DE20006931U1 - Hybrid display unit - Google Patents

Description

Ultratronic GmbH

"Hybrid display unit"

P23499

Hybrid display unit

The invention relates to a hybrid display unit for a visual representation of, for example, products and advertising.

Display devices whose display image is/are made up of several individual images are known. There are large-screen devices that consist of several screens. In such devices, a digital video image is broken down into partial images in an image splitter according to an entered split program. These partial images are then assigned to the individual screens so that a mosaic-like overall image is created from the partial images, which corresponds to the input image. Also known are the picture-in-picture display type, in which different images are superimposed on one image on a screen, and the window technique, in which the display of screen devices is divided into several areas (windows) that can display different information simultaneously and independently of one another.

These display devices each contain the same display types and cannot display moving and still image components separately on suitable displays.

Due to their high image quality, flat design and the possible screen sizes, plasma displays are often used for visual product presentations and advertising.

The problem is that images or image sequences displayed in this application often contain components that change slowly or not at all (still image components). Such components can

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cause a burn-in effect on plasma displays, which significantly deteriorates the image quality over time.

The object underlying the invention is to further develop a display device with a plasma display in such a way that burn-in effects can be largely avoided, even if components are present which change slowly or not at all over time.

This problem is solved according to the features of claim 1.

According to the invention, a hybrid display unit is proposed which has a plasma display and at least one burn-resistant display unit which can be modified to display slowly moving or still image components. The plasma display and the at least one burn-resistant display unit are combined in such a way that a visually uniform surface is created for the viewer. This is achieved by covering the plasma display and the at least one burn-resistant display unit with a common (intensity-dampening) glass pane.

The glass pane can, for example, be a frosted glass pane or a gray filter pane, which makes the boundaries between the plasma display and at least one burn-resistant display unit invisible to the viewer.

The brightness of the plasma display and the at least one burn-resistant display unit are preferably coordinated with one another or regulated in the same way, which further enhances the visual impression of a uniform display surface. The brightness of the plasma display and the at least one burn-resistant display unit can therefore each be regulated.

The bridges between the plasma display and the at least one burn-resistant display unit are reduced to a minimum.

This arrangement makes it possible to protect the plasma display when displaying images or image sequences with still image components, while at the same time the various adjacent displays appear to the viewer as a single unit. At the same time, very large display areas can be created that appear uniform to the viewer.

Further features, advantages and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows a hybrid display unit according to the invention,

Figure 2 shows another variant
the hybrid display unit according to the invention with
an external control device, and

Figure 3 shows a side view of one of the
inventive hybrid display unit with
integrated control.

Large, flat plasma displays are usually used for the visual display of information at train stations or airports, product presentations, advertising, etc. They display predefined moving image sequences and components that change slowly or not at all over time, such as text and logos.

Figure 1 shows a hybrid display unit 1 according to the invention. The hybrid display unit 1 consists of a plasma display 2, on which preferably moving images and at least one adjacent burn-resistant display unit 3, on which preferably still information such as text and logos can be displayed. The plasma display 2 and the at least one adjacent burn-resistant display unit 3 represent an optical unit for the viewer.

This can be achieved, for example, by the following measures:

- The brightness of the plasma display 2 and the
at least one adjacent burn-proof
Display unit 3 are each
adjustable so that they can be coordinated
or can be set to the same brightness.

- The bars 10 (Figure 3) between the plasma display
2 and at least one adjacent
burn-resistant display unit 3, which represent black or dark dead areas, are reduced to a minimum. The bars are also deliberately
kept dark.

- The plasma display 2 and the at least one adjacent burn-resistant display unit 3 are covered by a common intensity-dampening glass pane 9 (Figure 3). The viewer is thus presented with a uniform front surface. This glass pane 9 can in particular be a frosted glass pane or a gray filter pane, which means that the dark bars 10 between the plasma display 2 and the at least one adjacent burn-resistant display unit 3 are essentially invisible to the viewer.

The control device 4 for the control and a further embodiment of the hybrid display I according to the invention are shown in Figure 2. The control device 4 contains a computer 5 as a central control unit in which the image information for the individual display types is processed and prepared. The information sources for the video sequences are an internal DVD drive 6 and an input 7 for the input of text and control information.

The plasma display 2 and the burn-in-resistant display unit 3 are each controlled by a graphics card 8, which is supplied by the control unit 5 with the separate signals for the moving and the still image components. Which information and images are shown on which display can be specified via the control input 7 (bus connection) or automatically according to a program of the control unit 5. The control device 4 is separated from the display unit 1 for location-independent operation and convenient maintenance.

In the embodiment according to Figure 3, the entire control electronics are integrated in the space behind the display unit. Such an integrated hybrid display unit 1 can be controlled, for example, via a bus 7 or via a remote control (not shown). This integrated hybrid display unit 1 can, for example, be mounted on the ceiling of a building. The bus connection also makes the hybrid display unit network-capable.

Burn-resistant LCD, LED and TFT displays are preferred for displaying the stationary components. Projections from the back of the hybrid display unit and backlit foils with image or text displays are also conceivable.

The shape and structure of the hybrid display can be designed as desired and is not limited to the variants shown in the description and illustrations.

Claims (5)

1. Hybrid display unit, comprising at least one plasma display ( 2 ) and at least one burn-in-resistant display unit ( 3 ), wherein the at least one plasma display ( 2 ) and the at least one burn-in-resistant display unit ( 3 ) are arranged to form a uniform display surface for the user and are covered on their side facing the user by a common intensity-damping glass plate ( 9 ). 2. Hybrid display unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the brightness of the at least one plasma display ( 2 ) and the at least one burn-in-insensitive display unit ( 3 ) can be coordinated with one another. 3. Hybrid display unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one plasma display ( 2 ) and the at least one burn-in-insensitive display unit ( 3 ) are connected to a common external or integrated control unit ( 5 ). 4. Hybrid display unit according to claim 3, characterized in that the control unit has a processor and a graphics card for each of the plasma displays or each burn-in-resistant display unit ( 3 ). 5. Hybrid display unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the glass pane is a frosted glass pane or a gray filter pane.