Input / output device

Abstract

To provide an input / output device for which a power source can be ensured without wiring from the outside and restrictions on implementable functions are few.SOLUTION: An input / output device 100 is disposed on a display screen and includes a solar panel 110 having a light reception surface facing the display screen, a power source circuit 112 that generates a working voltage using power obtained as a result of power generation in the solar panel 110, and an operation unit 114 and an operation detection unit 116 that perform an input / output work using the working voltage generated by the power source circuit 112.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an input / output device mounted on a display device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there has been known an input device that is arranged on a display with a touch panel and detects, when an operating unit made of a ring-shaped conductor is rotated, the rotational position of a conductive terminal unit that is linked to the operating unit by means of a touch panel (see, for example, Patent Document 1). By using this input device, it is possible to prevent non-contact and erroneous detection when detecting the rotational position of the operating unit. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2019 / 073542 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, an input device such as the input device disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 does not require wiring for power supply because it does not require external power supply, and is easy to install, but there is a problem that the functions that can be realized are limited. Also, since components such as semiconductors cannot be used, the degree of freedom in design is low. For example, in the case of the above-mentioned input device, a specific function is realized on the premise that the detection mechanism of the touch panel is used.

[0005] The present invention has been created in consideration of the above points, and its purpose is to provide an input / output device that can secure power without external wiring and has few restrictions on the functions that can be realized. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the input / output device of the present invention is an input / output device that is placed on a display screen and is characterized by comprising a solar panel having a light receiving surface facing the display screen, a power supply circuit that generates an operating voltage using electricity obtained by power generation by the solar panel, and an input / output means that performs input / output operations using the operating voltage generated by the power supply circuit.

[0007] The light from the display screen is used to generate power in the solar panel, and this generated power is used to generate the operating voltage, eliminating the need for wiring to supply power from outside the input / output device. Also, by securing a power source, it becomes possible to configure input / output means using circuits that include active components such as semiconductors, and a wide variety of input / output functions can be realized with fewer restrictions.

[0008] In addition, it is desirable that a backlight is provided behind the display screen, and the solar panel generates electricity using the light from the backlight shining through the display screen. This makes it possible to secure power by utilizing the light from the backlight used when displaying the screen.

[0009] In addition, the backlight described above can set the brightness for each of the multiple regions by local dimming, and it is desirable to maintain the maximum brightness in the region facing the solar panel. This allows the display screen as a whole to maintain an appropriate brightness according to the usage situation while maintaining the maximum power generation of the solar panel.

[0010] It is also preferable that the device further comprises a communication means for wirelessly transmitting or receiving information corresponding to the operation of the input / output means, which makes it possible to transmit and receive information required for the input / output operation of the input / output means to and from the outside without complex wiring.

[0011] In addition, it is preferable that the above-mentioned input / output means includes an operation means for receiving an operation by a user and an operation detection means for detecting the operation content using the operation means, so that the input / output means can be used as an input device such as a switch.

[0012] In addition, it is preferable that the above-mentioned input / output means includes a notification means for notifying the user by using sound or light, and an output processing means for setting the output contents of the sound or light. This makes it possible to notify the user by using sound or light. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an installation state of an input / output device according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an input / output device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the external shape of the input / output device. [Figure 4] 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the arrangement of main parts in the input / output device. FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an input / output device according to a modified example. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an input / output device according to a modified example. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the appearance of an input / output device according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] Hereinafter, an input / output device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an installation state of an input / output device 100 according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the input / output device 100 according to this embodiment is fixed in a state of being in close contact with a part of the surface (display screen) of a display device 210 of a terminal device 200. The display device 210 is a liquid crystal display device illuminated by a backlight 212 arranged on the back side. In this embodiment, the display device 210 is capable of separately setting the luminance of the backlight 212 for each of a plurality of regions by local dimming. In addition, the terminal device 200 is assumed to be a mobile terminal device such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal device, but does not have to be in the form of a mobile terminal device as long as it includes the display device 210 illuminated by the backlight 212. For example, the input / output device 100 may be attached to a display of a personal computer or a television receiver.

[0016] Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the input / output device 100 of this embodiment, and Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the external shape of the input / output device 100. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the layout of main parts inside the input / output device 100.

[0017] 2, the input / output device 100 of this embodiment includes a solar panel 110, a power supply circuit 112, an operation unit 114, an operation detection unit 116, and a communication unit 118. The input / output device 100 has, for example, a cylindrical appearance (FIG. 3), and its bottom is attached in close contact with a part of the display screen of the terminal device 200.

[0018] The solar panel 110 is disposed at the bottom of the cylindrical input / output device 100 such that its light receiving surface faces the display screen of the terminal device 200 (FIG. 4). The backlight 212 is set by local dimming so that the brightness of a partial region of the display screen of the terminal device 200 facing the solar panel 100 is maximized. In order to maximize the brightness of this partial region, the color of each pixel of the display screen corresponding to this partial region (color of the color filter) is set so as not to impede the transmission of light from the backlight 212. The power supply circuit 112 generates operating voltages for each component circuit included in the input / output device 100 using the power obtained by the power generation by the solar panel 110.

[0019] The operation unit 114 accepts operations by a user. In the example shown in Fig. 3, a disk-shaped rotating member 114A is used as the operation unit 114. The user can rotate this rotating member 114A by pressing the tip of a finger. Note that the rotating member 114A as the operation unit 114 is one example, and the specific implementation example is not limited to a specific one. For example, various switches, operating levers, operating knobs, etc. may be used as the operation unit 114.

[0020] The operation detection unit 116 detects the operation content of the user using the operation unit 114. When a rotating member 114A (FIG. 3) is used as the operation unit 114, the operation detection unit 116 detects the rotation direction and the rotation amount (rotation angle) of the rotating member 114A.

[0021] The communication unit 118 wirelessly transmits information corresponding to the operation of the operation unit 114 (such as the direction and amount of rotation detected by the operation detection unit 116) to an external receiving unit (not shown) that receives and processes this information. Possible wireless methods include Bluetooth (registered trademark) and wireless LAN. The receiving unit as the communication partner is provided in the terminal device 200, and the information received by the receiving unit is used for processing in a processing unit (not shown) also provided in the terminal device 200.

[0022] The above-mentioned operation unit 114 and operation detection unit 116 correspond to input / output means, the operation unit 114 corresponds to operation means, the operation detection unit 116 corresponds to operation detection means, and the communication unit 118 corresponds to communication means, respectively.

[0023] In this way, in the input / output device 100 of this embodiment, power is generated by the solar panel 110 using light from the display screen of the terminal device 200, and the operating voltage is generated by this generated power, so there is no need for wiring for power supply from outside the input / output device 100. Also, by securing a power source, it becomes possible to configure the operation unit 114 and the operation detection unit 116 using circuits including active components such as semiconductors, and it is possible to realize a wide variety of input / output functions with few restrictions.

[0024] Furthermore, a backlight 212 is disposed behind the display screen of the terminal device 200, and the solar panel 110 generates power by the light emitted by the backlight 212 through the display screen, making it possible to secure power by using the light from the backlight 212 that is generally used for screen display. In particular, by illuminating the display device 210 using a local dimming technique that allows the brightness to be set for each of a plurality of areas of the backlight 212, it is possible to maximize the brightness of the area corresponding to the solar panel 110 to maintain the maximum power generation of the solar panel 110, while maintaining an appropriate brightness for the rest of the display screen as a whole according to the usage situation (for example, by lowering the brightness to make the screen dark when the surroundings are dark).

[0025] Furthermore, by providing a communication unit 118 that wirelessly transmits information corresponding to the operation of the operation unit 114, it becomes possible to transmit necessary information to and from the outside without complex wiring.

[0026] The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention. In the above embodiment, each component circuit is operated with the operating voltage generated by the power supply circuit 112 using the power obtained by the power generation by the solar panel 110, but the output power of the power supply circuit 112 may be stored in the power storage unit 113, and the operating voltage obtained by this storage may be supplied to each component circuit. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the configuration of a modified input / output device using the power storage unit 113. This makes it possible to maintain stable operation as the input / output device 100A even when operating power larger than the power generated by the solar panel 110 is required. A secondary battery or a capacitor can be used as the power storage unit 113.

[0027] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the input / output device 100 is described as a device in which a user performs some operation, but the present invention can also be applied to an input / output device that notifies predetermined information by sound or light.

[0028] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the configuration of an input / output device of a modified example. As shown in FIG. 6, the input / output device 100B of the modified example includes a solar panel 110, a power supply circuit 112, a notification unit 114B, an output processing unit 116B, and a communication unit 118B. The solar panel 110 and the power supply circuit 112 are the same as those included in the input / output device 100 shown in FIG. 2, and generate power and an operating voltage by using them. The notification unit 114B notifies the user by using sound or light. For example, it is possible to use a buzzer or the like to sound, to light / blink a light-emitting diode, or to display characters or symbols on a liquid crystal display device. The output processing unit 116B sets the content of the sound or light to be notified (output timing, type of output sound, display content, etc.). The communication unit 118B wirelessly receives information to be notified from the outside. As with the communication unit 118, it is possible to use Bluetooth (registered trademark), wireless LAN, or the like as a wireless method. There is no particular restriction on the information to be received. For example, information indicating the operation state of the terminal device 200 (operating / standby, presence or absence of an abnormality, etc.) is transmitted from a transmitting unit (not shown) in the terminal device 200 and received by the communication unit 118B. The output processing unit 116B sets the notification content of sound or light based on the received information, and notification is performed using the notification unit 114B.

[0029] Moreover, the functions (operation and notification) of both the input / output device 100 and the input / output device 100B described above may be provided.

[0030] Fig. 7 is a diagram showing the external appearance of an input / output device of a modified example. The input / output device 100B shown in Fig. 7 includes, as operation units, a down button 10A for instructing to decrease the volume, an up button 10B for instructing to increase the volume, and an LED indicator 10C for indicating the volume during music playback. When the down button 10A or the up button 10B is pressed, the operation content is transmitted from the communication unit 118 (Fig. 2), and when the communication unit 118A (Fig. 5) receives volume information required to light the indicator 10C, the output processing unit 116A lights up the required part of the indicator 10C (notification unit 114A). [Industrial Applicability]

[0031] As described above, according to the present invention, the operating voltage is generated by the power generated by the solar panel obtained by using the light from the display screen, so there is no need for wiring for power supply from outside the input / output device. Also, by securing the power source, it is possible to configure input / output means using circuits including active components such as semiconductors, and a wide variety of input / output functions with fewer restrictions can be realized. [Explanation of symbols]

[0032] 100, 100A, 100B I / O Units 110 Solar Panels 112 Power supply circuit 113 Power storage unit 114 Operation section 114A Rotating member 114A Notification Department 116 Operation detector 116B Output Processing Section 118, 118B Communication Department 200 Terminal Equipment 210 Display device 212 Backlight

Claims

1. An input / output device arranged on a display screen, a solar panel having a light receiving surface facing the display screen; a power supply circuit that generates an operating voltage using the power obtained by the power generation by the solar panel; an input / output unit that performs input / output operations using an operating voltage generated by the power supply circuit; An input / output device comprising:

2. A backlight is disposed behind the display screen, 2. The input / output device according to claim 1, wherein the solar panel generates power by irradiation of the backlight through the display screen.

3. the backlight is capable of setting the luminance for each of a plurality of regions by local dimming; 3. The input / output device according to claim 2, wherein the area facing the solar panel is maintained at maximum brightness.

4. 2. The input / output device according to claim 1, further comprising a communication means for wirelessly transmitting or receiving information corresponding to the operation of said input / output means.

5. 2. The input / output device according to claim 1, wherein the input / output means includes an operation means for accepting an operation by a user, and an operation detection means for detecting the content of the operation performed using the operation means.

6. 2. The input / output device according to claim 1, wherein said input / output means includes a notification means for notifying a user by using sound or light, and an output processing means for setting the output contents of said sound or light.

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