JP2003015559A - Display device and toy - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily assemble an indicator that uses a plurality of light- transmitting plates. SOLUTION: This display device (10) capable of displaying a plurality of modes is provided with a plurality of light-transmitting plates (11) on which patterns to be displayed are respectively formed to be placed one upon another by a reflecting means (13) for reflecting transmitted light to the outside, a plurality of light sources (12a), provided respectively in the plurality of light transmission plates (11) and aligning means (14) for aligning the plurality of light-transmitting plates to one another. Accordingly, when the plurality of light-transmitting plates (11) are assembled, the plurality of light-transmitting plates are aligned which simplifies assembling of the display device (10).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improved display device,
In particular, the present invention relates to a display device suitable for expressing facial expressions of robot toys. The present invention further relates to a toy provided with this display device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 shows an example of a robot toy. The illustrated example is an example of an animal toy or a robot toy that imitates a dog, and is provided with a display 10 on the face portion in order to communicate with a player.

FIG. 7 shows a configuration example of the display device 10. As shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C, a plurality of light guide plates 11 corresponding to facial expressions of a plurality of eyes are overlapped. It is configured. An LE as a light source is provided at the end of each light guide plate 11.
D12 is arranged, and a reflection groove 13 is formed at a substantially central portion of the light guide plate 11 in a shape corresponding to the expression of the eyes. LE corresponding to the facial expression to be displayed by a control device (not shown)
When D12 is selected and turned on, the light emitted from the LED 12 passes through the light guide plate 11 and is emitted toward the front of the dog from the reflection groove 13, and the expression of the dog's eyes appears on the display 10. In this way, it is possible to express a desired facial expression on the robot toy.

[0004]

However, in the above-described display, since the plurality of light guide plates 11 are used, they must be aligned and fixed to a frame (not shown) to be assembled. This is unexpectedly troublesome and hinders price reduction.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to facilitate the assembly of a display device using a plurality of light guide plates.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the display device of the present invention is a display device capable of displaying a plurality of modes, in which each pattern to be displayed by a reflecting means for reflecting transmitted light to the outside is different. A plurality of light guide plates that are formed and overlap each other, a plurality of light sources provided in each of the plurality of light guide plates, and an alignment unit that aligns the plurality of light guide plates with each other are provided.

With this structure, when the plurality of light guide plates are assembled, the plurality of light guide plates are aligned, and the display device can be easily assembled.

Preferably, the aligning means is composed of a convex portion formed on one of the two light guide plates adjacent to each other and a concave portion formed on the other light guide plate.

With this structure, it is possible to align the substrates by fitting (or combining) the convex portions and the concave portions of the substrates adjacent to each other.

Preferably, the aligning means is composed of holes formed in each of the plurality of light guide plates and pins penetrating these holes.

With such a structure, it becomes possible to align the substrates by fitting (or combining) the pins and the pin holes of the substrates adjacent to each other.

[0012] Preferably, the alignment means includes a light introducing portion formed around the light guide plate and having a thickness larger than that of the light guide plate and surrounding at least a part of the light source. The parts are arranged at different positions on the light guide plate.

With this configuration, a part of the light introducing portions of the light guide substrates adjacent to each other abuts the end portions of the other substrates, and the end portions (one side) of the light guide substrates can be aligned. Become. Thereby, it is possible to arrange a plurality of light guide substrates.

Preferably, the thickness of the light introducing portion is formed to be substantially equal to the thickness of the plurality of light guide plates.

With this structure, the plurality of light guide substrates can be more reliably aligned.

Preferably, the light introducing portion of each light guide plate is arranged adjacent to one side of the plurality of light guide plates which are overlapped with each other.

With this structure, the light guide plates can be aligned with each other in the extending direction of the one side of the light guide plates.

[0018] Preferably, the light source is an LED.
As a result, the display device can be made compact.

Preferably, the reflecting means is at least one of a groove, a hole and a reflecting material formed on the light guide plate. The pattern display is performed by reflecting the light emission of the selected LED by the pattern formed by the reflecting means such as the slot.

The present invention further relates to a toy comprising the above-mentioned display device, and preferably this display device is used as a facial expression expressing means of an animal toy or a robot toy.

[0021]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of a display device. 1 (a) to 1 (c) show examples of three light guide plates with different mounting positions of the light introducing portion, and FIG. 2 shows the assembly results of these. In the drawings referred to below, the same reference numerals are given to the portions corresponding to those in FIG.

FIG. 1A shows the first light guide plate 11a. The first light guide plate 11a is a transparent plate material such as plastic, and is formed to be long in the left-right direction in the drawing. On the substrate 11a, two first reflection patterns 13a are formed symmetrically by a reflection means such as a pore, a groove or a reflection foil.

On the left side of the front end of the substrate 11a, there is included a "U" -shaped LED accommodating portion 12a for accommodating an LED (not shown), which guides the light emitted from the LED to the end of the light guide plate 11a. 14a is formed.

The width of the light introducing portion 14a in the left-right direction is about 1/3 the width from the left of the light guide plate. Light introducing section 14a
Is formed to 3a which is about three times as thick as the thickness a of the light guide plate 11a, and is connected to the light guide plate 11a at a portion of 1/3 from the top in the thickness direction. Light-shielding paint is applied to the outer peripheries of the light guide plate 11a and the light introducing portion 14a to appropriately shield the light.

When the LED emits light, it propagates through the light introducing portion 12a, the substrate 11a and the reflecting means 13a, and is emitted upward (or outside) from the pattern formed by the reflecting means 13a.

FIG. 1B shows the second light guide plate 11a. The second light guide plate 11b is a transparent plate material such as plastic, and is formed to be long in the left-right direction in the drawing. On the substrate 11b, two second reflection patterns 13b are formed symmetrically by a reflection means such as a pore, a groove or a reflection foil.

At the center of the front end of the substrate 11b, the LED
A “U” -shaped LED accommodating portion 12 for accommodating (not shown)
A light introducing portion 14b including b and for guiding the light emitted from the LED to the end portion of the light guide plate 11b is formed.

The width of the light introducing portion 14b in the left-right direction is about ⅓ of the left-right width of the light guide plate. Light introducing section 14a
Is formed at 3a, which is about three times as thick as the thickness a of the light guide plate 11a, and is connected to the light guide plate 11a at a central portion of about 1/3 in the thickness direction. Light-shielding paint is applied to the outer peripheries of the light guide plate 11a and the light introducing portion 14a to appropriately shield the light.

When the LED emits light, it propagates through the light introducing portion 12b, the substrate 11b and the reflecting means 13b and is emitted upward from the pattern formed by the reflecting means 13b.

FIG. 1C shows the third light guide plate 11c. The third light guide plate 11c is a transparent plate material such as plastic, and is formed to be long in the left-right direction in the drawing. On the substrate 11c, two third reflection patterns 13c are formed by a reflection means such as pores, grooves or reflection foil.

On the right side of the front end of the substrate 11c, the LED
A “U” -shaped LED accommodating portion 12 for accommodating (not shown)
A light introducing portion 14c including c and for guiding the light emitted from the LED to the end portion of the light guide plate 11c is formed.

The width of the light introducing portion 14c in the left-right direction is about 1/3 of the width from the right end side of the light guide plate. Light introducing section 14
The thickness of c is about 3 times the thickness a of the light guide plate 11c, which is 3a.
And is connected to the light guide plate 11c at a portion of about 1/3 from the bottom in the thickness direction. Light-shielding paint is applied to the outer periphery of the light guide plate 11c and the light introducing portion 14c to appropriately shield the light.

When the LED emits light, it propagates through the light introducing portion 12c, the substrate 11c and the reflecting means 13c, and is emitted upward from the pattern formed by the reflecting means 13c.

FIG. 2 shows an example in which these first to third light guide substrates are sequentially superposed and assembled.

As described above, the light introducing portion 14 of each light guide plate
Each of the thicknesses a to 14c is formed to be approximately three times the thickness a of each substrate, and the width of each of the light introducing portions 14a to 14c in the left-right direction is set to about 1/3 of the light guide plate. The light guide plates 11a to 11c are located on the left side, the center part, and the right side of the lower side of the light guide plate 11, respectively.
The light guide plates 11a to 11c are accurately aligned with each other only by overlapping them so as to be in contact with 4c.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, an example in which three translucent substrates are used has been described, but it is obvious that the present invention is not limited to three substrates and can be applied to a plurality of substrates. .

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view for explaining the second embodiment. In the figure, parts corresponding to those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, and description of such parts will be omitted.

In this example, the guide pin and the pin hole are provided in the light guide substrate to prevent the assembly alignment and the shift after the alignment. That is, in the first light guide substrate 11a,
Pin holes 21a and 22a are formed at the left and right ends of the substrate, respectively. The second light guide substrate 11b has guide pins 23 and 24 projecting upward and downward from the substrate on the left end side of the substrate, and a pin hole 22 on the right end side of the substrate 11b.
b is formed. The third light guide substrate 11c is provided with a pin hole 21c on the left end side of the substrate and a guide pin 25 protruding upward from the substrate on the right end side of the substrate 11b.

FIG. 4 shows an example in which the first to third light guide plates shown in FIG. 3 are assembled. In the example of the figure, the guide pin 23 is inserted into the pin hole 21a. Pin hole 22
The guide pin 25 is inserted in a. Although not shown, the guide pin 24 is inserted into the pin hole 21c. The guide pin 25 is also inserted in the pin hole 22b.

As described above, in addition to the above-described configuration of the light introducing portions 14a to 14c, by inserting the guide pin into the corresponding pin hole of the light guide substrate, the alignment of the assembly position and the prevention of the shift after the assembly can be achieved. .

FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, parts corresponding to those in FIG. 3 are designated by the same reference numerals, and description of such parts will be omitted.

In this example, the guide pins and the pin holes prevent alignment and displacement of the substrate assembly without forming the light introducing portions 14a to 14c to be thick. Even with such a configuration, the same effect as that of the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, a thick light guide portion, a guide pin (convex portion), a pin hole (recess portion) and the like are formed as alignment means on each light guide substrate. Therefore, when the substrates are superposed, the substrates are aligned with each other. Further, the alignment is maintained and the shift after the alignment is prevented.

The means for aligning the substrates with each other or for preventing the displacement of the substrates is such that a part of the substrates is projected (convex) in a square shape, or recessed (recessed) in a shape corresponding thereto. It may be a structure.

This display device can be used in various kinds of equipment in which this display device can be used. Used, for example, in toys. For example, this display device is used as a facial expression expression means of an animal toy or a robot toy.

[0046]

As described above, in the display device of the present invention, since the alignment means for aligning the plurality of light guide plates is provided, the assembly becomes easy. This display device is applied to a toy, for example.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an assembly diagram illustrating an assembly result in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an assembly result in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a robot toy.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of an eye display of a robot toy.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Display 11, 11a to 11c Light guide plate 12 LED 12a-12c LED arrangement part 13 Reflection means (grooves, holes, reflectors) 14a-14c Light guide part 23-25 guide pins

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Takao Kubo             Ce 1-4, Yanagibashi, Taito-ku, Tokyo             Inside Gatoys (72) Inventor Kouji Usuda             1-8-65 Sakaemachi, Hamura-shi, Tokyo F-term (reference) 2C150 CA01 CA02 CA04 DA25 DG13                 5C096 AA11 AA24 BA02 BA04 BB13                       BB27 BB28 BB31 BB35 BB39                       BC02 BC11 BC15 CA02 CA06                       CA15 CA22 CA32 CA35 CB02                       CC06 CD03 CD09 CD23 CD28                       CD32 CD53 DC02 DC06 DC19                       DC21 EB19 FA04

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A display device capable of displaying a plurality of modes, comprising: a plurality of light guide plates, each of which has a pattern to be displayed by a reflection means that reflects transmitted light to the outside and is overlapped with each other; A display device, comprising: a plurality of light sources provided on each of the light guide plates; and an alignment unit that aligns the plurality of light guide plates with each other. 2. The display according to claim 1, wherein the aligning means comprises a convex portion formed on one light guide plate of two adjacent light guide plates and a concave portion formed on the other light guide plate. apparatus. 3. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the alignment means is constituted by holes formed in each of the plurality of light guide plates and pins penetrating the holes. 4. The light introducing portion of each light guide plate, wherein the aligning means includes a light introducing portion formed around the light guide plate and having a thickness larger than a thickness of the light guide plate and surrounding at least a part of the light source. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the light guide plates are arranged at different positions from each other. 5. The display device according to claim 4, wherein the thickness of the light introducing portion is formed to be substantially equal to the thickness of the plurality of light guide plates. 6. The light introducing portion of each light guide plate is arranged adjacent to one side of the plurality of light guide plates that are overlapped with each other.
Display device according to. 7. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the light source is an LED. 8. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the reflection means is at least one of a groove, a hole, and a reflection material formed in the light guide plate. 9. A toy comprising the display device according to any one of claims 1 to 8. 10. The toy according to claim 9, wherein the display device is used as a facial expression expressing means of an animal toy or a robot toy.