JPH0242477A - Display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a sufficient display speed without needing a large number of control terminals by dividing one of parallel electrodes into plural, applying an electric field to each of them successively and making a dielectric held between the parallel electrodes move in response to the position of the electrode to which the electric field is applied. CONSTITUTION:At least one of opposite parallel electrodes 12 and 13 is divided into plural, the electric field is applied to each of plurally divided electrodes 12a-12h successively, and a dielectric 14 held between the parallel electrodes 12 and 13 is made to move in response to the position of the electrode to which the electric field is applied. Thus, even when, for example, used as a level meter with a high display density of which a high response is requested, the sufficient display speed can be obtained without needing the large number of control terminals and the display device with high visibility can be realized.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a display device used, for example, as a scale display in a measuring instrument or as part of a display function in a clock, a calculator, or the like.

[Conventional technology and its problems]

Recently, liquid crystal display devices are often used, for example, as scale displays in measuring instruments or audio devices, and as display devices in watches, calculators, and the like.

This liquid crystal display device uses an organic compound called thermotropic liquid crystal, which appears to be a liquid but optically exhibits crystal-like anisotropy and becomes a liquid crystal within a certain temperature range. In other words, the above-mentioned liquid crystal has anisotropy in its dielectric constant, conductivity, magnetic susceptibility, viscosity coefficient, etc., so it can be used in various ways by taking advantage of the property that the direction of alignment can be easily controlled by electric fields, magnetic fields, and other external forces. It is displayed. In general, a liquid crystal cell has a structure in which liquid crystal is sandwiched between two opposing glass plates with a thickness of approximately 10 μm, and electrodes for displaying respective images are placed on the inner surfaces of the glass plates. This electrode group is electrically connected to and led out from an external terminal.

However, in this liquid crystal display device, it is necessary to provide an independent voltage supply terminal for each electrode corresponding to the individual part to be displayed, which results in an extremely large number of control terminals, which hinders miniaturization. ing. Further, in a range near or exceeding the maximum viewing angle, the contrast deteriorates extremely, causing a problem in visibility. Furthermore, when using this liquid crystal display device as a display device that requires a high response, such as an output level meter for an audio device, the display device (the moving speed of the display device) should be sufficiently adjusted to handle the changes in the total 711 J level. is difficult to follow.

[Purpose of the invention]

This invention was made in view of the problems mentioned above.
For example, even when used as a level meter with high display density that requires high response, a completely new display with high visibility makes it possible to obtain sufficient display speed without requiring a large number of control terminals. The purpose is to provide equipment.

[Key points of the invention]

That is, in the display device according to the present invention, at least one of the opposing parallel electrodes is divided into a plurality of parts, an electric field is sequentially applied to each of the divided electrodes individually, and the display device is held in a state sandwiched between the parallel electrodes. The dielectric is configured to move in accordance with the electrode position to which the electric field is applied.

[Embodiments of the invention]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1A and 1B show the planar configuration and cross-sectional configuration of the display device, respectively. This display device consists of two parallel glass plates 11a facing each other.

11b. These two opposing glass plates 11
For example, one of the upper glass t! 121
A plurality of segment electrodes 12a, 12b, . . . are arranged in series on the inner surface of 1a. Furthermore, the plurality of segments and electrodes 12a are provided on the inner surface of the other opposing glass plate 11b.

12b, . . . common electrodes 13 are arranged to face each other. Here, one of the plurality of electrodes 12a.

12b, . . ., three display control terminals A to C are sequentially and repeatedly connected as shown by broken lines a to C, respectively.

In other words, terminals A, B, and C are connected to electrodes 12a and 12b, respectively.
, 12c, 12d, 12e.

The electrodes 12f, 12g, 12h are connected so that an electric field is sequentially applied to each of the plurality of electrodes 12a, 12b, . . . connected in series. A dielectric material 14 such as colored water, glycerin, or methyl alcohol is sandwiched between the parallel electrodes constituted by one group of segment electrodes 12a, 12b, . . . and the common electrode 13. , and then seal the remaining space by evacuating it.

Therefore, the permittivity of the dielectric 14 is ε1, and the other space (vacuum)
Letting the dielectric constant of ε2 be εl>ε2), and applying an electric field of E, a force of E-1/2 (εt-ε2)E2 [N/m21 is generated.

The movement of the dielectric 14 is controlled by appropriately applying a voltage to 12b, . . . .

Next, the operation when the display device configured as described above is used, for example, as a scale for displaying measurement data of a measuring instrument will be described.

That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, if an electric field is sequentially and repeatedly applied to each display control terminal A, B, and C, (
tl −tl ), as shown in FIG.
is the electrode position where the electric field is applied (12a, 12b, -=,
12i). and,
When the dielectric 14 reaches the target display position, an electric field is continuously applied only to the control terminal A corresponding to the electrode 12i to bring the display to a stopped state (ti=Tn). This makes it possible to obtain a display function that realistically follows measured values.

Therefore, according to the display device configured in this way, not only is it possible to display data reliably with a sufficient display movement speed even as a meter that requires high response, but also the segment electrodes 12a, 1
Even if the number of terminals 2b, . . . is significantly increased, there is no need to increase the number of display control terminals A to C. Furthermore, since the device of this embodiment uses the colored dielectric material 14 as a display body, like the liquid crystal display device in the conventional example,
Optical visibility does not deteriorate, such as contrast worsening depending on the viewing angle.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the segment electrodes 12a, 12b, . They may be arranged adjacent to each other in the form of a parallelogram, and their electrode regions may be intertwined with each other. In this way, the contact area between the dielectric and other spaces becomes large, and each segment electrode 15a, 15b, . . .
The movement response of the dielectric 14 is further improved when an electric field is sequentially applied to .

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, at least one of the opposing parallel electrodes is divided into a plurality of parts, an electric field is sequentially applied to each of the divided electrodes individually, and the electrodes are held in a state sandwiched between the parallel electrodes. The dielectric material was configured to move in accordance with the electrode position to which the electric field is applied.
For example, we provide a display device with high visibility that makes it possible to obtain sufficient display speed without requiring a large number of control terminals, even when used as a level meter with high display density that requires high response. can.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIGS. 1(A) and 1(B) are plan configuration diagrams showing a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and its ■-■
2 is a timing chart showing the state of electric field application to the three display control terminals of the display device shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the state of movement of the dielectric when an electric field is applied to each control electrode of the display device, and FIG. 4 is a diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention. 11a, 1lb--Glass plate, 12a, 12b. ...Segment electrode, 13...Common electrode, 14.
...Dielectric material, l5a, 15b*...Parallelogram segment electrode, A-C...Display control terminal. Applicant's Representative Patent Attorney Takehiko Suzue

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) An electric field is applied to opposing parallel electrodes, at least one of which is divided into a plurality of parts, a dielectric material held between the parallel electrodes, and the plurality of divisions of the parallel electrodes, respectively. and a means for applying an electric field, wherein the dielectric moves in accordance with the plurality of divided electrode positions to which the electric field is applied by the electric field applying means. (2) The display device according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of divided electrodes of the opposing parallel electrodes is formed so as to be intertwined with each other adjacent to each other.