JP2003280534A - Display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a display device for displaying continuous straight lines or curved lines by using light emitting bodies in terms of dots. <P>SOLUTION: The display device 1 includes: the plurality of light emitting bodies 7 arranged on a board 11 at prescribed intervals; and a transparent light diffusion board 13 for continuously covering at least the upper parts of the light emitting bodies 7, and also diffusing the lights from the light emitting bodies 7 in a direction of arrangement of the bodies 7. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a display device for displaying light from a plurality of point-like light emitting elements arranged at a predetermined interval as if they were continuous lines or curves.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a signboard of a display device using a light bulb or an LED element has been known. As the display device 101, for example, as shown in FIG. 14, a display section 105 in which a display LED element 103 composed of a large number of LED light-emitting elements is arranged in a grid pattern in a central portion of a main body, and an outer periphery of the display section 105 is provided. , A decorative portion 109 in which a plurality of decorative LED elements 107 each including an LED light emitting element are arranged at a predetermined interval, and is mounted on a stand (not shown).
As shown in FIG. 15, the display section 105 and the decoration section 109 are covered with a panel 111 having a transparent surface, and are protected from an undue force from outside, dust, wind and rain. The LED elements 103 and the LED elements 107 are mounted on the circuit board 113. The display unit 105 and the decoration unit 109 are computer-controlled, and the display unit 105
Can display information such as characters, figures, and animations. The decoration portion 109 changes the brightness and color of the decoration LED element 107, and lights or blinks to call attention to a person.

[0003]

As described above, the decorative portion 109 has various measures so that the signboard attracts the attention. However, as described above, a plurality of decorations L
Since the ED elements 107 are arranged at a predetermined interval and basically emit light by point, there is a limit to the expression method. Therefore, there is a strong demand to display the decorative portion 109 as continuous linear or curved linear light emission so as to attract the attention. Therefore, if the adjacent decorative LED elements 107 are brought close to each other for linear emission display, it is necessary to provide a large number of decorative LED elements 107.
There was a problem of increasing costs. Further, even if a large number of decorative LED elements 107 are brought close to each other, there is no change in point-like light emission, so that it is not possible to express linearly like a neon tube, and there is a limit to the expressive power. There was a problem.

The present invention has been made based on the above situation, and provides a display device capable of displaying a continuous straight line or a curved line by using a point-like light emitting body, and at the same time, without increasing the cost. The purpose is to

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a display device of the present invention according to claim 1 is provided with a plurality of light emitters arranged on a substrate in a predetermined shape at predetermined intervals. And a transparent light diffusing plate that continuously covers at least an upper portion of the plurality of light emitting bodies and diffuses light from the light emitting bodies in a direction in which the plurality of light emitting bodies are arranged. Is.

Here, a light bulb or an LED element can be used as the light emitter. Further, as the light diffusing plate, not only colorless and transparent ones but also colored and transparent ones can be used, and it is not necessary to diffuse light in all directions, and it is possible to diffuse in one direction. There is enough. Such a light diffusing plate can be formed of an acrylic plate, a glass plate, or the like, but an acrylic plate is preferable in terms of workability, safety, cost, and the like. As the shape of the light diffusion plate, a planar shape that covers only the upper portion of the light emitting body can be used.

Therefore, by diffusing the light emitted from the light-emitting bodies provided at a predetermined interval in the direction in which the light-emitting bodies are arranged, the light is continuously emitted in a linear or curved shape. It looks like

A display device according to a second aspect of the present invention is the display device according to the first aspect, wherein the light diffusing plate covers the side and the upper side of the plurality of light emitting bodies. It is what

Here, the light diffusion plate has a U-shaped cross section and a V-shaped cross section in order to cover the upper and lateral sides of the light emitter.
A letter shape or a U shape can be used.

Therefore, the light emitted from the light-emitting body is diffused above and sideways of the light-emitting body in the direction in which the light-emitting bodies are arranged, so that the light is as if the light is linear above and sideways of the light-emitting body. Or it seems to be emitted continuously in a curved line.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the display device according to the first or second aspect, wherein the light emitting body is an LED light emitting element.

Therefore, since the light emitted from the LED light emitting element is diffused by the light diffusing plate in the direction in which the LED light emitting elements are arranged, it is as if the light emitting element emits continuous light in a linear or curved shape. Looks like. At this time, since the LED light emitting element is used, the power consumption can be reduced and the heat generation amount can be reduced.

The display device of the present invention according to claim 4 is the display device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein
It is characterized in that the light diffusing plate is provided with irregularities on the outer surface or the inner surface thereof.

Here, in order to diffuse the light in the direction in which the light emitters are arranged, the unevenness for light diffusion is continuously provided in the direction in which the light emitters are arranged. Further, the cross-sectional shape of the concavities and convexities may be, for example, a partial arc shape, a U shape, a V shape, or the like in a state where the LED light emitting element is arranged in the central portion.

Therefore, the light emitted from the light-emitting body is diffused in the direction in which the light-emitting bodies are arranged by the unevenness provided on the outer surface or the inner side surface of the light diffusing plate, so that the light continues in a straight line or a curved line. Looks like

A display device of the present invention according to claim 5 is the display device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein:
It is characterized in that the plurality of luminous bodies emit two or more colors.

Here, the two or more colors are arbitrary,
For example, by arranging light-emitting bodies that emit light of three primary colors of light, red, blue, and green, and combining the lighting colors, a straight line or a curved line of a desired color can be lighted.

Therefore, by arranging light emitters having different colors to emit light and emitting only the desired color, it is possible to light a straight line or a curved line of the desired color.

A display device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the display device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects,
The light diffusing plate is configured by arranging a plurality of blocks in the longitudinal direction.

Therefore, by combining a large number of straight and curved blocks of various lengths, continuous lighting can be performed in accordance with a desired shape, and further, it can be easily manufactured.

The display device of the present invention according to claim 7 is the display device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein
A heat radiation gap is provided between the light diffusion plate and the substrate.

Therefore, when the light emitting body generates heat, heat is radiated from the heat radiation gap provided between the light diffusing plate and the substrate, and the temperature rise inside the heat generating body and the light diffusing plate can be prevented.

A display device of the present invention according to claim 8 is the display device according to any one of claims 1 to 7.
It is characterized in that a reflecting plate for reflecting the light from the plurality of light emitting members toward the light diffusing plate is provided.

Therefore, it is possible to effectively guide the light emitted from the decorative LED element to the light diffusing plate to make the line of light continuously visible from the light emitting body brighter and clearer.

[0025]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of a display device according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1
FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of a display device according to the present invention. This display device 1 includes a display section 5 in which a display LED element 3 composed of a large number of LED light emitting elements is arranged in a grid pattern in the central portion, and a plurality of LEDs serving as light emitters so as to surround the display section 5. Decorative LED element 7 consisting of light emitting element
And a decorative portion 9 arranged at a predetermined interval. The display device 1 is attached to a stand (not shown), and is installed in a place where it is easily noticeable. The surface of the display unit 5 is covered with a transparent panel 11.

In the decorative portion 9, a plurality of decorative LED elements 7 are linearly arranged at a predetermined interval on the substrate, and at least an upper portion of the plurality of decorative LED elements 7 is transparent to the light diffusion plate 13.
Are covered by. The light diffusion plate 13 has a plurality of decorations L.
The light emitted from the ED element 7 is diffused in the direction in which the decorative LED elements 7 are arranged (in the directions of arrows A and B in FIG. 1), and as a result, the point light emitted from each decorative LED element 7 is generated. , It appears as a continuous straight line or a curved line at the corners.

The light diffusing plate 13 is a decorative LED element 7.
As a planar shape that covers the upper part of the above, not only the point light looks like a continuous straight line when viewed from the front, but also formed in a shape that covers the side and the upper part of the decorative LED element 7,
It is also possible to configure the point light to appear as a continuous straight line or curved line when viewed from the side. For example, a light diffusion plate 13A having an inverted U-shaped cross section as shown in FIG. 2A, a light diffusion plate 13B having an inverted V-shaped cross section as shown in FIG. It is possible to apply a light diffusion plate 13C having a U-shaped cross section as shown in FIG. The light diffusing plate 13 may be attached to the substrate 14 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) with an adhesive 15 as shown in FIG. 3 (A), or as shown in FIG. 3 (B). The locking protrusion 17 provided on the light diffusion plate 13 may be engaged with a mounting hole (not shown) provided through the substrate 11.

As shown in FIG. 4, on the outer surface of the light diffusing plate 13, the direction in which the decorative LED elements 7 are arranged (the horizontal direction in FIG. 4).
Is provided with the unevenness 19 formed continuously, and as described above, the unevenness 19 diffuses the light emitted from the decorative LED element 7 in the direction in which the decorative LED elements 7 are arranged. The unevenness 19 can be provided on the outer side surface (upper surface in FIG. 4) of the light diffusing plate 13 or on the inner side surface (lower surface in FIG. 5) of the light diffusing plate 13 as shown in FIG. . Also, unevenness 1
As the 9-shape, the cross-sectional shape is a continuous semicircular arc shape as shown in FIG. 6A, or a continuous corrugated plate shape as shown in FIG. 6B, or It may be a mountain shape as shown in C).

The decorative portion 9 is not limited to one in which a plurality of decorative LED elements 7 of one color are arranged. For example, a plurality of colors are arranged in multiple rows and the three primary colors of light, red, blue and green are arranged. It is possible to appropriately mix and turn on the lights, or to turn on red, blue, and green alternately in order. For example, by controlling the light emission intensity of the red, blue, and green decorative LED elements 7, it is possible to mix lights with the light diffusion plate 13 and display straight lines or curved lines of various colors.

As shown in FIG. 7, the light diffusion plate 13 includes a plurality of blocks BL having different shapes such as a straight line portion and a curved portion.
1 and BL2, and these blocks BL1 and BL
A desired shape can be formed by arranging 2 in the longitudinal direction. As a result, the light diffusion plate 13 can be manufactured more easily than in the case where it is manufactured as a single structure, and various shapes can be formed by combining the light diffusion plate 13 with versatility. For example, by changing the number of blocks BL1 arranged in the width direction of FIG. 7, a display unit 5 having a vertically long shape as shown in FIG. 8A and a square as shown in FIG. The decorated decoration part can be formed.

As shown in FIG. 9, the light diffusing plate 13 has a lower end portion partially cut away to form the light diffusing plate 13 on the substrate 14.
It is possible to provide a gap 21 for heat dissipation that suppresses heat generation of the decorative LED element 7 when attached to the.

As described above, the light from the plurality of decorative LED elements 7 that individually emit light is diffused in the direction in which the decorative LED elements 7 are arranged by the light diffusing plate 13, so that a small number of the decorative LED elements 7 are present. With this, it is possible to reduce the cost by lighting and displaying it as a continuous straight line or curved line. Further, the light can be turned on as a linear light not only from the top surface (front surface) but also from the side surface, which can further draw the attention of the person. Furthermore, decorative LED element 7
By changing the color using a large number of colors, it is possible to make the display more noticeable as a display device.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but can be modified and improved appropriately. For example, as shown in FIGS. 10 (A) and 10 (B), a reflecting plate 23 is provided below each decorative LED element 7 to effectively guide the light emitted from the decorative LED element 7 to the light diffusion plate 13. You can also In this case, the lines of light continuously visible on the light diffusion plate 13 become brighter and clearer.

In the above embodiment, the light diffusing plate 13 is used.
Is attached to the panel 14 or the substrate 11, but as shown in FIG.
It is also possible to make it an integral structure with 5. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 12, the light diffusion plate 13 of the display section 5 and the decoration section 9 may be covered with the sealing glass 27.

Further, as shown in FIG. 13, the light diffusing plate 13 is provided with decorative LED elements 7 on both sides of the substrate 14 arranged in the central portion in accordance with a display device for electronically displaying both front and back surfaces.
It is also possible to have a configuration in which the lower end portions of the two are overlapped so as to cover each of them. In this case, the decorative display can be visually recognized from the front side and the back side. Although a light bulb can be used as the light emitting body, it is preferable to use an LED element because of its large amount of heat generation, which makes it thick and has a short life.

In the above embodiment, the light diffusing plate 1 is used.
3 is provided on the outer periphery of the display unit 5 to form the decoration unit 9. However, for example, the decoration unit 9 may be arranged so as to cross the center of the display unit 5 and used as a partitioning unit for displaying the display unit 5 in a divided manner.

[0037]

As described above, in the display device according to the present invention, light from a plurality of light-emitting bodies that individually emit light is diffused in the direction in which the light-emitting bodies are arranged by the light diffusion plate. The light can be displayed as a straight line or a curved line. Moreover, the increase in cost due to the dense arrangement of the light emitters does not occur.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of a display device according to the present invention.

2A to 2C are perspective views showing examples of the cross-sectional shape of a light diffusion plate.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing a case where a light diffusion plate is attached by an adhesive, and FIG. 3B is a perspective view showing a case where it is attached by a locking projection.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a case where unevenness is provided on the outer surface of the light diffusion plate.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a case where unevenness is provided on the inner surface of the light diffusion plate.

FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view showing the case where the unevenness of the light diffusion plate is a semi-arc shape, FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view showing the case where the unevenness is a corrugated plate, and FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the case of a mountain shape.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a state in which a decorative portion is configured by a block-shaped light diffusion plate.

8A is a front view showing an elongated display device, and FIG. 8B is a front view showing a square display device.

FIG. 9 is a side view showing a light diffusion plate provided with a gap for heat dissipation.

FIG. 10A is a perspective view showing a state in which a reflector is provided under a decorative LED element, and FIG. 10B is a sectional view.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view in the case where the light diffusing plate and the sealing glass have an integrated structure.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a case where a decoration portion and a display portion are covered with sealing glass.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a light diffusing plate for displaying both sides.

FIG. 14 is a front view showing an example of a conventional display device.

15 is a cross-sectional view of the display unit of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols] 1 Display device 5 Display 7 Decorative LED light emitting element (light emitter) 9 decoration 11 panels 13 Light diffuser 14 board 19 unevenness 21 Gap BL block

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Jun Kobayashi             1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric             Sangyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yasuhiko Sato             1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric             Sangyo Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 5C094 AA45 BA25 CA18 CA19 ED13                 5C096 AA05 BA01 BA04 CA06 CC06                       CF05                 5G435 AA17 BB04 CC06 CC09 FF06

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of light-emitting bodies arranged in a predetermined shape on a substrate at predetermined intervals, and at least an upper part of the plurality of light-emitting bodies are continuously covered and a plurality of light from the light-emitting bodies are provided. A display device, comprising: a transparent light diffusing plate that diffuses in a direction in which individual light emitters are arranged. 2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the light diffusing plate covers a side and an upper side of the plurality of light emitting bodies. 3. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting body is an LED light emitting element. 4. The outer surface or the inner surface of the light diffusing plate,
The display device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is provided with unevenness for light diffusion. 5. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of light emitters emit two or more colors. 6. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the light diffusion plate is formed by arranging a plurality of blocks in a longitudinal direction. 7. The display device according to claim 1, wherein a gap for heat dissipation is provided between the light diffusion plate and the substrate. 8. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising a reflecting plate that reflects the light from the plurality of light emitting members toward the light diffusing plate.