A multiple-electrode-type electronic paper film can implement a single color and control the transparency, as it has multiple electrodes in one cell. Therefore, it can be used as a transparent display. In this paper, we explain the structure and driving method of a transparent electronic paper display, and then propose a control method of transmittance. Subsequently, we verify the theory by measuring the transmittance via experiment. Thus, by changing the manner of applying the voltage to three lower electrodes and one upper electrode, transmittance in eight cases could be realized. It was confirmed that the transmittance derived from the experiment could be controlled from a minimum of 6.75% to a maximum of 71.18%.

A multielectrode electronic paper film capable of expressing a single-color image was fabricated by injecting color electronic ink into an electronic paper panel; on the basis of its reflective or transparent properties, it is possible to control the expression of six single-color images and their transmittance. In this study, a single-color image was represented by driving a multielectrode electronic paper film; color coordinates were measured. The six capable single colors were yellowish pink (0.444, 0.354), white (0.355, 0.352), black (0.241, 0.241), orange (0.514, 0.360), reddish orange (0.606, 0.338), and reddish purple (0.469, 0.145). Color particles used in this paper were black and white, by which six colors are accomplished, but more single-color images can be combined by using cyan, magenta, and yellow particles.

An electronic paper display was fabricated by injecting electronic ink, including white and black particles coated by positive and negative charge control agents (CCA), respectively, into closed cells surrounded by micro-barriers. These two types of charged, colored particles are easily damaged or their charging value can be changed by the injection process; therefore, the electrical and optical properties of the image panel fabricated by the injection method were estimated in this study. The active particle-loading method, proposed as a new electronic ink injection process, was applied, and the electro-optical properties of the resulting three-electrode-type e-paper image panel were analyzed. The reflection rate of the white image-panel fabricated with our new injection method was 24.7%, while that of the same panel fabricated with a previously reported injection method was 19.8%. In addition, the response time was improved by about five times compared to those reported in other publications.

In 3 electrode reflective displays using a plastic substrate, unstable packaging induces particle clumping and optical degradation due to external air inflow and electronic ink evaporation. In this work, we fabricate 3 electrode electronic paper using glass wafer, ITO/plastic film, and ITO/glass/gas barrier film as an upper substrate after injecting electronic ink onto the lower substrate. Then, we studied its properties. After operating under stress conditions for 336 hours at 85℃ and 75% humidity, the reflectivity of driven e-paper panels with white color was 25.5% for the panels using glass wafer, 22.5% for plastic film including a gas barrier layer, and 16% for plastic film only. From these optical properties, we conclude that gas barrier film improves upper film isolation as a desirable packaging method.

A three-electrode type reflective display (electronic paper) is designed to apply an independent electric field to each three electrodes of the cell including two electric-type of particles and electrically neutral color fluid, so single color realization is possible. In particular, the movement of particles and optical properties are decided by the electric field between two electrodes on the lower substrate. So, the effect of electric field by the distance between two electrodes on the lower substrate is studied with electrode spacing with 10 μm, 15 μm, 20 μm, and 25 μm. By our experimentation, the driving voltage induces more reliable movement of charged particles and the optical properties as compared with the threshold voltage. We ascertain the single color realization and non-inverted particle separation is possible. So the more desirable optical properties are observed in case of the short electrode like 10 μm.

We propose a three-electrode type electronic paper display and its fabrication process to realize single color at the same display panel. We establish a fabrication process with the mixing of electronic ink, loading of this ink, electronic ink assembly, packaging and driving. Also, we discuss an operating principle of this panel and the induced image reversal phenomenon by electric field area of the lower electrodes. This phenomenon is not occurred for the panel having 10 ㎛ electrode space. By this pixelation structure like this three-electronic paper display, a single color realization without color filter is possible and various kind of color is defined by a dye selection for charged particles and electrically neutral fluid.

We realize a color reflective display without any color filter and sub-pixelation concept, by which the full or single color realization is basically impossible. In this study, we use a 3-electrode on the lower substrate with indium tin oxide (ITO) glass. The width of a rib is 30 ㎛, a cell size is 150 ㎛ × 150 ㎛, and the space of lower electrodes is 10 ㎛. To get the single color, we drive this panel by a identical algorithm based on the movement of charged particle in color fluid within a cell with hermetic seal. According to the driving method, the lifetime of panel is different.

We propose a fabrication process of a 3-electrode type reflective display and ascertain the realized color panel. The first design is proceeded with basis on Ti electrode for fast panel fabrication, easy align process, and high reflection of a white image. To observe the particle movement at the lower electrodes and optimize the space between electrodes, we design the second patterns, from which we establish a fabrication process with the mixing of electronic ink, loading of this ink, electronic ink assembly, driving, and packaging. After aging process, we ascertain a normally driving panel with black, white, and blue color.