JPH09205603A - Image display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain the image display device whose display screen is set to an optimum tilt without troubling viewers by turning an image display section around a normal direction of a display screen through remote control so that the image display section is in matching with a tilt of a sight line in response to the tilt state of a viewer. SOLUTION: An image display section 1 is supported rotatably in a direction of the arrow A around a normal direction of a display screen 1a with a rotary mechanism section 3 and controlled by a motor 2b in response to tilt state information from a remote controller received by a light receiving section 2a. The remote controller has a function sending the tilt state information detected by an internal tilt sensor to the light receiving section 2a and mounted on a headphone tracing the tilt of the sight line of a viewer or the like. Thus, the tilt angle of the sight line of the viewer is detected to automatically drive the image display section 1 at an optimum angle with the image display section.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image display device such as a liquid crystal television with a stand and a word processor, and more particularly to an image display device in which a display screen is rotatable about the normal direction of the display screen. It is a thing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image display device has been proposed in which the display screen can be swung in the left-right direction and the elevation angle direction. For example, in the case of a television receiver, the display screen can be displayed even when the viewer is lying down. Some display screens can be changed from a horizontal screen to a vertical screen for reasons such as easy viewing or displaying two programs vertically. Also, a word processor, such as a word processor, has been proposed in which the display screen can be changed from landscape to portrait depending on the type of composition document.

A conventional image display device of this type will be described below with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 7 is (a) a front view (b) a side view (c) a rear view showing a conventional image display device.

As shown in FIG. 7, the conventional image display device is supplied with a television video signal through a cable line (not shown) and is capable of displaying on a rectangular display screen 1a, and the image display unit 1. Is held at a predetermined position, and the image display unit 1 is swingably coupled to the stand unit 2 for changing the channel and adjusting the volume with the operation buttons. The rotating mechanism section 3 has a vertical / horizontal variable mechanism (not shown) for changing the display screen 1a of one display from a horizontally long or vertically long to a vertically long or horizontally long.

In the image display device constructed as described above, the screen display unit is rotated by the rotation mechanism unit 3 in the clockwise direction and the counterclockwise direction (direction of arrow A in the figure) about the normal direction of the display screen. Therefore, the display screen 1a can be changed from horizontally long or vertically long to vertically long or horizontally long. Accordingly, even if the viewer is lying down, the display screen 1a can be easily seen by manually rotating the image display unit 1 arbitrarily according to the viewing angle.

[0006] In Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 5-34786,
A television turntable command device has been proposed which improves usability by automatically rotating the screen so that the screen is perpendicular to the position of the headphones by pressing the button provided on the headphones once. .

[0007]

However, in the conventional image display device described above with reference to FIG. 7, when the viewer is viewing in an inclined state with respect to the horizontal plane such as lying down, the inclination angle of the face in that state is set in advance. It is necessary to either manually set the rotation direction angle around the normal direction of the display image 1a of the image display unit 1 or adjust the angle of the face to the angle of the image display unit 1. This puts a heavy burden on the viewer. Further, every time the angle of the face (line of sight) is changed, the angle of the image display unit 1 must be manually changed by approaching the apparatus main body, which is very inconvenient.

In Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 5-34786, when the viewer changes the viewing position, the screen is automatically rotated in the horizontal and vertical (elevation) directions. However, it is not possible to change the rotation direction around the screen normal direction, and there is a problem in that it is inconvenient to use when tilted with respect to a horizontal plane such as a viewer lying down.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned points, and when a viewer views in a tilted state with respect to a horizontal plane such as lying down, the display is made according to the tilted state of the viewer. An object of the present invention is to provide an image display device capable of automatically tilting a screen.

[0010]

An image display device of the present invention includes an image display section having a display screen for displaying an image, a stand section for supporting the image display section, and the image display for the stand section. An image display device including a rotation mechanism unit that rotatably couples the rotation unit about the display screen normal direction of the image display unit as an axis, and a remote control unit that remotely controls the rotation mechanism unit. It will be.

As a result, even when the user views the image at a position distant from the image display device, the image is displayed by remote control so that the image display unit matches the line of sight of the viewer according to the viewing posture of the viewer. It is possible to rotate the part around the normal direction of the display screen, and it is possible to set the optimum inclination of the display screen without bothering the viewer.

Further, the remote control means is
It has a tilt sensor for detecting a tilt angle. As a result, it is possible to detect the inclination state of the viewer with respect to the horizontal plane and automatically control the rotation of the image display unit to the optimum inclination angle.

Further, by configuring the remote control means to be mounted on the viewer's head, the inclination angle of the line of sight of the viewer can be accurately detected, and the image display unit can be accurately adjusted to the optimum inclination angle. The rotation can be controlled.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of an image display device of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. The same parts as those in the conventional example described above are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. . Here, FIG. 1 is an external view showing the image display device of the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an essential part showing the image display device of the present embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a remote control device of the image display device of the present embodiment. Explanatory drawing showing a schematic configuration, FIG.
Is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a tilt sensor in the image display device of the present embodiment, FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the tilt sensor in the image display device of the present embodiment, and FIG. 6 is an image display device of the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation in FIG.

The image display apparatus of this embodiment can be mounted on the head of a viewer in addition to the conventional example described with reference to FIG. 7, and the axis of the image display unit 1 in the direction normal to the display screen 1a. Is provided with a remote control device 4 for remotely controlling the rotating mechanism part 3 that is rotatably coupled, and a remote control light receiving part 2a for receiving an infrared control signal from the remote control device 4 and a remote control device on the device body side. A motor unit 2a for driving the rotating mechanism unit 3 based on an infrared control signal (tilt information) from the control device 4 is provided.

In the above structure, the motor portion 2a on the rear surface of the apparatus main body has a motor shaft which meshes with a flat gear 3b provided concentrically with the rotation center shaft 3a, as shown in FIG. 2b is provided, and the driving force of the rotation motor 2b is transmitted to the flat gear 3b, whereby the image display unit 1 rotates about the rotation center shaft 3a. Since the rotation motor 2b needs to finely adjust the rotation angle of the image display unit 1, it is desirable to use a stepping motor or the like.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the remote control device 4 having a headphone function is provided with an inclination sensor 4a for detecting the inclination of the user's head with respect to the horizontal plane, and its front surface (the surface facing the apparatus body). In addition to the tilt information from the tilt sensor 4a, a remote control transmitter 4b for transmitting power on / off information, volume adjustment information, channel switching information and the like to the apparatus body is provided.

A variable resistance tilt sensor as an example of the tilt sensor 4a will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 4A is an explanatory view showing the variable resistance tilt sensor in the horizontal state, and FIG. 4B is an explanatory view showing the variable resistance tilt sensor in the tilt state. In FIG. 4A, the support disk 11 is fixed to the main body of the remote control device 4, and the resistance 12 is arranged in an arc shape on the support disk 11. Similarly, a pendulum plate 13 is arranged rotatably around the center of the support disk 11, and a weight 14 is provided below it.

Here, the central portion of the pendulum 13 and the resistance 12
A portion between the contact portion 15 and the contact portion 15 is formed of a conductor so that a current flows, and the end portion of the resistor 12 and the pendulum 1 are formed.
An electrode is provided at the center of 3. Then, by applying a voltage V between the electrodes, a current I flows from the center of the pendulum 13 to the end of the resistor 12 via the contact portion 15 and the resistor 12 (R).
Flows. At this time, the flowing current value I = V / R.

In FIG. 4B, when the support disk 11 is arbitrarily tilted, the resistor 12 is also tilted accordingly.
At this time, since the weight 14 is provided below the pendulum plate 13, even if the support disk 11 is inclined,
The same position can be always maintained with respect to the horizontal plane, and as a result, the contact portion 15 of the pendulum plate 13 moves on the resistor 12 in the direction opposite to the tilt direction.

Therefore, assuming that the resistance value at this time is r and the flowing current is i, i = V / r, and R> r and I <i. That is, since the resistance value of the resistor 12 changes according to the tilted state of the support disk 11, the flowing current value changes proportionally. Therefore, it is possible to determine the tilt angle by detecting this current value. become.

An optical tilt sensor as another example of the tilt sensor 4a will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 5A is an explanatory view showing the optical tilt sensor in the horizontal state, and FIG. 5B is an explanatory view showing the optical tilt sensor in the tilted state. In FIG. 5A, a liquid 21 and a small amount of gas 22 that do not chemically change with each other are sealed in a semicircular transparent pipe 23. Here, since the specific gravity of the gas 22 is lighter than the specific gravity of the liquid 21, the gas 22 is always located at the uppermost part with respect to the horizontal plane.

Further, a plurality of optical sensors 24 are provided at an arbitrary angular interval with respect to the center of the circle of the transparent pipe 23, extending slightly inward from the outer periphery of the side surface of the semicircular transparent pipe 23. As the optical sensor 24, it is effective to use a sensor that can detect the presence or absence of a substance that blocks light, such as a combination of an LED and a photodiode. At this time, it is preferable that the liquid 21 is a black object that does not transmit light and the gas 22 is a colorless transparent substance that transmits light.

In FIG. 5B, a semicircular transparent pipe 2
When 3 is arbitrarily tilted, the gas 22 sealed therein always moves to the uppermost part, so that the tilted state can be determined by detecting the position of the gas 22 by the optical sensor 24. Therefore, if the transparent pipe 23 is horizontally fixed in the remote control device 4, the inclination angle of the remote control device 4 itself can be easily detected.

Next, the operation of the image display device configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6A is an explanatory diagram showing a viewer watching the display screen in a horizontal state, and FIG. 6B shows a viewer watching the display screen in an inclined state such as lying down. FIG. The tilt state of the remote control device 4 mounted on the viewer's head is detected by the tilt sensor 4a therein. Then, the tilt state information detected by the tilt sensor 4a is used as the remote control device 4
Is transmitted from the transmitting unit 4b of the image display device and transmitted to the light receiving unit 2a of the main body of the image display device.

In the main body of the image display device, the inclination angle of the remote control device 4 and the inclination angle of the image display part 1 are made equal based on the inclination information of the remote control device 4 obtained from the light receiving portion 2a. The rotation mechanism unit 3 rotates the image display unit 1 about the normal direction of the display screen 1a. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6B, the viewer does not have to manually rotate the image display unit 1 while approaching the main body of the image display apparatus, and the optimum image display can be performed according to the inclination state of the line of sight of the viewer. It becomes possible to remotely control the inclination of the unit 1.

If the image display section 1 is always rotated every time the viewer changes his / her viewing state, it may be inconvenient to use. By providing an operation switch that supports movement,
The image display unit 1 may be appropriately rotated so as to match the tilted state of the remote control device 4 as required by the viewer.

Further, in the above-mentioned one embodiment of the present invention, the headphone type remote control device has been described, but a remote control device capable of following the inclination of the line of sight of the viewer, such as a hat type or a hair band type. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

[0029]

Since the image display device of the present invention is configured as described above, the image display can be performed according to the inclination state of the viewer even when the image is viewed at a position away from the main body of the image display device. To match the inclination of the line of sight of the viewer,
It is possible to rotate the image display unit about the normal direction of the display screen by remote control, and the inclination of the display screen can be set to an optimum value without bothering the viewer.

Further, it is possible to detect the inclination state of the viewer with respect to the horizontal plane and automatically control the rotation of the image display unit to the optimum inclination angle. Further, it is possible to accurately detect the inclination angle of the line of sight of the viewer and accurately control the rotation of the image display unit to the optimum inclination angle.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view showing an embodiment of an image display device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts showing an embodiment of an image display device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a remote control device in one embodiment of the image display device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a tilt sensor in an embodiment of the image display device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the tilt sensor in the embodiment of the image display device of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation in one embodiment of the image display device of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an external view showing a conventional image display device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 image display unit 1a display screen 2 stand unit 2a light receiving unit 2b motor unit 3 rotating mechanism unit 3a rotating shaft 3b flat gear 4 remote control device 4a tilt sensor 4b transmitting unit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image display unit having a display screen for displaying an image, a stand unit for supporting the image display unit, the image display unit with respect to the stand unit, and a display screen normal line of the image display unit. An image display device comprising a rotation mechanism portion that is rotatably coupled about a direction, characterized by comprising remote control means for remotely controlling the rotation mechanism portion. 2. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the remote control means has a tilt sensor for detecting a tilt angle. 3. The image display device according to claim 1, wherein the remote control means is mounted on a viewer's head.