WO2012043825A1

WO2012043825A1 - Display device

Info

Publication number: WO2012043825A1
Application number: PCT/JP2011/072649
Authority: WO
Inventors: 実濱田
Original assignee: シャープ株式会社
Priority date: 2010-10-01
Filing date: 2011-09-30
Publication date: 2012-04-05

Abstract

This display device is provided with: a first display region (1) wherein pixels that are not provided with memory properties of maintaining the same display are two-dimensionally arrayed; and a second display region (2) wherein pixels that are provided with the memory properties are two-dimensionally arrayed. The first display region (1) and the second display region (2) are disposed on the same display screen.

Description

Display device

The present invention relates to a portable or stationary display device.

In recent years, display devices have made dramatic progress together with information processing technology and information transmission technology, greatly contributing to the creation of diversified lifestyles. For example, stationary display devices such as flat-screen TVs, thin monitor displays, and in-vehicle displays, and portable display devices such as mobile phones, portable music players, and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) are daily necessities. It has permeated life.

In Patent Document 1 listed below, a display device in which a plurality of types of flat display panels are arranged side by side on one surface so as to improve the design of a display unit of a portable device and configure a variety of display units. Is disclosed.

FIG. 8 is a side view schematically showing the overall configuration of the display device 100. The first display panel 102 and the second display panel 103 are UV-cured as a flat display panel on the surface (that is, the back surface) opposite to the display viewing side surface (that is, the front surface) of the front substrate 101 made of a glass substrate. A single piece of translucent adhesive 104 is attached to form a single piece.

An example of a combination of the first display panel 102 and the second display panel 103 is a liquid crystal display panel with a backlight and a reflective liquid crystal display panel.

As another example of the combination, Patent Document 1 discloses a normally white liquid crystal display panel and a normally black liquid crystal display panel, an active liquid crystal display panel and a passive liquid crystal display panel, or a liquid crystal display. A panel and an organic EL display panel are described, and it is described that the front substrate 101 may be configured as a touch panel.

Japanese Patent Publication “JP 2009-163131 A (released on July 23, 2009)”

However, in the display device disclosed in Patent Document 1, in the standby mode or the power-off mode, both the first display panel 102 and the second display panel 103 are turned off, and nothing is displayed on the display screen. It is considered to be. For example, in the standby mode or the power-off mode, it is not considered at all that information useful for the user is always displayed on the second display panel 103.

As an example, in a display device in which a plurality of display panels are turned off at the same time as in Patent Document 1, if the user wants to know the remaining charge amount of the built-in battery or the current time, the standby mode or the power-off mode is set. An operation for inputting an instruction to be canceled to the display device is necessary.

Therefore, although the display device disclosed in Patent Document 1 can enrich variations in the display mode when the display device is in the on state, when the display device is in the standby mode or the power-off mode, a plurality of types of display panels are provided. The installation is useless.

In addition, for example, a display panel is provided on each of the inner surface and the outer surface of the mobile phone, and mobile phones that constantly display information useful to the user are already on the market. However, the configuration in which the display panel is provided on each of the inner surface and the outer surface of the mobile phone has a problem that it is difficult to make the mobile phone thin.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and the object thereof is a display device in which a plurality of types of flat display panels are arranged on one surface, and at least one flat display panel includes: It is intended to improve the convenience of the display device by always displaying useful information to the user.

In order to solve the above problems, the display device of the present invention provides
(1) a first display area in which pixels that do not have the memory function to maintain the same display are two-dimensionally arranged;
(2) a second display region in which pixels having the above memory properties are two-dimensionally arranged;
(3) The first display area and the second display area are arranged on the same display screen.

According to the above configuration, since the pixels in the second display area have a memory property, it is not necessary to supply the pixel driving voltage again in order to continue displaying the same information as the still image on the pixels. Alternatively, it is not necessary to supply the pixel drive voltage again as frequently as in the first display area. That is, the second display area can display information with lower power consumption than the first display area.

Therefore, as the display area for frequently updating the display information, the first display area is used. On the other hand, when the same information is displayed for a relatively long time, the second display area is used as the information display area. be able to. When the second display area is used as an information display area, the operation mode of the first display area can be switched to a standby mode for turning off the display or a power-off mode.

Thereby, even when the first display area is in use, as well as when the first display area is set to the standby mode or the power-off mode, information (for example, reading) that is desired to be displayed for a long time is displayed in the second display area. Documents that take a long time, images that you want to see for a long time, etc., or information that the user needs or that is useful to the user can be displayed for a long time or always (at all times) with low power consumption. It becomes possible.

In addition, when the user wants to obtain information (eg, the remaining battery level of the display device, the current time, etc.) from the display device, the user inputs an instruction to cancel the standby mode or the power-off mode to the display device. There is no need to spend time and effort, and it is sufficient to just look at the second display area. Therefore, the convenience of the display device is improved.

As already described, even when the first display area is on, information required by the user or information useful to the user can be constantly displayed with low power consumption in the second display area. it can. In this case, it is preferable that the second display area is configured as a sub display area having an area smaller than that of the first display area. Further, when the first display area is on, the display contents of the second display area are changed according to the display contents of the first display area or the usage state of the display apparatus, thereby improving the convenience of the display apparatus. It is preferable to make it.

In the case where the display device is portable, the first display region and the second display region are provided on the same surface, so that it is possible to reduce the thickness of the display device that can always display information useful to the user.

Furthermore, when the display device is a stationary type, information useful for the user can be displayed on a part of the display screen at all times, so that it is completely different from the original use of the display device such as a television, a monitor display, and an in-vehicle display. Different usage forms can be provided. For example, the display device can function as an information providing device that constantly provides information according to the user's lifestyle, such as the current time, weather forecast, exchange rate, topic news of the day, and images preferred by the user.

Further, as an example, when a cooking program video is displayed in the first display area, the recipe of the dish being displayed in the first display area can be displayed in the second display area with low power consumption. Furthermore, even after the cooking program is over and the first display area is turned off, the recipe can be displayed in the second display area, and the user can use the completely new method of cooking while watching the recipe. Display device can be provided.

However, as the information displayed in the second display area is simplified, the current consumption can be further suppressed, and when the display device is portable, the battery usable time can be extended.

Note that the second display region may be configured as a so-called memory liquid crystal in which a memory circuit for storing display data is incorporated in some or all of the pixels. The second display area may be so-called electronic paper. Electronic paper display methods include an electrophoresis method, an electronic powder fluid (registered trademark) method, a liquid crystal display method, and the like. Examples of the liquid crystal display method include a ferroelectric liquid crystal method and a polymer dispersion type liquid crystal method.

The first display area can be constituted by an active matrix liquid crystal display panel, a passive liquid crystal display panel, an organic EL (electroluminescence) panel, or the like.

A combination of a configuration described in a certain claim and a configuration described in another claim is limited to a combination of the configuration described in the claim cited in the claim. However, as long as the object of the present invention can be achieved, combinations with configurations described in the claims not cited in the focused claims are possible.

As described above, the display device of the present invention includes a first display region in which pixels that do not have the memory property for maintaining the same display are two-dimensionally arranged, and the pixels that have the memory property are two-dimensionally arranged. The second display area is arranged, and the first display area and the second display area are arranged on the same display screen.

Therefore, regardless of whether the first display area is on or off, the second display area can display information that is desired to be displayed over a long period of time, information that is required by the user, or information that is useful to the user. Thus, the display can be performed for a long time or at all times, and the convenience of the display device can be improved.

It is a top view which shows the example of 1 structure of the display apparatus of this invention, (a) shows the state in which the 1st display area is ON, (b) has shown the state in which the 1st display area is OFF. It is explanatory drawing which shows the display content of the 2nd display area corresponding to the state in which the display of a 1st display area is OFF and the touch panel of a 1st display area is ON. It is explanatory drawing which shows the display content of the 2nd display area corresponding to the state where the display of a 1st display area is OFF, and the touch panel of a 1st display area is OFF. It is explanatory drawing which shows a mode that the display content of a 2nd display area switches cyclically by a user's instruction | indication in the state where a 1st display area is OFF. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram schematically showing an internal configuration of the display device shown in FIG. 1. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically the structure of 1 pixel which comprises the 1st display area. It is explanatory drawing which shows typically the structure of the memory built-in pixel which comprises the 2nd display area. It is a side view which shows typically the whole structure of the conventional display apparatus.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7 as follows. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, and the like of the components described in this embodiment are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention only to those unless otherwise specified. This is just an example.

(External configuration common to portable and stationary display devices)
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing one configuration example of the display device 10 of the present invention. The display device 10 includes a first display region 1 in which pixels that do not have the memory function to maintain the same display are two-dimensionally arranged, and a second display in which the pixels that have the memory characteristic are two-dimensionally arranged. The first display area 1 and the second display area 2 are arranged on the same display screen.

In addition, the display device 10 includes a housing 3 that surrounds the display screen. No operation unit that accepts a contact operation is provided on the same surface of the housing 3 as the display screen. The operation unit that accepts the contact operation means an operation unit that accepts a user instruction by sensing the contact when the user's finger or the like is brought into direct contact with the operation unit.

Further, a configuration may be adopted in which no arbitrary functional unit including an input / output unit is provided on the same surface of the housing 3 as the display screen. The “arbitrary functional unit including the input / output unit” includes an input button (an input-only device) for the user to give some instruction to the display device 10, a voice input device such as a microphone, and a voice such as an earphone jack. An output device, an input / output device such as a USB connector or an infrared communication unit is included.

The first display area 1 can be composed of an active matrix liquid crystal display panel, a passive liquid crystal display panel, an organic EL panel, or the like. Here, a case where an active matrix liquid crystal display panel provided with a touch panel function is employed for the first display region 1 will be described.

Further, the second display area 2 may be configured as a so-called memory liquid crystal display panel in which a memory circuit for storing display data is incorporated in some or all of the pixels, or as so-called electronic paper. It may be configured. Here, a case where the second display area 2 is configured as a memory liquid crystal display panel provided with a touch panel function will be described.

Note that the memory liquid crystal display panel can drive the liquid crystal at a lower frequency than the active matrix liquid crystal display panel, so that power consumption can be significantly reduced.

In addition, electronic paper can maintain display even when the power is turned off, and consumes power only when the screen is rewritten. Compared with an active matrix liquid crystal display panel or an organic EL panel. , Power consumption can be reduced. Electronic paper display methods include an electrophoresis method, an electronic powder fluid (registered trademark) method, and a liquid crystal display method. Further, the liquid crystal display method includes a ferroelectric liquid crystal method and a polymer dispersion type liquid crystal method. and so on.

(Configuration unique to portable display devices)
In the case where the display device 10 is a portable display device, the casing 3 is further characterized. In other words, the external appearance of the housing 3 and the display screen as viewed from above in the vertical direction of the display screen has a symmetrical shape with no distinction between left and right and up and down. Note that no operation unit for accepting a contact operation may be provided on the same surface of the housing 3 as the display screen, and arbitrary functional units including an input / output unit are arranged symmetrically. It may be provided, or such a functional unit may not be provided at all.

Since the display device 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 is a display device having a mobile phone function, a hole for transmitting and receiving is provided above and below the same surface of the housing 3 as the display screen. However, since no operation unit is provided, a novel design that is vertically and horizontally symmetrical can be adopted as the appearance of the display device.

In addition, if there are no optional functional units including input / output units and the appearance around the display screen is symmetrical, the frame around the display screen can be reduced to the minimum necessary, As a result, the possibilities for designing a larger display screen are expanded. This effect can be obtained even in the stationary type, but more prominently in the portable type.

Furthermore, no other display screen is provided on the rear surface of the housing 3, that is, the surface opposite to the front surface when the display screen is the front surface. Therefore, the display device 10 is thinner than a display device having display screens on the front and back surfaces of the housing.

(Display state example of display device-ON state of first display area)
FIG. 1A shows a state where power is supplied to the first display region 1 and the display mode is set, that is, the liquid crystal display panel and the touch panel are on. FIG. 1B shows a state in which the supply of power to the first display area 1 is restricted or disconnected, and the standby mode (including power saving mode, sleep, standby, etc.) or the power-off mode is set. That is, the liquid crystal display panel is off and the touch panel is on, or the liquid crystal display panel and touch panel are off.

Regardless of whether the first display area 1 is in the display mode, the standby mode or the power-off mode, the second display area 2 always displays the display contents corresponding to each mode in the first display area 1 (sixty-four). Displayed during)

For example, when the first display area 1 is in the display mode, icons representing operation keys for the user to operate the display device 10 are displayed in the second display area 2 as shown in FIG. Has been.

More specifically, on the initial screen where the power of the first display area 1 is turned on, various operation keys for performing basic operations on the display device 10 are always displayed in the second display area 2. . As an example of various basic operation keys, as shown in FIG. 2, an operation key k1 (menu key) for calling an operation menu, an operation key k2 (home key) for calling an initial screen, and the current screen display are displayed on the previous screen. An operation key k3 (back key) for returning to the display, an operation key k4 (search key) for instructing a net search, and the like can be given.

When the user selects one of the menus called by the operation key k1 and the corresponding application is activated, the operation key always displayed in the second display area 2 is changed to an operation key dedicated to the application. Is done.

As described above, since the operation keys necessary for the user to operate the display device 10 can be continuously displayed in the second display area 2 with low power consumption, the operation keys are provided on the front surface of the housing 3. There is no need to provide it at all. This effect becomes prominent when the display device 10 is portable.

In the example of FIG. 1, the second display area 2 has an auxiliary role for the first display area 1, and the area of the second display area 2 is smaller than the area of the first display area 1. However, the present invention is not limited to this form. That is, the area of the second display region 2 may be equal to the area of the first display region 1 or may be larger than the area of the first display region 1.

For example, when a moving image is displayed in the first display area 1, explanatory text information or still image information related to the moving image may be continuously displayed in the second display area 2 for a long time. Accordingly, the user can deepen interest in the moving image or knowledge about the moving image by viewing the moving image displayed in the first display area 1 and the information displayed in the second display area 2 together.

By the way, the direction of each operation key displayed in the second display area 2 changes in conjunction with the usage state in which the long side of the display device 10 is in the vertical direction and the usage state in which the long side is in the horizontal direction. It has become.

That is, as shown in FIG. 1, in the use state in which the long side of the display device 10 is in the vertical direction, the second display area 2 is displayed so as to touch the lower end of the display screen, in other words, one short side of the display device 10. The display direction of each operation key also corresponds to the vertical direction.

On the other hand, although not shown, in the usage state in which the long side of the display device 10 is in the horizontal direction, the second display area 2 is displayed so as to be in contact with one short side as described above. Although the display position does not change, the display direction of each operation key changes so as to rotate 90 degrees corresponding to the horizontal direction. Thereby, the operativity of the display apparatus 10 improves.

(Display state example of the display device to OFF state 1 of the first display area)
FIG. 1B shows a state in which the first display area 1 is in the standby mode or the power-off mode. When the first display area 1 is in the standby mode or the power-off mode, the second display area 2 includes information that is desired to be displayed for a long time (for example, a document that takes a long time to read, an image that is desired to be viewed for a long time), or Information required by the user or useful information for the user can be displayed for a long time or constantly with low power consumption.

As specific examples of information required by the user or useful information to the user, as shown in FIG. 3, the remaining battery level display k5, the date and time display k6, the missed call display k7, the unread mail display k8, and the answering machine display k9, manner mode display k10, etc. continue to be displayed in the second display area 2.

In particular, when the display device 10 is portable, the user instructs the display device 10 to release the standby mode or the power-off mode in order to obtain information (for example, remaining battery level, missed call, current time, etc.) that the user wants to know. There is no need to input time into the display area, and it is sufficient to just look at the second display area 2. Therefore, the convenience of the display device 10 is improved.

Further, as described above, when the display device 10 is a stationary type, it is possible to provide a use form that is completely different from the intended use of the display device 10.

Further, the display device 10 is a portable type, and as shown in FIG. 1, the appearance of the housing 3 and the display screen as viewed from above in the vertical direction of the display screen is symmetrical with no distinction between left, right, and up and down. In the case of presenting, there is a more specific effect. That is, even if the first display area 1 is in the standby mode or the power-off mode, since some information is always displayed in the second display area 2, the display device 10 uses the always displayed information as a clue. The user can immediately determine the orientation suitable for the use of.

Thus, the present invention is a novel design of a portable display device that has not existed before, in which the appearance of the display screen in plan view from the upper side in the vertical direction exhibits a symmetrical shape that is indistinguishable from left to right and up and down. Can be provided.

(Display state example of the display device to OFF state 2 of the first display area)
Next, an example of a display method for changing the display contents of the second display area 2 by combining the liquid crystal display panel of the first display area 1 and the touch panel (touch sensor) on and off will be described below.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing display contents (first display contents) of the second display area 2 corresponding to a state where the display of the first display area 1 is off and the touch panel of the first display area 1 is on. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing display contents (second display contents) of the second display area 2 corresponding to a state in which the display of the first display area 1 is off and the touch panel of the first display area 1 is off. is there.

For the user, when the display of the first display area 1 is turned off, it cannot be visually identified whether the touch panel of the first display area 1 is on or off. In the standby mode of the display device 10, it is preferable that the display on the first display area 1 is turned off to save power, while the touch panel is turned on so that an input to the display device 10 can be received at any time.

Therefore, when the display of the first display area 1 is off and the touch panel of the first display area 1 is on, a user such as operation keys k1 to k4 is displayed on the second display area 2 as shown in FIG. It is preferable that an operation key for giving some instruction to 10 is mainly displayed.

On the other hand, when the display of the first display area 1 is off and the touch panel of the first display area 1 is off, there is no need to operate the display device 10 for a while. As shown in FIG. It is preferable that various displays k5 to k10 and the like are mainly displayed in the second display area 2 as necessary information or information useful to the user.

Thereby, the convenience of the display device 10 is further improved.

(Display state example of the display device to OFF state 3 of the first display area)
When the display of the first display area 1 is off and the touch panel of the first display area 1 is off, the information necessary for the user or useful information for the user may be always displayed in the second display area 2. This is one of the aims of the present invention.

Then, since the information required by the user or information useful to the user is diverse, it is preferable that the user can select the display content of the second display area 2 from a plurality of types of patterns rather than one type.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the display content of the second display area 2 is cyclically switched by a user instruction (toggle input) when the first display area 1 is off.

In the example shown in FIG. 4, a first pattern in which various displays k5 to k10 are displayed, and a second pattern in which the date / day of the date / time display k6 is changed to a pedometer / calorie consumption display k11, It is possible to alternately switch each time a user switching instruction is input.

Note that the present invention is not limited to this, and three or more patterns may be cyclically switched. For example, the three or more types of patterns may include an action schedule for the day, various memos to be confirmed on the day, and the like.

Thus, the display content of the second display area 2 is not limited to the default pattern, and can be changed to the display content required by the user. Display contents required by the user can be set by using the touch panel of the first display area 1 as input means, such as text directly input by the user, copied text, images acquired from the outside of the display device 10, and the like. The type of is arbitrary, and is always displayed according to the number of pixels and the definition of the second display area 2.

(Internal structure of display device)
An outline of the internal configuration of the display device 10 that realizes the display operation described above will be described below. The internal configuration of the display device 10 described below is merely an example, and can be changed to various combinations of other devices described above.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram schematically showing the internal configuration of the display device 10 shown in FIG. The display device 10 includes a first display unit 20 configured as an active matrix liquid crystal display device, and a second display unit 30 configured as a memory liquid crystal display device.

The first display unit 20 includes a first display panel 21 with a touch panel corresponding to the first display region 1 (hereinafter simply referred to as the first display panel 21), a display scanning signal line drive circuit 22, and a display data signal line drive. A circuit 23, a sensor scanning signal line drive circuit 24, a sensor readout circuit 25, and a first controller 28 including a display control unit 26 and a touch sensing unit 27 are provided.

The second display unit 30 includes a second display panel 31 with a touch panel corresponding to the second display area 2 (hereinafter simply referred to as the second display panel 31), a display controller 32, and a second controller including a touch sensing unit 33. 34 is provided.

In addition, the display device 10 includes a main controller 40 that comprehensively controls the first controller 28 and the second controller 34, and a memory unit 50 including ROM and RAM. Note that the first controller 28 may also serve as the main controller 40.

Each of the first display panel 21 and the second display panel 31 includes a plurality of gate lines G and a plurality of source lines S that intersect with each other, and pixels that are provided corresponding to the intersections of the gate lines G and the source lines S. And.

The display control unit 26 generates a data signal based on display data sent from the outside, and various control signals and clock signals for controlling the display scanning signal line drive circuit 22 and the display data signal line drive circuit 23. Is output.

The display scanning signal line drive circuit 22 sequentially outputs a scanning signal for selecting a pixel for writing a data signal to each gate line G. The display data signal line drive circuit 23 outputs a data signal to each source line S.

The touch sensing unit 27 outputs a timing signal for controlling the operation timing of the sensor scanning signal line driving circuit 24 to the sensor scanning signal line driving circuit 24, and based on the sensor output voltage read by the sensor reading circuit 25. The distribution of sensor detection results within the surface of one display panel 21 is analyzed.

The sensor scanning signal line driving circuit 24 sequentially drives the sensor scanning signal lines E by sequentially outputting scanning signals for operating the sensor circuits to the sensor scanning signal lines E. The sensor reading circuit 25 reads the sensor output voltage from each sensor output wiring V.

On the other hand, in the second display unit 30, the display control unit 32 and the touch sensing unit 33 directly control the display and touch sensing of the second display panel 31 without using a drive circuit. In the case of a method in which the display control unit 32 specifies the addresses of only the gate wiring and the source wiring that require data update and writes data to the memory circuit of the pixel specified by the address, There is no need to provide drive circuits such as the display scanning signal line drive circuit 22 and the display data signal line drive circuit 23.

In addition, as a position detection method of each touch panel of the first display unit 20 and the second display unit 30, an arbitrary method such as a capacitive coupling method, a resistance film method, or an optical sensor method can be selected.

(Configuration of pixels in the first display area)
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the configuration of one pixel constituting the first display region 1, and shows a typical pixel configuration of an active matrix type liquid crystal display device.

The data signal supplied to the source wiring Sn is written into the CS capacitor 52 and the liquid crystal capacitor 53 when the pixel transistor 51 is turned on / off. Display is performed by applying a voltage between the pixel electrode 54 and the common electrode Com to the liquid crystal.

In order to avoid the influence of the potential fluctuation of the pixel electrode 54 due to the leakage current of the pixel transistor 51, it is usually necessary to resupply the data signal to the pixel (rewrite the data) at a frequency of 60 Hz or the like. At the time of this data rewriting, the peripheral circuit for driving the gate line Gm and the source line Sn operates, and a charge / discharge current for the capacitances of the gate line Gm and the source line Sn and an operating current in the peripheral circuit are generated. Therefore, power is consumed.

(Configuration of Pixels in Second Display Area)
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the configuration of the memory built-in pixels constituting the second display area 2. A pixel area is formed corresponding to the intersection of the gate line Gj and the source line Si, and is selected by the gate line Gj, and data is written from the source line Si, and a polarity inversion function. A display voltage supply circuit 62 having the above is incorporated for each pixel.

Since the display voltage is supplied from the display voltage supply circuit 62 to the pixel electrode 63 according to the data stored in the memory circuit 61, the polarity inversion period of the liquid crystal is set to a low frequency of about 1 Hz, and the display quality is set. Can keep.

It is necessary to update the data in the memory circuit 61 by operating the peripheral circuit only when rewriting the display data. At this time, charge / discharge currents for the capacities of the gate line Gj and the source line Si and operating currents in the peripheral circuit are generated. However, when the display data need not be rewritten as in the case of a still image display, the display voltage is continuously supplied from the display voltage supply circuit 62 to the pixel electrode 63. Therefore, as in the pixel of the active matrix liquid crystal display device, There is no need to rewrite data at regular intervals.

Thereby, the power consumption of the memory liquid crystal display device can be made much smaller than that of the active matrix type liquid crystal display device.

(Supplement of the display method of the second display area)
Further, the second display panel 31 is configured as a reflective liquid crystal display panel that uses external light as a light source necessary for display, and in particular, by using a PNLC (Polymer Network Liquid Crystal) technology, a polarizing plate is not used. It is configured as a reflective liquid crystal display panel.

According to the PNLC technology, liquid crystal molecules are irregularly arranged when no voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer, and light incident on the second display panel 31 from the outside is scattered by the liquid crystal layer. can get.

On the other hand, when a voltage is applied to the liquid crystal layer, the liquid crystal molecules that are irregularly arranged are aligned vertically on the display screen, so that a transparent state is obtained. Thereby, the light incident on the second display panel 31 from the outside is transmitted through the liquid crystal layer and reflected by the reflecting plate, and a mirror display or a black display with a mirror feeling is obtained.

In this method, since no light loss is caused by the polarizing plate, a bright display having a reflectance of about 50% becomes possible. Accordingly, the second display area 2 can be displayed brighter and brighter as the outside light is brighter, and is therefore suitable for use as electronic paper in a bright field.

Note that the second display area 2 is not limited to a monochrome type that performs monochrome display, but may be configured as a color type that performs color display.

(Display content change operation 1 in the second display area)
The memory unit 50 displays in the second display area 2 display contents corresponding to the combination of turning on and off the liquid crystal display panel and touch panel of the first display area 1 or display contents corresponding to the type of application. Display data is stored.

The main controller 40 detects the on / off state of the liquid crystal display panel and the touch panel in the first display area 1 and transmits the detection result to the display control unit 32 of the second display unit 30. Alternatively, the main controller 40 grasps the activated application, grasps the result of the touch sensing unit 27 analyzing the operation content of the user via the first display panel 21, and transmits the result to the display control unit 32.

Thereby, the display control unit 32 reads the display content corresponding to the operation state of the first display area 1 from the memory unit 50 and displays it on the second display panel 31.

(Display content changing operation 2 in the second display area)
Next, an operation for changing the display content of the second display area 2 to the display content preferred by the user will be described. It is assumed that display contents (contents) that the user wants to display in the second display area 2 have already been stored in the memory unit 50 by the user's operation via the first display panel 21.

For example, when the user touches the operation key k1 shown in FIG. 2, a menu for selecting whether the display content of the second display area 2 is set to the default setting or the user setting is called. The called menu is displayed on the first display panel 21. When the user setting is selected, the display control unit 26 reads a list of display contents that can be displayed in the second display area 2 or a thumbnail image of the display contents from the memory unit 50, and displays it on the first display panel 21. indicate.

When the user selects one or more of the display contents list or thumbnail image displayed on the first display panel 21, the selection result is sent to the display control unit 32 via the touch sensing unit 27 and the main controller 40. Communicated.

As a result, the display control unit 32 reads out the data of the selected display content and displays it on the second display panel 31. In this way, the display content of the second display area 2 can be changed to the display content preferred by the user.

The following supplements the above display device of the present invention.

The display device of the present invention further includes a housing that surrounds the display screen, and no operation unit that accepts a contact operation is provided on a surface of the housing on the same side as the display screen. And

As a result, for example, even if the display device has a mobile phone function and a hole for transmitting / receiving is provided on the same side of the housing as the display screen, the operation described above is performed. By providing no part, it is possible to adopt a novel design that is vertically and horizontally symmetrical as the appearance of the display device.

The display device of the present invention further includes a housing that surrounds the display screen, and any functional unit including an input / output unit is not provided on a surface of the housing on the same side as the display screen. It is characterized by that.

In the above configuration, the “arbitrary function unit including the input / output unit” includes an input button (an input-only device) for the user to give some instruction to the display device, an audio input device such as a microphone, and an earphone jack. A voice output device, a USB connector or an input / output device such as an infrared communication unit.

Since no such functional units are provided on the same side of the housing as the display screen, the frame around the display screen can be reduced to the minimum necessary, and the display screen can be enlarged accordingly. Expand the possibilities of design.

The display device of the present invention is a portable display device, and the appearance of the display device viewed in plan from the upper side in the vertical direction of the display screen has a symmetrical shape with no distinction between left and right and up and down. .

According to the above configuration, when the appearance around the display screen is a symmetrical shape indistinguishable from left to right and up and down, the display device of Patent Document 1 described above has a display screen in the standby mode or the power-off mode. Since no information is displayed on the screen, the user cannot determine the orientation suitable for use of the portable display device from the appearance. That is, when the standby mode or the power-off mode is canceled, there is a possibility that the portable display device is held upside down.

On the other hand, in the present invention, it is possible to always display some information in the second display area even in the standby mode or the power-off mode. Therefore, the user can easily determine the direction suitable for the use of the portable display device by using the constantly displayed information as a clue.

The second display area in the display device of the present invention is characterized in that it is constituted by a reflective display panel that uses external light as a light source necessary for display.

According to the above configuration, since the second display area is configured by the reflective display panel, the display of the second display area can be easily seen even in a bright place. As a result, an effect peculiar to the present invention that information required by the user or information useful to the user can be always displayed with low power consumption is exhibited without being restricted by the place where the display device is used. The

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and examples, and various modifications are possible within the scope shown in the claims, and can be obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in the above-described embodiments. Other embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

The present invention can be applied to a portable or stationary display device.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 1st display area 2 2nd display area 3 Housing | casing 10 Display apparatus 21 1st display panel (1st display area)
31 Second display panel (second display area)
50 Memory unit (storage unit)

Claims

A first display area in which pixels that do not have the memory property to maintain the same display are two-dimensionally arranged;
A second display region in which the pixels having the memory property are two-dimensionally arranged;
The display device, wherein the first display area and the second display area are arranged on the same display screen.
A housing surrounding the display screen;
2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein no operation unit for receiving a contact operation is provided on a surface of the housing on the same side as the display screen.
A housing surrounding the display screen;
3. The display device according to claim 1, wherein any functional unit including an input / output unit is not provided on a surface of the housing on the same side as the display screen.
The display device is a portable display device,
4. The display device according to claim 1, wherein an appearance of the display device viewed in plan from the upper side in the vertical direction of the display screen has a symmetrical shape with no distinction between left and right and up and down. 5. .
5. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the second display area is configured by a reflective display panel that uses external light as a light source necessary for display. 6.