JPS6286389A - Display unit - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Field of Application in Industry The present invention relates to a display device that displays information such as characters and images, and in particular, to a display device that displays information such as characters and images, and in particular, a display device that emits propagated light propagated within an optical waveguide to the outside of the path. The present invention relates to a display device that performs display.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, display devices using fluoroun tubes have been the mainstream. This type of flaun tube has a box-like structure and requires a large installation space. Therefore, there is a need for a panel type wall-mounted display device that does not require a large installation space.

Currently, this panel type display device is
Active display devices have multiple elements that emit light themselves arranged on a plane and control the brightness of the elements to display images, and active display devices that display effects such as reflecting, absorbing, and scattering ambient light and illumination Passive IF+' that controls and displays using Song!
-1'-1 spray device.

The former type of active display device includes a display device using an electroluminescent plate, a power generating diode, and a laser diode. In fact, there is a plasma display device, a display device using a display discharge tube that utilizes the gas discharge phenomenon.

On the other hand, the latter type of passive display devices include cathodechromic display devices and photochromic display devices that utilize the effect of coloring by electron beam or light irradiation. There are electrochromic display devices that utilize color change caused by electric fields, devices that utilize electro-optical effects such as Kerr effect and Pockels effect, and liquid crystal display devices.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, conventional panel type display devices have advantages and disadvantages in various respects.

For example, the active display 1 device can be used in a dark place without any inconvenience, but in a bright place, the light emitting part is insufficient and becomes invisible. Unfortunately, in order to display a sufficiently bright high-intensity display, a large amount of power is consumed.

On the other hand, in the case of a passive display device, the brighter the surroundings, the higher the visibility, and the lower the power consumption, but auxiliary lighting etc. are required in dark places.

As described above, conventional panel-type display devices are not fully satisfactory in terms of brightness and contrast power consumption.

However, each device has its own merits and demerits in terms of debris density, lifespan, response time, display time, operability, price, etc., and there are many technical improvements to be made.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a display device that can solve the conventional technical problems.

In order to achieve the object more than just a means to solve the problem, the present invention has been made to: 1. At least one light source; It consists of an optical waveguide in which a waveguide is formed, and a control unit that partially applies an additional action to the waveguide from the outside, and the control unit performs an additional action on the optical waveguide and forms the optical waveguide. Light modulation is performed by interaction with the properties of the material, the light confined within the optical waveguide is emitted outside the optical waveguide, and information such as characters and images is displayed by a collection of this emitted light. It is characterized by what it did.

The display 1 device of the present invention on operation J7 causes the light emitted from the light source to enter the optical waveguide of the optical waveguide.

Then, the light propagates within the optical waveguide within a range that satisfies the waveguide conditions and is confined within the optical waveguide. In this state, the control unit partially applies external impulses to the optical waveguide, changes the properties of the material forming the optical waveguide through interaction, and modulates the light inside the optical waveguide. The light trapped inside is released outside the road. Information such as characters and images is displayed on a -dimensional or two-dimensional optical waveguide by aggregation of light emitting parts using this emitted light.

Embodiment Jl Below, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic diagrams illustrating the basic configuration and basic principle of a display device according to the present invention.

The display device includes a light source 10, a display panel 20,
The basic configuration includes a control section 30. The display panel 20 includes a planar optical waveguide 22 formed on a substrate 21+.
A display device (D f4 constitutes a display panel. At least one light source 10 is provided on one side of the display panel 20.
There are one. The light F emitted from the light source 10 enters the optical waveguide 22, propagates within the optical waveguide 22 under waveguide conditions, and is confined within the waveguide. It is configured so that no light leaks at least to the display surface side of the display panel 20. The control unit 30 partially controls the external addition to the optical waveguide 22, and is controlled by information signals such as characters and images.

Light (1) emitted from the light source 10 is incident on the optical waveguide 22. The incident light F is propagated within the optical waveguide 22 . The light F propagated within the optical waveguide 22 is confined within the waveguide. Therefore, the interior of the leading wave body 22 is filled with the light F confined within the body.

In this state, the control unit 8o can partially apply an external force to the optical waveguide 22. In steps 1 to 1, interaction A is partially caused in the optical waveguide 22 due to the properties of the material forming the optical waveguide 22 and the additional action of the control section 80 . Due to this interaction A, the optical waveguide conditions of the optical waveguide 22 are changed to perform optical modulation, and the light is partially emitted outside the optical waveguide as emitted light f. This emitted light " causes the display panel 20 to be observed to emit light in a spot shape.
Information such as characters and images is displayed on the surface of the display panel 20 by a collection of spot-like issuing parts.

8 and 4 show a display panel 20 of a display device.
The optical waveguide 22 is shown in more detail.

Optical waveguide 22 provided on substrate 21 of display panel 20
is composed of a core 221 made of a material with a relatively high refractive index, and claddings 222 and 228 made of a material with a relatively low refractive index surrounding the core 221.
At 21, an optical waveguide is formed to propagate the light F emitted from the light source 10.

In the optical waveguide 22 shown in FIG. 3, a core 221 in the form of thin film layers is sandwiched between claddings 222 and 228 in the form of thin film layers to form a planar optical waveguide.

In the example shown in FIG. 4, rectangular cylindrical cores 221 are arranged in parallel to form a plurality of linear optical waveguides 1 to 2.
21. The optical waveguide 22 is constructed by covering the optical waveguides 222 and 228 with claddings 222 and 228.

As described above, when configuring the display panel 20, the optical waveguide may have a planar shape or a straight rectangular cylindrical shape. The display panels 20 and 17 need only one display surface, and even if the back surface (+111) cladding 222 that constitutes the leading wave body 22 is formed as a reflective layer, the light is confined and the display surface is one-dimensional or two-dimensional. The cladding 222 can have the same effect as the optical waveguide propagating in 1 to 1.
may be the reflective layer 222.

Next, the optical modulation means based on the additional action of the control section 30 on the optical waveguide 22 will be explained.

5 and 6 explain optical modulation. The light F confined within the core 221 of the optical waveguide 22 is transmitted between the core 221 and the cladding 223, and between the core 221 and the reflective layer 2.
It is reflected at the boundary surface of 22 at a total reflection angle θ and is propagated in the optical waveguide made of the core 221. 22 optical waveguides,
Assuming that the refractive index of the core 221 is nl and the refractive index of the cladding 223 is 0□, the relationship is n:>n2 as described above.

The on/off operation of emission by optical modulation of the light F outside the optical waveguide 22 is performed by the additional control action of the control section 30.

The control method is (A) method by changing the refractive index (for example, usually n l) changing the relationship n 2 to n 1 (n 2) (see Figure 5) (13) Reflection of light A method of changing the traveling direction of light by changing the angle, etc. (this method also includes changing the properties of light) (see Figure 6).

It will be held in

Method (A) can be achieved by using the specific configuration described below.

1) At least one of the core 22 and the cladding 223 is formed using a material having an electro-optic effect, and electrodes are provided to sandwich the optical waveguide 22. At this time, when a material having an electro-optic effect is used for the core 221, the refractive index is made to be lowered by application of an electric field, and when used for the twisted cladding 223, the refractive index is made to be increased. Indeed, as long as the refractive indexes of the core 221 and the crand 223 are mutually changed in a certain relationship, both may be formed using a material having an electro-optic effect.

11) At least one of the core 221 and the cladding 223 is made of a material having an acoustic round shape effect, and the core 221 or the cladding 223 generates compression waves of the refractive index during refraction in the medium due to ultrasonic waves. conduct. Then, the light propagated within the optical waveguide is diffracted by the compression wave of the refractive index, and is subjected to effects such as refraction, reflection, scattering, etc.
Released off the road. In this case, for example, a vibrator that generates ultrasonic waves is provided.

1ii)=l This can also be carried out using a material that has a thermo-optic effect that changes the composition of the medium by heat and changes the refractive index.

Next, the NoJ method of [F]) can be achieved by the schematic configuration described below.

I) A movable piece made of a dielectric material with one end supported is provided in the core 221, and the movable piece is charged to close and open the optical waveguide to emit light. In this case, the core 221 is made of a fluid material, and the optical waveguide 22 is configured such that the movable piece 1-1 is movable.

11) The total reflection surface of light in the optical waveguide is deformed by an external force to change the direction of light reflection. This method can be performed, for example, by generating surface acoustic waves on the surface of the core 221.

1) 1) Bubbles, gas, dust, colloid, etc. are generated in the optical waveguide 11 to scatter the propagating light and emit it out of the path.

1) Further, input the light into the optical waveguide through the polarizer,
The analyzer forming the cladding 228 is passed through the analyzer using the magneto-optic effect which rotates the angle of the plane of polarization by applying a magnetic field. Only a certain light whose polarization plane angle has been rotated is emitted to the outside of the road. Various such methods are possible.

As described above, various methods can be used to perform optical modulation to emit light confined within an optical waveguide to the outside. Various types of light modulation by the additional control action by the control unit 30 are possible in addition to the above method.

Next, the display scanning of information on the display panel 20 by the control action of the control section 80 on the optical waveguide 22 will be described.

FIG. 7 explains display scanning, in which a control unit 31 in the X direction
and a Y-direction control section 32, both of which control the display panel 20 in a matrix manner. Y direction control unit 3
1 and the Y-direction control section 32 are respectively selected as the control section 80, K, and J:, and at their matrix intersections,
It is designed in such a way that an additional control effect on the light waveguide 22 takes place.

For example, an electrode ' in the Y direction and an electrode in the X direction are provided to sandwich the optical waveguide 22, and an electric field is applied at the intersection of the Y electrode and the X electrode to emit light at that position.

However, this can also be achieved by adopting a configuration in which the electrodes are switched only in the Y direction of one electrode, and in the X direction, the light incident on the optical waveguide is switched by an optical switch.

In addition, when generating the ultrasonic waves mentioned above and performing light modulation by the acousto-optic effect, for example, generating the ultrasonic waves in the Y direction,
This is done by inputting light in the X direction via an optical switch.

8 and 9 show a specific embodiment of the display device of the present invention, in which 10 is a light source, 11 is a light switch, 20 is a display panel, and 30 is a control unit. .

The display panel 20 includes a substrate 21 and electrodes El+R2+...E provided on the substrate 21 in parallel in the X direction.
an optical waveguide T consisting of cores 221, 221 made of material 4, which are provided in parallel in the Y direction and have an electro-optical effect, and a reflective layer 222 made of a non-dielectric material.
It...

R72, . reflective layer 222 and core 221.221
．． . . . and the cladding 223 constitute the optical waveguide 22.

On one side of the optical waveguide R8,..., T(・Ill, there are optical switches S I, S2...
, Sm are provided at its entrance. The light source IO connects the optical waveguides It, TL2, . . . with the optical switches S1, S2, . . . . Arranged so that light can be uniformly incident on R and m.

Hikari S1 Sochi S1. S2. ...SIn controls on/off the incidence of light into the optical waveguides R,,,n,2...R,n1, and converts the light propagated in the X direction into the Y direction.
It is connected to a Y-direction control section 32 that controls the Y-direction.

On the other hand, electrode 1>, I R2...En kL-
An electric field is applied between each transparent electrode E' connected to the X-direction control section 31 and provided with the optical waveguide 22 sandwiched therebetween.

An X-direction control section 81 and a Y-direction control section 32 control m.
section 30": selection control is performed, and information display such as characters and images is controlled. This display control is performed by means of warning signs such as text and images sent from the signal processing system. For example, optical switch S.

In operation, light F is incident on the optical waveguide (1), and the electrode 1
, E4 and apply an electric field between the electrodes 1'' 4 and E', the refractive index of the core 221 at the S portion shown in the figure changes to a lower value. The waveguide conditions of the passing light F change, and emitted light f is generated from that part.This emitted light f causes the display panel 20-1 to
It is observed that the dots are emitting light in the form of spots. This display scan is performed by selecting switches 8I, S□...Sm and electrodes El, E2...En in a predetermined order.
7, information such as characters and images is displayed on the surface of the display panel 2o by a collection of spot-like light emitting parts.

According to the display device of this embodiment as described in -1- above, the display device is equipped with a light source and displays by emitting a tail confined in a planar optical waveguide to the outside of the waveguide. As a result, high brightness and high contrast can be obtained depending on the intensity of the light α( By doubling the length of i, it is possible to make the screen larger.Furthermore, it has good lifespan, responsiveness, and operability, and can be done with a simple configuration, resulting in lower costs.

However, colorization can also be easily realized by applying well-known techniques.

As described in detail, the display device of the present invention includes a light source and partially emits light confined within a -dimensional or two-dimensional optical waveguide to display characters and images.
It has a simple configuration that displays information such as images, and has high brightness.
High contrast can be easily achieved and display performance can be improved.

Therefore, it is excellent as a display device.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the basic structure and basic principle of the display device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side sectional view thereof, and FIGS. 8 and 4 are perspective views showing the display panel of the Display 1 device. , FIGS. 5 and 6 are partial cross-sectional views explaining the optical modulation operation for emitting light to the outside of the optical waveguide, FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram explaining the scanning of the display device, and FIG.
The figure is a perspective view showing an example of a specific embodiment structure of the display device according to the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a side view thereof. 10...Light source, 20...Display panel, 21...Base, 22...
・Optical waveguide, 221...Core (optical waveguide), 2
22... cladding (or reflective layer), 223...
...Clad, 30...Control section, F...Light, f...
...Emitted light. Patent applicant: NEC Home Electro Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3 Fig. 5 Fig. 6

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) At least one light source, an optical waveguide forming a one-dimensional or two-dimensional optical waveguide that confines the light emitted from the light source, and a control unit that partially applies an additional action to the optical waveguide from the outside. The light confined within the optical waveguide is modulated by the interaction between the additional action applied to the optical waveguide by the control unit and the properties of the material forming the optical waveguide. A display device characterized in that information such as characters and images is displayed by emitting light out of the optical waveguide and collecting the emitted light.