JP2002131724A - Liquid crystal display - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid crystal display with supporting parts capable of tightly holding a liquid crystal cell and a tablet in separate cases and capable of acting as a cushioning material. SOLUTION: The liquid crystal display 1 has a liquid crystal cell 2, a tablet 6 disposed in front of the cell 2, a first case 5 which holds the cell 2 in the interior and can regulate the move of the cell 2 and a second case 7 which holds the tablet 6 in the interior and can regulate the move of the tablet 6. The first and second cases 5, 7 have first side walls 5a and second side walls 7a which enclose the peripheries of the cell 2 and the tablet 6, respectively. Plural supporting parts 8 capable of elastic contact with the periphery of the table 6 are formed on the side walls 7a of the second case 7. The move of the tablet 6 held in the second case 7 is regulated in such a way that input can reliably be carried out with a pen or the like.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display, and more particularly to a liquid crystal display having a tablet or the like in front of a liquid crystal display cell.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the field of a conventional liquid crystal display device, not only is it used, for example, as a display device installed in an office or home, but also has a remarkable application to mobile devices such as electronic notebooks and personal digital assistants. is there. In these mobile devices, for example, when switching various functions such as calendar display, schedule display, address book management, and the like, touch the tablet on the icon mark on which the desired function is displayed with a pen or the like to switch the function. Things to do have been suggested.

[0003] Alternatively, there has been proposed a device in which a desired image can be input by handwriting by drawing an image of a character or the like with a pen or the like on a tablet. Such a conventionally proposed liquid crystal display device 31 will be described with reference to FIG. 9. A liquid crystal cell 32 includes a liquid crystal (see FIG. 9) between a pair of insulating substrates 33 and 34 composed of upper and lower two glass plates facing each other. (Not shown) is enclosed. The liquid crystal case 35 that holds the liquid crystal cell 32 includes a side wall 35a that contacts the outer peripheral portion of the liquid crystal cell 32, and a bottom plate 35b that covers the back surface of the liquid crystal cell 32.
Are formed.

[0006] Above the liquid crystal cell 32 in the figure, a tablet 3 capable of inputting images such as characters by operating a pen or the like is provided.
7 are provided. The tablet case 38 holding the tablet 37 is formed with a side wall 38a that comes into contact with the outer peripheral portion of the tablet 37 and a bottom plate 38b that comes into contact with the rear surface near the outer peripheral portion of the tablet 37. The metal frame 39 made of a metal plate is formed by drawing a liquid crystal case 35 for holding the liquid crystal cells 32 in a stacked state and a tablet case 39 for holding the tablet 37 into a box shape so as to be stowable. Is formed with an opening 39a for exposing an operation area (not shown) of the tablet 37.

A liquid crystal case 35 for holding the liquid crystal cell 32 and a tablet case 39 for holding the tablet 37 are housed in a metal frame 39 in a stacked state. The liquid crystal display device 31 is assembled. Such a conventionally proposed liquid crystal display device 31 includes a liquid crystal cell 3
2 and the outer periphery of the tablet 37 with the liquid crystal case 3
5. The tablet case 38 is held in contact with the side walls 35a, 38a.

The liquid crystal cell 32 and the tablet 37
Is formed of a hard material such as glass, so that its workability is poor and the variation in external dimensions is large. Therefore, in order to securely incorporate the liquid crystal cell 32 and the tablet 37 into the liquid crystal case 35 and the tablet case 38,
A predetermined gap S is formed between the liquid crystal cell 32 and the tablet 37, and the side wall 35a of the liquid crystal case 25 and the side wall 38a of the tablet case 38.

[0007]

However, the liquid crystal cell 3
2, the tablet 37, the side wall 35a of the liquid crystal case 25,
If there is a gap S between the side wall 38a of the tablet case 38, the liquid crystal cell 32 incorporated in the liquid crystal case 25 or the tablet 37 incorporated in the tablet case 28
Rattling may occur between the input and
Alternatively, there has been a problem that an image displayed on a liquid crystal cell cannot be accurately read. Further, when the conventional liquid crystal display device 31 is dropped by mistake, the impact load applied to the liquid crystal cell 32 or the tablet 37 cannot be absorbed, and the liquid crystal cell 32 or the like may be broken. Solution to the Problems The present invention solves the above-described problems, and has a support portion capable of holding a liquid crystal cell and a tablet in each case without play, and this support portion can serve as a cushioning material. It is an object to provide a liquid crystal device.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid crystal display device comprising: a liquid crystal cell; and a tablet disposed in front of the liquid crystal cell. A first case capable of holding the cell inside to regulate the movement of the liquid crystal cell, and a second case holding the tablet inside to regulate the movement of the tablet; The two cases each have a side wall surrounding the liquid crystal cell and the outer peripheral portion of the tablet, and the outer periphery of the liquid crystal cell or / and the tablet is provided on the side wall of the first case and / or the second case. A plurality of support portions capable of elastic contact with the portion were formed.

As a second means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the supporting portion includes an elastically deformable cantilevered support arm formed on the inner surface of the side wall, and a tip of the arm. And a contact portion formed in the first and second portions.
When the liquid crystal cell and the tablet are incorporated in a case,
The contact portion is configured to resiliently contact an outer peripheral portion of the liquid crystal cell or / and the tablet to restrict the movement of the liquid crystal cell or / and the tablet.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the arm is formed in a direction parallel to the side wall from a base protruding from an inner surface of the side wall. The arm is formed so as to protrude toward the inside of the second case at the tip end thereof.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the first and second cases have bottom plates for covering the back surface of the liquid crystal cell or the tablet, respectively. The bottom plate around the contact portion is provided with a through hole.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the first and second cases are capable of elastically deforming a part of the side wall toward the outside of the first and second cases. And the support portion includes the side wall of the elastically deformable portion and a convex portion formed on the inner surface of the side wall, and the liquid crystal cell and the tablet are incorporated in the first and second cases. The projection is configured to resiliently contact an outer peripheral portion of the liquid crystal cell or / and the tablet to restrict the movement of the liquid crystal cell or / and the tablet.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the first and second cases have bottom plates for covering the liquid crystal cell and the back of the tablet, respectively.
By forming a through hole in the bottom plate around the support portion, separating the side wall and the bottom plate of the portion where the support portion is formed, the side wall of the portion where the support portion is formed is elastically deformable. The configuration was as follows.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a liquid crystal display device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the liquid crystal display device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main part of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a plan view of a second case according to the present invention, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of an essential part for explaining the operation of the support part shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is an essential part showing a modification of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a plan view of a second case according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a main part enlarged view for explaining the operation of the support shown in FIG.

A liquid crystal device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. First, as shown in FIG. 2, a liquid crystal cell 2 is composed of two upper and lower rectangular glass plates. A pair of insulating substrates 3 and 4 are disposed to face each other, and a liquid crystal (not shown) is sealed between the pair of insulating substrates 3 and 4. Further, a pair of insulating substrates 3 in which liquid crystal is sealed,
A polarizing plate (not shown) is stuck on the upper surface of 4.
A reflecting member (not shown) is attached to the lower surface of the liquid crystal cell 2 shown in the drawing, which is the back surface of the liquid crystal cell 2.
The light incident from the outside is reflected upward in the figure and emitted to the outside. As shown in FIG. 1, such a liquid crystal cell 2 has a flexible printed circuit connected to a driver IC 4a mounted on an end of the lower substrate 4 to drive each electrode (not shown) of the lower substrate 4. Substrate 4b
Are arranged.

The first case 5, which can hold the liquid crystal cell 2 and regulate the movement of the liquid crystal cell 2, is made of a resin material.
A first side wall 5a surrounding the outer peripheral portion of the liquid crystal cell 2 and a first bottom plate 5b covering the entire back surface of the liquid crystal cell 2 are formed. Further, a hook-shaped hook portion 5c that can be snap-engaged with an engagement portion 10d of the metal frame 10 described later is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the first side wall 5a so as to protrude.

On the front surface of the liquid crystal cell 2 above the drawing,
A transparent panel, that is, a tablet 6, capable of inputting an image such as a character by performing a switching operation by the pressure of a pen or the like is provided. As shown in FIG. 1, the tablet 6 is formed in a rectangular shape having substantially the same shape as the liquid crystal cell 2, and has a plurality of electrodes (not shown) formed at an outer peripheral end. The upper part of this electrode is covered with a resin material such as a resist or the like, is insulated, and is connected to the flexible printed circuit board 6a. An operation area (not shown) in which an image such as a character can be inputted by operating a pen or the like positioned on the tablet 6 is formed in an area surrounded by the electrodes at the outer peripheral end.

The second case 7, which can hold the tablet 6 and regulate its movement, is made of a resin material and has a second side wall 7a surrounding the outer periphery of the tablet 6, and a rear surface near the outer periphery of the tablet 6. And a cross-shaped second bottom plate 7b that covers As shown in FIG. 4, the second case 7 has a plurality of support portions 8 formed on the inner surface of the second side wall 7 a and capable of being elastically deformed in a direction (arrow B) coming and coming from the second side wall 7 a. ing. The support portion 8 can be elastically contacted with the outer peripheral portion of the tablet 6 indicated by a two-dot chain line incorporated in the second case 7.

The support portion 8 has a base portion 8a projecting from the inner surface of the second side wall 7a toward the inside of the second case 7,
A cantilevered arm 8 extending from the base 8a in a direction parallel to the second side wall 7a and elastically deformable in the direction of arrow B.
b, and a contact portion 8c formed at the tip of the arm portion 8b so as to protrude inward of the second case 7. Also,
A through hole 7c is provided in the second bottom plate 7b around the arm portion 8b and the contact portion 8c. The through-hole 7 facilitates the formation of the arm 8b and the contact portion 8c during the forming process, and also allows the arm 8b to be elastically deformed. When the tablet 6 is incorporated into the second case 7 having such a support portion 8 formed thereon, the contact portion 8c of the support portion 8 elastically contacts the outer peripheral portion of the tablet 6 so that the movement of the tablet 6 is regulated. Has become.

The back of the tablet 6 and the second case 7
A transparent sheet 9 having a thickness of, for example, 0.2 mm is disposed between the transparent sheet 9 and the second bottom plate 7b. For example, an icon mark (not shown) or the like is printed on the transparent sheet 9 near the end. ing. By pressing the tablet 6 on the icon mark with a pen (not shown) or the like, a desired icon corresponding to the icon mark can be opened. Since the transparent sheet 9 is formed as thin as 0.2 mm, the tablet 6 can be incorporated into the second case 7 with or without the transparent sheet 9.

The first case 5 holding the stacked liquid crystal cells 2 and the second case 7 holding the tablet 6 are housed and locked in a metal frame 10. The metal frame 10 is made of a stainless steel plate or the like, and is formed in a box shape by drawing as shown in FIG. The metal frame 10 has an opening 10b whose lower part is released and whose periphery is covered with a side plate 10a, and an upper part which exposes an operation area (not shown) operable with a pen or the like of the tablet 6, and an opening 10b. Tablet 6 outside
An edge 10c is formed to cover the upper surface near the outer periphery. The side plate 10a has a slit-shaped engaging portion 10d.
Are formed by punching, and the hook portion 5 of the first case 5 housed inside the metal frame 10 is formed in the engagement portion 10d.
c can be snap-engaged.

The assembling of the liquid crystal display device 1 according to the first embodiment having such a configuration will be described. First, the liquid crystal cell 2 is assembled in the first case 5. Next, the transparent sheet 9 is mounted on the second bottom 7 b of the second case 7, and the tablet 6 is mounted on the second case 7 from above the transparent sheet 9.
At this time, the outer periphery of the tablet 6 is elastically urged by the plurality of support portions 8 and is held by the second case 7.

Next, the first case 5 holding the liquid crystal cell 2
On top, the second case 7 holding the tablet 6 is laminated,
The metal frame 10 is covered from above. And
When the edge 10c of the metal frame 10 is pressed downward, the engaging portion 10d formed on the side plate 10a
Is snap-engaged with the hook portion 5c, and the assembly of the liquid crystal display device 1 is completed.

In the liquid crystal display device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention assembled as described above, the supporting portion 8 formed on the second case 7 is in elastic contact with the outer peripheral portion of the tablet 6.
Even if the external dimensions of the tablet 6 vary,
This dimensional variation is absorbed by the support portion 8 and the tablet 6
Can be held in the second case 7 without play.

As a modification of the first embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG.
a cantilevered arm 18b extending obliquely at a predetermined angle to the second side wall 7a from a base 18a formed on the inner surface of the arm 18a. Part 8c
It may be something that was. That is, the supporting portions 8 and 18 are elastically deformable cantilevered support arms 8b and 18b formed on the inner surfaces of the second side walls 7a and 17a, which are the side walls, and the arms 8
What is necessary is just to comprise the contact parts 8c and 18c formed in the front-end | tip part of b, 18b.

The support 28 of the liquid crystal display according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
First, the second case 2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention
7 has a second side wall 27a and a second bottom plate 27b;
A plurality of slit-shaped through-holes 27c are formed in the second bottom plate 27b at the portion where the side wall 27a contacts. In addition, the second case 28 has a second portion in the portion where the through hole 27c is formed.
The side wall 27a is cut off from the second bottom plate 27b, and the portion of the second side wall 27a where the through hole 27c is formed, which is a part of the second side wall 27a, can be elastically deformed toward the outside of the second case 27. ing.

As shown in FIG. 8, the support portion 28 has a second side wall 27a which is an elastically deformable portion, and a second side wall 2a.
The projection 7a is formed as a projection projecting inward from a substantially central portion of the inner surface. Further, the support portion 28 has a pair of protrusions 27d protruding outward from the outer surface of the second side wall 27a near the upper and lower ends of the through hole 27c in the figure, and the protrusions 27d are formed on the side plates 10a of the metal frame 10. The inner surface can be contacted.

When the tablet 6 indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 8 is incorporated in the second case 27, the convex portion 28a elastically contacts the side surface of the tablet 6, and the second portion of the portion sandwiched between the pair of protrusions 27d is formed. The side wall 17a is elastically deformed outward. Further, the second case 27 holding the tablet 6 is held in the metal frame 10 shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG.
In this case, the pair of protrusions 27b abut on the inner surface of the side plate 10a, so that the second case 27 can be held in the metal frame 10.

In the description of the first and second embodiments of the present invention, the case in which the support portion 8 is provided in the second case 7 has been described. A support portion (not shown) may be provided to restrict the movement of the liquid crystal cell 2 held in the first case 5. like this,
By providing the support portions in both the first and second cases,
Both the tablet 6 and the liquid crystal cell 2 can be held without play.

In the first and second embodiments of the present invention, the support may be provided only in the first case 5 and the support 8 may not be provided in the second case 7. That is, the liquid crystal display device of the present invention has the first case and / or the second case.
What is necessary is just to form on the side wall of the case a plurality of support portions which can be elastically biased on the outer peripheral portion of the liquid crystal cell 2 or the tablet 6.

[0031]

According to the liquid crystal display device of the present invention, a plurality of supporting portions which can be elastically contacted with the outer peripheral portion of the liquid crystal cell or / and the tablet are formed on the side wall of the first case and / or the second case. The movement of the tablet can be regulated by the section, and highly accurate input is possible. In addition, by restricting the movement of the liquid crystal cell by the support portion, it is possible to provide a liquid crystal display device in which the display image of the liquid crystal cell can be reliably viewed.

The support portion includes an elastically deformable cantilevered support arm and a contact portion formed at the tip of the arm. The first and second cases include a liquid crystal cell and a tablet. When the liquid crystal cell or / and the tablet are moved, the contact portion elastically contacts the outer peripheral portion of the liquid crystal cell or / and the tablet, thereby restricting the movement of the liquid crystal cell or / and the tablet. It is possible to provide a high-performance liquid crystal display device in which the supporting portion can be reliably brought into elastic contact with the outer periphery of the cell or the tablet, and the movement of the liquid crystal cell or the tablet can be reliably restricted.

Further, the arm portion is formed in a direction parallel to the side wall from a base protruding from the inner surface of the side wall, and the abutting portion is formed on a tip portion of the arm portion inward of the second case. Since the protruding portion is formed so as to protrude, the contact portion can be more reliably elastically contacted with the liquid crystal cell or the tablet at the time of assembling, and the assembling is easy.

The first and second cases each have a bottom plate that covers the back surface of the liquid crystal cell or the tablet, and a through hole is provided in the bottom plate around the arm and the contact portion. In addition, it is easy to form a support portion including an arm portion and a contact portion by molding, and it is possible to provide a liquid crystal display device having a highly accurate support portion.

Further, the supporting portion comprises a side wall of a portion which can be elastically deformed, and a protruding portion formed on the inner surface of the side wall. When the liquid crystal cell and the tablet are incorporated in the first and second cases, Since the convex portion resiliently contacts the outer periphery of the liquid crystal cell or / and the tablet to restrict the movement of the liquid crystal cell or / and the tablet, a liquid crystal display device in which the supporting portion is easily formed is provided. it can.

The first and second cases each have a bottom plate that covers a back surface of the liquid crystal cell or the tablet, and a through hole is formed in the bottom plate around the support portion, so that the support portion is formed. The side wall of the formed portion is separated from the bottom plate, and the side wall of the portion where the support portion is formed can be elastically deformed. Therefore, the movement of the liquid crystal cell or / and the tablet can be performed by the support portion having a simple structure. It can be regulated reliably.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a liquid crystal display device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a main part of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a second case according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a main part of the support shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a main part showing a modification of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a second case according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a main part of the support shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a main part of a conventional liquid crystal display device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 Liquid crystal display device of first embodiment 2 Liquid crystal cell 3 Insulating substrate 4 Insulating substrate 5 First case 5a First side wall 5b Bottom plate 5c Hook portion 5d First positioning hole 6 Tablet 7 Second case 7a Second side wall 7b 2 bottom plate 8 support part 8a base part 8b arm part 8c contact part 9 transparent sheet 10 metal frame 10d engaging part

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2H089 HA18 HA40 JA10 JA11 QA12 QA16 2H092 GA62 5B068 AA04 AA05 AA22 AA32 BC07 5B087 AA02 AA04 AA09 CC02 CC12 5G435 AA07 AA17 BB12 EE02 EE13 GG43 KK03

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A first case comprising a liquid crystal cell and a tablet disposed in front of the liquid crystal cell, the first case being capable of holding the liquid crystal cell therein and restricting the movement of the liquid crystal cell; And a second case capable of restricting the movement of the tablet while holding the liquid crystal cell, wherein the first and second cases have side walls surrounding the liquid crystal cell and an outer peripheral portion of the tablet, respectively. The liquid crystal cell or / and / or the first case or / and / or the second case is provided on the side wall of the second case.
A liquid crystal display device comprising a plurality of supporting portions which can be elastically contacted on an outer peripheral portion of the tablet. 2. The support portion comprises an elastically deformable cantilevered support arm formed on the inner surface of the side wall, and a contact portion formed at a tip end of the arm. , Second
When the liquid crystal cell and the tablet are incorporated in a case,
2. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the contact portion elastically contacts an outer peripheral portion of the liquid crystal cell and / or the tablet to restrict movement of the liquid crystal cell and / or the tablet. . 3. The arm portion is formed in a direction parallel to the side wall from a base protruding from an inner surface of the side wall, and the abutting portion is provided at a tip end of the arm portion inward of the second case. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 2, wherein the liquid crystal display device is formed so as to protrude. 4. The first and second cases each have a bottom plate that covers a back surface of the liquid crystal cell or the tablet, and a through hole is provided in the bottom plate around the arm and the contact portion. 4. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 2, wherein: 5. The first and second cases are configured such that a part of the side wall is elastically deformable toward the outside of the first and second cases, and the support portion is configured to be elastically deformable. The liquid crystal cell and / or the tablet are assembled into the first and second cases when the liquid crystal cell and / or the tablet are assembled into the first and second cases. 2. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the liquid crystal display device is configured to elastically contact an outer peripheral portion to regulate a movement of the liquid crystal cell and / or the tablet. 6. The first and second cases each have a bottom plate that covers a back surface of the liquid crystal cell and the tablet,
By forming a through hole in the bottom plate around the support portion, separating the side wall and the bottom plate of the portion where the support portion is formed, the side wall of the portion where the support portion is formed is elastically deformable. 6. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 5, wherein: