JP2001311941A - Liquid crystal display device for game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively take measures against the heat radiation of a liquid crystal display device for a game machine. SOLUTION: The liquid crystal display device is composed of an image panel unit in a rectangular parallelepiped shape which contains a liquid crystal display element, a light guide plate type back light unit, etc., and has fitting part for its back plate nearby the four corners of the back surface of the image panel unit, a contact part which has a bored part engaging the fitting part and comes into contact with part of the back of the panel unit, a 1st member which has a vertical part perpendicular to the contact part, an image control substrate which displays a previously set image on a liquid crystal display surface on receiving a command from outside, and a transparent case which includes the image control substrate with the back when the image control substrate is arranged on the back of the panel unit; and the vertical part of the 1st member substantially shields the opening part of the internal space formed of the back of the panel unit and the transparent case.

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 heat radiation of an image panel of a game machine liquid crystal display device.

[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 particular, in recent years, thinner liquid crystal display devices have been desired, and as a backlight device for illuminating the liquid crystal display panel from the back, a plate-shaped light guide plate is provided on the back of the liquid crystal panel, and the cold cathode fluorescent light is arranged along the side of the light guide plate. A backlight system provided with a rod-like light source such as a tube is mainly used. As such an example, JP-A-11-28
1981, JP-A-7-261030, JP-A-5-27229, and JP-A-7-114815.

JP-A-11-281981 and JP-A-7-261030 disclose a structure having a fluorescent tube on one side of a light guide plate, and are disclosed in JP-A-5-27229 and JP-A-7-148815. The publication discloses a structure in which fluorescent tubes are arranged on both sides.

[0004] Also, in gaming machines, a game using a liquid crystal display device has become common in order to improve taste and bring about a change in interest.

[0005]

However, the liquid crystal display device of the gaming machine is different from the environment of the display device of the personal computer described above or the liquid crystal display device used in place of the CRT display device in the apparatus or the device. Used below. In the latter, at least the display surface of the liquid crystal display element is in contact with the human living environment space, while in the former, it faces the space closed by glass. That is, the display surface of the liquid crystal display device used in the gaming machine is not directly in contact with the human living environment space. This has different effects on the surface temperature of the liquid crystal display element. The effect is mainly the temperature rise of the entire liquid crystal display device. Conversely, it can be said that it is an environment in which there is a heat retention effect and in which luminance unevenness and the like do not occur in terms of maintaining temperature uniformity of the entire liquid crystal display element. On the other hand, in a general liquid crystal display device specification, the ambient temperature range is from 0 degree to 5 degrees.
It is set to 0 degree C. A liquid crystal display device used in a game machine, particularly a liquid crystal display device used in a pachinko machine is under a special environment, and it can be said that a general device easily exceeds this upper limit. For this reason, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-98930
In the publication, a hole for heat radiation is formed on the back surface of the liquid crystal display device including the light source. Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-121872
In the publication, a backlight light source using a fluorescent tube having a substantially M-shaped light emitting portion is provided on the back surface of the liquid crystal display element, and a backlight cover is further provided behind the backlight light source having the reflective portion. There is disclosed a video display in which a video control device (substrate) for driving a liquid crystal display element is disposed behind the video display. This image display is further attached to the front case, and is combined with the case after the substrate of the power supply unit is disposed inside. In the front case, a display window is opened corresponding to the display surface of the image display device, and in the rear case, three slits excluding the upper surface and a plurality of slit holes for ventilation are opened in the upper rear portion.

[0006] However, it has been difficult to satisfy the general specification of the liquid crystal display device, that is, the ambient temperature of 0 ° C to 50 ° C, in a gaming machine different from the usage state generally assumed. In particular, since the power consumption of the peripheral circuits of the liquid crystal display device has been increasing along with the display contents to be enhanced, it is necessary to take measures against the temperature of the liquid crystal display element itself as a matter of course to take measures against the heat radiation. In particular, the operating temperature range of the liquid crystal display element is extremely low in the maximum temperature as compared with the allowable value of the ambient temperature of general electric components. In addition, the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-98930 and Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 63-18 / 1988
As disclosed in JP-A-174-174 or JP-A-06-21872, there is a disadvantageous condition in terms of temperature that the unit must be housed in a transparent unit case to prevent fraud. In particular, a problem arises when the power consumption of the substrate accommodated in the same case or a case that covers the substrate to prevent fraud increases. In particular,
In the case of a liquid crystal display device, it is necessary to equalize the temperature of the display surface of the liquid crystal display in order to prevent luminance unevenness in the liquid crystal display. Has the consequences. In a situation where the liquid crystal display device is installed in a closed space and is forced to be accommodated in the closed space, the temperature of the display surface of the liquid crystal display element is kept at 50 ° C. or less, and the closed space is further reduced. It has been desired to reduce the temperature inside. In particular, in the case described above, the size of the opening and the like are limited, but it is necessary that the state of the substrate accommodated can be seen from the outside, and an acrylic resin having a low thermal conductivity is used. I had no choice.

An object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine having many restrictions as described above, even if the display surface of the liquid crystal display element is mounted on a gaming machine that does not directly contact the outside world. Is to provide a means for lowering the temperature to 50 ° C. or lower within the specification range. Specifically, the present invention provides a backlight unit having an improved structure for a backlight unit disposed in close proximity to a liquid crystal display element and also serving as a heat source, particularly for a game machine liquid crystal display device. That is.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, in a liquid crystal display device for a game machine, a liquid crystal display element, a backlight unit of a light guide plate type, and a liquid crystal display element are driven. An image panel unit having a rectangular parallelepiped shape including an image panel unit driving circuit board for driving a backlight unit, and near four corners on the back surface of the image panel unit for mounting a back plate of the image panel unit. An image panel unit having a mounting portion, a contact portion having a perforated portion engaging with the mounting portion and contacting a part of the rear surface of the image panel unit;
A first member having a vertical portion perpendicular to the contact portion and an image set in advance on a liquid crystal display surface of the image panel unit by receiving a command from the outside, via the image panel unit drive circuit board; An image control board to be displayed, and a transparent case that encloses the image control board between the image panel unit and the rear surface when the image control substrate is disposed on the rear surface of the image panel unit. The portion is formed so as to substantially shield an opening of an internal space formed by the back surface of the image panel unit and the transparent case.

[0009] The first member may include a plurality of first members, and the first member may be disposed on an upper surface and a lower surface of the image display device.
The transparent case has a shape that shields the upper and lower openings.

Further, the vertical portion has a plurality of perforated portions for heat radiation, and has a shape which engages with a groove provided in the opening of the transparent case to shield the opening.

[0011]

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, a notch on the upper right side of the transparent case is an opening thereof, and a portion corresponding to a cubic bottom surface 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 formed of an acrylic resin, and the upper surface in the drawing has a uniform thickness and is mirror-finished so that the internal substrate 204 can be visually observed from the outside. Neglecting the recessed portion shown at 253, the same applies to the case where the front side is viewed from the back side, and has a symmetrical shape. Naturally, acrylic has low thermal conductivity, usually about 1/100 of aluminum material.

Here, reference numeral 203 shown in FIG. 1 is a member for heat radiation formed of an aluminum material, and is attached to the image panel unit 205 by using the attaching 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.

The back plate 233 of the image panel unit 205
Inside (in the figure) is a drive board, which has 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. The back plate 203 and the rear plate 203 are assembled 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. When the display device 202 is mounted on a gaming machine, the right side of FIG. 3 is located at the upper part, and the left side is located at the lower part. 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. 3 shows how the image control board 204 and the transparent case 202 are attached to each other.
The components (connectors) shown at the center of the figure are 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. Also,
The protruding portion directed to the outside at the lower part of the heat sink 203 shown in FIG. 3 indicates a cut surface of the left and right side surfaces in FIG. The heat radiating portion (portion having a heat radiating hole) of the heat radiating plate 203 corresponds to the shape of the transparent case 202, and the portion is inserted into the groove 207 formed in the corresponding portion of the transparent case as shown in FIG. Is fixed. As shown in FIG. 3, the transparent case 202 and the image control board 204 are attached to the rear panel mounting portion 21 of the image panel unit 205 shown in FIG.
3 and the attachment members 251 and 25 as shown in the drawing.
2 are used for the connection. A gap 208 is provided between the back plate 233 and the image control board 204 as illustrated.
The transparent case 202 and the heat sink 20
3, outside air is taken in from the right side corresponding to the lower part as shown by the arrow in the figure, passes through the space 208 and the space on the component side of the image control board 204, and is located on the left side of the figure corresponding to the upper part. A natural convection discharged from the heat radiation port is formed. 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 mounted on 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, providing the air circulation port on the side surface is also inefficient and also gives the exhaust heat to the control board arranged in the vicinity, so that the case located on the left and right side surfaces in FIG. No heat radiation 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.

Here, the reason why the heat radiating plate 203 and the back plate 233 for heat radiation are formed of aluminum 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. Using as a member produces favorable results.

In the present embodiment, since the configuration is as described above, heat is not transmitted to the liquid crystal display element having the maximum use temperature which is too low in a general electronic component whose use ambient temperature is 50 ° C. The heat generated by the backlight and the heat generated by the drive substrate are released to the outside, and at the same time, the mutual influence is cut off, so that the surface temperature of the liquid crystal display element can be kept within a specified temperature range. This is because the image control board covered with the transparent case 202 is provided with a heat radiating hole for generating convection as shown in FIG. 3 to radiate heat and reduce heat transfer to the liquid crystal display element. Conceivable.

In this 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 heat radiating plate 203 shown in FIG. are doing. Therefore, the heat generated by the fluorescent tube can be effectively transmitted to the heat radiating plate 203 via the rear plate 233, and the heat transmitted in the perforated portion of the heat radiating plate can be radiated to the outside.

Although the present invention has been described using the present embodiment, it is easy to change to the following form without departing from the gist of the present invention. 1. Heat sink 203 and rear panel 233 of image panel unit
Is a separate member, but it is easy to configure it as a collective member. In the embodiment, it is assumed that the image panel unit having the back plate 233 shown in FIG. 2. It is easy to arrange the heat radiating plate 203 not on the upper and lower surfaces but on the left and right sides in the mounting posture in accordance with the heat generation position of the image panel unit or the substrate housed in the transparent case. In the present embodiment, the temperature control of the liquid crystal display surface is emphasized, and the liquid crystal display surface is disposed on the upper and lower surfaces in view of the relationship between the heat generating portion of the backlight inside the image panel unit. 3. The image panel unit has been ordered from a manufacturer specializing in LCDs, and the casing except for the side surface of the image panel unit shown in FIG. 1 is made of stainless steel having low thermal conductivity. When the exterior material of the image panel unit is formed of aluminum, the temperature control of the liquid crystal display surface is further facilitated. Therefore, when the structure of the display device of the present invention is employed, for the image control having more advanced functions and performance, Graphic engine can be employed.

[0025]

As described above, according to the present invention, an image panel unit including a liquid crystal display element therein and a C
When an image control board having a PU is arranged on this image panel unit, and this image control board is covered with a transparent case, when viewed from the back of the game board, the image panel unit is provided on portions corresponding to the upper and lower surfaces of the transparent case. A metal part thermally connected to the image panel unit is provided, and a small hole group for allowing air to flow is provided in that part. Through this part, the heat generated by the image control board flows out to the outside, and at the same time, the image panel unit generates heat. By conducting heat to this portion, it is possible to make contact with convective air. Therefore, the heat radiation of the image panel unit and the heat radiation of the image control board can be combined.

Further, the rear surface of the image panel unit and the portions corresponding to the upper surface and the lower surface of the transparent case are made of aluminum, and both are thermally connected, so that the inside of the image panel unit and the image control board are connected. Each heat radiation and E
It can also be blocked by reflecting the MI radiation. When the heat generated by each air heats the air, the heat is transmitted to the heat radiating plate 203, which is in contact with the outside, through the aluminum plate on the back of the image panel unit, thereby having an effect of reducing the thermal influence on each other. are doing. As a result, the display surface temperature of the liquid crystal display element having a low maximum rating can be effectively reduced, and the temperature of the display surface of the liquid crystal display element can be reduced to a specified value even when the liquid crystal display element is arranged inside the game machine. Made it possible to keep below.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a liquid crystal display device according to an embodiment of 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 view showing a cut surface viewed from the side in 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.

[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 Display Device Attachment to Game Board 210 Transparent Case Projection 211 Heat Sink Projecting portion 212 Mounting hole for heat sink to LCD panel 213 Mounting hole for rear panel of LCD panel 251 Mounting member 252 Mounting member 253 Notch

Continued on front page F term (reference) 2C088 EB55 2H089 HA40 JA10 QA06 QA10 TA07 TA17 TA18 TA20 UA09 5G435 AA12 BB12 BB15 EE02 EE05 EE13 EE25 EE34 GG42 KK01 LL03 LL08

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A liquid crystal display device for a game machine, comprising: a liquid crystal display element, a light guide plate type backlight unit, an image panel unit drive circuit board for driving the liquid crystal display element and driving the backlight unit. An image panel unit having a rectangular parallelepiped shape including: a mounting portion for mounting a back plate of the image panel unit near four corners on a back surface of the image panel unit; A contact portion having a perforated portion to be engaged and contacting a part of the rear surface of the image panel unit; a first member having a vertical portion perpendicular to the contact portion; An image control board for displaying an image preset on the liquid crystal display surface of the panel unit via the image panel unit drive circuit board, When the image control board is disposed on the rear surface of the image panel unit, the image control unit comprises: a transparent case that encloses the image control substrate between the image panel substrate and the rear surface; and the vertical portion of the first member includes the image panel unit. A liquid crystal display device for a gaming machine, wherein the liquid crystal display device is formed so as to substantially shield an opening of an internal space formed by a back surface of the device and the transparent case. 2. The liquid crystal display device for a game machine according to claim 1, wherein the first member is plural, and the first member is disposed on an upper surface and a lower surface of the image display device; A liquid crystal display device for a gaming machine, wherein the liquid crystal display device has a shape that shields an opening between an upper part and a lower part of a case. 3. The liquid crystal display device for a game machine according to claim 2, wherein the vertical portion has a plurality of perforated portions for heat radiation, and a groove provided in the opening of the transparent case. A liquid crystal display device for a gaming machine, characterized in that the liquid crystal display device has a shape that engages with the device to shield the opening.