JP2001310036A - Liquid crystal display device for game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To divide the electric system of a liquid crystal display device for general purpose/for non-general purpose. SOLUTION: This liquid crystal display device arranged on a game panel is provided with a liquid crystal display element, a backlight part, a driving circuit board for driving the liquid crystal display element and driving the backlight part, an image panel unit in a rectangular parallelepiped shape for including the above respective ones provided with an image panel case for which an opening part corresponding to the display surface of the liquid crystal display element is provided on a front surface and an attaching part for attaching a back surface plate formed on a back surface and the back surface plate of the image panel case, an image control board for receiving commands from the outside and controlling the driving circuit board, and a transparent case-like member for surrounding the image control board for dishonesty prevention provided with a corresponding hole part on a position corresponding to the attaching part of the image panel unit, and they are integrally formed.

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 for a game machine. More specifically, the present invention relates to measures for recycling a liquid crystal display device for a game machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A liquid crystal display device is used as a display device of a portable personal computer. Alternatively, even in a device or device in which a CRT display has been used in the past, a liquid crystal display device is often used because of its harmony with other devices and its small size and small depth. In recent years, especially in gaming machines,
In order to improve taste and bring about a change in interest, games using a liquid crystal display device have become commonplace. Further, in the gaming machines, the replacement of the gaming machines is often performed as a part of customer measures, but the above-described liquid crystal display device was also discarded at the same time. However, the backlight of a liquid crystal display has a shorter life due to lower brightness than the life of the liquid crystal display element.Before reuse, a technology that facilitates the replacement work has been developed on the premise that it can be replaced. I was Examples of this are disclosed in JP-A-5-237233, JP-A-6-121872, and JP-A-11-31.
No. 9249. In JP-A-5-237233 and JP-A-6-121872,
Take out the backlight unit from the side of the display device,
Alternatively, mounting is performed.
No. 49 discloses a structure in which a backlight unit having a driving power supply unit on a side portion and a liquid crystal display element can be detachably attached without using screws or the like. In addition, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication
In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. -121872, an image display unit, more specifically, a display data portion which is an individual specification for each model in a symbol display device of a game machine can be detached from a substrate, and the symbol can be replaced by replacing the symbol. Reuse of the display device and use for other models are realized.

[0003]

However, although a design has been made in consideration of the replacement of the backlight portion, the reuse of the portion including the liquid crystal display element has not been considered.

A liquid crystal display device in a normal game machine, rather than a special symbol display device, includes a liquid crystal display element, a backlight, a liquid crystal panel unit driving section (driving of a fluorescent tube used for a backlight, and a game board). C of the main control unit of
A processing circuit board for displaying an image on a liquid crystal display element based on a command sent from the PU is included.

Here, considering the differences between the new game machine and the previous type of game machine, there may be differences in all parts, but when only the screen content to be displayed is to be changed, the image control board is required. Only there is a difference.
When only the display screen is enlarged, there is a difference between the liquid crystal display element, the backlight, and the driving unit. As for the exchange of gaming machines, exchange from old model to new model and exchange to different variations are also assumed. The different variations are basically the same technology and the same hardware, but different display contents and game contents.

The life of a liquid crystal display element itself is about 10 years, whereas the life of a fluorescent tube used for a backlight is about 10,000 hours. However, in recent years, fluorescent tubes with a long life of 40,000 to 60,000 hours have been developed. 3. Even if it is assumed that such a fluorescent tube is used 24 hours a day,
It will have a lifespan of 5 to 6.8 years. 16 a day
In the case of time, it will be 6.8 to 10.2 years. In the past, the current situation was that the LCD was disposed of for a short period of time for other reasons. It is. In addition, in response to a fluorescent tube having a long life and a thin tube, a liquid crystal display device including a backlight is also being packaged in one package. It is becoming easier to use for users.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine in which the old and new models are repeatedly changed for business reasons apart from the physical, performance, and functional life of the equipment, and can be reused when the gaming machine is replaced. To provide a simple display device.
Further, an image display panel usable as a display device in a navigation device mounted on a vehicle or a display device of a television, which includes a liquid crystal display element, a backlight, a driving circuit for inputting and displaying a video signal, and a fluorescent tube driving circuit. , To provide. In addition, while the display device in the gaming machine is configured as described above, in a physical configuration, it is configured in one housing as an image panel unit, and functions required or required as a display device in the gaming machine are provided. An object of the present invention is to provide a display device having high performance.

In another aspect, as a symbol display device for a gaming machine, a display device is provided which is functionally and structurally separated from a portion that can be used for general purposes and a non-generic portion unique to the gaming machine. Is to do.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, in a liquid crystal display device arranged on a game board, a liquid crystal display element, a backlight section, and a liquid crystal display element are driven to drive the backlight section. A driving circuit board for driving the liquid crystal display device, and a rectangular parallelepiped image panel unit including the driving circuit substrate, the front panel having an opening corresponding to the display surface of the liquid crystal display element, and the rear panel mounting on the rear surface An image panel unit having an image panel case, a rear panel of the image display case, an image control board for receiving a command from the outside and controlling the drive circuit board, and an unauthorized use of the image control board. A transparent case-shaped member that is surrounded for prevention, and has a perforated portion corresponding to a position corresponding to the mounting portion of the image panel unit. It was formed integrally.

The drive substrate includes an inverter for driving the fluorescent tube of the backlight unit, and a gamma correction circuit for inputting a video signal and performing gamma correction on the input signal. Display is made using the corrected signal.

The image control board is a processing circuit for generating an image including a CPU, and includes data for displaying various kinds of images, a program for generating an image, and an external program. An input unit for inputting a command from a board including a CPU via an interface, receiving the command input to the input unit, and using the data to output a video signal representing an image corresponding to the command Circuit.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a display device 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
1 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. However, screws are omitted.
Reference numeral 205 in the figure denotes an image panel unit including a liquid crystal display element, a backlight, and a driving circuit for driving the liquid crystal display element and the backlight. In the figure, the display surface of the liquid crystal corresponds to the lower surface, and the front surface corresponds to the lower portion when the display surface is vertically arranged. Therefore, the upper surface of the figure is a surface corresponding to the rear surface of the image panel unit,
3 is the image panel unit 2 via the mounting portion 213
05 has a structure fixed to the back surface. The back plate 233 is formed of an aluminum material. FIG.
Shows a state where the respective members shown in FIG. 1 are assembled.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 202 denotes a case formed of a transparent member, and has a shape surrounding the illustrated image control board 204 in order to protect the internal board from fraud prevention. However, the connector for receiving signals and drive power from the CPU board that controls the external gaming machine is open, and the connector at the end of the cable extended from the outside in the assembled state must be connected to the connector on the board 204. This allows a cable connection between the external board and the image control board 204. At the same time, the same applies to the power cable from the power supply unit.

In FIG. 2, the notch at the top of the right side of the transparent case is the opening, and the portion corresponding to the cubic bottom is open. The upper surface of the image control board 204 is located, and the connector arranged here is exposed outside the case 202.

The transparent case 202 is made of an acrylic resin, and the upper surface in the figure is kept in a uniform thickness and mirror-finished so that the internal substrate 204 can be visually observed from the outside. Naturally, acrylic has low thermal conductivity, usually about 1/100 of aluminum material.

Here, reference numeral 203 shown in FIG. 1 denotes a heat radiation member formed of an aluminum material, and is attached to the image panel unit 205 by using the attachment portion 213 of the back plate 233 of the image panel unit. And back plate 2
33 and the member 203 (hereinafter referred to as a heat radiating plate) are formed of the same aluminum material, and conduct heat of the back plate 233 by a contact surface including a mounting portion, and radiate heat by a portion of the heat radiating plate 203 having a heat radiating hole. I have to. FIG. 1 shows two heat sinks 203. A view of the heatsink shown at the lower front is seen from the back, which is the heatsink 203 shown at the upper right. The horizontal portion of the heat sink 203 in the drawing is not due to the structural necessity as described above,
No. 01 has a protruding portion which also serves as a mounting portion to a game board (not shown), and is formed in the shape shown in the drawing.

Rear panel 233 of image panel unit 205
Inside (shown in FIG. 5, which will be described later),
There is an inverter power supply for driving the fluorescent tube. In the diagram of the image panel 205 in FIG. 1, a liquid crystal display element including a polarizing plate, a glass substrate, a color filter, a liquid crystal plate, and the like is provided on the lowermost surface, and a backlight unit of a light guide plate type is provided above the liquid crystal display element. A substrate containing an inverter for driving a fluorescent tube of the backlight and the like is disposed above the backlight unit. The presence of the back plate 203 is used to prevent mutual interference of heat and EMI (electromagnetic interference) between the substrate and the image control substrate 204 and to conduct heat to the heat radiating plate 203. This back plate 2
03, as shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 2, a transparent case 202 is shown.
The part of the image control board that can be seen through it is drawn. This side should be compared with the transparent case shown in FIG. However, since the heat radiating plate 203 is formed of an aluminum material, the image control board cannot be seen at that portion.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the display device 201 of FIG. 2 as viewed from the right side. However, it is a diagram for explanation,
FIG. 2 does not show the case of cutting along one uniform plane. The left and right views of FIG. 3 and the upper transparent case view of FIG. 3 show a cut plane passing through the center of FIG. 2 extending from the lower left to the upper right. The inside of FIG. 3 shows how the image control board 204 and the transparent case 202 are attached, and the components (connectors) shown in the center of the board 204.
Is a connector for connecting to an external board and a connector for receiving power supply from a power supply unit. This is illustrated in FIG. In addition, a protruding portion directed to the outside at the lower portion of the heat sink 203 shown in FIG. The heat radiating portion (portion with a heat radiating hole) of the heat radiating plate 203 corresponds to the shape of the transparent case 202.
That part is inserted and fixed in a groove 207 formed in a corresponding part of the transparent case as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the transparent case 202 and the image control board 204 are connected to the image panel unit 205 shown in FIG.
Are connected by using mounting members 251 and 252 as shown in FIG. The rear plate 233 and the image control board 204 are arranged with a gap 208 as shown in the figure, and the outside air is taken in from the right side corresponding to the lower portion through the heat radiation holes of the transparent case 202 and the heat radiation plate 203. Through the space between the gap 208 and the component surface side of the image control board 204 to form natural convection discharged from the heat dissipation port on the left side in FIG. At the same time, the air flow from the right side flows into the inside of the image panel unit 205 from the heat radiation hole of the back plate 233 shown in FIG. 1, and flows out through a connector outlet for connection or an opening for adjustment. , FIG.
Is discharged to the outside through the heat radiation hole of the left heat radiation plate 203.

FIG. 4 shows a state in which the display device according to the present invention is attached to a game board when the game board is viewed from the back in the present embodiment. The display device 201 is connected to the heat sink 2
A mounting hole provided on the projection of No. 03 and a mounting hole provided on the projection 210 of the transparent case are used to mount to the mounting portion 209 fixedly arranged on the back surface of the game board. In the figure, on the right side of the display device 201, two various control boards are accommodated and arranged in a case. Therefore, in this case, it is inefficient to provide an air circulation port on the side surface, and the exhaust heat is given to the control board arranged in the vicinity. No holes are provided. As shown in the figure, a heat radiating plate 203 having a plurality of perforated portions for heat radiation is disposed on upper and lower surfaces, and convection from below to above is generated through these perforated portions. Although the lower surface of the display device 201 is not clear in FIG. 4, the shape and the like are the same as those of the upper surface. Except for a connector opening for connection to an external board and power supply on the right side of the drawing, the shape is vertically symmetrical. This figure shows a case where a person of average height observes in the actual game board installation situation, and by bending slightly, it is possible to observe the substrate inside the display device without disturbing the heat sink 203. Has become.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a display relationship in the image panel unit as described above. As can be understood from the figure, the input signals are RGB analog video signals, horizontal and vertical synchronization signals and clock signals for driving internal circuits, and internal ICs.
And a power supply line for driving the fluorescent tube of the backlight. Although not shown, the lower inverter circuit and the upper liquid crystal drive circuit are electrically insulated in the illustrated range.

Regarding the electrical specification of the video signal among the input signals, the R of the input of a general television monitor is used.
This is the same as the GB signal, and so is the presence of the horizontal and vertical synchronization signals. However, the electrical specifications of the synchronization signal are slightly different from those of a general RGB monitor. The input analog video signal is an image generated inside the image control board, and is obtained by converting a signal which was originally a digital video into an analog signal by D / A conversion. Therefore, an external clock signal is input to prevent the resolution from being degraded by resampling.

Here, since the characteristics of the LCD display have different characteristics from the input level versus output luminance characteristics of a normal cathode ray tube, the differences are absorbed and the signal level is reduced even in a normal television monitor. Specification is possible for that type. That part is the part of γ correction indicated by 402. In order to perform γ correction, it is necessary to clamp a black level of a video signal, which is generally called a pedestal level, and apply it to the next-stage nonlinear amplifier (402 γ correction amplifier). This is done with a clamp circuit. When only a computer graphics image is displayed, there is no particular problem in displaying the brightness, saturation, and chromaticity of the image freely in accordance with the characteristics of the LCD during the generation process. Is subjected to signal processing in accordance with the characteristics of the driving and emission of the cathode ray tube, so if a similar video signal is applied to an LCD having a cathode ray tube and a significantly different characteristic, a display image having unnatural luminance characteristics will result. . The gamma correction circuit 402 compensates for characteristics different from those of the CRT.

Since a fluorescent tube requiring a high-voltage power supply is used as a backlight source, this high-voltage portion is placed on this substrate in the vicinity of the backlight in order to prevent the high-voltage portion from being extended over a long distance by a cable. An inverter is used to boost the low-voltage input power. By doing so, the high voltage can be limited only within the image panel unit. Further, the influence of the circuit for generating the high voltage is confined within a narrow range. With this configuration, the image panel unit can be used as an ordinary television monitor.

Therefore, when the game machine is discarded, the image panel unit can be reused as a television monitor for a car or a monitor for a car navigation by matching the power supply voltage and the physical connection specifications of signals. It is possible to do. The same can be said for the case of the image panel unit. However, a conversion connector or the like is required for the connection part.
In this case, the separation of the rear panel 233 of the image panel unit and the heat radiating plate 203 works effectively. That is, when disassembled as an image panel unit, an image panel unit having a back panel 233 shown in FIG. 1 can be obtained. However, the fixing member for fixing the back panel to the image panel unit uses the mounting member 251 shown in FIG. 1, but the screw is general, and the fixing is performed using the screw used alone. Is easy. Although not shown, the connection of the video panel unit and the image control board to the video signal and the power supply is performed through a rectangular opening on the left side of the back plate shown by 205 in FIG.

Here, the reason why the heat radiating plate 203 for heat radiation and the back plate 233 are made of aluminum material is as follows. The thermal conductivity of aluminum is about three times that of iron, and aluminum reflects light, electromagnetic waves, and various heat rays well. Particularly, the higher the purity of aluminum, the better its properties. It is said that 90% or more of the radiant energy is reflected. Therefore,
In order to prevent EMI and undesired heat transfer, each circuit and board are shielded from each other, and at the same time, the internal heat is efficiently released to the outside by using convection air or through a heat conducting member. The use of as a member produces favorable results in various aspects.

In the present embodiment, since the configuration is as described above, the output video signal (RGB) of the image control board is
Is converted to an NTSC composite signal using an NTSC encoder, and the signal is displayed on a television monitor or connected to ordinary home video equipment, etc., and the display contents of the gaming machine are recorded. Then P
It is also possible to use R material. At this time, since the γ correction circuit is also provided as described above, there is no difference between the image displayed on the cathode ray tube and the image displayed by the display device in the present embodiment such that the user feels strange. . By taking such considerations, it is easy to verify and confirm the display screen during the development of the gaming machine.

Further, as described above, the liquid crystal display element and the backlight, which are general-purpose parts rather than the general-purpose parts, or a combination thereof (one packaged as the backlight has a longer life is also available). is there)
By supplying a video signal and a normal power supply by using, a range that functions as a so-called video monitor is made into one package, and the other part of the display device as a symbol display device is made as an individual specification portion of a gaming machine. It can be reused when replacing gaming machines, or as a monitor for car navigation or car television.

Further, since the image panel unit includes an inverter circuit for driving the backlight inside and is formed into one package, the handling is easy.

Further, as shown in the drawing, the image panel unit itself does not have a protrusion or a protrusion, as shown in the exploded view of FIG. 1, and does not have a mounting portion to the game board. This enhances the versatility when diverting or reusing others.

Further, since the image panel unit has a built-in gamma circuit and converts the video signal into an analog signal, it is possible to design the image control board without considering the number of pixels and the luminance characteristics of the image panel unit. It is possible to use the same image control board in combination with different image panel units.

In the present embodiment, although not shown, the heat generated by the fluorescent tubes inside the image panel unit is effectively transmitted to the back plate 233 at the position where the horizontal portion of the radiator plate 203 shown in FIG. are doing. Therefore, the heat generated by the fluorescent tube can be effectively transmitted to the back plate 233 and radiated to the outside.

As described above, the present invention has been described using the present embodiment, but it is easy to change to the following form without departing from the gist of the present invention. 1. Although an analog video signal is used between the image control board and the image panel unit in consideration of versatility, a digital video signal having a clock rate corresponding to the number of dots of the liquid crystal display element may be used. 2. It is also easy to add a circuit for outputting a composite signal of a television as an output signal of the image control board because the basic parts are matched. 3. In this embodiment, the mounting hole of the image control board and the mounting hole of the image panel unit are matched to have a mounting shape specialized for the image panel unit. The role of the interface in connecting the two can be eliminated at least in the attachment. In this case, in FIG. 1, the portion of the heat radiating plate 203 which engages with the fixing portion of the rear panel of the image panel unit is extended, bent upward, and further bent horizontally to form a U-shape, or It is also easy to form a staircase shape and to provide an attachment part in that part. Then, by using the portion to attach the image control board and further fixing the projecting portion of the heat sink to the mounting portion of the game board, the connection portion between the heat sink and the image panel unit is based on the game board. Then, it is only necessary to have sufficient strength to support only the image panel unit. By doing so, it is possible to avoid at least restrictions on the attachment between the two.

In this case, the heat radiating plate 203 plays a role of an interface for connecting the mounting portion of the gaming machine, the image panel unit, and the image control board. Furthermore, the same can be said for the transparent case. From this point of view, the function to make the image control board, which is not usually a general-purpose product, a general-purpose product,
It can be said that this heat sink is provided.

[0036]

As described above, as a symbol display device in a game machine, the image panel unit is configured to have the function and performance of a so-called video monitor, and is packaged in one. It can be easily used, and can be reused for other than gaming machines. Further, when the image panel unit is reused, the image panel unit is easily handled because it is packaged in one package.

Further, by standardizing the interface between the image control board and the image panel unit, the degree of freedom in the combination of the image control board and the image panel unit is expanded, and the development design, operation verification, and product development are shortened. Can be achieved.

Also, since the image panel unit used in the display device includes a gamma correction circuit adapted to the characteristics of the liquid crystal, the coloring in the screen design of the gaming machine can be achieved without causing a significant difference. It can also be confirmed using a normal CRT monitor. Further, the system configuration is such that it is easy to generate a recording signal for home video.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where the members shown in FIG. 1 are assembled.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the assembled state shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view showing a state in which the display unit shown in FIG. 2 is arranged on the back of the game board.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a block diagram of a drive circuit stored inside the image panel unit 205 shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 201 Display Device 202 Transparent Case 203 Heat Sink 204 Image Control Board 205 Image Panel Unit 206 Image Panel Back Plate Heat Sink 207 Transparent Case Groove 208 Gap 209 Game Board Display Device Attachment 210 Transparent Case Projection 211 Heat Sink Projection Unit 212 Mounting hole for heatsink to image panel 213 Mounting hole for back panel of image panel 301 Game board 302 Various control boards 401 DC clamp circuit 402 γ correction circuit + inverted AMP circuit 403 DC shift circuit 404 COM signal generation circuit 405 V driver + Controller 406 H driver 407 LCD panel 408 DC / DC converter 409 Inverter 410 Backlight

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G09F 9/00 350 G09F 9/00 350Z F term (Reference) 2C088 DA24 EB55 2H089 HA40 JA10 QA16 TA07 TA08 TA17 TA18 UA09 2H093 NC01 NC21 NC49 NC50 NC71 ND60 NE06 NG01 5G435 AA00 AA17 AA19 BB12 EE30 EE31 KK10 LL00

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A liquid crystal display device for a gaming machine disposed on a game board, comprising: a liquid crystal display element; a backlight unit; a driving circuit board for driving the liquid crystal display element and driving the backlight unit; An image panel unit having a rectangular parallelepiped shape enclosing each of the image panel units, having an opening corresponding to the display surface of the liquid crystal display element on the front surface, and forming an attachment portion for attaching a back plate on the back surface, An image panel unit including a back plate of the image panel case, an image control board that receives an external command to control the drive circuit board, and a transparent case that surrounds the image control board to prevent fraud. And a member provided with a perforated portion corresponding to a position corresponding to the mounting portion of the image panel unit. A liquid crystal display device for a gaming machine. 2. The liquid crystal display device for a game machine according to claim 1, wherein the drive substrate is configured to input a video signal and an inverter for driving a fluorescent tube of the backlight unit, and to perform a gamma correction process on the input signal. A liquid crystal display device for a gaming machine, wherein a display is performed using a signal corrected by the gamma correction circuit. 3. The liquid crystal display device for a game machine according to claim 1, wherein said image control board substrate is a processing circuit for generating an image including a CPU, and is used for displaying various kinds of preset images. Data, a program for generating an image, and an input unit for inputting a command from a board including an external CPU via an interface, and receiving the command input to the input unit and using the data. A liquid crystal display device for a gaming machine, wherein the processing circuit outputs a video signal representing an image corresponding to the command.