JP3793676B2 - Electronic device operating status display device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In order to make it possible to visually recognize the operating state of an electronic device shared by a large number of people such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, etc. from a wide angle range, it protrudes above or near the electronic device. The present invention relates to an operating state display device provided.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Electronic devices such as copiers, printers, and facsimile machines are often used jointly by many users. Therefore, the user needs to confirm whether or not the device he / she wants to use is currently available.
[0003]
Therefore, for example, in a conventional copying machine, generally, an LED (light emitting diode) embedded in a start key provided on an operation panel indicates whether the copying machine is in a standby state or is in operation. However, in such a display, the display can be visually recognized only from an angle facing the operation unit. Therefore, the person who wants to use the copier can see the display only when he / she comes to the side, and if it is in operation, wait until the end of the copier or return to his / her seat and watch the situation. There was a lot of time loss.
[0004]
In general, a printer or a facsimile apparatus is not provided with a display means for clearly indicating the operating state. Therefore, it is determined whether the user is in operation or in standby by observing the operation sound or state of the device. Therefore, it is difficult to determine the state from a position away from the device.
[0005]
Therefore, for example, as seen in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-315586, a telescopic pole is provided in the main body of an office machine such as a printer or a facsimile machine, and a plurality of LEDs that emit different colors from each other are provided at the tip. It is disclosed that a light emitting element is arranged and the operation / alarm information of office equipment is displayed by the light emission.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
If such a display device is provided, there is a possibility that the operating state of the device can be confirmed even from a position away from the device. However, when an LED is used as a light-emitting element, the light emission intensity is weak, so that a small number of LEDs have insufficient light amount for visual recognition from a distance. However, it is difficult to attach a large number of LEDs to the tip of the telescopic pole. Further, the LED needs to be attached to the substrate and has high light directivity, so that it is inconvenient to make it visible from all directions.
[0007]
Further, the luminance of the LED has a large difference depending on the hue (light emission color), red is bright, and green and blue are dark, so an arrangement of the number considering the luminance difference is necessary. If the number is the same, red lighting or flashing will be too strong compared to other colors and the quality image of the device will be degraded, and blue and green systems will not be visible from far away or when the background faces a bright window.
[0008]
The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and is capable of easily and visually displaying the operating state of an electronic device such as a copying machine from a wide range of angles away from the device. In particular, it is possible to improve the visibility of the side surface of the flat substrate on which light-emitting elements having light directivity are arranged, and furthermore, when displaying a plurality of information by a combination of a plurality of emission colors, the display of each color can be visually recognized in a balanced manner. The purpose is to do so.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention is an operation state display device provided to protrude above or in the vicinity of an electronic device in order to make the operation state of the electronic device visible from a wide angle range, and to achieve the above object, A plurality of light emitting elements in a plurality of rows arranged in the vicinity of both side edges of the substrate, in which a large number of light emitting elements having light directivity are arranged in a row on the surface of a flat substrate provided upright in a transparent cover. It is disposed shifted by a half pitch in the same pitch as the light emitting elements of the respective light emitting elements of the light directing direction parallel outwardly to the surface of the substrate and outside of the light emitting element array and an inner light emitting Motoretsu respectively The other light emitting elements are arranged with their light directing directions facing outward perpendicular to the surface of the substrate.
[0010]
As described above, by providing the operating state display device so as to protrude above or in the vicinity of the electronic device, it is possible to visually recognize the display from a wide range of angles without a blind spot. Even when a light emitting element having a small light emission amount and light directivity, such as an LED, is used, by arranging a large number of light emitting elements on the surface of the flat substrate as described above, the front and side surfaces of the substrate are wide. Visibility from the range becomes possible.
[0011]
In addition, a plurality of rows of light emitting elements arranged in the vicinity of both side edges of the planar substrate are arranged with their light directing directions facing outward parallel to the surface of the substrate, and each light emitting element of the outer light emitting device row is arranged. Since the element and each light emitting element of the inner light emitting element array are arranged at the same pitch and shifted by a half pitch, the amount of visible light from the side surface can be increased without increasing the height of the display device.
[0012]
Further, the light emitting elements are not arranged on the two flat substrates in which the plurality of light emitting elements are respectively arranged on both the front and back surfaces of the flat substrate, or on each of the surfaces. By arranging the two surfaces facing each other in close proximity, the number of light emission lines on the side surface of the display device becomes two, which is close to the image of surface light emission, so that the visibility from the side surface direction is further improved.
[0013]
The number of types of display information can be increased by combining a plurality of light emitting elements arranged on the surface of the flat substrate with a plurality of types of light emitting elements having different emission colors.
In that case, the light emitting elements arranged in the vicinity of both end portions of the planar substrate are the light emitting elements having the lowest luminance among the plurality of types of light emitting elements having different light emitting colors. In addition, the display device shines uniformly over the entire surface with the same color, enabling a distribution that does not appear unnatural in design, and it is also possible to prevent a dark spot light emitting element from having a physical blind spot when viewed from the side.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 4 is a front view of an entire copying machine as an example of an electronic apparatus provided with an operation state display device for an electronic apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a front view showing only an operation unit of the copying machine. The copying machine shown in FIG. 4 includes a copying machine main body 1, a scanner unit 2 provided on the upper side, a sorter 3 provided on the side, and an operation unit 4 provided on the upper side.
[0015]
As shown in FIG. 5, the operation unit 4 is provided with various operation keys 6 and an LCD display 8 on the entire surface, and an operating state display device 10 is protruded from the upper right part.
The operating state display device 10 does not need to be provided integrally with the copying machine except for transmission and reception of signals, and may be provided on a pillar or a desk that is slightly separated from each other with good visibility. The operating status display device 10 displays the operating status and warnings (out of paper, etc.) of the copying machine by displaying it in a lighting color or flashing color to a user away from the copying machine or in a place where blind spots are likely to be formed. It is.
[0016]
6 is a front view of the operating state display device 10 on the operation unit 4, FIG. 7 is a side view thereof, and FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of only the operating state display device 10 along the line AA in FIG. The configuration of the operating state display device 10 will be described in detail with reference to these drawings.
[0017]
This operating state display device 10 includes two transparent substrates (hereinafter simply referred to as “substrates”) 12 in a transparent cover 11 made of acrylic resin or the like, and a terminal portion 12 a on a connector 9 provided on the upper surface of the operation unit 4. Are installed in parallel and almost upright.
A large number of LEDs 13 which are light emitting elements having light directivity are arranged on the surface of each substrate 12. In the example shown in FIG. 6, 5 rows × 12 columns (60 pieces) of LEDs 13 are arranged in a row on the surface of each substrate 12 with 12 pieces horizontally and 5 pieces vertically.
[0018]
Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the LEDs 13e arranged in the vicinity of both end portions of each substrate 12 are arranged with the light directing direction facing outward (arrow a direction) parallel to the surface of the substrate 12, The other light emitting elements 13 are arranged with their light directing directions facing outward (perpendicular direction b) perpendicular to the surface of the substrate 12.
[0019]
In this way, the two substrates 12 and 12 in which a large number of LEDs 13 (including 13e) are arranged on one surface are faced to each other with the surfaces on which the light emitting elements 13 are not arranged facing each other. Is located close to.
[0020]
In this way, by providing the operating state display device 10 so as to protrude above or in the vicinity of the copying machine, the display can be visually recognized from a wide range of angles without any blind spots.
One LED 13 emits a small amount of light, but by providing a large number of rows, a sufficient amount of light can be seen from a distance, and the LED 13 has a strong light directivity, but the LEDs 13e arranged on both side edges of the substrate 12 By making the light directing direction outward in parallel with the surface of the substrate 12, the visibility in the side surface direction is enhanced.
[0021]
Furthermore, since the two substrates 12 and 12 having a large number of LEDs 13 arranged on the surface in this manner are installed in parallel with the surface on which the LEDs 13 are disposed facing outward, both the front and back surfaces and both sides of the operating state display device 10 are arranged. Since it can be visually recognized from all directions of the surface and the side light emission rows are also two rows, it becomes a surface light emission image having a region, and visibility is further enhanced.
[0022]
Next, another embodiment of the operating state display device of an electronic apparatus according to the present invention will be described by FIGS.
9 is a side view similar to FIG. 7 of the operating state display device, and FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional view of only the operating state display device along the line BB of FIG. 9. In these drawings, FIG. Portions corresponding to 8 are denoted by the same reference numerals.
[0023]
The operating state display device 10 is different from the above example in that a single flat substrate 12 is provided in a transparent case in a substantially upright manner in the same manner as the substrate 12 shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. The only difference is that a large number of LEDs 13 as light-emitting elements are arranged in rows on both front and back surfaces of 12.
[0024]
Also in the operating state display device 10 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the LEDs 13 e arranged at both side ends of the substrate 12 have their light directing directions parallel to the surface of the substrate 12 (the back surface is the same). The other LEDs 13 are arranged with the light directing direction facing outward (in the direction of arrow b) perpendicular to the front surface of the substrate 12 (the back surface is the same).
Even if the operating state display device 10 is configured in this way, substantially the same operational effects as those in the above-described embodiment can be obtained. And the thickness of the operation state display apparatus 10 can be made thin, and it becomes a space saving.
[0025]
Next, the operating state display apparatus according to the invention described above, an example in which light emitting color light-emitting device is the combination of different types of light emitting elements arranged on a substrate, is described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 11.
[0026]
1 to 3 are explanatory views schematically showing the arrangement state of the LEDs on the surface of the substrate 10 of the operation state display device. In this example, LEDs that emit red light (hereinafter referred to as “red LEDs”) and LEDs that emit green light (hereinafter referred to as “green LEDs”) are combined and arranged.
[0027]
In these drawings, the red LED 13Rf arranged with the light directing direction facing outward (frontward) perpendicular to the surface of the substrate 12 is shown by a small rectangle with diagonal lines, and the green LED 13Gf arranged in the same direction is shown. Shown in white small rectangle. Further, red LEDs arranged with the light directing direction parallel to the surface of the substrate 12 (sideways) are shown by small triangles with diagonal lines, and green LEDs 13Gs arranged in the same direction are shown by white small triangles. Yes.
[0028]
In the example shown in FIG. 1, the two rows of LEDs arranged in the vicinity of both end portions on the surface of the substrate 12 of the operating state display device are all green LRDs whose emission luminance is lower than that of the red LEDs, and the green LEDs 13Gs are Both are arranged horizontally.
Furthermore, as shown in the enlarged view of the vicinity of the side end portion of the substrate 12 in FIG. 2, the pitch of the green LED13Gs pitch _{P 1} and the inner green LED column for each green LED13Gs outside the green LED columns disposed laterally and P ₂ and the same pitch, are arranged and a half pitch _{(P 1/2 = P 2} /2) staggered.
[0029]
By arranging in this way, the light emission of the green LED with low emission luminance can be seen well from the side direction, and each green LED 13Gs in the inner green LED row is physically connected to each green LED 13Gs in the outer green LED row. The amount of light in the lateral direction can be increased.
Further, since the front-facing red LEDs 13Rf and green LEDs 13Gs are arranged alternately on the front side, various operating states of the copying machine can be displayed by selecting lighting or blinking thereof.
[0030]
For example, the display is as follows.
Red LED lit: Copy job is interrupted due to an abnormal condition. Transfer jam, toner end, machine failure, etc.
Red LED flashes: Warning is in progress. If this happens, the job will stop and some action is required. Toner near end, transfer paper near end, etc.
Green LED is lit: The copier is printing, but the scanner can be used alone.
Green LED blinking: Both copier print / scanner is in use.
Red and green LED not lit: Waiting for copying machine. Both copier print / scanner can be used.
[0031]
FIG. 11 shows a configuration example of the lighting circuit of each LED in the case of this example. In this figure, the green LED is indicated by a white mark, the red LED is indicated by a black mark, the front-facing LED in FIG. 1 is a horizontal mark in FIG. 11, and the horizontal LED in FIG. Each mark is shown.
[0032]
Each of the horizontal green LEDs 13Gs is connected in parallel with two sets of series circuits connected in series for each side end, and is connected between the common terminal (+) and the green terminal (−) via a resistor R5. is doing.
Each front-facing green LED 13Gf forms four sets of series circuits, and two sets of them are connected in parallel to each other between the common terminal (+) and the green terminal (−) via the resistor R1 or R4. Connected to.
Each of the front-facing red LEDs 13Rf forms four series circuits, each of which is connected in parallel, and is connected between a common terminal (+) and a red terminal (-) via a resistor R2 or R3, respectively. Connected.
[0033]
The example shown in FIG. 3 is a modified example of a part of the example shown in FIG. 1 and is a reference example not included in the present invention. 1 is the same as the example of FIG. 1, but only the outer LED row is the green LED 13Gs, the inner LED row is the red LED 13Rs, and the arrangement pitch of the two LED rows is not shifted. The point which I did is different.
[0034]
In this way, various operating states of the copying machine can be displayed more clearly in the direction of the side surface by turning on or blinking the red LED and the green LED. In addition, since the inner red LED 13Rs is shaded by the outer green LED 13Gs, the strong emission luminance of red is weakened and the display is of good quality.
When three or more types of light emitting elements (red, green, blue, etc.) having different emission colors are used, the light emitting element (LED) having the lowest luminance is selected as the most lateral edge of the substrate 12. It is desirable to arrange them in parts .
[0035]
Also in these cases, as described above, a large number of LEDs are arranged on one surface of each of the two substrates as described above, and the two substrates are brought close to each other with the LED mounting surface facing outward. Of course, a large number of LEDs may be arranged as described above on both the front and back surfaces of a single substrate.
[0036]
Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the example in which the operating state display device of the electronic apparatus according to the present invention is applied to the operating state display device of the copying machine has been described. It can be applied to various electronic devices used jointly by a person.
[0037]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, by using the electronic apparatus operating state display device according to the present invention, the operating state of an electronic apparatus such as a copying machine can be easily viewed from a wide range of angles even from a position away from the electronic apparatus. It can be displayed. Therefore, a plurality of users can efficiently use a common electronic device.
[0038]
In particular, light emitting devices such as LEDs, which are extremely small, consume less power, generate little heat, and can use multiple emission colors have a problem of strong light directivity. The visibility in the side surface direction of the flat substrate on which the element is mounted can be improved, and can be easily seen from a wide angle.
[0039]
Furthermore, depending on whether two substrates with a large number of light-emitting elements arranged on one side are used or a large number of LEDs are arranged on both the front and back surfaces of the substrate, the display device can be viewed from all directions.
In addition, when a plurality of information is displayed by a combination of light emitting elements of a plurality of light emitting colors, the display of each color can be made visible with a good balance.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory view schematically showing an example of an array state of LEDs on a flat substrate in an operation state display device for an electronic device according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of a side end portion of a substrate in FIG.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a reference example of an array state of LEDs on a flat substrate .
FIG. 4 is a front view of the entire copying machine as an example of an electronic apparatus provided with an operating state display device for the electronic apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a front view showing only an operation unit of the copying machine.
FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged front view of the operation unit in the vicinity of an operating state display device attachment unit.
FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged side view of the same.
8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of only the operating state display device along the line AA in FIG.
FIG. 9 is a side view similar to FIG. 7 showing another embodiment of the electronic apparatus operating state display device according to the present invention.
10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of only the operating state display device along the line BB in FIG.
11 is a circuit diagram showing an example of a circuit for lighting or blinking each LED in the LED array state shown in FIG. 1; FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1: Copy machine (electronic device) main body 2: Scanner part 3: Sorter 4: Operation part 6: Various operation keys 7: LCD display 10: Operation state display apparatus 11: Transparent case 12: Planar substrate 13: LED (light emitting element)

Claims (5)

In order to make the operating state of the electronic device visible from a wide angle range, an operating state display device provided to protrude above or near the electronic device,
A plurality of light emitting elements in a plurality of rows arranged in the vicinity of both side ends of the substrate, in which a large number of light directing elements are arranged in a row on the surface of a flat substrate provided almost upright in a transparent cover Are arranged so that their light directing directions are outward parallel to the surface of the substrate, and the light emitting elements in the outer light emitting element array and the light emitting elements in the inner light emitting element array are shifted by a half pitch at the same pitch. The other light emitting elements are arranged with their light directing directions facing outwards perpendicular to the surface of the substrate. 2. The operation state display device for an electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of light emitting elements are respectively arranged on both the front and back surfaces of the flat substrate. 2. The operation state display device for an electronic device according to claim 1 , wherein the two planar substrates each having the plurality of light emitting elements arranged on one surface thereof are arranged on the surface on which the light emitting elements are not arranged. An operation state display device for electronic equipment, characterized in that they are arranged close to each other. The plurality of light-emitting elements arrayed on the plane surface of the substrate, the display of the operating status electronic device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the luminescent color is different types of light emitting elements apparatus. 5. The operation status display of the electronic device according to claim 4 , wherein the light emitting elements arranged in the vicinity of both end portions of the planar substrate are light emitting elements having the lowest luminance among the plurality of types of light emitting elements having different emission colors. apparatus.

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