JP2006075362A - Display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a display device with a slim display structure and also with a high display performance for achieving accurate display without intervention of a dot pattern in one display area. <P>SOLUTION: In the display device, a dot pattern showing the display information such as a character or symbol is formed on a flat plane part of a light guide panel and the display information is displayed by letting the outgoing light emitted from a light source enter from a side face of the light guide panel. A plurality of light sources are disposed sideways of the light guide panel so that the outgoing light is emitted in different directions, and a plurality of dot patterns capable of displaying the display information are mingled and formed corresponding to the outgoing light on the flat plane part of the light guide panel. In this way, different display information is displayed according to the lighting of the respective light sources. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a display device that is incorporated in a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine or a pachislot machine in a game store, or other equipment, or used alone, and more specifically, in one display region of one light guide plate. The present invention relates to a display device capable of displaying a plurality of display information.

  In general, as a display means using a light guide plate, an optical display structure that obtains light emission output by efficiently reflecting light guided by transmitting emitted light from a light emitting element such as a light emitting diode to the side surface of the light guide plate. have. For this reason, in order to efficiently refract the emitted light on the planar portion of the light guide plate, a large number of fine concave dot portions are formed. As shown in FIG. 32 (A), the concave shape of the dot part is mostly conical dot part 321 and hemispherical dot part 322 as shown in FIG. 32 (B).

  Since the shapes of these dot portions 321 and 322 reflect the outgoing light that has entered from all directions, for example, as shown in FIGS. 32C and 32D, the light guide plate 323 in the drawing. The emitted light 324 emitted from the left to the right is reflected to the upper right by the reflection action on the refracting surfaces of the dot portions 321 and 322, and the emitted light 325 emitted from the right to the left in the drawing is reflected to the upper left. The dots 321 and 322 were able to emit light relatively efficiently even if the outgoing light 324 and 325 emitted from the light was incident on the light guide plate 323 without any special contrivance.

  For this reason, when trying to display a pattern with a dot pattern consisting of an assembly of dot portions, one dot pattern can be displayed, but multiple characters and patterns are processed in one display area of the light guide plate. When a plurality of dot patterns are displayed, all the dot portions 321 and 322 emit light at the same time when light is incident, and the displayed characters and designs cannot be visually recognized. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 33 and 34, for example, there is a method in which a set of three light guide plates 331 to 333 are used in an overlapping manner. In this case, it is necessary to display the light guide plates 331 to 333 separately for each of the symbols 331a to 333c to be displayed.

  In this case, the light guide plates 331 to 333 use a resin such as acrylic or polycarbonate as a light-transmitting material, and the flat portions of these light guide plates 331 to 333 are processed to represent characters and designs, and the side surfaces of the light guide plates (in the figure, This is a display device 337 that emits and displays the characters and symbols of the dot pattern processed on the light guide plate by making the emitted light incident from the light emitting elements 334 to 336 provided on the lower end surface.

  At this time, characters and symbols to be displayed are processed separately for each of the three light guide plates 331 to 333. When one of a plurality of characters or symbols is specified and displayed, the light and the light are separately input to the light guide plates. One of a plurality of dot patterns is displayed by switching the light emission of each light emitting element. In addition, the processing of characters and symbols on the light guide plate is performed only on the characters and symbols to be displayed or only on the background. For this reason, when the outgoing light is incident from the side surface of the light guide plate, only the processed dot portion emits light, so a luminance difference occurs between the processed portion and the unprocessed portion, and characters and designs are displayed by this luminance difference. be able to.

  However, in the method using a plurality of light guide plates, not only the number of light guide plates necessary for the number of characters and symbols to be displayed is required, but also when each light guide plate is in close contact, light leaks to other light guide plates. It is necessary to provide a space between them to avoid mutual interference. As a result, the apparatus becomes large (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Further, in the method of processing by specifying only the light emitting portion of the light guide plate, a difference in transparency between the processed portion and the unprocessed portion occurs even when the emitted light is not incident, and FIG. As shown in FIG. 35 (A) and FIG. 35 (B), there is a problem that even when it is not desired to show the display information 351 of characters and symbols, the display information 351 is thinly visible (for example, Patent Documents). 2).

  Furthermore, in a display device in which a plurality of light guide plates such as a set of three are overlapped, when the light guide plate on the back side is turned on, the characters and the dot pattern of the pattern processed on the light guide plate on the front side are also affected by the lighting. As shown in FIG. 35 (C), a clear display output such as interference fringes (moire fringes) 352 does not occur, and the dot pattern interference between the light guide plates remains, and an accurate display is obtained. Had a problem that could not.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-64885 Utility model No. 3084374

  In view of this, the present invention pays attention to giving the reflected light directivity by performing processing peculiar to fine concave dots, even if a plurality of dot patterns are mixed in one display area, It is an object of the present invention to provide a display device that can completely display the interference with the reflected light and display it accurately, and can reduce the thickness of the display structure.

  The present invention forms a dot pattern representing display information such as characters and designs on a flat surface portion of a light guide plate, and displays the display information by making light emitted from a light source incident from the side surface of the light guide plate. A plurality of light sources are arranged on the side of the light guide plate so that directions of the emitted light are different, and a plurality of display information can be displayed corresponding to each of the emitted light on the flat portion of the light guide plate. The display device is characterized in that dot patterns are mixedly formed and different display information is displayed corresponding to lighting of each light source.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to create a plurality of dot pattern numbers of display information in one display area of one light guide plate. In particular, even if a plurality of dot patterns are formed in one display region of the light guide plate, only one dot pattern corresponding to the light incident direction is caused to emit light, and the other dot patterns do not emit light. Specific display information can be displayed simply by changing the light incident direction with respect to. As described above, if a light source is provided for each dot pattern, and the light incident direction is changed by selecting a light source to emit light, a plurality of display information is displayed in one display area of the light guide plate even though it is a single light guide plate. be able to.

  Further, the constituent members of the display device can be constructed only by providing one light guide plate and a number of light sources corresponding to the number of display information. For this reason, not only can the display device be reduced in thickness and cost, but also the directivity of light that refracts the emitted light, so that accurate display can be realized in which interference between dot patterns is completely eliminated.

  In another configuration of the present invention, the dot pattern includes concave dots having a reflective surface that reflects incident outgoing light and a transmission surface that transmits outgoing light from a direction different from the outgoing light, and The reflecting surface of the concave dots of the dot pattern is arranged to reflect only one outgoing light.

  According to the present invention, the processing shape of the concave dots with respect to the flat portion of the light guide plate is formed as a concave portion in a triangular prism cut out from the flat portion into a cross-sectional shape of a transmission surface perpendicular to the depth direction and a reflection surface in the inclined direction. . For this reason, when the outgoing light incident from the side surface of the light guide plate is orthogonal to the groove direction of the concave dot, the incident outgoing light is only incident when the incident outgoing light reaches the reflecting surface of the concave dot and is refracted. The incident light can be emitted by being refracted from a certain inclination angle of the reflecting surface. The outgoing light is transmitted as it is on all the transmission surfaces orthogonal to the outgoing light. In this way, only one reflecting surface of the concave dot having a certain refraction angle emits light, and has the light characteristic of specifying the light emitting direction.

  The processing direction is aligned so that the reflective surface of the concave dots is reflected only by one outgoing light, and one dot pattern consisting of these concave dot groups becomes one display information. If the dot processing direction is changed for each display information, a plurality of independent dot patterns can be provided for each processing direction. For this reason, a plurality of pieces of display information can be processed in one display area of one light guide plate, and the display can be performed.

  The concave dots, for example, have a horizontal plane length that opens as a groove width in the plane direction of the light guide plate, and a vertical plane (transmission plane) length that is a notch depth in the thickness direction of the light guide plate, and the space between them. It can be provided as a notch in a triangular prism having an isosceles triangle section (cross-sectional letter shape) in which the angle of the connecting inclined surface (reflection surface) is inclined by 45 degrees.

  In another configuration of the present invention, a lens that spreads the emitted light emitted from one light source to a wide light emitting region along the width direction of the side surface of the light guide plate, and makes the emitted light enter in parallel from the wide light emitting region. The light source is interposed between the light source and the side surface of the light guide plate.

  According to the present invention, by the lens interposed between the light source and the side surface of the light guide plate, the emitted light emitted from one point of the light source can be converted into a wide range of parallel light and uniformly incident on the light guide plate. For this reason, the light does not become unstable such that the vicinity of the center of the light source is bright and the outside is dark. Therefore, it is possible to secure a stable light entering action and achieve uniform light emission of display output.

  In another configuration of the present invention, the light emitted from the light source entering from the side surface of the light guide plate is spread to a wide light emitting region, and a lens surface for allowing the light emitted from the wide light emitting region to enter the light in parallel is provided. The light guide plate is provided with a curved side surface.

  According to the present invention, since a lens surface for ensuring a stable light entering action that uniformly enters light from the side surface of the light guide plate is integrally formed on the side surface of the light guide plate, the lens is newly arranged. This eliminates the need for installation and can reduce costs. When a plurality of light incident directions are required, a lens surface may be formed on the side surface of the light guide plate in accordance with each of the light incident directions.

  In another configuration of the present invention, the processing direction of the concave dots processed in the light guide plate is formed in a direction orthogonal to the diffusion direction of the output light in accordance with the diffusion angle of the outgoing light entering from the side surface of the light guide plate. It is characterized by that.

  According to the present invention, when outgoing light is incident on the light guide plate from one light source, the incident outgoing light gradually diffuses in the incoming light direction, so that the concave dot groove direction is orthogonal to the outgoing light diffusion angle. If the processing is performed in accordance with the orientations, the light can be most efficiently orthogonalized to all the concave dots, and the light emission efficiency of the dot pattern can be increased. In this case, since the brightness of the concave dots can be maintained at the highest level, the display output can be increased by maximizing the brightness difference between the dot pattern that is desired to emit light and the dot pattern that is not desired to emit light.

  Another configuration of the present invention is characterized in that a plurality of dot patterns are formed as display information on the planar portion of the light guide plate, and an auxiliary dot pattern is provided to make the display information of these dot patterns invisible.

  According to the present invention, since the auxiliary dot pattern is formed in the vicinity of the dot pattern of the display information to be displayed in one display area of the light guide plate, the auxiliary dot pattern becomes a uniform background and is mixed on the dot pattern of the display information. Small concave dots will be widely dispersed. For this reason, the display information of the dot pattern in the incoming light standby state is not conspicuous, and the display information can be made invisible in the incoming light standby state. For example, if you do not want to show the display information of the light guide plate when all of the light sources are turned off, you can hide the display information of the dot pattern that is waiting for display when the auxiliary dot pattern is applied. it can.

  According to the present invention, a plurality of display information can be provided in one display area of a single light guide plate, and one display information can be selected and displayed from these display information. Moreover, since the number of the light guide plate is one, a display structure with a reduced thickness can be obtained. In addition, since it has directivity for specifying the light emitting direction, the dot patterns having different directions do not interfere with each other during light emission, and an accurate display output can be obtained. In addition to being thin, it can be installed in a small space, and is also suitable for incorporation into devices that require thinning.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows a display device 11, which is configured by integrally supporting the outer periphery of a light guide plate 12 as a light emitting display plate with a frame 13.

  2 and 3 show the internal structure of the display device 11, and the light guide plate 12 is formed of, for example, a rectangle made of a transparent resin plate material such as acrylic or PC (polycarbonate). The center of the rectangular light guide plate 12 is shown in FIG. On the back of the part, dot patterns 14 and 15 of two types of characters “A” and “A” are processed as display information.

  On one side end surface 12a of the light guide plate 12, a group of light emitting elements 16a to 16d as horizontal axis light sources that emit light from the side is arranged at regular intervals along the one side end surface 12a. In addition, light emitting element groups 17a to 17d as vertical light sources that emit light from below are arranged on the lower end surface 12b at regular intervals along the lower end surface 12b.

  Light emitted from the light emitting elements 16a to 16d in the horizontal axis direction or the light emitting elements 17a to 17d in the vertical axis direction enters from the one side end face 12a or the lower end face 12b of the light guide plate 12 and enters the light guide plate 12. It progresses to the dot patterns 14 and 15 currently formed in the center part. The light reaching the dot patterns 14 and 15 is refracted by 90 degrees, and the dot pattern characters are emitted as display information. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the emitted display information is visually recognized by an observer 18 facing the plane side of the light guide plate 12.

  2 to 5, the light emitting elements 16a to 16d and 17a to 17d are arranged on the side of the light guide plate 12. However, the light emitting elements are arranged in another place and light is transmitted using an optical fiber or a prism. The light guide plate 12 may be led to the side surface.

Next, the structure of a dot pattern representing one piece of display information will be described.
FIG. 6 shows a dot pattern 14 whose display information is “A”. As shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C, this “A” dot pattern 14 is a groove-shaped fine dot groove 19. The dot groove group is formed by aligning many of them in the same direction.

  7A is a rear view showing a part of the dot groove 19 group in an enlarged manner, FIG. 7B is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the dot groove 19 group, and FIG. 7C is a dot groove 19 group. FIG.

  The dot grooves 19 are formed by finely cutting the planar portion of the light guide plate 12 to form recesses in the shape of triangular prisms, and the recessed surfaces are horizontally emitted from the light emitting elements 16a to 16d in the horizontal axis direction. The light is incident on one side end surface 12a of the light guide plate 12 and is processed into a concave shape in a cross-sectional shape having a vertical surface 20 through which light is transmitted and an inclined surface 21 that reflects the incident light for display. Provided.

  The dot groove 19 will be described in detail. The length of the horizontal plane 22 as a groove width that is opened when a concave portion is machined into a cross-sectional shape in the plane direction of the back surface of the light guide plate 12, and the thickness direction of the light guide plate 12 A space of a triangular prism with an isosceles triangle section in which the vertical plane 20 length as a notch depth is set to a minute same length of about several tens of μm to 100 μm, and the angle of the inclined surface 21 connecting the vertical planes is inclined by 45 degrees. Provided. The longer the triangular prism length of the dot groove 19 is, the larger the light emitting display area becomes, and the display becomes easier to see. For this reason, it is set to a length suitable for display output, and is not limited to a portrait.

  FIG. 8 shows a dot pattern 15 whose display information is “A”. This dot pattern 15 of “A” is the dot pattern 14 of “A” as shown in FIGS. The dot grooves 19 differ from each other only in the orientation of all the dot grooves 19 by 90 degrees in the plane direction, and each of them is processed into a concave portion in the same shape of a cross-sectional shape.

  Here, FIG. 9A is an enlarged rear view showing the dot groove 19 group, FIG. 9B is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the dot groove 19 group, and FIG. 9C is an enlarged cross-section of the dot groove 19 group. A plane view is shown.

  The dot pattern 15 of “A” is formed by finely cutting the planar portion of the light guide plate 12 to form a recess in a triangular prism-shaped space, and the recess-processed surface has light emitting elements 17a to 17a in the vertical axis direction. A cross-sectional display having a vertical surface 20 that allows light emitted vertically from the group 17d to enter from the lower end surface 12b of the light guide plate 12 and travel straight as it is, and an inclined surface 21 that refracts the incident light for display. Recessed into a letter shape.

  Therefore, the groove direction for processing the dot groove 19 of the dot pattern 15 of “A” corresponds to the group of light emitting elements 17a to 17d in the vertical axis direction, so the groove direction of the dot groove 19 of the dot pattern 14 of “A” However, the orientation is changed by 90 degrees in the plane direction. The processing positions of both the dot patterns 14 and 15 are each processed into one display area that overlaps the central plane portion of the light guide plate 12. In this case, since both the dot groove 19 group of one dot pattern 14 and the dot groove 19 group of the other dot pattern 15 are processed by turning 90 degrees in the plane direction, only one dot groove 19 group is processed. In one dot groove 19 group that does not emit light, all of the inclined surfaces 21 face in the same direction and the directivity of light is specified. Therefore, even if both the dot patterns 14 and 15 are processed by overlapping, There is no interference.

  FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of the dot groove 19a in the horizontal axis direction, the dot groove 19b in the vertical axis direction, and the dot groove 19c intersecting in a cross shape formed on the back surface of the light guide plate 12. When the light 23 from the light emitting elements 16a to 16d in the horizontal axis direction or the light 24 from the light emitting elements 17a to 17d in the vertical axis reaches the respective dot grooves 19a to 19c, The vertical surface 20 goes straight as it is, and the 45-degree inclined surface 21 is refracted 90 degrees and has a directivity to change the direction to the display direction.

  For example, as shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, when the dot grooves 19 intersect vertically and horizontally in the light transmission direction, the light incident on the dot grooves 19c is orthogonal to the groove direction. Is refracted across the inclined surface of the dot groove 19d indicated by a solid line in the drawing, and when light is parallel to the groove direction, the light travels straight because it is parallel to the inclined surface of the dot groove 19e indicated by a broken line in the drawing.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 11C, it is desirable that the dot grooves 19a in the horizontal axis direction and the dot grooves 19b in the vertical axis direction are densely arranged so as not to interfere with each other. As shown in (D), even if the dot grooves 19a and 19b intersect with each other, these groove directions are in the same direction as the light incident direction (0 degrees) or in two directions that are perpendicular to this direction (90 degrees). Therefore, there is no interference even if dot grooves having different directions are mixed.

  As shown in FIG. 12 (A), the dot groove 19 is a triangular prism space portion, and the recess processing surface of the triangular prism space portion is a vertical surface 20, an inclined surface 21, and a vertical end surface 20a in the groove direction, Each of these determined surfaces is provided for each dot groove 19.

  When the relationship between each surface 20, 21, 20a of the dot groove 19 and the light is shown in FIG. 12 (B), the light 23a emitted from the left to the right in the figure passes through the vertical surface 20 at 45 degrees. The light is refracted at a right angle by the corresponding inclined surface 21 and goes straight up in the figure. At this time, the viewer 18 can visually recognize the light emitted from the inclined surface 21. On the contrary, the light 23b emitted from the right to the left in the figure is refracted obliquely downward by the inclined surface 21 corresponding to 135 degrees and escapes to the lower left in the figure. At this time, the light is not output to the viewer 18 side, and thus cannot be visually recognized. Therefore, the dot groove 19 is displayed only by light incident from one direction.

  Next, when the dot groove 19 shown in FIG. 13A is processed, as shown in FIG. 13B, the processing direction of the dot groove 19 on the flat portion of the light guide plate 12 is shown in FIG. In comparison, when processing is performed at 90 degrees, the light 23a emitted from the left to the right in the drawing passes through one vertical end face 20a and then passes through the other vertical end face 20b, and upwards. Therefore, no light is emitted in the direction of the dot grooves 19. On the contrary, the light 23b emitted from the right to the left in the figure passes through the other vertical end face 20b and then also passes through the one vertical end face 20a, so that upward refraction does not occur. Does not emit light.

Next, a result of considering the light refraction phenomenon in the dot groove 19 and the output level of the light amount accompanying this phenomenon will be described with reference to FIGS.
14, when the angle formed by the dot groove 19 and the traveling direction x of the light 23 is θ, the light 23 emitted from the light emitting element 16 strikes the inclined surface of the dot groove 19 as shown in FIG. 15. The amount of light that is refracted and exits to the viewer when the light is refracted is defined as C (a dimensionless amount where the value of C is 100 when θ = 90 degrees).

  In this model, the parameter θ (angle) obtained from the relationship between the arrangement angle of the dot grooves 19 and the light incident thereon is changed from −180 degrees to 180 degrees, and the relationship between the angle θ and the light amount C is determined. The obtained simulation results are shown in FIG. As a result, the amount of light changes depending on the angle of the inclined surface of the dot groove 19, and when the angle θ = 0 °, the value of the amount of light C takes the maximum value, and when the angle θ is −60 degrees or less and 60 degrees or more, The value is almost zero.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 17, if the dot grooves are rotated by 60 degrees on the plane and arranged, only specific dot grooves corresponding to every 60 degrees can be illuminated. As a result, one display area can be illuminated. Six types of patterns P1 to P6 with different orientations can be displayed. For example, “P4” at θ = 0 °, “P5” at θ = 60 °, and “P6” at θ = 120 ° are angles suitable for light emission of the dot groove, and the light is most shining. .

  In this case, it is desirable to make the light from the light emitting element parallel light. However, in reality, it is difficult to make the light completely parallel light, and as shown in FIG. It is realistic to obtain four types of dot groove patterns P11 to P14 by shifting them one by one.

Next, an example of light emission display will be described with reference to FIGS.
In FIG. 19A, as also shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, dot patterns 14 and 15 of two types of characters “A” and “A” are displayed as display information in one display area of the light guide plate 12. Has been processed. A group of light emitting elements 16a to 16d in the horizontal axis direction is provided on one end face (left in the figure) of the light guide plate 12, and a light emitting element 17a in the vertical axis direction is provided on the lower end face (lower in the figure) of the light guide plate 12. ˜17d group is arranged.

  When displaying the dot pattern 15 of “A” of the two types of dot patterns 14 and 15, the light emitting elements 17a to 17d in the vertical axis direction are turned on as shown in FIG. Then, only the dot grooves constituting the dot pattern 15 of “A” emit light, and as a result, only the display information “A” emits light.

  Similarly, when displaying the dot pattern 14 of “A” among the two types of dot patterns 14 and 15, the light emitting elements 16 a to 16 d in the horizontal axis direction are turned on as shown in FIG. . Then, only the dot grooves constituting the “a” dot pattern 14 emit light, and as a result, only the display information “a” emits light.

  FIG. 20A shows a case where four types of dot patterns are processed on the same surface of the light guide plate. Since the dot grooves 19 emit light only in one direction, the processing directions of the dot grooves 19 are four directions (−180 degrees). , −90 degrees, 0 degrees, and 90 degrees), dot patterns P21 to P24 of four types of characters “A”, “a”, “a”, and “α” are displayed on the same surface of the light guide plate 12. As shown in 20 (B), each direction is changed and processed.

  The light emission display operation in this case will be described with reference to FIGS. 21 (A) to 21 (D).

  In FIG. 21A, if light is incident from a group of light emitting elements 211a to 211d arranged below the light guide plate 12, only the dot pattern P21 in the direction in which light is emitted with the maximum amount of light corresponding to this light incident direction. The display information “A” is displayed by emitting light.

  In FIG. 21B, when light is incident from the light emitting elements 212a to 212d arranged on the left side of the light guide plate 12, only the dot pattern P22 in the direction of emitting the maximum amount of light corresponding to the light incident direction is obtained. The display information “A” is displayed by emitting light.

  In FIG. 21C, when light is incident from the light emitting elements 213a to 213d arranged above the light guide plate 12, only the dot pattern P23 directed to emit light with the maximum light amount corresponding to the light incident direction is obtained. The display information “A” is displayed by emitting light.

  In FIG. 21D, when light is incident from the light emitting elements 214a to 214d arranged on the right side of the light guide plate 12, only the dot pattern P24 in the direction of emitting the maximum amount of light corresponding to the light incident direction is obtained. The display information “α” is displayed by emitting light.

  Thus, if the light emitting elements 211a to 214d in a specific direction are selected from the four directions of the outer periphery of the light guide plate 12 and light is incident, four types of characters can be selected and displayed. The selection operation of the light emitting element group at this time can be easily performed by connecting an electrical switch (not shown) for each light emitting element group and switching the switch.

  22A and 22B show the dot grooves of the dot patterns P31 to P34 of four types of characters “A”, “a”, “a”, and “α” on the same surface of the light guide plate 12 in the vertical and horizontal directions. In this case, the direction is changed in order of 45 degrees, and processing is performed in four oblique directions (−135 degrees, −45 degrees, 45 degrees, and 135 degrees).

  Also in the light emission display in this case, with respect to the dot pattern P31 of FIG. 23A, the light incident direction from the group of light emitting elements 221a to 221c inclined and arranged below the light guide plate 12 is set obliquely upward to the left. ing. As a result, only the dot pattern P31 that emits light with the maximum light amount corresponding to the light incident direction emits light, and the display information “A” is displayed.

  For the dot pattern P32 of FIG. 23B, the light incident direction from the group of light emitting elements 222a to 222c that are inclined and arranged below the light guide plate 12 is set to be diagonally upper right. As a result, only the dot pattern P32 that emits light with the maximum amount of light corresponding to the incident light direction emits light, and the display information “A” is displayed.

  For the dot pattern P33 of FIG. 23C, the light incident direction from the group of light emitting elements 223a to 223c inclined to the left side of the light guide plate 12 is set obliquely downward to the right from the left. As a result, only the dot pattern P33 that emits light with the maximum light amount corresponding to the light incident direction emits light, and the display information “A” is displayed.

  For the dot pattern P34 in FIG. 23 (D), the light incident direction from the group of light emitting elements 224a to 224c that are inclined and arranged on the right side of the light guide plate 12 is set obliquely downward to the left from the right. As a result, only the dot pattern P34 that emits light with the maximum light amount corresponding to the light incident direction emits light, and the display information “α” is displayed.

  When the light emitting elements 221a to 224c are arranged obliquely in this manner, two light emitting element groups having different directions can be provided on the lower end surface of the light guide plate 12, and therefore the light emitting element group with respect to the upper end surface of the light guide plate 12 is omitted. As a result, it becomes possible to provide a space portion where no components are arranged on the upper surface of the light guide plate 12 in the drawing. In this case, the display device 11 can be reduced in size and space.

  FIG. 24 shows a light emission distribution characteristic when an LED (light emitting diode) is used as an example of the light emitting element. It is known that the light emission distribution output 241 of the LED in this case has a directivity that emits light with high brightness in a range of about ± 10 degrees centering around the light emission direction of 0 degrees.

  In FIG. 25A, when light is emitted to the dot pattern 252 using the light emitting element 251 having such directivity, the character display near the center is bright and the outside is dark.

  In order to suppress this phenomenon, as shown in FIG. 25B, if light is incident with a lens 253 interposed between the light-emitting element 251 and the light guide plate 12, light from the light-emitting element 251 is received. The light can be spread over a wide light emitting region, and the light can be made parallel light toward the incident light direction. In this case, it is possible to ensure a stable light incident action and to light the dot pattern 252 uniformly.

  FIG. 25C shows a lens surface 255 bent at the lower end surface of the light guide plate 254. In this case, since the lens surface 255 is formed on the light guide plate 254 itself and also serves as the same member, it is not necessary to newly dispose a lens, and the cost can be reduced.

  When a plurality of light incident directions are required, a lens surface may be formed on the end surface of the light guide plate in accordance with each of the light incident directions. For example, as shown in FIG. 25D, lens surfaces 257 and 258 are formed at the lower left corner and the lower right corner of the light guide plate 256, and the light emitting elements 259a and 259b are made to correspond to these lens surfaces 257 and 258, respectively. It can be configured if each of them is paired.

  FIG. 26 is processed by matching the direction of the dot grooves constituting the dot pattern 262 in accordance with the directivity of the light emitting element 261. In this case, the processing direction of the dot groove processed in the light guide plate 263 is set as the diffusion direction of the light 264 in accordance with the diffusion angle of the light 264 incident from the light emitting element 261 provided on the lower end surface of the light guide plate 263. Fit in the orthogonal direction.

  In this case, when the light 264 is incident on the light guide plate 263, the incident light 264 is gradually diffused in the light incident direction, so that the direction of the groove direction of the dot grooves is orthogonal to the diffusion angle of the light 264, respectively. Will respond. For this reason, the light 264 diffused in all the dot grooves of the corresponding dot pattern can be orthogonalized most efficiently, and the light emission efficiency of the dot pattern 262 can be increased. In this case, since the brightness of the dot groove can be maintained at the maximum, the display output can be enhanced by maximizing the brightness difference between the dot pattern to be emitted and the dot pattern not desired to be emitted.

  FIG. 27 shows a case where it is applied to a horizontally long light guide plate 271. Even with such a long light guide plate 271, dot grooves having a characteristic (directivity) of emitting light only in one direction in the same manner if light emitting element groups are respectively provided on one side end surface and the lower end surface of the light guide plate 271. An accurate display output for can be obtained. In the case of the horizontally long light guide plate 271, since it has a wide area, it is suitable that the light guide plate 271 is inclined and arranged on the lower end surface of the light guide plate 271 in consideration of the reduction in the number of light emitting element groups and the expansion of the light emitting region.

  In FIG. 27A, a group of light emitting elements 272a to 272g whose light emitting directions are set obliquely upward to the left are provided on the lower end surface of the light guide plate 271, and the long and long dot pattern 273 of “XX Corporation” is formed. Indicates the case where a character string is displayed.

  In FIG. 27B, a light emitting element 274a to 274g group whose light emitting direction is set obliquely upward to the right is provided on the lower end surface of the light guide plate 271, and a long dot pattern 275 of “Welcome” is displayed. Show the case.

  In FIG. 27C, a group of light emitting elements 276a to 276g having a light emitting direction set in the horizontal axis direction is provided on one side end face of the light guide plate 271 so as to display a dot pattern 277 of “in operation”. Show the case.

  FIG. 28 shows an example of a moving image representing the first to eighth dot patterns P41 to P48 whose symbols change continuously. The horizontal light guide plate 281 has 45 dot pattern numbers corresponding to a series of movements of all symbols. Each time, it is shifted and processed.

  For this reason, each of the dot patterns P41 to P48 from the first dot pattern P41 in FIG. 29A to the eighth dot pattern P48 in FIG. A group is set up.

  In this case, in order to completely separate whether or not to emit light, it is suitable to shift the direction of the dot groove of the dot pattern in order of 60 degrees, but it is acceptable even if some patterns are mixed in moving images etc. Can reduce this angle and increase the number of symbols. Then, when light having different angles from the light emitting elements 282 to 289 is sequentially incident on the light guide plate 281, a simple moving image is displayed (in the figure, the pattern is displayed so as to move from right to left. )It can be performed.

In FIG. 30A, the dot pattern 302 of the display information “A” processed on the light guide plate 301 is displayed by light emission by light incident from the light emitting element 303.
When the light emitting element 303 is turned off from this light emitting display state, the dot pattern does not emit light, and as shown in FIG. 30B, the light guide plate 301 is in a display standby state in which nothing is displayed. In the display standby state of the light guide plate 301, the entire display area of the light guide plate 301 is uniform so that the display information “A” cannot be seen even when the light emitting element 303 is turned off. A mixed auxiliary dot pattern in which dot grooves set for non-display (not shown) are dispersedly arranged is processed.

  For this reason, in addition to the display information dot pattern, a non-display auxiliary dot pattern can coexist in one display region of the light guide plate 301. Therefore, the auxiliary dot pattern becomes a uniform background when light is not incident, and the display information is displayed. The dot pattern becomes inconspicuous, and the display information cannot be visually recognized in the light reception standby state, and the dot pattern “A” of the display information can be hidden.

  In FIG. 31, two types of dot patterns are processed on the same surface of the light guide plate 311, and as shown in FIG. 31A, the light emitting element starts from the state where one “A” dot pattern 312 emits light. As shown in FIG. 31B, no interference fringes are generated between the dot pattern 312 of “A” and the dot pattern 313 of “A” as shown in FIG.

  As described above, a plurality of display information of characters and symbols is processed in one display area of one light guide plate, and one of these display information can be specified and displayed, and the display device Can be reduced in size, thickness and cost. Further, when displaying, since no interference between dot patterns occurs, accurate display can be performed.

In correspondence between the configuration of the present invention and the configuration of the above-described embodiment,
The transmission surface of the present invention corresponds to the vertical surface 20 of the embodiment,
Similarly,
The reflecting surface corresponds to the inclined surface 21,
The concave dots correspond to the dot grooves 19, 19a to 19e,
The light sources are the light emitting elements 16a to 16d, 17a to 17d, 211a to 211d, 212a to 212d, 213a to 213d, 214a to 214d, 221a to 221c, 222a to 222c, 223a to 223c, 224a to 224c, 251, 259a, 259b. , 261, 272a to 272g, 274a to 274g, 276a to 276g, 282 to 289, 303, the configuration of the present invention is not limited only to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, A form can be obtained. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the light guide plate has a flat shape, but may have a curved surface.

The external appearance perspective view which shows a display apparatus. The principal part perspective view which shows the internal structure of a display apparatus. The principal part front view which shows the internal structure of a display apparatus. The left view of the display apparatus which shows an observer's visual recognition state. The top view of the display apparatus which shows an observer's visual recognition state. The front view which shows the dot pattern whose display information is "A". Explanatory drawing which shows the dot groove processed in the vertical direction. The front view which shows the dot pattern whose display information is "A". Explanatory drawing which shows the dot groove processed sideways. The expansion perspective view which shows the processing state of each dot groove | channel. Explanatory drawing which shows each orthogonal dot groove | channel. The principle diagram when light refracts from a dot groove and emits light. The principle diagram when light goes straight through the dot groove and is not refracted. The front view which shows the relationship between light and the direction of a dot groove. The top view which shows the relationship between the direction of light and a dot groove | channel. The graph which shows the relationship with the light quantity which light changes with the angle of a dot groove. The chart which calculated | required the maximum number of dot patterns obtained in one display area. The chart in the case of a 4-dot pattern suitable for one display area. Explanatory drawing which shows the light emission display example of two dot patterns. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration example of four dot patterns. Explanatory drawing which shows the light emission display example of four dot patterns. Explanatory drawing which varied the processing direction of four dot patterns. Explanatory drawing which shows the example of inclination light emission display of four dot patterns. The chart which shows the light emission distribution characteristic of a light emitting element. Explanatory drawing which shows the light emission effect | action at the time of using a lens. The front view which shows a dot groove | channel corresponding to the diffusion direction of a light emitting element. The front view which shows the example of light emission display using a horizontally long light-guide plate. The front view which shows the state which processed many dot patterns for animation. Operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows the state switched and displayed in order for animation. The front view of the light-guide plate which shows a light emission state and a light emission standby state. The front view of the light-guide plate which shows the state which does not produce an interference fringe even if it turns off. Explanatory drawing which shows the light emission principle of the conventional dot part. The disassembled perspective view of the display apparatus using the conventional light guide plate of 3 sheets. The perspective view which shows the use condition of the conventional display apparatus. The front view of the light-guide plate which shows the interference fringe which generate | occur | produced in the conventional display apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Display apparatus 12,254,256,263,271,281,301,311 ... Light guide plate 14,15, P21-P24, P31-P34,252,262,273,275,277, P41-P48,302, 312, 313... Dot patterns 16 a to 16 d, 17 a to 17 d, 211 a to 211 d, 212 a to 212 d, 213 a to 213 d, 214 a to 214 d, 221 a to 221 c, 222 a to 222 c, 223 a to 223 c, 224 a to 224 c, 251, 259 a, 259b, 261, 272a to 272g, 274a to 274g, 276a to 276g, 282 to 289, 303 ... Light emitting element 19, 19a to 19e ... Dot groove 20 ... Vertical surface 21 ... Inclined surface 23, 24, 23a, 24b, 264 Light 253 ... Lens 255,257 258 ... the lens surface

Claims (6)

A display device that displays a display information by forming a dot pattern representing display information such as characters and designs on a plane portion of a light guide plate, and entering emitted light emitted from a light source from a side surface of the light guide plate.
Arrange a plurality of light sources on the side of the light guide plate so that the direction of the emitted light is different,
A plurality of dot patterns capable of displaying the display information corresponding to each of the emitted light are mixed and formed on the planar portion of the light guide plate,
A display device characterized in that different display information is displayed corresponding to lighting of each light source.   The dot pattern is composed of concave dots having a reflective surface for reflecting incident outgoing light and a transmission surface for transmitting outgoing light from a direction different from the outgoing light, and the concave dot reflective surface of each dot pattern. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display device is arranged so as to reflect only one outgoing light.   The light emitted from one light source is spread over a wide light emitting region along the side surface width direction of the light guide plate, and a lens for making the light emitted parallel to the light from the wide light emitting region is incident on the side surface of the light source and the light guide plate. The display device according to claim 1, which is interposed between the display device and the display device.   The light emitted from the light source that enters from the side surface of the light guide plate is spread over a wide light emitting region, and a lens surface for allowing the light emitted from the wide light emitting region to enter the light in parallel is curved on the side surface of the light guide plate. The display device according to claim 1, which is formed and provided.   5. The processing according to claim 1, wherein a processing direction of the concave dots processed on the light guide plate is formed in a direction orthogonal to the diffusion direction of the output light in accordance with a diffusion angle of the output light that is incident from a side surface of the light guide plate. Any display device. The display device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of dot patterns are formed as display information on the planar portion of the light guide plate, and an auxiliary dot pattern is provided to make the display information of these dot patterns invisible.

Images