JP2003280558A - Multimonitor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multimonitor which needs a space substantially equal to that for a single monitor by arranging a plurality of display parts in close contact and in parallel and in which the other display part which is not used are superimposed in the front and rear direction. <P>SOLUTION: A multimonitor 10 includes: one display part 14 attached to a case 12; and the other display part which is attached via an arm 16 connected to the case 12 or to the display part 14 so as to be rotatable. The arm 16 is formed to adjust the distance between the individual display parts 14 and 18, and also connected to the other display part 18 so as to be rotatable. <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 multi-monitor, and more particularly to a space-saving multi-monitor capable of reducing the installation space.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A user of a personal computer operating on a previous operating system has used the personal computer as a work area of the personal computer by using an area displayed by a monitor connected to the personal computer. A virtual screen function was added to the operating system provided after that so that the range other than the one displayed by the monitor connected to the personal computer could be recognized as the work area of the personal computer. As a result, the work area of the personal computer can be recognized even in the area other than the portion displayed by the monitor, and the work efficiency of the personal computer is improved. Further, in recent operating systems, a multi-monitor support function has been added, which can provide a wider work area by connecting a plurality of monitors to a personal computer. This allows the work area of the personal computer to be expanded according to the number of connected monitors. At present, a personal computer in which two monitors are connected is known, and a multi-monitor having a large display screen and a small display screen is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-181423.

A known personal computer having two monitors is
A screen can be assigned to each application, which improves work efficiency and allows a plurality of people to simultaneously check the operation status of a personal computer, which is convenient for meetings and the like. However, since the two monitors are always attached, there is a restriction on the space at the installation location, and therefore they cannot be used anywhere. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-181423 discloses a multi-monitor in which a bracket is detachably attached to a large display screen, an arm is rotatably connected to the bracket, and a small screen is attached to the arm. This improves work efficiency and
When multiple screens are not needed, it can be stored in the space of approximately one monitor, so you can install it as if it were one monitor without being restricted by the space of the installation location as in the past. It is said that it is possible.

[0004]

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-2000
However, because the small display screen is attached via the arm rotatably attached to the bracket and bracket mounted on the side surface or the upper surface of the large display unit main body, the large display screen and the small display screen are solved. There is a limit to reducing the separation distance between screens when and are arranged in parallel, and when attempting to display a wide range using multiple display units of the same size, a gap may occur between adjacent display units. , And the size of the display screen is different, so it is difficult to recognize it as a continuous display part.If the small display screen is not used, the display surface of the small screen is opposite to the output surface of the large display screen. There is a problem that the display surface of the small display screen is easily damaged because the side is stored, and there is no disclosure or suggestion of a method for solving these problems.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and in a multi-monitor, it is possible to use all screens in front of and behind each other, and display parts are arranged in parallel. An object of the present invention is to provide a multi-monitor that can be arranged and brought into close contact with each other.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems As a result of various studies on the above problems, the present inventor made another display unit connected to an arm connected to the housing unit or the display unit movable, thereby The present invention has been completed based on the idea that the display unit can be arranged at any position. That is, the first invention of the present application is directed to one display unit attached to the casing and another display attached via the arm rotatably connected to the casing or the one display. A plurality of monitor units, wherein the arm is formed so that the distance between the display units can be adjusted, and the arm is rotatably connected to the other display unit. Is a multi-monitor. Accordingly, a plurality of monitors can be arranged in parallel while being in close contact with each other, and the directions of the monitors can be freely changed, so that a multi-monitor with good usability can be obtained. Further, when a plurality of persons simultaneously look at the one display unit and the other display unit, the relative angle between the two display units can be adjusted to a convenient angle.

According to a second invention of the present application, the arm is
The multi-monitor is characterized in that a joint is formed in the middle. Accordingly, the relative position of the other display unit with respect to one display unit can be arbitrarily adjusted, and the distance adjustment work of both display units can be performed more smoothly. Also, because you can stack other display surfaces that are not in use,
When used on a single screen, it is possible to reduce the risk of accidentally damaging another display surface that is not used. Furthermore, by adjusting the length of the arm and the joint of the joints, a space-saving multi-monitor can be installed and used in the space of about one unit.

A third invention of the present application is the multi-monitor, wherein the one display unit and the other display unit are rotatable within their respective display surfaces. As a result, each monitor can be used horizontally or vertically, and the monitors can be arranged according to the working state, so that the work efficiency can be improved.

Further, a fourth invention of the present application is the multi-monitor, wherein the arm is detachably formed on the casing. Thus, when not used as a multi-monitor, it can be used as a normal monitor.

Further, a fifth invention of the present application is the multi-monitor, wherein the arm has a hollow structure, and wiring is laid in the hollow portion. As a result, it is possible to provide a clean-looking multi-monitor, and it is possible to save the time and effort required for wiring between the housing unit and the display unit. Furthermore, there is no possibility that the wiring will be caught in the arm joint.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of a multi-monitor according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Therefore, it goes without saying that various modifications are made within the technical scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit of the invention. Figure 1
FIG. 4 is a front view of the multi-monitor according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG. FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of FIG. 1. The broken line portion in FIG. 2 shows the movement when the display units are placed side by side and stacked in front and back.

The multi-monitor 10 has a casing 12 for accommodating a common circuit (not shown) and the like, one display 14 connected to the casing 12, and a rotatable casing 12. A schematic structure is formed by the other display portion 18 that is connected to and is rotatably connected via an arm 16 whose middle portion is formed to be bendable.

On the rear surface of the housing portion 12, the same number of signal input terminals 11a as the number of display portions constituting the multi-monitor 10 are provided.
The power input connector 11b is provided, and a power supply circuit and the like (not shown) required in common are stored.
Further, the housing portion 12 is attached and detached via a mounting column 20 for mounting one display portion 14 and a first rotating mechanism 22 which is rotatable in the horizontal direction with respect to the housing portion 12. Arms 16 that are freely connected are attached. A second rotation mechanism 24 is provided at the tip of the arm 16 so that the other display unit 18 can be horizontally rotated. Further, the arm 16 is provided in the middle of the arm 16.
A joint portion 26 is formed so that the can be bent. Further, the display units 14 and 18 are provided with a third rotating mechanism 28 so that the display units 14 and 18 can rotate about the center of the screen of the display unit.

The first rotating mechanism 22 and the second rotating mechanism 24 will be described. The first rotation mechanism 22 is formed by inserting a socket (not shown) rotatably formed on the arm 16 into the housing 12. The second rotation mechanism 24 also has a structure similar to that of the first rotation mechanism 22, and the connection unit 1 attached to the other display unit 18 for connecting the arm 16 and the other display unit 18 to each other.
It is formed by fitting a socket (not shown) rotatably provided in 8a to the tip of the arm 16. If a structure similar to these is applied to the one display unit 14 and the one display unit 14 is rotatable in the horizontal direction, the respective display units 14 and 18 can be adjusted to desired directions. It is convenient.

The joint portion 26 will be described. Joint 26
Are arm members 16 a and 16 that form the arm 16.
It is formed by rotatably connecting b. The joint portion 26 provided on the arm 16 is for adjusting a separation distance between the one display portion 14 and the other display portion 18 attached to the housing portion 12 and for arranging them in close contact with each other in parallel. Is.

The position of the other display portion 18 with respect to the position of the first rotating mechanism 22 is adjusted by the angle (α) formed by the arm members 16a and 16b. Arm members 16a and 1
The lengths L1 and L2 of 6b may be appropriately selected depending on the positional relationship between the position of the first rotation mechanism 22 and the place where the one display unit 14 and the other display unit 18 are unfolded and stacked back and forth. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, in the front-back relation from the front with the display 14 and the mounting position of the arm 16 to the housing 12, when the display 14 is directed to the front. The separation distances are made substantially equal.
This is preferable because the other display unit 18 can be arranged immediately in front of the display unit 14 and the stability when used as a multi-monitor can be improved. In the case of such a layout, the distance D1 between the front surface of one display unit 14 and the mounting post 20 and the mounting portion of the other display unit 18 and the arm 16 to the housing unit 12 and the middle portion of the arm 16 are provided. The distance L1 from the joint 26 that is
It may be set so as to satisfy the relation of <L1.

In the present embodiment, the position of the joint portion 26 provided on the arm 16 is determined by the distance D1 between the front surface of the display portion 14 and the mounting column 20, the mounting portion between the arm 16 and the housing portion 12, and the arm 16. Although the relationship with the distance L1 to the joint portion 26 provided in the middle part is set to be D1 <L1, if another display unit 18 can be overlapped in front of the one display unit 14. Of course, the layout of the multi-monitor 10 different from the present embodiment is not limited to the length relationship of D1 and L1 in the present embodiment. That is, as before, the arm members 16a and 1a
The length of 6b is the mounting position of one display unit 14, the other display unit 1
8 may be appropriately selected and designed depending on the mounting position of the first rotating mechanism 22 and the desired position when the one and the other display portions are unfolded and stacked in front and back. In the present embodiment, the length of the arm is fixed, but the mechanism is complicated and the manufacturing cost is high. However, for example, an arm whose length can be adjusted by a slide mechanism or the like may be used. It is possible.

Since the joint portion 26 is provided in the middle of the arm 16, when the display portion 14 and the other display portion 18 are used in parallel, the display portions 14 and 18 are arranged as shown in FIG. It becomes possible to make it adhere closely to. In recent years, the outer frame portion of a monitor can be made very narrow, so that if the display portions are brought into close contact with each other, they can be used as if the personal computer screen is displayed by one display portion. .

Next, the third rotating mechanism 28 will be described. FIG. 5 is an assembly diagram of the third rotation mechanism. FIG. 6 is an explanatory side view showing a state in which the portion A of FIG. 5 is connected. The third rotation mechanism 28 has a rotary shaft 30 having a tip end jointed in the center, a connection plate 34 having a stopper 32 in the vicinity of the rotary shaft 30, and a tip end jointed in the center. , A connecting plate 34a having a rotating shaft 30a rotatably attached and having a guide groove 36 formed therein in the vicinity of the rotating shaft 30a for loosely fitting the stopper 32 therein.

The connecting plate 34 is attached to the display unit side by screwing, and the connecting plate 34a is attached to the rear cover 38 of the display unit by screwing, and then the stopper 32 is inserted into the guide groove 36.
Through the rotary shafts 30 and 3 of the connecting plates 34 and 34a of each other.
0a is connected by joint fitting. Since the rotating shaft 30a of the connecting plate 34a is rotatably attached to the connecting plate 34a, the display unit can rotate about the jointed rotating shafts 30 and 30a. In the present embodiment, the guide groove 36 is formed in a quarter-arc shape so that the display portion can be rotated within the range of 90 °.

The first rotating mechanism 22 and the second rotating mechanism 24 shown in FIG. 3 and the joint portion 26 provided on the arm 16 allow the respective display portions 14 and 18 to be used depending on the use condition. Therefore, it is possible to adjust it appropriately, and it is possible to greatly improve the usability as compared with the conventional multi-monitor. In addition, since a switch (not shown) is provided in each display unit, it is possible to operate the personal computer with only a single display unit when a plurality of display units are not used. When a plurality of display units are not used, the volume can be made substantially the same as that of one monitor as shown in FIG. 7, and the display surfaces can be made to face in the same direction, so that the space can be effectively used. You can
This is preferable because there is little risk of accidentally damaging the display unit.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the display unit 1
Nos. 4 and 18 are attached to the connection parts 14a and 18a, respectively, so that their inclination angles can be adjusted. In order to adjust the inclination angles of the display units 14 and 18, the rear side lid 3
8 between the mounting portions 38a formed integrally with the connecting portion 14
a, 18a are provided, and the mounting portion 38a and the connecting portions 14a, 1
The shaft 40 is inserted through and fixed to 8a. Accordingly, the display portions 14 and 18 can be tilted about the shaft 40 that inserts the attachment portion 38a and the connection portions 14a and 18a.

Next, the display section 18 in the present embodiment
The wiring method will be described. FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view of a part of FIG. 3 seen through. The housing unit 12 and the display unit 18 are connected via the arm 16. The arm 16 has a hollow structure. Inside the arm 16,
A wire harness 17 for connecting an electric circuit is passed through. The display unit 18 can be electrically connected only by connecting the wire harness 17 connector-connected to the housing unit 12 at the tip of the arm 16 to the connector at the end of the arm 16. As described above, the wiring work can be performed very easily, and the wiring does not appear on the outer surface side of the multi-monitor, and the appearance can be made clear. Further, the wiring is the joint portion 2 of the arm 16.
It is preferable because there is no possibility of being caught by 6 and breaking.

Next, another embodiment will be described. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing another embodiment. In the present embodiment, the rod 4 is attached to each of the back side lids 38 and 38a of the one display unit 14 and the other display unit 18.
2 and 42a are inserted vertically, and rods 42 and 42a
The upper arm 44 and the lower arm 46 that connect the upper end and the lower end of the display unit 14 to one display unit 14 and the other display unit 1 respectively.
It is a multi-monitor 10 in which 8 and 8 are connected. Rod 42,
42a and the upper and lower arms 44 and 46 are rotatably attached. Also, the upper and lower arms 44, 4
In order to make it possible to adjust the separation distance between one display unit 14 and the other display unit 6, a vertical through hole 48 is formed in a long hole shape along the central axis of the upper and lower arms 44, 46. There is. It is more preferable to dispose stopper mechanisms (not shown) on the upper and lower arms 44 and 46 so that the display portions 14 and 18 can be stopped at desired positions.

As described above, the one display unit 14 and the other display unit 18 can be closely attached in parallel, and when not used as a multi-monitor, they can be arranged as substantially one monitor. . Moreover, since the display screens can be stacked in the same direction, the possibility of accidentally damaging the display screens is reduced. Furthermore, another display unit 1
In the case of using 8 apart from the one display unit 14, the multi-monitor 10 in the present embodiment can be used more stably than the previous arm structure.

Although the embodiment of the multi-monitor according to the present invention has been described in detail above, the technique of the present invention is not limited to this embodiment and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Of course, it falls within the target range. For example, in the present embodiment, only the screen display function is provided, but it is conceivable that speakers are provided in the display units 14 and 18 to enable the output of sound. Further, although the number of display units is two in this embodiment, three or more display units may be used. It is also possible to attach the arm 16 to the one display unit 14. Further, the signal input terminal 11a is the power input connector 11
b may not be provided in the housing unit 12, but may be directly provided in an individual display unit. Furthermore, if the guide groove 36 is formed in a semi-circular shape, the display portion can be set at an arbitrary angle.
It becomes possible to adopt a display form according to the work environment. Furthermore, a CPU and a storage device may be provided in the housing 12 to be used as a space-saving multi-monitor computer.

[0027]

According to the multi-monitor of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. That is, it is a multi-monitor having a plurality of display units connected by a case unit or an arm connected to the display unit, and it is possible to arbitrarily adjust the orientation direction and the separation distance of each display unit. It becomes easy to see the plurality of display units.

Further, since the display section attached to the housing section and the other display section can be stacked in front and rear in the same direction, a space-saving type multi-monitor can be obtained. Moreover, it is possible to significantly reduce the risk of damaging other display units that are not used. Furthermore, since the display unit is rotatable within the display surface, it can be set to be vertically long or horizontally long, especially when used in parallel. When only one display unit is used for a long period of time, the other display unit and the arm can be removed and used as a normal monitor. Furthermore, since the arm has a hollow structure and the wiring is passed through the arm, the wiring does not appear on the surface, so that the appearance can be made neat. Since this wiring can be connected to the wiring very easily by the connector formed in the connection portion, it is possible to easily assemble and disassemble the wiring.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a multi-monitor.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory front view showing a state in which the display unit is closely attached.

FIG. 5 is an assembly diagram of a third rotation mechanism.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory side view showing a state in which a portion A in FIG. 5 is connected.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which display units are stacked in front and rear.

FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view in a state where a part of FIG. 3 is seen through.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing another embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 multi monitors 12 Case 14, 18 Display 16 arms 20 mounting posts 22 First rotation mechanism 24 Second rotation mechanism 26 joints 28 Third rotation mechanism 30 rotation axis 32 stopper 36 guide groove 38 Rear lid 42 rod 44 Upper arm 46 Lower arm 48 through holes

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued Front Page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification Code FI Theme Coat (Reference) H04N 5/64 H04N 5/64 581M

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A display unit mounted on a housing unit, and another display unit mounted on the housing unit or an arm rotatably connected to the one display unit. In the multi-monitor, the arm is formed so that the distance between the display units can be adjusted, and the arm and the other display unit are rotatably connected. Multi monitor. 2. The multi-monitor according to claim 1, wherein the arm has a joint portion formed in the middle thereof. 3. The multi-monitor according to claim 1, wherein the one display unit and the other display unit are rotatable on their respective display surfaces. 4. The multi-monitor according to claim 1, wherein the arm is detachably formed on the casing. 5. The multi-monitor according to claim 1, wherein the arm has a hollow structure, and wiring is laid in the hollow portion.