provided on the viewing side (display surface side) substrate needs to be transparent, but the electrode provided on the back side substrate does not need to be transparent. In any case, the above-mentioned material that is conductive and capable of pattern formation can be suitably used. The electrode provided on the front substrate of the display panel is preferably transparent and flexible. Note that the electrode thickness is not particularly limited as long as the conductivity can be secured and the light transmittance is not hindered, and is preferably 3 to 1000 nm, preferably 5 to 400 nm. The material and thickness of the electrode provided on the back side substrate are the same as those of the electrode provided on the display surface side substrate described above, but need not be transparent. In this case, the external voltage input may be superimposed with direct current or alternating current.

The shape of the partition provided on the substrate is appropriately set according to the type of display medium involved in display, the shape and arrangement of the electrodes to be arranged, and is not generally limited. However, the width of the partition is 2 to 100 μm, preferably 3 The height of the partition wall is adjusted to 10 to 100 μm, preferably 10 to 50 μm.
In forming the partition wall, a both-rib method in which ribs are formed on each of the opposing substrates 1 and 2 and then bonded, and a single-rib method in which ribs are formed only on one substrate are conceivable. In the present invention, any method is preferably used.
As shown in FIG. 16, the cells formed by the partition walls made up of these ribs are exemplified by a square shape, a triangular shape, a line shape, a circular shape, and a hexagonal shape as viewed from the substrate plane direction. And a mesh shape. It is better to make the portion corresponding to the cross section of the partition wall visible from the display surface side (the area of the cell frame) as small as possible, and the display state becomes clearer.
Examples of the method for forming the partition include a mold transfer method, a screen printing method, a sand blast method, a photolithography method, and an additive method. Any of these methods can be suitably used for an information display panel mounted on the information display device with a writing function of the present invention, and among these, a photolithography method using a resist film and a mold transfer method are suitably used. .

  Next, the powder fluid used as the display medium in the present invention will be described. As for the name of the powder fluid used in the present invention, the present applicant has obtained the right of “Electronic Powder Fluid (registered trademark): Registration No. 4636931”.

  The “powder fluid” in the present invention is a substance in an intermediate state of both fluid and particle characteristics that exhibits fluidity by itself without borrowing the force of gas or liquid. For example, liquid crystal is defined as an intermediate phase between a liquid and a solid, and has fluidity that is a characteristic of liquid and anisotropy (optical properties) that is a characteristic of solid (Heibonsha: Encyclopedia) . On the other hand, the definition of particle is an object with a finite mass even if it is negligible, and is said to be affected by gravity (Maruzen: Physics Encyclopedia). Here, even in the case of particles, there are special states of gas-solid fluidized bed and liquid-solid fluids. When gas is flowed from the bottom plate to the particles, upward force is applied to the particles according to the velocity of the gas. Is a gas-solid fluidized bed that is in a state where it can easily flow when it balances with gravity, and it is also called a liquid-solid fluidized state that is fluidized by a fluid (ordinary) Company: Encyclopedia). As described above, the gas-solid fluidized bed body and the liquid-solid fluid are in a state of using a gas or liquid flow. In the present invention, it has been found that a substance in a state of fluidity can be produced specifically without borrowing the force of such gas and liquid, and this is defined as powder fluid.

  That is, the pulverulent fluid in the present invention is in an intermediate state having both the characteristics of particles and liquid, as in the definition of liquid crystal (liquid and solid intermediate phase), and is the characteristic of the above-mentioned particles. It is a substance that is extremely unaffected and exhibits a unique state with high fluidity. Such a substance can be obtained in an aerosol state, that is, a dispersion system in which a solid or liquid substance is stably suspended as a dispersoid in a gas, and the solid substance is used as a dispersoid in the present invention.

The display panel used in the information display device according to the present invention is a liquid powder that exhibits high fluidity in an aerosol state in which solid particles are stably suspended as a dispersoid, for example, between gases, at least one of which is transparent. Such a powder fluid is so fluid that it does not have an angle of repose, which is an index indicating the fluidity of the powder, and can be easily applied by the Coulomb force with a small electric field force. It can be moved stably.
As described above, the pulverized fluid used in the present invention is a substance in the intermediate state of both fluid and particle characteristics that exhibits fluidity by itself without borrowing the force of gas or liquid. This powder fluid can be in an aerosol state, and is used as a display medium in a state where a solid substance floats relatively stably as a dispersoid in a gas in the space between substrates of the display panel.

Next, display color particles (hereinafter also referred to as particles) constituting the display medium in the display panel used in the present invention will be described. The display color particles are composed of the display color particles as they are to form a display medium, or are combined with other particles to form a display medium, or are adjusted and configured to become a powder fluid to form a display medium. Or used.
The particles can contain a charge control agent, a colorant, an inorganic additive, and the like, if necessary, in the resin as the main component, as in the conventional case. Examples of resins, charge control agents, colorants, and other additives will be given below.

  Examples of the resin include urethane resin, urea resin, acrylic resin, polyester resin, acrylic urethane resin, acrylic urethane silicone resin, acrylic urethane fluororesin, acrylic fluororesin, silicone resin, acrylic silicone resin, epoxy resin, polystyrene resin, styrene Acrylic resin, polyolefin resin, butyral resin, vinylidene chloride resin, melamine resin, phenol resin, fluororesin, polycarbonate resin, polysulfone resin, polyether resin, polyamide resin and the like can be mentioned, and two or more kinds can be mixed. In particular, acrylic urethane resin, acrylic silicone resin, acrylic fluororesin, acrylic urethane silicone resin, acrylic urethane fluororesin, fluororesin, and silicone resin are suitable from the viewpoint of controlling the adhesive force with the substrate.

  The charge control agent is not particularly limited. Examples of the negative charge control agent include salicylic acid metal complexes, metal-containing azo dyes, metal-containing oil-soluble dyes (including metal ions and metal atoms), and quaternary ammonium salt systems. Examples thereof include compounds, calixarene compounds, boron-containing compounds (benzyl acid boron complexes), and nitroimidazole derivatives. Examples of the positive charge control agent include nigrosine dyes, triphenylmethane compounds, quaternary ammonium salt compounds, polyamine resins, imidazole derivatives, and the like. In addition, metal oxides such as ultrafine silica, ultrafine titanium oxide, ultrafine alumina, nitrogen-containing cyclic compounds such as pyridine and derivatives and salts thereof, various organic pigments, resins containing fluorine, chlorine, nitrogen, etc. are also charged. It can also be used as a control agent.

  As the colorant, various organic or inorganic pigments and dyes as exemplified below can be used.

Examples of the black colorant include carbon black, copper oxide, manganese dioxide, aniline black, activated carbon and the like.
Examples of blue colorants include C.I. I. Pigment blue 15: 3, C.I. I. Pigment Blue 15, Bituminous Blue, Cobalt Blue, Alkaline Blue Lake, Victoria Blue Lake, Phthalocyanine Blue, Metal-free Phthalocyanine Blue, Phthalocyanine Blue Partial Chlorides, Fast Sky Blue, Indanthrene Blue BC, and the like.
Examples of red colorants include bengara, cadmium red, red lead, mercury sulfide, cadmium, permanent red 4R, risor red, pyrazolone red, watching red, calcium salt, lake red D, brilliant carmine 6B, eosin lake, rhodamine lake B, Alizarin Lake, Brilliant Carmine 3B, C.I. I. Pigment Red 2 etc.

Yellow colorants include chrome yellow, zinc yellow, cadmium yellow, yellow iron oxide, mineral first yellow, nickel titanium yellow, navel yellow, naphthol yellow S, Hansa Yellow G, Hansa Yellow 10G, Benzidine Yellow G, Benzidine Yellow GR, Quinoline Yellow Lake, Permanent Yellow NCG, Tartrazine Lake, C.I. I. Pigment Yellow 12 etc.
Examples of green colorants include chrome green, chromium oxide, pigment green B, C.I. I. Pigment Green 7, Malachite Green Lake, Final Yellow Green G, etc.
Examples of the orange colorant include red chrome yellow, molybdenum orange, permanent orange GTR, pyrazolone orange, Vulcan orange, indanthrene brilliant orange RK, benzidine orange G, indanthrene brilliant orange GK, C.I. I. Pigment Orange 31 etc.
Examples of purple colorants include manganese purple, first violet B, and methyl violet lake.
Examples of white colorants include zinc white, titanium oxide, antimony white, and zinc sulfide.

  Examples of extender pigments include barite powder, barium carbonate, clay, silica, white carbon, talc, and alumina white. Examples of various dyes such as basic, acidic, disperse, and direct dyes include nigrosine, methylene blue, rose bengal, quinoline yellow, and ultramarine blue.

Examples of inorganic additives include titanium oxide, zinc white, zinc sulfide, antimony oxide, calcium carbonate, lead white, talc, silica, calcium silicate, alumina white, cadmium yellow, cadmium red, cadmium orange, titanium yellow, Examples include bitumen, ultramarine blue, cobalt blue, cobalt green, cobalt violet, iron oxide, carbon black, manganese ferrite black, cobalt ferrite black, copper powder, and aluminum powder.
These pigments and inorganic additives can be used alone or in combination. In addition, white particles for display and black particles for display constituting the display medium used in the present invention can be produced by combining a plurality of the above-described additives. Among these, white pigments such as titanium oxide are preferably used for the display white particles, and black pigments such as carbon black are preferably used for the display black particles.
Color particles for display having a desired color can be produced by blending the colorant.

  The display color particles (hereinafter also referred to as particles) used in the present invention have an average particle diameter d (0.5) in the range of 1 to 20 μm, and are preferably uniform and uniform. If the average particle diameter d (0.5) is larger than this range, the display is not clear. If the average particle diameter d (0.5) is smaller than this range, the cohesive force between the particles becomes too large, which hinders movement as a display medium.

Furthermore, in the present invention, regarding the particle size distribution of each particle, the particle size distribution Span represented by the following formula is less than 5, preferably less than 3.
Span = (d (0.9) −d (0.1)) / d (0.5)
(However, d (0.5) is a numerical value expressing the particle diameter in μm that 50% of the particles are larger than this and 50% is smaller than this, and d (0.1) is a particle in which the ratio of the smaller particles is 10%. (Numerical value expressed in μm, and d (0.9) is a numerical value expressed in μm for a particle diameter of 90% or less.)
By keeping Span within a range of 5 or less, the size of each particle is uniform, and movement as a uniform display medium becomes possible.

  Furthermore, regarding the correlation between the particles, the ratio of the d (0.5) of the particles having the minimum diameter to the d (0.5) of the particles having the maximum diameter among the used particles is set to 50 or less, preferably 10 or less. It is essential. Even if the particle size distribution Span is reduced, particles with different charging characteristics move in opposite directions, so that the particle size is close to each other and each particle can be easily moved in the opposite direction by the equivalent amount. This is within this range.

The particle size distribution and the particle size can be obtained from a laser diffraction / scattering method or the like. When laser light is irradiated onto particles to be measured, a light intensity distribution pattern of diffracted / scattered light is spatially generated, and this light intensity pattern has a corresponding relationship with the particle diameter, so that the particle diameter and particle diameter distribution can be measured. .
Here, the particle size and particle size distribution in the present invention are obtained from a volume-based distribution. Specifically, using a Mastersizer2000 (Malvern Instruments Ltd.) measuring instrument, put particles into a nitrogen stream and use the attached analysis software (software based on volume-based distribution using Mie theory). The diameter and particle size distribution can be measured.

Furthermore, when applying a display medium such as a particle group composed of display color particles or a powdered fluid to a display panel used in the air space, it is important to manage the gas in the void surrounding the display medium between the substrates. Yes, contributing to improved display stability. Specifically, it is important that the relative humidity at 25 ° C. is 60% RH or less, and preferably 50% RH or less for the humidity of the gas in the gap.
The voids are defined in FIGS. 5, 7, 8 (a), (b) to 11 (a), (b), FIGS. 12 (a) to (c), and FIGS. 14 (a) to 14 (c) and FIGS. 15 (a) to 15 (c), electrodes 5 and 6 (when the electrodes are provided inside the substrate from the portion sandwiched between the opposing substrate 1 and substrate 2) ), A gas portion in contact with a so-called display medium excluding an occupied portion of the display medium 3, an occupied portion of the partition wall 4, and a seal portion of the display panel.
The gas in the gap is not limited as long as it is in the humidity region described above, but dry air, dry nitrogen, dry argon, dry helium, dry carbon dioxide, dry methane, and the like are preferable. This gas needs to be sealed in the display panel so that the humidity is maintained. For example, the display medium is filled and the display panel is assembled in a predetermined humidity environment. It is important to apply a sealing material and a sealing method that prevent moisture from entering.

The distance between the substrates in the display panel used in the present invention is not limited as long as the display medium can be moved and the contrast can be maintained, but is usually adjusted to 10 to 500 μm, preferably 10 to 200 μm.
The volume occupation ratio of the display medium in the space between the opposing substrates is preferably 5 to 70%, more preferably 5 to 60%. When it exceeds 70%, the movement as a display medium is hindered, and when it is less than 5%, the contrast tends to be unclear.

The information display device of the present invention is an information display device that can rewrite information on the information display screen through input via a touch panel or display information that has been written by hand, or information that has been once displayed even when the power is turned off. Information display devices that can be displayed include notebook computers, electronic notebooks, portable information devices called PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), display units for mobile devices such as mobile phones and handy terminals, electronic books, electronic newspapers, etc. Electronic paper, signboards, posters, bulletin boards such as blackboards and whiteboards, electronic desk calculators, home appliances, display parts for automobiles, card display parts such as point cards and IC cards, electronic advertisements, information boards, electronic POP ( Point Of Presence, Point Of Purchase advertising), electronic price tag, electronic shelf label, electronic score, display part of RF-ID equipment, P It is suitably used for display units of various electronic devices such as OS terminals, car navigation devices, and watches.
The information display panel driving method according to the present invention includes a simple matrix driving display panel, a static driving display panel that does not use a switching element in the panel itself, and three thin film transistors (TFTs). Various types of information display panels such as an active matrix drive type display panel using a two-terminal switching element represented by a terminal switching element or a thin film diode (TFD) can be used.

It is a figure which shows the usage example of the information display apparatus of this invention. (A), (b) is a figure which illustrates the mode at the time of use of the information display apparatus of this invention. (A)-(c) is a figure which illustrates the mode at the time of use of the information display apparatus of this invention. (A), (b) is a figure for demonstrating the accommodation state at the time of comprising the information display apparatus of this invention with the touch panel which has flexibility, and the display panel which has flexibility. It is a figure which shows the principle description of the display panel used by this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows an example of the fundamental structure of the touchscreen used by this invention. It is a figure which shows the specific structural example of the display panel and touch panel which are used for the information display apparatus of this invention. (A), (b) is a figure which shows the specific structural example of the display panel and touchscreen which are used for the information display apparatus of this invention. (A), (b) is a figure which shows the specific structural example of the display panel and touchscreen which are used for the information display apparatus of this invention. (A), (b) is a figure for demonstrating the rewriting display operation | movement principle in the information display apparatus of this invention. (A), (b) is a figure for demonstrating the rewriting display operation | movement principle in the information display apparatus of this invention. (A)-(c) is a figure for demonstrating an example of the writing display operation | movement principle in the information display apparatus of this invention. (A)-(c) is a figure for demonstrating the other example of the writing display operation | movement principle in the information display apparatus of this invention. (A)-(c) is a figure for demonstrating the other example of the writing display operation | movement principle in the information display apparatus of this invention. (A)-(c) is a figure for demonstrating the other example of the writing display operation | movement principle in the information display apparatus of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the shape of the partition in the display panel used by this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Substrate (Back side substrate)
2 Substrate (Display side transparent substrate)
3 Display media (particle group, powder fluid)
3W White display medium 3B Black display medium 3R Red display medium 3Wa White particles for display 3Ba Black particles for display 3Ra Red particles for display 4 Partition 5 Electrode 6 Transparent electrode 11 Information display device 12 Display panel 13 Touch panel (position information input device)
13p contact writer (pen)
14 Storage Unit 15 Rewrite Information Display Drive Device 16 Insulating Liquid

Claims (7)

A display panel that displays images by moving charged particles and a touch panel that has a touch-type position detection function and is transparent and flexible so that the touch panel is on the front and the display panel is on the back An information display device configured in
The display panel is provided with a plurality of cells partitioned by a partition between an electrode-equipped substrate that is in contact with the touch panel and is transparent and flexible, and an electrode-equipped substrate facing the substrate. Inside, three or more types of display media each composed of three or more display color particles having different colors and charging characteristics are encapsulated, and according to the positional information input via the touch panel, The function of applying an electric field between the substrates by the voltage applied to the electrodes, moving the display medium to rewrite and display information such as images, and pressing the touch panel with a writer to deform the front substrate of the display panel An information display device comprising a function of displaying handwritten writing information by moving the display medium.   The information display device according to claim 1, wherein the transparent and flexible touch panel is a resistive touch panel, a capacitive touch panel, or a dot spacer touch panel.   The three or more types of display media are three colors and three types of display media, and the combination of the three color display color particles constituting the three types of display media is a two-color display having a positive charge and different charge amount. The information display device according to claim 1, wherein the information display device is a combination of color particles for display and display particles of another color that is negatively charged.   The three or more types of display media are three colors and three types of display media, and the combination of the three color display color particles constituting the three types of display media is a two-color display with a negative charge and different charge amount. 3. The information display device according to claim 1, wherein the information display device is a combination of color particles for display and color particles for display of another color that is positively charged.   A combination of display color particles of three colors having different charging characteristics constituting the three colors and three types of display media is composed of display white particles, display black particles having different charge polarities, and the display white particles and 5. The information display device according to claim 3, which is a combination of another color of display color particles having the same charging polarity and different charge amount as any one of the display black particles. 6.   The information display device according to claim 1, wherein a space between the substrates of the display panel in which the display medium is enclosed is filled with a gas.   The flexibility is given to the whole information display device integrated with the touch panel by making the said display panel into the display panel which has flexibility, The any one of Claims 1-6 characterized by the above-mentioned. The information display device according to item.

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