JP2001281639A - Liquid crystal display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid crystal display device which has proper display quality, even if a liquid crystal panel has a shape other than the rectangle in the liquid crystal display device with a mechanism for opening and closing two liquid crystal panels. SOLUTION: The liquid crystal panel, whose vertical display widths with respect to an opening and closing shaft differ at two arbitrary places in the same liquid crystal panel, is provided, and the pixel pitch and the number of pixels are stipulated by a pixel line arranged in the vertical direction with respect to the opening and closing shaft.

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 device, and more particularly to a liquid crystal display device using two liquid crystal panels for a portable information processing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The spread of mobile phones and personal information devices (P
With the spread of DA devices, a large number of portable information processing devices have been circulating. And while these portable information processing devices are being reduced in size and weight, they are required to have higher functionality and color display. For this reason, conflicting demands for a liquid crystal display device such as a reduction in size and weight and an increase in density and a large screen have been made.

Conventionally, a liquid crystal display device is constituted by a single liquid crystal panel. Therefore, when a high-density large-screen display is performed, the outer shape of the liquid crystal display device is inevitably increased, and therefore the information processing device is also increased. The portability was getting worse. Therefore, as a liquid crystal display device for a portable information processing device, a small liquid crystal display device has to be used, and the display capacity is small. Therefore, the screen is switched and displayed many times.

[0004]

Therefore, two liquid crystal panels are used, one liquid crystal panel is provided in the main body of the information processing apparatus, and the other liquid crystal panel is provided in a lid which is provided in the information processing apparatus and which is opened and closed. Portable information processing devices have been proposed,
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-249596 and
No. 167354. In this way, by providing two liquid crystal panels, the lid is closed when not in use, and the lid is opened when used,
Displaying a large number of liquid crystal panels simultaneously enables a large-screen display.

However, in a conventional liquid crystal display device using two liquid crystal panels, a liquid crystal panel having a rectangular shape is generally used. However, in order to improve portability and to realize a fashion-oriented shape, it has been strongly desired that the two liquid crystal panels have shapes other than rectangular.

An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal display device having two liquid crystal panels in which a liquid crystal panel having a shape other than a rectangular shape is used. It is intended to provide an optimal pixel arrangement in a liquid crystal panel in order to realize a proper display.

[0007]

According to the present invention, each of the liquid crystal panels is connected so that one side of the first liquid crystal panel and one side of the second liquid crystal panel are close to each other, and the connection portion is used as an opening / closing axis. A liquid crystal display device having a mechanism capable of opening and closing such that the liquid crystal panels face each other, wherein a display width in a direction perpendicular to an opening / closing axis is different at any two positions in the same liquid crystal panel. .

[0008] More preferably, the first liquid crystal panel and the second liquid crystal panel have a symmetrical shape with the opening / closing axis as a symmetric axis.

Further, the first liquid crystal panel and the second liquid crystal panel have a pixel row composed of a plurality of pixels arranged in a direction perpendicular to the opening / closing axis, and a center of one pixel. Focusing on the distance from the point to the center point of the adjacent pixel (hereinafter referred to as pixel pitch) and the number of pixels in the pixel row, make the pixel pitches of all the pixel rows equal within the same liquid crystal panel, and Is characterized in that the pixels are arranged such that the number of pixels in the pixel row of the pixel row is different from the number of pixels in the other pixel rows.

Alternatively, the arrangement may be such that the pixel pitch of an arbitrary pixel column is different from the pixel pitch of the other pixel columns, and the number of pixels of all the pixel columns is equal.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The structure and operation of a liquid crystal display device best suited for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the liquid crystal display device of the present invention. The liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes one side of the first liquid crystal panel 1 and the second side.
The first liquid crystal panel and the second liquid crystal panel are connected so that one side of the liquid crystal panel 2 is close to the first liquid crystal panel 2, and the first and second liquid crystal panels face each other with the connection portion as an opening / closing axis h. Mechanism that can be opened and closed.

Here, attention is paid to A and B in the figure, which are arbitrary two places in the same liquid crystal panel. In A, the display width of the liquid crystal panel perpendicular to the opening / closing axis h is m, and
In the example, the display width of the liquid crystal panel perpendicular to the opening / closing axis is n. In the first liquid crystal panel shown in FIG. 1, m is larger than n, and a liquid crystal panel having different display widths at two arbitrary positions A and B is adopted. . Further, in FIG. 1, the first liquid crystal panel 1 and the second liquid crystal panel 2 are symmetrical with respect to the opening / closing axis h. I made it.

In FIG. 1, the shapes of the first and second liquid crystal panels are trapezoidal. However, as long as the liquid crystal panels have different display widths at arbitrary two positions, any shape of liquid crystal panel can be used. Good. For example, (a), (b), (c) of FIG.
The same effect can be obtained even if a liquid crystal panel having such a shape is adopted. FIG. 2A shows that the first and second liquid crystal panels have a shape obtained by dividing an octagon into two around a symmetry axis h. In FIG. 2B, the hexagon is divided into two around the symmetry axis h. In FIG. 2C, the first and second liquid crystal panels have an isosceles triangle shape. In any of the liquid crystal panels, the display widths at arbitrary two locations A and B are m and n, respectively, which are different display widths.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the first liquid crystal panel 1 and the second liquid crystal panel 2 are arranged around an opening / closing axis h.
Although installed at the left and right positions, the first liquid crystal panel and the second liquid crystal panel may be installed up and down around the open / close axis h by rotating the open / close axis h by 90 ° in the horizontal direction.

As described above, even with liquid crystal panels of various shapes, good display can be realized by setting the arrangement of pixels formed in the liquid crystal panel as follows.

Each of the first liquid crystal panel and the second liquid crystal panel has a plurality of pixels.
Pay attention to the pixels arranged in the vertical direction. The arranged pixels are referred to as a pixel column, and the present invention defines the pixel pitch and the number of pixels in one pixel column. For one thing,
In the same liquid crystal panel, the pixels are arranged such that the pixel pitches of all the pixel columns are equal and the number of pixels in an arbitrary pixel column is different from the number of pixels in other pixel columns. By arranging the pixels in this way, the size of each pixel can be made equal.

Alternatively, the pixel pitch of an arbitrary pixel row is different from the pixel pitch of another pixel row, and the number of pixels of all the pixel rows is equal. By arranging the pixels in this manner, the size of each pixel can be arbitrarily set. Since the liquid crystal panel employed in the present invention employs various types of liquid crystal panels, if the size of the pixel can be arbitrarily changed, a viewer using the liquid crystal display device of the present invention can use the first and second liquid crystal panels. It is also possible to set the optimal pixel size from the viewer side in consideration of the position from which the liquid crystal panel is observed.

[0018]

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of first and second liquid crystal panels of a liquid crystal display device in this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the first liquid crystal panel 1 and the first liquid crystal panel 2
The second liquid crystal panel is connected to the second liquid crystal panel, and a mechanism is provided such that the first and second liquid crystal panels can be opened and closed so that the first and second liquid crystal panels face each other, with the connection portion as an opening / closing axis h.

As the first liquid crystal panel and the second liquid crystal panel, general liquid crystal panels can be used, but their outer shapes are not rectangular, and display widths perpendicular to the opening / closing axis h are the same. The difference was made at any two places in the liquid crystal panel. In FIG. 1A, the display width is m, and in B, the display width is n. In the first and second liquid crystal panels,
Since the lower side adopts a trapezoidal shape shorter than the upper side, m is larger than n. Further, the first liquid crystal panel 1 and the second liquid crystal panel are symmetrical about the opening / closing axis h.

Further, the first liquid crystal panel 1 and the second liquid crystal panel 2 have a plurality of pixels. FIG. 3 shows the first and second
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an arrangement of these pixels in the liquid crystal panel of FIG. In the figure, each pixel is indicated by a small square, and one square is a pixel 3. Generally, the pixels are adjacent to each other with a certain gap. However, in FIG. 3, the pixels 3 are illustrated as being in contact with each other. Pixels arranged in the vertical direction with respect to the opening / closing axis h are referred to as a pixel column 4 (hatched portion in the figure), and a distance from the center of one pixel to the center of an adjacent pixel is referred to as a pixel pitch. . In FIG. 3, the pixel pitch p1
And the pixel pitch p2 are illustrated. Here, FIG. 3 shows 14 pixel rows for each of the first and second liquid crystal panels, but it goes without saying that a liquid crystal panel having more or less pixel rows may be used. I do not care.

In FIG. 3, in the same liquid crystal panel, the pixel pitches of all the pixel columns are set to be equal, and the number of pixels of an arbitrary pixel column is set to be different from the number of pixels of the other pixel columns. The pixel pitch p1 of the pixel column at the position of the pixel 3;
Although the pixel pitch p2 of the pixel row 4 is the same, the pixel row at the position of the pixel 3 has 10 pixels and the pixel row 4 has 7 pixels, and the number of pixels is changed depending on the pixel row.

As described above, the liquid crystal display device employing the trapezoidal liquid crystal panel and the pixel arrangement in the liquid crystal panel was excellent in portability, high in fashionability, and was able to realize good display.

(Embodiment 2) In Embodiment 2, the same shapes of the first and second liquid crystal panels as in Embodiment 1 were used. Also in this embodiment, the first and second liquid crystal panels adopt the configuration shown in FIG. 1 and have a mechanism that can be opened and closed so that the first and second liquid crystal panels face each other. The second liquid crystal panel has a trapezoidal shape in which the lower side is shorter than the upper side.
Further, the first liquid crystal panel 1 and the second liquid crystal panel are symmetrical about the opening / closing axis h.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the arrangement of pixels in the first and second liquid crystal panels. In the figure, the pixel 3 is indicated by a small square. Pixels arranged in the vertical direction with respect to the opening / closing axis are referred to as a pixel column 4 (hatched portion in the drawing), and a distance from the center of one pixel to the center of an adjacent pixel is defined as a pixel pitch p. And Here, FIG.
Each of the liquid crystal panels has 13 pixel rows, and one pixel row has 6 pixels. Of course, a liquid crystal panel having more or less pixel rows or pixels is arranged. You may use it.

In FIG. 4, in the same liquid crystal panel, the pixel pitch of an arbitrary pixel column is different from the pixel pitch of another pixel column, and the number of pixels of an arbitrary pixel column is the same as the number of pixels of another pixel column. It was set to be equal. The pixel pitch p1 of the pixel column at the position of the pixel 3 is the pixel pitch p of the pixel column 4.
Greater than 2. Further, the pixel column at the position of the pixel 3 is 6
Pixels, and six pixels are also arranged in the pixel column 4,
The number of pixels did not change depending on the pixel column, and the pixel pitch was different.

The liquid crystal display device according to the present embodiment is excellent in portability, has a small overall shape, and can change the size of pixels arbitrarily, thereby realizing a good display.

[0027]

The liquid crystal display device in which the liquid crystal panel of the present invention and the pixel arrangement in the liquid crystal panel are implemented has excellent portability, high fashionability, and can realize good display. Further, since the size of the pixel can be fixed or the size of the pixel can be arbitrarily changed, an observer using the liquid crystal display device of the present invention can use any one of the first and second liquid crystal panels. It is also possible to set the optimal pixel size from the observer side, considering whether to observe from the position.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a liquid crystal display device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a liquid crystal display device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a pixel configuration of a liquid crystal display device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a pixel configuration of the liquid crystal display device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 first liquid crystal panel 2 second liquid crystal panel 3 pixel 4 pixel column h opening / closing axis m display width n display width p1 pixel pitch p2 pixel pitch

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2H089 HA40 QA11 QA16 SA17 5C094 AA15 AA60 BA43 BA71 DA01 DA08 HA08

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A first liquid crystal panel and a second liquid crystal panel are connected so that one side of the first liquid crystal panel and one side of the second liquid crystal panel are close to each other, and the connection portion is formed as an opening / closing axis. A liquid crystal display device having a mechanism that can be opened and closed so that the first liquid crystal panel and the second liquid crystal panel face each other,
A liquid crystal display device wherein a display width in a direction perpendicular to an opening / closing axis is different at any two positions in the same liquid crystal panel. 2. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the first liquid crystal panel and the second liquid crystal panel have a symmetric shape with the opening / closing axis as a symmetric axis. 3. The first liquid crystal panel and the second liquid crystal panel have a pixel column composed of a plurality of pixels arranged in a direction perpendicular to the opening / closing axis, and all the pixels in the same liquid crystal panel. 3. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein the pixel pitches of the columns are equal, and the number of pixels of an arbitrary pixel column is different from the number of pixels of another pixel column. 4. The first liquid crystal panel and the second liquid crystal panel have a pixel row composed of a plurality of pixels arranged in a direction perpendicular to an opening / closing axis, and any one of the pixels in the same liquid crystal panel. 3. The liquid crystal display device according to claim 1, wherein a pixel pitch of a pixel column is different from a pixel pitch of another pixel column, and the number of pixels of all the pixel columns is equal.