JP5166920B2 - Display device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a display device that visualizes a desired image latently imaged on a light guide plate with light from a light source.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of a conventional display device (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The display device X shown in the figure includes a case 91, a substrate 92, an LED module 93, a light guide plate 94, and a reflection sheet 95. The LED module 93 includes, for example, three LED chips that emit red light, green light, and blue light, and is fixed to the case 91 via the substrate 92. The light guide plate 94 is a substantially rectangular plate made of a transparent epoxy resin, and is accommodated in the case 91. The light guide plate 94 has an entrance surface 94a, a latent image surface 94b, and an exit surface 94c. The incident surface 94a is a surface on which the light L from the LED module 93 is incident. The latent image surface 94b is a surface on which an image to be displayed is latently formed. For example, a semi-transmissive portion having a shape of an image to be displayed is formed. The transflective portion has a reduced light transmittance compared to other portions. The reflection sheet 95 faces the latent image surface 94b and reflects the light emitted from the latent image surface 94b so as to enter the latent image surface 94b. The light incident on the latent image surface 94b is emitted from the emission surface 94c. As a result, the latent image on the latent image surface 94b is visualized on the exit surface 94c. By appropriately changing the color emitted from the LED module 93, the display device X can display the state of the electronic device, for example.

  However, when the user of the electronic device tries to change the state of the electronic device, the user needs to operate a switch or the like provided separately from the display device X. Providing a switch or the like separately from the display device X hinders downsizing of the electronic device. In addition, the fact that display and operation are performed at different locations in one state has contributed to an operation error.

Registered Utility Model No. 3010460

  The present invention has been conceived under the circumstances described above, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a display device that can be displayed and operated and can be miniaturized.

The display device provided by the present invention includes an incident surface that faces a direction perpendicular to the thickness direction that coincides with the emission direction, and a latent image surface that is positioned behind the emission direction and on which an image to be displayed is latently displayed. , And at least one light guide plate having an emission surface located in front of the emission direction, and one or more light sources located in front of the incidence surface, in a direction perpendicular to the emission direction. A light-emitting unit that emits light; and a light-receiving unit that receives light from the light-emitting unit. The light-emitting unit and the light-receiving unit sandwich at least a part of the emission surface in the emission direction view. together are spaced in said light emitting means and light receiving means are mounted in the outgoing direction front face, the light source is mounted on the emission direction after face, and is shaped to expose at least a portion of the exit surface It is characterized by further comprising a substrate.

  According to such a configuration, when a user of an electronic device on which the display device is mounted touches the emission surface, light from the light emitting means is blocked. Thereby, since the light reception signal from the light receiving means is interrupted, for example, the control unit of the electronic device can recognize that the user has touched it. Therefore, the display device has both a display function and an operation function, and is advantageous for downsizing the electronic device.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the light guide plate has a thick part located near the center in the emission direction, and a thin part surrounding the thick part, and the side surface of the thin part is the above The exit surface is the entrance surface, the front surface in the exit direction of the thick portion is the exit surface, and the substrate surrounds the exit surface. According to such a configuration, light leakage from the thin portion can be prevented by the substrate.

  Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description given below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

  1 to 3 show an example of a display device according to the present invention. The display device A of the present embodiment includes a substrate 1, an LED module 2, a light guide plate 3, a reflection sheet 4, an infrared LED module 5, and a light receiving module 6, and has a function of displaying a latent image in advance. And a function of detecting that the user has touched the image.

  The substrate 1 is made of, for example, a glass epoxy resin, and has a substantially U shape in the present embodiment. An infrared LED module 5 and a light receiving module 6 are mounted on the surface 1 a of the substrate 1. An LED module 2 is mounted on the back surface 1 b of the substrate 1. A connector 11 is attached to the substrate 1. The connector 11 has input terminals to the LED module 2 and the infrared LED module 5 and an output terminal from the light receiving module 6.

  The LED module 2 emits light for developing a latent image on the light guide plate 3, and includes, for example, three LED chips that emit red light, green light, and blue light as light sources. Yes.

  The light guide plate 3 is a substantially rectangular plate made of, for example, a transparent epoxy resin, and includes a thick portion 31 and a thin portion 32. The thick part 31 is located near the center of the light guide plate 3. The thin portion 32 surrounds the thick portion 31 from all sides. The thick portion 31 and the thin portion 32 are flush with each other in the emission direction rear surface.

  The light guide plate 3 is formed with an entrance surface 3a, a latent image surface 3b, and an exit surface 3c. The incident surface 3 a is one side surface of the thin portion 32 and faces the LED module 2. The latent image surface 3b is a rear surface in the emission direction of the thick portion 31, and an image to be displayed is latent. In the present embodiment, a semi-transmission region shaped like an image representing the word “TOUCH” shown in FIG. 1 is formed. The area other than the semi-transmissive area is a smooth surface. The light incident from the incident surface 3a passes through the latent image surface 3b and is emitted once backward in the emission direction. Then, the light is reflected by the reflection sheet 4 disposed behind the latent image surface 3b in the emission direction. The reflection sheet 4 is an aluminum thin film sheet, for example. The reflected light immediately enters the latent image surface 3b. The light emitted from the latent image surface 3b and incident on the latent image surface 3b generates light having a relatively low luminance that forms an image representing the word “TOUCH” and light having a relatively high luminance as a background. . The emission surface 3c is a front surface in the emission direction of the thick portion 31, and is a surface that emits the light L from the latent image surface 3b. The letters “TOUCH” are displayed on the exit surface. In the present embodiment, the substrate 1 is provided so as to surround the emission surface 3c from three directions. The surface 1a of the substrate 1 is substantially flush with the emission surface 3c.

  The infrared LED module 5 is a light source that emits infrared Ir, and is mounted on the surface 1 a of the substrate 1. Infrared Ir from the infrared LED module 5 is emitted across the emission surface 3c at a height slightly spaced forward from the emission surface 3c in the emission direction.

  The light receiving module 6 is a module including, for example, a phototransistor, and is configured to be able to output a light receiving signal by receiving the infrared Ir from the infrared LED module 5. The light receiving module 6 is provided on the surface 1a of the substrate 1 so as to face the infrared LED module 5 with the emission surface 3c interposed therebetween.

  Next, the operation of the display device A will be described.

  When the display device A is used, infrared Ir is emitted from the infrared LED module 5 in a state where an image is displayed on the emission surface 3c, for example. Normally, the infrared light Ir is received by the light receiving module 6, and a light receiving signal is output from the light receiving module 6. The display color of the image can be changed as appropriate by selecting the color emitted from the LED module 2. When the display on the display device A prompts the user to touch, the user touches the exit surface 3c with, for example, a finger. At this time, the infrared Ir from the infrared LED module 5 is blocked by the finger and does not reach the light receiving module 6. For example, the control unit of the electronic device in which the display device A is mounted determines that the user has touched the emission surface 3c because the light reception signal from the light reception module 6 has been interrupted. By this determination, the state of a certain part of the electronic device is changed, and the emission color of the LED module 2 is changed to a color indicating the change. As described above, it is possible to display the state of the electronic device by the display device A and to transmit the operation from the user to the electronic device. This is preferable for downsizing the electronic device.

  By mounting the infrared LED module 5 and the light receiving module 6 on the front surface 1a of the substrate 1 and the LED module 2 on the back surface 1b, the display device A can be thinned. The board | substrate 1 fulfill | performs the function which prevents the unintended situation that the light radiate | emitted from the thin part 32 will be visible to a user.

  The display device according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. The specific configuration of each part of the display device according to the present invention can be modified in various ways.

  The latent image means on the latent image surface 3b is not limited to providing the above-described semi-transmissive region. For example, a reflection area that relatively easily reflects light may be provided, and the reflection area may be formed into an image to be displayed.

It is a top view which shows an example of the display apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a side view which shows an example of the display apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is sectional drawing which follows the III-III line of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows an example of the conventional display apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

A Display device 1 Substrate 1a Surface (front surface in the emission direction)
1b Back side (outward direction rear side)
2 LED module (light source)
3 Light guide plate 3a Incident surface 3b Latent image surface 3c Output surface 4 Reflective sheet 5 Infrared LED module (light emitting means)
6 Light receiving module (light receiving means)
11 Connector 31 Thick part 32 Thin part

Claims (2)

An incident surface that faces in a direction perpendicular to the thickness direction that coincides with the emission direction, a latent image surface that is positioned behind the emission direction and has an image to be displayed, and an emission surface that is located in front of the emission direction One or more light guide plates having:
One or more light sources located in front of the entrance surface;
A display device comprising:
A light emitting means for emitting light in a direction perpendicular to the emission direction;
A light receiving means for receiving light from the light emitting means, and
The light emitting means and the light receiving means are spaced apart across at least a part of the emission surface in the emission direction view ,
The light emitting means and the light receiving means are mounted on the front surface in the emission direction, the light source is mounted on the rear surface in the emission direction, and further includes a substrate that is shaped to expose at least a part of the emission surface. Characteristic display device. The light guide plate has a thick portion located near the center in the emission direction and a thin portion surrounding the thick portion, and a side surface of the thin portion is the incident surface, and the thick portion The emission direction front surface is the emission surface,
The display device according to claim 1, wherein the substrate surrounds the emission surface.

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