JPH07261162A - Display panel - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To accomplish a display panel whose mechanism for maintenance is simplified and also the maintenance work for which becomes simpler and easier even in the case where a display screen is made large in size, as for the display panel for electrically displaying various kinds of information by using display elements such as liquid crystal elements or the like. CONSTITUTION:One stage liquid crystal module 3 is attachably/detachably mounted on one unit frame 4, each unit frame 4 is opened/closed when the frame is turned by making a hinge mechanism 8 attached to the lower end of the frame as an axis. Thus, the maintenance work such as the checking and replacement of the liquid crystal module 3 and a back light 6 can be easily performed only by turning the small-sized and light-weight unit frame 4 open.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a display panel for electronically displaying various information using a display element such as a liquid crystal element, and more particularly to a technique for facilitating the maintenance thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a conventional electronic display panel of this type. Here, it is installed outdoors on the street corner,
The following description will be made assuming an electronic display panel that provides news, traffic information, weather forecasts, etc. at any time. In the figure,
Reference numeral 1 is a display panel body, which is attached to the support column 2 at a constant height above the ground so that it can be easily seen by passersby. Although illustration is omitted, the display panel body 1 has a built-in power supply control device that supplies a driving power supply to a liquid crystal module described later and also supplies a control signal for display control.

Reference numeral 3 is a liquid crystal module having a size of, for example, about 100 mm square as a display element.
Two-dimensionally arranged in the vertical and horizontal directions so as to have an area required for an electronic display screen and are integrally attached to the frame 4. As will be described later, the frame 4 has its upper side attached to the display board main body 1 via a hinge mechanism, and can be opened and closed by rotating around the hinge mechanism. Reference numeral 5 denotes a protective cover provided on the front surface of the liquid crystal module 3 to mechanically protect it from the external environment. The protective cover 5 can be opened and closed around a hinge mechanism provided on the upper side of the frame 4 as an axis. Note that FIG.
Although not shown in the figure, a backlight formed by arranging fluorescent lamps is attached to the back of the frame 4.

This electronic display panel is normally used with the protective cover 5 closed, but these devices require work for maintenance such as cleaning, inspection, breakdown, and parts replacement, which is why As mentioned above, the protective cover 5
The frame 4 is configured to be opened and closed by being rotated by a hinge mechanism. Hereinafter, the work procedure in this case will be described with reference to FIG. 5 and the same perspective view FIG.

First, as shown by an arrow A in FIG. 5, the front protective cover 5 is pivoted upward to be in an open state.
It is prevented from falling by fixing it with a support arm (not shown). Next, as shown by the arrow B in FIG. 6, the frame 4 is pivoted upward to be in the open state, and the same fall prevention treatment is performed. After the above-mentioned pretreatment, various maintenance work is performed. For example, the inspection of each liquid crystal module 3 is performed mainly from the back side of the frame 4 visually or by using various inspection devices. Further, replacement of the defective liquid crystal module 3 with a new one is also performed by removing the wiring attached to the rear surface side of the frame 4. Furthermore, it is necessary to inspect, replace, and clean the backlight 6, as well as to perform it with the frame 4 and the protective cover 5 held in the open position.

[0006]

Since the conventional electro-optical display panel is constructed as described above, the protective cover 5 and all the liquid crystal modules 3 are required for maintenance work.
It is necessary to perform the operation with the frame 4 attached with the rotation opened, and there is a problem that the structure of the opening / closing mechanism and the maintenance work become large and complicated as the area of the display screen increases. That is, the size and weight of the rotating portion increase, and a large force is required for the rotation, and the fall prevention structure including the safety measure becomes large. Therefore, for example, in the case of replacing a defective one liquid crystal module with a new one in a large-screen electronic display panel, the work is inefficient.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems. A first object of the present invention is to simplify the maintenance mechanism even if the display screen becomes large in size. Is to realize a simple display panel. The second purpose is to make the opening / closing method for maintenance as simple and convenient as possible. Furthermore, the third purpose is to reduce the outer shape of the display panel as much as possible.

[0008]

A display panel according to claim 1 of the present invention divides display elements into a plurality of groups in a step direction (longitudinal direction) or a column direction (horizontal direction), and each group described above. Each frame is attached to a common frame, and each frame can be opened and closed.

In this case, since the opening / closing operation is performed for each frame, and only one frame has display elements of the entire device divided by the number of divisions, and as a result, the opening / closing mechanism. Can be made lightweight, small, and simple, and its operation and maintenance work is simple.

The display board according to claim 2 can be opened and closed by attaching one side in the longitudinal direction of the frame to the display board main body through a hinge mechanism and rotating the frame around the hinge mechanism as an axis. Therefore, the opening / closing operation can be easily and surely performed without requiring a large space.

Further, in the display board according to claim 3, the hinge mechanism is configured to be separable from each other at a predetermined angle during rotation, and the frame is separated from the display board main body as necessary. You can

Further, in the display board according to a fourth aspect, the display element is attached to the frame so that each display element is detachable, and the display element is detached from the frame when the frame is closed. It is equipped with a stopper to prevent it.

In this case, the display element can be removed from the frame only when necessary.

According to a fifth aspect of the display panel, the frame is a protective cover for mechanically protecting the front surface of the display element. The frame mounts the display element and mechanically protects the display element. .

Further, the display board according to claim 6 is provided with a backlight mounted on the display board main body for each frame and projecting light from the rear onto the display element. The backlight is opened by opening the frame. Maintenance is possible.

A display board according to a seventh aspect of the invention is provided with a connecting wire which bundles a plurality of conducting wires and electrically connects the display elements mounted on the same frame to each other. The arrangement is such that they are arranged in parallel on a plane, and the plane is perpendicular to the direction in which the frames are connected.

In this case, since the connecting wire exists only in the thickness dimension of the flat conductor wire bundle in the connecting direction of the frames, the connecting wire is provided in the connecting direction. The size increase can be minimized.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall appearance of an electronic display panel according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 to 4
2 is the same as or equivalent to a conventional one, but particularly for the liquid crystal module 3 and the frame 4, the relevant portion is enlarged and shown in FIG. That is, the liquid crystal modules 3 are arranged in a plane in a plurality of columns in the vertical direction and in a plurality of columns in the horizontal direction in order to obtain a required display screen area, and are mounted on a common unit frame 4 for each column. The lower end of the unit frame 4 is connected to the display board main body 1 via a hinge mechanism.
Attached to the arrow C with the hinge mechanism as the axis.
It is configured such that it can be opened and closed by rotating as described above.

Next, referring to FIG. 3, the structure of the unit frame 4, its mounting structure to the display panel body 1, the mounting structure of the unit frame 4 and the liquid crystal module 3, and the series of opening / closing operations of the unit frame 4 will be described in detail. explain.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the inside viewed from the right side of FIGS. 1 and 2, and includes three stages of liquid crystal modules 3 (unit frame 4).
Is illustrated. The upper stage (1) is in a state in which the unit frame 4 is closed (of course, this form is in operation of the electronic display panel), and the middle stage (2) is in a state in which the unit frame 4 is opened 90 ° for maintenance work. The lower stage (3) shows a state in which the liquid crystal module 3 is removed from the opened unit frame 4. In the figure, 7 is a separator integrally attached to the display panel main body 1, and the light emitted from a backlight 6 (here, each has two stages of fluorescent lamps) provided in the unit frame 4 unit is up and down. The liquid crystal module 3 adjacent to the above is prevented from leaking, and the unit frame 4 is attached so as to be openable and closable via a concave portion 8a forming a hinge mechanism 8 formed at the tip thereof.

A convex portion 8b is formed at the lower end of the unit frame 4 along its longitudinal direction (direction perpendicular to the paper surface), and is fitted in the concave portion 8a of the separator 7 so that the hinge mechanism 8 is formed.
Make up. The hinge mechanism 8 has a structure in which the convex portion 8b is pulled out from the concave portion 8a by pulling the unit frame 4 diagonally upward at an angle of, for example, about 45 ° during its rotation, and the unit frame 4 is displayed. It can also be separated from the board body 1. Reference numeral 9 is a protective plate provided on the front surface of the unit frame 4 and made of a transparent material such as acrylic resin. That is, the unit frame 4 also has a function as a protective cover that mechanically protects the front surface of the liquid crystal module 3. 10 is a movable stopper for locking the liquid crystal module 3 to the unit frame 4, 1
Reference numeral 1 is a fixed stopper, and the functions of these stoppers will be described in the next liquid crystal module 3.

Next, the liquid crystal module 3 will be described.
As is well known, the main part of the liquid crystal module is composed of a liquid crystal cell in which a liquid crystal substance is enclosed between two transparent electrode substrates which are each subjected to an alignment treatment, and polarizing plates arranged before and after the liquid crystal cell. However, since it is not the subject of the present invention, further description is omitted. Reference numeral 12 denotes a module frame for mechanically holding the above-mentioned main part of the liquid crystal module, and the upper frame 1
2a, a middle frame 12b, and a lower frame 12c.

Drive power terminals 13a and 13b for supplying drive power to the liquid crystal module 3 are attached to the upper frame 12a and the lower frame 12b, respectively. 14a,
Reference numerals 14b denote control signal connectors for supplying control signals to the liquid crystal module 3, which are the upper frame 12a and the lower frame 12 respectively.
It is attached to b. Reference numeral 15 is a signal connection line for connecting the control signal connectors 14 of the adjacent liquid crystal modules 3 in the same unit frame 4, the details of which will be described later. Reference numerals 16a and 16b denote protrusions that engage with the movable stopper 10 and the fixed stopper 11, respectively. Reference numeral 17 denotes a reflector provided on the mounting portion of the backlight 6, which improves the light projection efficiency of the backlight 6.

Next, a procedure for maintenance work of the electronic display panel will be described with reference to FIG. First, FIG. 3 (1) shows a normal operating state. In this state, the liquid crystal module 3 commonly attached to the unit frames 4 provided for each stage
The respective control signal connectors 14a and 14b of the signal connection line 1
5 are connected to each other. Then, these signal lines are attached to the display panel body 1 by signal connection lines 15 drawn from the liquid crystal module 3 at either end of the unit frame 4 in the lateral direction (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 3). It is connected to a power supply control device (not shown). In addition,
The power supply for driving is performed by connecting the terminal provided at the tip of the power cable drawn out for each liquid crystal module 3 from the power control device to the driving power terminal 13 of each liquid crystal module 3.
It is performed by connecting to a and 13b.

Next, when the unit frame 4 is to be opened, the handles (not shown) provided at both end portions above the front surface of the unit frame 4 are pulled out to the front, as shown by an arrow C in FIG. 3 (2). The unit frame 4 is attached to the hinge mechanism 8
Rotate about the axis. In the state shown in FIG. 3B, maintenance work such as inspection and cleaning of each liquid crystal module 3 and the backlight 6 can be performed. Further, if necessary, the fluorescent lamp of the backlight 6 can be replaced in this state. As described above, in the embodiment of the present invention, since the liquid crystal module 3 for only one stage is attached to one unit frame 4 and the unit frame 4 is rotated and opened and closed as a unit, the rotation is performed. The moment related to the operation is small, and
Since the unit frame 4 itself is small and lightweight, it is possible to maintain the open state without requiring a special supporting tool.

Next, a description will be given of a procedure in the case where it is necessary to remove the specific liquid crystal module 3 from the unit frame 4 based on the above inspection result, for example. First, the signal connection line 15 and the power cable (not shown) to the liquid crystal module 3 are disconnected. Next, as shown in FIG. 3C, the movable stopper 10 of the unit frame 4 is moved in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface to release the engagement with the protrusion 16a of the liquid crystal module 3 and to move the liquid crystal module 3 in the arrow direction. As shown by D, the protrusion 16b is pivoted clockwise as a fulcrum, and as shown by an arrow E, the engagement between the fixed stopper 11 and the protrusion 16b is released by pulling it obliquely upward. As a result, the liquid crystal module 3 becomes a single unit and is completely separated from the unit frame 4.

When the liquid crystal module 3 is attached to the unit frame 4 and the unit frame 4 in the opened state is closed, the reverse operation to the above may be performed. Also, the unit frame 4 can be removed from the separator 7, and since this procedure has already been described, it will not be re-recorded.

Next, referring to FIG. 4, a concrete example of the configuration of the signal connection line 15 for connecting the liquid crystal modules 3 to each other will be described. FIG. 4 (1) shows a plurality of liquid crystal modules 3 arranged adjacent to each other, control signal connectors 14a and 14b provided on each liquid crystal module 3, and a signal connection line 15 for connecting them. It is a perspective view shown.
(2) and (3) are enlarged perspective views showing a specific example of the signal connection line 15. The signal connecting line 15 is usually formed by bundling a large number of insulated conductors, but the signal connecting line 15A of FIG. 4B is a flexible print formed by bending the edgewise at a right angle as shown in FIG. Uses a wiring board. The plane of the wiring board is perpendicular to the direction in which the unit frames 4 are connected (vertical direction in FIG. 4),
Therefore, the horizontal direction is set. by this,
Dimension a required between adjacent frames ((1) in the figure)
Can be made smaller. As a result, the height of the device can be reduced. Further, when a single image is displayed by a plurality of liquid crystal modules 3 arranged on a two-dimensional plane, the portion of this dimension a is always a dark portion. Since the area is reduced, the effect of improving the quality of the displayed image can be expected.

The signal connection line 15B shown in FIG. 4 (3) uses a standard linear strip-shaped flexible printed wiring board, and as shown in the drawing, it is appropriately adjusted according to the mounting pitch of the control signal connector 14. The bending molding is held by a folding hot press or the like. As in the case of FIG. 2B, the dimension a can be reduced, and since a standard flexible printed wiring board that is commercially available can be used, there is an advantage that the cost can be reduced.

In the above embodiment, the liquid crystal module 3 for one stage in the vertical direction is attached to one unit frame 4 which is a unit for opening and closing, but a plurality of stages, which is less than the total number of stages of the electronic display panel, are mounted. The liquid crystal module 3 may be attached. The liquid crystal modules 3 may be collectively attached to the unit frame 4 for each row (or a plurality of rows) in the horizontal direction instead of for each row (or a plurality of rows) in the vertical direction, and the liquid crystal modules 3 may be opened / closed in units. The same effect as that of the above embodiment is obtained.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the liquid crystal module is used as the display element and the case where the liquid crystal module is used to control the transmitted light from the backlight has been described, but a reflector is provided in place of the backlight, The present invention is also applicable to a system that controls the transmitted light from the reflection plate, and further to a system that uses a display element having its own light emitting ability, such as a PD (plasma display) or an EL (electroluminescence) element. You can apply it as well,
Has the same effect.

Further, although the material of the unit frame is not particularly mentioned in the above description of the embodiment, a plastic material, a metal material such as aluminum can be freely selected and used. In particular, if the liquid crystal module for each stage is attached, the cross-sectional shape of the unit frame can be standardized by unifying the types of liquid crystal modules even if the number of individual module stages of the electronic display panel is different. For example, it is possible to significantly reduce the manufacturing cost as an extrusion molded product using a die.

[0032]

As described above, in the display panel according to claim 1 of the present invention, the display elements are divided into a plurality of groups in the row direction (vertical direction) or the column direction (horizontal direction), and each of the above groups is formed. Since each frame is attached to a common frame and can be opened / closed for each frame, the opening / closing mechanism is lightweight, small and simple, and its operation and maintenance work is simple.

In the display board according to claim 2,
Since the frame is rotated and opened / closed by the hinge mechanism provided on one side in the longitudinal direction, the opening / closing operation can be easily and surely performed without requiring a large space.

In the display panel according to claim 3,
Since the hinge mechanism can be separated during rotation,
The frame can be separated from the main body of the display panel if necessary, and can be handled independently of the main body.

Further, in the display panel according to claim 4,
The display element is attached to the frame in a detachable manner for each display element, and a stopper for preventing the display element from separating from the frame when the frame is closed is provided, so that the display element is only necessary. Can be removed from the frame, and maintenance work such as parts replacement can be simplified.

Further, in the display panel according to claim 5,
Since the frame serves as a protective cover for the display element, mechanical protection of the display element is ensured without requiring a special structure.

Further, in the display panel according to claim 6,
Since the backlight mounted on the display panel body for each frame and projecting light to the display element from the rear is provided, maintenance of the backlight can be easily performed by opening the lightweight and compact frame.

In the display board according to claim 7,
The display device is provided with a connection wire that electrically connects display elements mounted on the same frame and is formed by bundling a plurality of conducting wires, and the conducting wire bundle is configured such that the conducting wires are arranged parallel to each other on the plane. Is perpendicular to the direction in which the frames are connected, the size increase by providing a plurality of individually openable and closable frames can be minimized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall appearance of an electronic display panel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is an enlarged perspective view showing a portion of a unit frame 4 in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the details and operation of the unit frame 4 of the electronic display panel according to the embodiment of the present invention, mainly.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining details of a signal connection line 15 in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a conventional electronic display panel.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a conventional electronic display panel with a frame 4 opened.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 display panel main body 3 liquid crystal module as a display element 4 unit frame 6 backlight 8, 8a, 8b hinge mechanism and its constituent concave and convex portions 9 protective plate 10 movable stopper 11 fixed stopper 14 control signal connector 15 signal Connection wire 16a, 16b Protrusion

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A display panel comprising a display panel main body and a plurality of display elements mounted on the front face of the display panel main body in a substantially planar manner, wherein the display elements are arranged in a step (vertical direction) or a row. A display board characterized by being divided into a plurality of groups in a direction (lateral direction) and being attached to a common frame for each of the groups so that each frame can be opened and closed. 2. The frame according to claim 1, wherein one side in the longitudinal direction of the frame is attached to the display board main body through a hinge mechanism, and the frame can be opened and closed by rotating the hinge mechanism around an axis. Display board. 3. The display panel according to claim 2, wherein the hinge mechanisms are configured to be separable from each other at a predetermined angle during rotation. 4. A display element is attached to a frame so that each display element can be attached and detached, and a stopper is provided to prevent the display element from coming off from the frame when the frame is closed. The display panel according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 5. The display panel according to claim 1, wherein the frame is a protective cover that mechanically protects the front surface of the display element. 6. The display panel according to claim 1, further comprising a backlight attached to the display panel main body for each frame and projecting light from the rear onto the display element. 7. A configuration in which a connecting wire formed by bundling a plurality of conducting wires for electrically connecting display elements mounted on the same frame to each other is provided, and each conducting wire bundle is arranged in parallel on a plane. The display panel according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the plane is perpendicular to the connecting direction of the frames.