JP2007236736A - Device and system for displaying image - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image display device capable of arbitrarily changing a display image, while obtaining amusement in touch. <P>SOLUTION: Identification information is successively transmitted as each piece is arranged on a mount. When each piece is arranged at normal position, the pasteboard 3 detects transmitted identification information. When it is determined that the whole pieces are arranged at the normal positions, the transmission of a whole image content is requested. A content server 5 reads the relevant content and distributes it. The pasteboard 3 analyzes the whole image with referring to the position coordinate of each piece and stores piece classification image data. Finally, the pasteboard 3 transmits the image data corresponding to each position coordinate to each piece. Consequently, an object image is displayed in each piece so as to establish the new desired whole image as a whole. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image display device and an image display system, and more particularly to an image display device and an image display system suitable for a jigsaw puzzle game or the like.

  Conventionally, in a product such as a jigsaw puzzle that completes an entire image by combining pieces on which images are displayed, once the image (pattern) is completed, the pattern cannot be changed. Has the problem of halving interest.

  With regard to this point, a technique is known in which an arbitrary pieced image is taken into a PC or the like via a WEB or the like and the images are aligned on the PC screen (see, for example, Patent Document 1). According to this, it becomes possible to update a desired image arbitrarily.

However, although this technique can be realized on the display screen, the piece body cannot be directly handled by the hand, so that there is a problem that it is not possible to enjoy a tactile feel and lack entertainment.
JP 2002-78959 A

  The present invention is intended to solve such a problem, and provides an image display device capable of arbitrarily changing a display image while enabling a tactile sensation.

The gist of the present invention is as follows. That is,
The invention of claim 1 is an image display device in which an entire image is formed when a plurality of image display pieces corresponding to each divided portion of the entire image are arranged at a normal position, and each piece is formed from a mount Means for displaying an image to be transmitted, and the mount is a means for storing one or a plurality of whole images, an arrangement determining means for determining whether or not each piece is arranged at a normal position, and each piece is at a normal position. An image display device comprising: a partial image transmitting unit that extracts an image corresponding to each piece portion from the entire image and transmits the image to each piece.
In the present invention, the “mounting board” is not necessarily limited to the frame shape in which each piece is arranged thereon, and may be any one having the “mounting sheet” function of the present invention. For example, one corner of the four corners may be fixed, and “mounting” functions such as an arrangement determination unit and a partial image transmission unit may be stored in the fixed piece.

In the above, each piece further includes identification information transmitting means for identifying itself and other pieces, and the mount further includes means for storing normal position information of each piece and identification information from each piece. Means for obtaining the actual arrangement state of each piece, and the arrangement determination means is based on a comparison between the normal position of each piece and the current arrangement state,
(Claim 2).

The invention of claim 3 is characterized in that the identification information transmitting means is an IC chip.
Here, the “IC chip” is a concept including an IC tag.
The invention of claim 4 is characterized in that the normal position information is relative position information with respect to one or a plurality of adjacent pieces.
Here, “relative position information” refers to information that identifies the positional relationship with all other pieces adjacent to a certain piece. For example, if the identification information (ID) of all the other adjacent pieces is mutually held, it is possible to determine whether or not all the pieces are arranged at the normal positions.
The invention of claim 5 is characterized in that the arrangement determining means in the above is a means for determining by electrical continuity with an adjacent piece.

The invention of claim 6 is characterized in that the power supply and information transmission to each piece are performed by the power / signal superimposing transmission means in the above.
Here, as the “power / signal superimposed transmission means”, for example, power line communication (Power Line Communications) or PoE (Power over Ethernet (registered trademark)) can be used.
The invention of claim 7 is characterized in that, in the above, the mount and the piece are made of a flexible material.
The invention of claim 8 is characterized in that, in the above, the mount further comprises means for taking in an image to be transmitted to each piece from the outside.
The invention of claim 9 comprises the image display device according to claims 1 to 8, a user computer, a whole image supply server, and a communication network, from the whole image supply server via the user computer, An image display system comprising a configuration for transmitting an entire image to a mount.

According to each of the above inventions, it is possible to realize an image display capable of displaying an arbitrary image without being limited to a single image.
In addition, when the present invention is used in a jigsaw puzzle device, an image display device capable of arbitrarily changing a display image while enabling a tactile sensation rather than a virtual sense becomes possible.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of an image display device and an image display system according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. Needless to say, the scope of the present invention is described in the claims and is not limited to the following embodiments.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an image display system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a control block configuration of the jigsaw puzzle mount 3 as an image display device. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a control block configuration of the image display piece 4. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a cross-sectional configuration of the jigsaw puzzle device 2. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an image display flow in the present embodiment.

  Referring to FIG. 1, an image display system 1 distributes a jigsaw puzzle device 2, a user personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) 6 that transmits image data to the jigsaw puzzle device 2, and an entire image for a desired jigsaw puzzle to the PC 6. A content server 5 and a communication network 7 such as the Internet connecting the content server 5 and the PC 6 are provided as main components. The content server 5 includes a transmission / reception unit 5a that communicates with the PC 6 in accordance with the Internet protocol, a database 5e that stores the entire jigsaw puzzle image to be distributed, an image management unit 5c that manages the database 5e, and a database 5e in response to a request from the PC 6 The image delivery part 5d which reads and delivers the image of this is provided. The jigsaw puzzle device 2 includes a mount 3 and a plurality of image display pieces 4. In the figure, each piece 4 is shown as the same rectangular shape that divides the mount 3 into nine parts, but may actually be constituted by a number of pieces having different shapes. The mount 3 is provided with a game start button 3m.

  Next, referring to FIG. 2, the control block of the mount 3 includes a control unit 3 a that controls input / output information and commands each unit, an entire image data receiving unit 3 c that receives entire image data transmitted from the PC 6, Storage unit 3d for storing image data for each piece, piece position information, control program, etc., identification information receiving unit 3b for receiving identification information transmitted from each piece, and image data for transmitting image data corresponding to each piece The transmitter 3e and an antenna 3f that performs transmission and reception with each piece wirelessly are provided as main components. In the above configuration, a microprocessor including a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and an external storage device can be mounted as a main configuration.

  Next, referring to FIG. 3, the control block of the image display piece 4 includes a control unit 4 a that controls input / output information and commands each unit, and an image display unit that displays image data transmitted from the mount 3 side. 4c, an identification information transmitting unit 4e for transmitting its own identification information, an image data receiving unit 4c for receiving image data transmitted from the mount 3 side, a storage unit 4d for storing a control program, an image display unit, etc. The power supply unit 4b to be supplied, the mount side, and an antenna 4g for wireless transmission / reception are configured.

The identification information transmission unit 4e and the antenna 4g can be mounted by, for example, an IC chip. In addition, charging of the power supply unit 4b of each piece can be performed by a non-contact induced current method from the mount 3.

Next, a cross-sectional configuration of the mount 3 and the piece 4 and a configuration of mutual communication connection will be described with reference to FIG. The image display piece 4 has a two-layer structure, and the upper surface side is constituted by a liquid crystal panel 4c, and the bottom surface side is constituted by a main body portion 4h that stores other structures. A tag 4j in which an identification information transmitting unit 4e and an antenna unit 4g are integrated is attached to the bottom surface of the main body 4h. On the other hand, an identification information receiving unit 3b that receives the identification information transmitted from the identification information transmitting unit 2e of the normally arranged piece 4 is embedded in the surface that contacts the bottom surface of the piece 4 on the upper surface side of the mount 3. The antenna unit 4g is configured to transmit radio waves with high directivity and to detect only the identification information receiving unit 3b corresponding to the regular arrangement.
Thus, since the image display system 1 is configured to transmit and receive the identification information by radio waves, there is no problem in receiving the identification information even when the piece 4 and the mount 3 are not in contact with each other.

  The image display system 1 is configured as described above. Next, an image display flow performed between the content server 5, the PC 6, and the jigsaw puzzle device 2 during game play will be described with reference to FIG. It is assumed that the image (picture) from the previous play is displayed at the start of the game. When the button 3m on the mount 3 is pressed and the game is started (step S101), operations such as password transmission and ID authentication are first performed between the PC 6 and the content server 5, although illustration is omitted. The player breaks the pieces together and arranges them one by one according to the pattern. As the player arranges each piece on the mount, identification information is sequentially transmitted from each piece (step S101). The identification information receiving unit 3b of the mount 3 detects the identification information transmitted from the identification information transmitting unit 4e when each piece is placed at the normal position (step S102). When it is determined in this way that all the pieces are arranged at the regular positions (step S103), a request for transmission of the entire image content is made from the mount 3 to the PC 6 (step S104). Further, a transmission request for a desired entire image is made from the PC 6 to the content server 5 (step S102). The content server 5 reads the corresponding content from the image data stored in the DB 5e and distributes it to the PC 6 via the communication network 7 (step S106). The PC 6 temporarily stores the received entire image content at the designated address (step S107), and further transmits it to the mount 3 (step S108).

  Next, the control unit 3a of the mount 3 refers to the position coordinates of each piece stored in the storage unit 3d, decomposes the entire image, and stores piece-by-piece image data at the designated address of the storage unit 3d (step S109). ).

Finally, image data corresponding to each position coordinate is transmitted from the image data transmitting unit 2e of the mount 3 to the image receiving unit 4c of each piece (step S111). As a result, the target image is displayed on the image display unit 4c of each piece (step S112), and a desired new whole image is completed as a whole.
In the present embodiment, the entire image is temporarily stored in the PC 6, but may be directly stored in the mount 3.
Further, in the present embodiment, the mount 3 has a frame-shaped configuration in which each piece is arranged thereon. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the upper left corner piece is fixed, and the control unit In addition, the transmitting / receiving unit, the storage unit, and the like may be stored to function as a “mounting sheet”.

(Second embodiment)
Furthermore, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a jigsaw puzzle device 20 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing details of the electrical connection mechanism of the image display pieces 24a and 24b.

  Since the overall system configuration of the present embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment, illustration and redundant description are omitted. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that each piece is not provided with a power source but is supplied with power from an external power source. In addition, image data transmission from the mount to each piece is performed not by radio but by power line communication. By performing such power line communication, it is possible to perform data communication while supplying power, so that it is not necessary to separately provide power wiring and data communication wiring.

  Referring to FIG. 6, the jigsaw puzzle device 20 includes a mount 23 and a plurality of image display pieces 24, and is configured to be connectable to an external power source 21. In the figure, each piece is shown as the same rectangular shape that divides the mount 23 into nine parts, but in actuality, it is composed of a number of pieces having different shapes. Furthermore, a lead wire 26 is wired inside each piece, and a power supply circuit is formed when all the pieces are arranged at regular positions so that power supply and data communication are possible. Although illustration is omitted, a branch is provided in the lead wire 26 path of each piece, so that power supply and data communication can be performed for components such as an image display unit. A switch 22 is provided in the power supply circuit, and is configured to be able to supply power and transmit image data by turning on the switch 22 in the circuit formation state.

  Next, the details of the electrical connection mechanism of the adjacent pieces 24a and 24b will be described with reference to FIG. Both side surfaces of the piece 24a are formed in a concave shape, and connectors 27a and 27b are disposed at the ends thereof. Both connectors are connected via lead wires 26. On the other hand, the right side surface of the piece 24b is formed in a convex shape, and a connector 28a is disposed at the end thereof. Further, the upper surface of the piece 24b is formed in a straight line shape, and a connector 28b is disposed at the end. The connector 28b is configured to be connected to a connector (not shown) provided on the mount 23. The adjacent connector 27b and the connector 28a are configured to be fitted to each other when arranged at the normal position. Similarly, the other pieces are configured such that the connectors of the adjacent pieces are fitted in a state where they are arranged at the regular positions. Since the other structure of the jigsaw puzzle apparatus 20 is the same as that of FIG. 1 of 1st embodiment, illustration and duplication description are abbreviate | omitted.

  Since the jigsaw puzzle device 20 is configured as described above, when the switch 22 is turned on in a state where the jigsaw puzzle device 20 is placed in the normal position, power is supplied to each piece from the mount 23 via the lead wire 26, and image data is transmitted. Is done. Thereby, the target image is displayed on the image display unit of each piece as in the first embodiment, and a desired entire image is completed as a whole.

  The present invention is not limited to a jigsaw puzzle device, and can be widely applied to devices and systems that divide and display an entire image.

1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image display system 1 according to a first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the control block structure of the mount. It is a figure which shows the control block structure of the piece 4 for image displays. It is a figure which shows the cross-sectional structure of the jigsaw puzzle apparatus. It is a figure which shows the image display flow in 1st embodiment. It is a figure which shows the jigsaw puzzle apparatus 20 which concerns on 2nd embodiment. It is a figure which shows the detail of the electrical connection mechanism of the image display pieces 24a and 24b.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image display system 2, 20 ... Jigsaw puzzle device 3, 23 ... Mount 4,24a ... Image display piece 5 ... Content server 7 ... Communication network 21 ... External power supply 22 ... Switches 27a, 27b, 28a, 28b ... Connector

Claims (9)

An image display device in which an entire image is formed when a plurality of image display pieces corresponding to each divided portion of the entire image are arranged at a normal position,
Each piece includes means for displaying an image transmitted from the mount,
The mount is a means for storing one or more whole images;
An arrangement determining means for determining whether or not each piece is arranged at a normal position;
A partial image transmitting means for extracting an image corresponding to each piece part from the whole image when each piece is arranged at a normal position, and transmitting each piece to each piece;
An image display device comprising: Each piece further includes identification information transmitting means for identifying itself and other pieces,
The mount further comprises means for storing regular position information of each piece, and means for obtaining an actual arrangement state of each piece based on identification information from each piece,
And the arrangement determination means is based on collation between the normal position of each piece and the current arrangement state.
The image display apparatus according to claim 1. The image display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identification information transmitting unit is an IC chip. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the regular position information is relative position information with respect to one or a plurality of adjacent pieces. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the arrangement determining unit is a unit that determines by electrical continuity with an adjacent piece. 6. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein power supply and information transmission to each piece are performed by power / signal superimposing transmission means. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the mount and the piece are made of a flexible material. 8. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the mount further comprises means for taking in an image to be transmitted to each piece from the outside. An image display device according to claim 1, a user computer, a whole image supply server, and a communication network,
An image display system comprising: a whole image supply server configured to transmit a whole image to the mount via a user computer.

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