JPH08248895A - Changeable type display device capable of using large screen size for portable type personal computer or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To eliminate an evil effect that a character or an image is very invis ible because the performance of an equipment such as a personal computer, a word processor or a television is made higher by the development of electronic technology, and the equipment is lightened, thinned and miniaturized in shape, and then the screen size of the display device of the equipment is reduced accord ing to lightening, thinning and miniaturizing the equipment in many cases. CONSTITUTION: By providing a structural function capable of being folded, superposed and opened/closed as required with the display device 1 of the equipment, display is performed by enlarging the screen size when the equipment is used, while the three-dimensional shape of the entire display device 1 is prevented from getting bulky as much as possible so as to be excellent in portability when the equipment is not used.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to household, office, or industrial equipment such as personal computers, word processors, televisions, videophones, and navigation devices, as well as display devices for other such equipment. It is a thing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, display devices in devices such as personal computers, word processors and televisions have not been equipped with a function capable of changing their own three-dimensional form as needed. When an extremely large screen size is required, a case where a plurality of screens are arranged on a wall or the like, or planarly combined (joined) with each other to achieve the purpose (CRT display or projection TV I see a method or device that combines a plurality of items. In such cases, even if the size of the overall screen size can be changed by changing the number of screens that are arranged (or combined). However, unlike the present invention, it does not have a function of converting its own form into a form that is three-dimensionally the least bulky by folding, overlapping, and the like.

[0003]

The equipment such as a personal computer, a word processor, and a television set has been improved in performance due to the recent development of electronic technology, and their form is often light, thin, short, and small. It has become very convenient to use in and carry around. However, on the other hand, the screen size of the display device is often reduced due to the morphological lightness, thinness, and miniaturization of these devices, and the displayed characters and images are extremely small, or the local size is small. However, the harmful effects of becoming very difficult to see have naturally occurred. The present invention was devised to solve such problems.

[0004]

[Means, Actions, and Embodiments for Solving the Problems] The present invention aims to secure a larger screen size without sacrificing the convenience of these devices due to their lightness, thinness, shortness, and size. Can change (convert) the three-dimensional form of the display device when the device is used and when it is not used. In addition, the screen has a single hardware configuration as in the past (single screen configuration). ) Is not always necessary.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the present invention, the entire display device 1 is composed of a plurality of blocks (lumps), and each block is a smaller display device (screen) having a screen. Hereinafter, it is referred to as "local display device 2"), and the like. Between each block,
Connected or semi-connected with hinges, strings, rubber bands, etc.
Alternatively, the three-dimensional form of the entire display device 1 can be changed by changing the relative positional relationship of each block manually or automatically by a non-connected state or a combination of these states. Get (can be converted). There are the following methods to change the relative positional relationship of each block.・ Movement, slide, gathering, gathering, dispersion, arrangement, etc. ・ Recombining, fitting, joining, coalescing, connecting, adding, separating, etc. ・ Laminating, folding, folding, opening, closing, etc. ・ And the like , Or a combination of the above.

In this way, the present invention makes it possible to change the three-dimensional form of the entire display device 1 according to need. When the device is used, the screens 3 of a plurality of local display devices 2 are displayed. A set screen is formed by arranging (arranging) on a plane like a paving stone or a tatami mat, or by assembling, while the set screen is folded or overlapped when the device is not used. The entire display device 1 is converted into a three-dimensionally least bulky and convenient form from the viewpoint of carrying the device itself.

Incidentally, it is considered advantageous that the local display device 2 is made by using a liquid crystal display or the like which is good at forming a thin type. Further, in order to create an image that is as smooth and easy to see as possible on the formed aggregate screen, it is better that the screens 3 of the local display devices 2 are closer to each other, and the adjacent edges of the screens 3 are adjacent to each other. At least a portion of the part 4 (one of the structures for protecting and supporting the screen 3) near the screen surface needs to be made of a transparent material such as glass or plastic. In addition, it is important that these edge portions 4 adjacent to each other have a concavo-convex structure in which they interlock with each other in order to prevent the occurrence of'shift 'in the image between the screens. Let's go.

The display device of the present invention can generate one integrated image on the collective screen by software control, or can generate different images for each screen 3 of each local display device 2. It will be possible.

The above is a display device (or,
This is based on the premise that the portion of the local display device 2), particularly the portion corresponding to the screen, is made of a hard material that cannot be bent, but such a portion is made of a technically flexible material. If it comes to obtain, it will be possible to make the screen of the display device into a single hardware configuration (single screen configuration), and it may not even be necessary to divide the display device into multiple blocks (however, , In this case, it will be necessary to make the display device itself with a flexible material or to mix them. In any case, when the part corresponding to the screen can be made of a technically flexible material, it is possible to change the three-dimensional shape of the display device as compared with the case of being made of a hard material. The method has a wide range of choices.

[0010]

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention aims to increase the screen size more than ever, while maintaining the convenience of the devices such as personal computers, word processors, and televisions, which is based on the fact that the form is light, thin and short. It is possible. As a result, the screen size of a laptop or notebook PC or word processor, for example, could be comparable to that of a desktop or laptop, respectively. The larger screen size not only makes it easier for you to see characters and images and is easier on the eyes,
That will lead to usability of the device itself. It is no longer necessary to look through a small screen, and important space is not occupied by large devices. This will greatly encourage the use of personal computers and word processors in small offices or on small office desks, and will bring various side effects to office work. It should be noted that the present invention can be supplied in large quantities at a low cost in the future with magneto-optical disks and CD-Rs.
When combined with storage media such as OM, many interesting products will be created. For example, "electronic bookcase" and "electronic library" that can be carried anywhere. Depending on the contents to be packed, this can be used as an "encyclopedia or picture book", a "art book" for gifts, or as a "textbook" or "animation picture book" or "comic book" for young children. These are valuable because they are not bulky when not in use and have a large screen size that is easy to see only when in use. In addition, as more and more inexpensive thin displays such as "electronic catalogs" and portable "compact navigation devices" and inexpensive compact storage media can be supplied in large quantities, various types of devices related to the present invention can be provided. New products will be born. The utility of the present invention will be further expanded if light, thin, short, and small devices are widely used as image information terminals in the future.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an example of a laptop or notebook type personal computer or word processor equipped with a display device of the present invention. FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing a state when the device is used. Is a perspective view showing a state in which the display device is being folded from a non-use state to a non-use state (or a non-use state to a use state). Perspective view showing

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Entire display device 2: Local display device 3: Screen 4: Edges adjacent to each other 5: Personal computer or word processor body and keyboard

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A display device having a function capable of three-dimensional shape change such as folding and superimposing as illustrated in FIG. 2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein a smooth image is displayed on a screen (hereinafter referred to as “collection screen”) formed by collecting a plurality of screens 3 of the local display device 2. A display device in which adjacent edges 4 of each screen 3 are (A) and / or (B) as a device for making. (A) A transparent body structure in which at least a portion near the screen surface is made of a transparent material such as glass or plastic. 3. A device including the display device according to claim 1 or 2.