JP2006038923A - Display device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a display device which allows an image to be viewed with free attitude and enables protection of a display section against shock from outside. <P>SOLUTION: The display device 1 comprises; a holding section 2 of a ring shape which is connected through a plurality of junction sections 4; a plurality of buffer sections 10 which are fixed to each junction section 4; and the display section 3 in which a corner section of a case 31 is connected to each buffer section 10. In the display device 1, the image displayed on the display section 3 can be viewed at a free angle while the grasp section 2 is grasped by fingers, and the shock from outside is absorbed by the buffer section 10, therefor the shock is hardly transmitted to the display section 3, so that the display section 3 is protected from a fault, damage and breakage. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a display device having a display unit for displaying an image, and more particularly, to a display device that allows an image to be viewed in a free posture and protects the display unit against an external impact.

  In recent years, flat panel PCs called tablet PCs (personal computers) have been developed. As this conventional tablet PC, for example, a tablet having an overall shape of a rectangular parallelepiped having a thickness of 10 mm or more and having an image display unit for displaying an image on one surface and an operation unit for performing various operations is known. ing. According to this conventional tablet PC, the user can view the image displayed on the image display unit by placing the tablet PC on the desk, holding it by hand, or placing it on the knee.

  However, since the tablet PC has a square monitor screen shape with a thickness of 10 mm or more, it is difficult to hold it for a long time with a hand and it is difficult to hold the document. There was a risk of damaging glass and the like.

Therefore, as a means for absorbing the impact on the PC, a shock-absorbing portion made of non-repulsive rubber is attached to the outside of the corner portion of the case for storing the PC so that the display / input portion of the stored PC can be seen. A storage case has been proposed in which a window is provided and a protective cover for protecting the window is attached so as to be openable and closable (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP-A-7-160366 ([0009], [0010], FIG. 1)

  However, since a conventional tablet PC has a rectangular parallelepiped housing, when viewing an image in a free posture, it is difficult to hold an image for a long time and hold the housing. There have been problems such as an excessive burden on fingers and dropping on the floor to break the glass of the display unit.

  In addition, according to a conventional PC, not only can it be protected unless it is stored in a dedicated storage case, but the volume that can absorb impact is a small area of the corner portion, and a notebook PC equipped with high-precision parts or It was insufficient to protect the tablet PC.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a display device that can view an image in a free posture and that can protect the display unit against an external impact.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a display unit that displays an image, a gripping unit that is provided outside the display unit, holds the display unit, and a buffer unit that absorbs an impact applied to the gripping unit. A display device is provided.

  According to the display device of the present invention, the grip portion can be easily grasped with fingers, and the display portion can be placed in an easy-to-read posture according to the display direction and the like. You can see the image. Furthermore, since the buffer portion absorbs the impact applied to the grip portion, the display portion can be protected from an external impact.

[First Embodiment]
1A and 1B show a display device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is a plan view and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.

  The display device 1 includes a grip portion 2 having a ring-shaped outer shape, a vertically long display portion 3 held inside the grip portion 2 via a plurality of joint portions 4, and a detachable attachment to the grip portion 2. The first operation unit 5 having a trackball 51 and a mouse button 52 for performing operations such as movement and selection of the cursor displayed on the display unit 3, and instructing page turning and scrolling of the document being browsed A second operation unit 6 having a cross-shaped key 61, a power switch 7 provided on the display unit 3, and a shock absorbing buffer unit 10 provided between the display unit 3 and the joint 4. In addition, the display device 1 includes a touch panel pen 8 for operating a touch panel 32 described later on the display unit 3.

  The grip portion 2 has a space in which a finger can be inserted between the grip portion 2 and the display portion 3, has an outer diameter (for example, a diameter of 30 mm) that can be easily gripped by the finger, and has a hollow cross-sectional shape for weight reduction. The structure is made of aluminum, resin, or the like, and is divided into four parts in order to facilitate the assembly of the joint part 4, and this is fitted into the joint part 4 and connected to one. Furthermore, a flexible layer made of rubber, urethane resin or the like having minute irregularities or porosity is formed on the surface of the grip portion 2. In the present embodiment, the first and second operation portions 5 and 6 are provided on the left and right sides of the grip portion 2, but may be provided on the top and bottom sides of the grip portion 2.

  The grip portion 2 is formed to be thicker than the display portion 3. That is, when the display device 1 is placed on a flat surface, the outer end surface of the display unit 3 is configured to be inward of the outer end surface of the grip unit 2 so that the display unit 3 does not contact the flat surface. Has been.

  The display unit 3 includes a housing 31 fixed to the grip unit 2 by the joint unit 4, a touch panel 32 that is held by the housing 31 as a coordinate input unit, an LCD 33 that displays an image, and image display control. A control board 35 serving as a control unit for performing the above-described operation, a fluorescent tube 36, and a screen unit 30 including a light guide plate 34 that guides light emitted from the fluorescent tube 36 and serves as a backlight of the LCD 33. Instead of the fluorescent tube 36, an LED (light emitting diode), EL (electroluminescence), or the like can be used.

  The control board 35 has a CPU for controlling the entire display device 1, a memory for storing images, and the like mounted on a printed board.

  The touch panel 32 is, for example, a resistance film type (pressure-sensitive type), and is formed by laminating a transparent electrode, a spacer, a transparent electrode on a glass surface, and a film on the uppermost surface. By pressing on the film with a finger or the touch panel pen 8, the two transparent electrodes are connected to each other, and the coordinates of the point are input so that various selections can be made.

  The touch panel 32 may use an electromagnetic induction method, an electrostatic coupling method, an ultrasonic surface acoustic wave method, an infrared light shielding method, or the like in addition to the resistive film method (pressure sensitive method).

(Buffer part)
In the connection between the display unit 3 and the grip unit 2 on the assumption that the display unit 3 moves due to inertia when the space between the display unit 3 and the grip unit 2 is positively utilized and receives an impact. It is connected via the buffer part 10 instead of a hard connection member. The buffer portion 10 is made of, for example, rubber, a spring, an elastic member such as a bag-like member in which a fluid such as gas or liquid is enclosed, a foamed member that absorbs an impact when deformed by an impact, a honeycomb structure, or the like A deformable member, a viscous member such as a shock absorber that absorbs an impact by viscous resistance, or the like can be used. These may be used alone or in combination of two or more. When these are combined, or alone, they fall within the range of elastic deformation, the shape after the impact has been restored will return to its original shape, and when the impact is large and reaches the range of plastic deformation, the impact will be reduced by deformation or destruction. It can be absorbed.

(Change of arrangement)
FIG. 2 shows an arrangement example of the display device 1. The display device 1 is configured such that the display unit 3 is arranged horizontally and the positions of the first and second operation units 5 and 6 can be changed as shown in FIG. In this case, the orientation of the image may be changed by operating the operation units 5 and 6.

(Operation of display device)
Next, the operation of the display device 1 will be described. First, when the user presses the power switch 7 while holding the grip portion 2 with both hands, the CPU of the control board 35 displays an initial image on the LCD 33. Next, when the user selects a necessary screen by operating the touch panel 32 or by operating the trackball 51 and the mouse button 52, the CPU displays the selected image on the LCD 33. Further, the CPU moves the displayed image in a desired direction by using the cross key 61.

(Shock absorbing operation)
When an impact is applied from the outside while operating the grip portion 2 of the display device 1 or when the display device 1 is dropped, the impact is applied to the grip portion 2. However, since the shock is absorbed by the buffer unit 10, the transmission to the display unit 3 is reduced. When the impact falls within the range of elastic deformation, the buffer portion 10 returns to its original state after the impact is settled. Further, when the applied impact is large and reaches the range of plastic deformation, the buffer portion 10 absorbs the impact by deformation or destruction. In addition, when the buffer part 10 deform | transforms or destroys, it replaces | exchanges for another buffer part 10 of the same specification.

(Effects of the first embodiment)
According to the first embodiment, the following effects are obtained.
(B) Since there is a gap in which a finger can be inserted between the grip portion 2 and the display portion 3, the vertical direction, the horizontal direction, the horizontal direction, the vertical direction, etc. according to the position where the user can easily read The position of the display unit can be freely changed, and even when the document is browsed for a long time, even if the display device 1 is held, it is difficult to get tired, so that the document can be browsed in a free posture.
(B) Since the shock absorber 10 is provided between the casing 31 and the joint 4 of the display unit 3, the shock from the circumferential direction can be absorbed by the shock absorber 10 from any direction. Even when the user slides down from the hand and drops onto the floor, or a large impact occurs during transportation, the display unit 3 can be protected from failure, damage, destruction, and the like.
(C) Since the outer end surface of the display unit 3 is configured on the inner side of the outer end surface of the grasping unit 2, even if the display unit 3 is placed on the flat surface, the display unit 3 does not touch the flat surface. Since it does not touch, it is hard to damage the display unit 3. Therefore, the display device 1 can be used for a long time.
(D) Since a flexible layer having minute irregularities and porosity is formed on the surface of the gripping part 2, the gripping part 2 can be gripped without slipping even when the user's gripping sweat occurs during use. In addition, since the flexible layer absorbs the impact, it can be further protected from the mechanical impact on the display unit 3.

[Second Embodiment]
3A and 3B show a display device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, where FIG. 3A is a plan view and FIG. 3B is a front view.

  The display device 1 has a configuration in which two circular gripping portions 2A and 2B having the same internal structure as the gripping portion 2 of the first embodiment are pivotally supported at two locations so as to intersect with each other, and a buffer The point which has the structure which used the spring member for each part 10 differs from 1st Embodiment, and the other structure is the same as that of 1st Embodiment. The first and second operation units 5 and 6, the power switch 7, and the touch panel pen 8 are not illustrated, but are installed in the same place as in the first embodiment.

  The grip portions 2A and 2B form concentric circles when viewed from the upper surface, have an X shape when viewed from the front, and are coupled to each other by a shaft 21 so as to be rotatable. Each intersecting portion of the gripping portions 2A and 2B has a concave portion 22 in which a predetermined range of the opposing surface is cut by about ½ in the thickness direction, so that the gripping portion 2A and the gripping portion 2B are concentric. It can be set as the structure assembled | attached so that it may overlap. Note that the number of the grip portions 2A and 2B is not limited to two, and may be three or more. By providing three or more, the protection of the display unit 3 can be further ensured.

  The shock absorber 10 is made of a metal spring or a metal spring 11 having one end engaged with the gripping portions 2A and 2B and the other end of the coil spring 11 attached to each corner portion of the housing 31. And a support 12. The support 12 is a separate part, but may be integrated with the display unit 3. Moreover, it is desirable to coat the coil spring 11 with a vinyl tube or the like in order to improve aesthetics and prevent finger pinching.

(Shock absorbing operation)
FIG. 4 shows the change of the gripping portions 2A and 2B in accordance with the applied impact state in the second embodiment. In the figure, (a) shows a normal state where the impact P is not applied, (b) shows a state when the impact P is applied from above and below, and (c) shows an impact P applied from the left and right directions. Indicates the state of the hour. Since FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram as an explanatory diagram, illustration of members other than the gripping portions 2A and 2B and the display portion 3 is omitted.

  When an impact is applied to either one of the grip portions 2A and 2B of the display device 1 from the vertical direction (the thickness direction of the display portion 3), the grip portions 2A and 2B are changed from the state shown in FIG. As shown, the vertical distance between the gripping portions 2A and 2B changes so that the gripping portions 2A and 2B try to rotate in the same direction as the direction in which the impact is applied, so that the X-shape is flattened. It changes to become. At this time, the respective coil springs 11 of the buffer portion 10 are compressed and absorb the impact applied to the grip portions 2A and 2B, so that the impact is hardly transmitted to the display portion 3.

  Next, when an impact is applied from the left and right direction (horizontal direction) of the grip portions 2A and 2B, the grip portions 2A and 2B are moved in the vertical direction as shown in FIG. It changes so that the interval becomes large, that is, changes so that the X-shape becomes vertically long. At this time, the respective coil springs 11 of the buffer portion 10 extend to absorb the shock applied to the grip portions 2A and 2B, so that the shock is hardly transmitted to the display portion 3 in this case as well.

(Effect of the second embodiment)
According to the second embodiment, when receiving an impact, the impact can be absorbed by changing the relative positions of the gripping portions 2A and 2B. In addition, since the grip portions 2A and 2B are assembled in an X shape so that they intersect, the distance between the periphery of the grip portion and the display portion 3 can be increased, so that an external object does not easily hit the display portion 3. The protection of the display unit 3 can be ensured. During normal use, when the gripping portions 2A and 2B are gripped with fingers, the state shown in FIG. 4B is obtained, so that the gripping portions 2A and 2B do not disturb the display unit 3. The display unit 3 can also be viewed by grasping one of the grips 2A or 2B.

[Third Embodiment]
5A and 5B show a display device according to a third embodiment of the present invention, where FIG. 5A is a plan view and FIG. 5B is a front view. In this embodiment, in the second embodiment, the gripping portions 2A and 2B are joined by the buffer portion 10 itself instead of the shaft 21, and the display portion 3 and one of the gripping portions 2A and 2B are joined. This is performed by the fixture 23 arranged at each corner portion of the casing 31, and the other configuration is the same as that of the second embodiment. In FIG. 5, members other than the grip portions 2A and 2B and the display portion 3 are not shown.

  The buffer part 10 is comprised by rubber | gum, such as column shape and prismatic shape, for example. The buffer 10 is fixed to the grips 2A and 2B by, for example, bonding with an adhesive.

  The fixing tool 23 is a band-shaped metal fitting or a synthetic resin part that joins each corner portion of the housing 31 and the grip portion 2A, and is fixed to the display portion 3 and the grip portions 2A and 2B by screws, adhesives, and the like. It is done using. Note that the fixture 23 may be attached to the grip portion 2B instead of the grip portion 2A. Further, the fixture 23 may have a shape other than a belt shape, or the whole or a part thereof may be constituted by an elastic member that absorbs an impact.

  The buffer portion 10 in the present embodiment has both the shaft that connects the grip portions 2A and 2B and the function of the buffer member. When an external impact is applied to one of the gripping portions 2A and 2B, the gripping portions 2A and 2B rotate so as to escape in the same direction as the direction in which the impact is applied, as shown in (b) or (c) of FIG. By doing so, the buffer part 10 is twisted, and the shock is almost absorbed by the buffer part 10. Furthermore, the impact force is also reduced by the bending of the fixture 23. As a result, even if an impact is applied to the gripping portions 2A and 2B from the outside, it is difficult to be transmitted to the display portion 3.

  According to the third embodiment, the same effect as that of the second embodiment can be obtained for the impact, and a simple configuration can be fixed to the coupling between the display unit 3 and the gripping units 2A and 2B. Since the tool 23 can be used, the support structure of the display unit 3 can be simplified.

[Fourth Embodiment]
6A and 6B show a display device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 6A is a plan view and FIG. 6B is a front view. In this embodiment, in the second or third embodiment, the grip portions 2A and 2B have different diameters, and are arranged coaxially, and the display portion 3 is disposed at an intermediate position between the grip portions 2A and 2B. The display unit 3 is coupled to the gripping units 2A and 2B by the buffer unit 10, and other configurations are the same as those of the second and third embodiments. In the present embodiment, the first and second operation units 5 and 6, the power switch 7, and the touch panel pen 8 are not shown.

  The grip portions 2A and 2B in the present embodiment are both formed into a single circle without a seam, and the grip portion 2B disposed inside is set to a diameter larger than the length of the diagonal line of the display portion 3, The part 2A has a larger diameter than the grip part 2B. The gripping portions 2A and 2B are arranged such that the gripping portion 2B is disposed on the lower side and the gripping portion 2A having a larger diameter is disposed on the upper side, but may be disposed upside down. Moreover, both may have the same diameter.

  The buffer portion 10 is made of a rubber or other elastic member processed into a rod shape, but may have a structure in which an elastic member such as a rubber or a spring is interposed in the middle or at the end of a rod-shaped metal fitting or resin product. Good.

(Shock absorbing operation)
FIG. 6C shows a state in which the gripping portion is changed by an impact from the vertical direction. The operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 6 and FIG. In FIG. 6B, when an impact is applied from the vertical direction of the gripping portions 2A and 2B, the gripping portions 2A and 2B have a small interval between the gripping portions 2A and 2B as shown in FIG. Change to absorb the shock. At this time, since the display unit 3 is indirectly attached to the gripping units 2A and 2B via the buffer unit 10, the shock from the grip units 2A and 2B is absorbed by the buffer unit 10 and the display unit 3 It is hardly transmitted.

  In addition, when an impact is applied from the horizontal direction (lateral direction), the impact is absorbed by the buffer portion 10 being bent at the same time as the impacted one of the gripping portions 2A and 2B is shifted in the left-right direction.

  According to the fourth embodiment, since the gripping portions 2A and 2B are coaxially arranged in the vertical direction at a predetermined interval, the display unit 3 is external to both the left and right and vertical directions. Since it can protect from an impact, the protection from a failure, damage, destruction, etc. can be improved rather than another Example.

[Other embodiments]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the combination of the components between the embodiments can be arbitrarily performed.

  In each of the embodiments, an acceleration sensor or a strain sensor (a piezoelectric element, a piezo element, etc.) that detects an impact applied to the grip portion 2 is installed on the grip portion 2 or the display portion 3, and usually there are a plurality of sensors. When the sensor detects an impact exceeding a certain level, the lock is released and a plurality of gripping parts or grips are held. The relative position of the display unit and the display unit may be changed. With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the gripping portions 2A and 2B from being deformed as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4C and FIG. 6B simply by moving the display device 1. It is possible to improve operability and usability. In addition, it is preferable to take measures such as turning off the display-related function when it is detected that a certain level of impact has been applied.

  In addition, the shape of the grips 2, 2 </ b> A, 2 </ b> B is not limited as long as the fingers can be inserted into the gaps and gripped with the fingers. For example, a rectangular shape, an arc shape, an L shape, a polygonal shape, an elliptical shape that touches the four corners of the display unit, or the like may be used.

  In addition to the LCD (liquid crystal display), the display unit 3 includes ELD (electroluminescence display), PDP (plasma display), VFD (fluorescent display tube display), LED (light emitting diode) display, and FED (field emission display). A flat display such as) may be used.

  In addition, various electronic paper technologies aiming at easy-to-view display such as paper and maintainability without power supply, such as EPID (electrophoretic display element), toner display, cholesteric liquid crystal display, ferroelectric liquid crystal display, ECD (electrochromic) Display), electrodeposition, Twisting Ball Display, and the like.

The display apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention is shown, (a) is a top view, (b) is sectional drawing which follows the AA line of (a). It is a top view which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of the display apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the display apparatus which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. In 2nd Embodiment, the state at the time of the normal time of a holding part and the state when an impact is added are shown, (a) is explanatory drawing which shows the state at the time of normal time without an impact, (b) is from an up-down direction. Explanatory drawing which shows the state to which the impact was applied, (c) is explanatory drawing which shows the state to which the impact was applied from the left-right direction. The display apparatus which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention is shown, (a) is a top view, (b) is a front view. The display apparatus which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention is shown, (a) is a top view, (b) is a front view (c) shows the state which the holding part changed by the impact from an up-down direction. It is a front view.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Display apparatus 2, 2A, 2B Grasp part 3 Display part 4 Joint part 5, 6 Operation part 7 Power switch 8 Touch-panel pen 10 Buffer part 11 Coil spring 12 Support tool 21 Axis 22 Recess 23 Fixing tool 30 Screen part 31 Case 32 Touch panel 34 Light guide plate 35 Control board 36 Fluorescent tube 51 Trackball 52 Mouse button 61 Cross key

Claims (19)

A display for displaying an image;
A gripping part that is provided outside the display part and holds the display part;
A display device, comprising: a buffer portion that absorbs an impact applied to the grip portion.   The display device according to claim 1, wherein the grip portion is provided so as to have the maximum dimensions of length, width, and height.   The display device according to claim 1, wherein the grip portion has a gap in which a finger can be inserted between the grip portion and the display portion.   The buffer section includes an elastic body that absorbs the impact by elastic deformation, a deformation member that absorbs the impact by plastic deformation, or a viscous resistance member that absorbs the impact by viscous resistance. Item 4. The display device according to Item 1. The grip portion has a ring shape, and holds the display portion so that the display portion is positioned at the center thereof.
The display device according to claim 1, wherein the buffer portion is provided between the display portion and the grip portion. The gripping portion is composed of a plurality of gripping portions provided so as to be relatively movable,
The display device according to claim 1, wherein the buffer unit is provided between the plurality of gripping units and the display unit. The gripping portion is composed of a plurality of gripping portions provided so as to be relatively movable,
The display device according to claim 1, wherein the buffer unit is provided between the plurality of gripping units. The gripping portion is composed of a plurality of gripping portions provided so as to be relatively movable,
The display device according to claim 1, wherein the buffer portion is provided between the grip portion and the display portion and between the plurality of grip portions. A lock portion for locking relative movement of the plurality of gripping portions;
A sensor for detecting an impact applied to the gripping part;
The display device according to claim 6, further comprising: a release unit that releases the lock by the lock unit based on an output of the sensor. The display unit has a rectangular shape,
The grip portion has a ring shape, and holds the display portion so that the display portion is positioned at the center thereof.
The display device according to claim 1, wherein the buffer portion is provided between a corner portion of the display portion and the grip portion.   The grip portion is thicker than the display portion, and is provided at a position where the display portion does not contact the flat surface when the grip portion is placed on the flat surface. The display device according to claim 10.   The gripping portion includes first and second gripping portions that are concentrically arranged and arranged so as to intersect with each other, and are pivotally supported by a pair of opposing intersecting portions so as to be rotatable with respect to each other. Item 4. The display device according to Item 1. The display unit has a rectangular shape,
The display device according to claim 12, wherein the buffer portion is disposed between a corner portion of the display portion and the first and second gripping portions.   The display device according to claim 12, wherein the buffer portion is disposed at the pair of intersecting portions and absorbs the impact by twisting.   The grip portion includes a ring-shaped first grip portion having an inner diameter larger than the outer shape of the display portion, and a ring-shaped second grip portion having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the first grip portion. The display device according to claim 1. The display unit has a rectangular shape,
The display device according to claim 15, wherein the buffer portion is provided between a corner portion of the display portion and the first and second gripping portions. The display unit has a rectangular shape,
The display device according to claim 15, wherein the buffer portion is provided between a corner portion of the display portion and the first gripping portion, and between the first and second gripping portions. . A sensor for detecting an impact applied to the gripping part;
The display device according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit that performs display control on the display unit based on an output of the sensor. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit includes a screen capable of inputting coordinates and displaying the image.