Display device

Abstract

To provide a display device with which it is possible to secure the thickness of a side wall and display a well-balanced design of numbers, etc.SOLUTION: A display device 1 comprises: a substrate 2 on which an LED 3 is disposed; a case 4 at one end of which the LED 3 is located, and in which a lamp chamber 4c for guiding light emitted from the LED 3 to the other end is formed; and a dial plate 5 which is disposed at the other end of the case 4. Edges 4a1, 4b1 of the case 4 which are in contact with the dial plate 5 are formed in shape of a circular arc in cross section projecting toward the dial plate 5.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a display device that displays a segment such as a seven-segment display. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Segment displays that are made up of seven segments that can be individually turned on or off to represent, for example, one Arabic numeral are known from the past (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] This type of segment display is not limited to use in home appliances, but is also used in various measuring instruments and vending machines, and it has also been proposed to use it in head-mounted displays for vehicles, as described in Patent Document 2. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-42273 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2008-116766 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The above-mentioned segment display has a case with an open bottom, and in the case, a light emitting element such as an LED (Light Emitting Diode) is arranged on the bottom surface of each segment, and a lamp chamber is formed as a space that guides the light from the light emitting element to the top surface. The lamp chamber is separated from the adjacent segments by a side wall (light shielding wall).

[0006] As in Patent Document 2, when a segment display is used in a head mounted display, the segment display is often made smaller. Naturally, making the segment display smaller also makes the case smaller. When the case is made smaller, the thickness (wall thickness) of the side walls separating the segments also becomes thinner, but if the wall thickness is too thin, molding becomes difficult. On the other hand, if emphasis is placed on ensuring the wall thickness, when numbers (letters) are displayed, there will be gaps between adjacent segments, which will cause an imbalance, and the display of numbers, etc. may become distorted.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a display device that ensures a sufficient thickness of the side wall and is capable of displaying designs such as numbers in a well-balanced manner. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The invention made to solve the above problem is a display device comprising a substrate on which a light-emitting element is provided, a case in which the light-emitting element is disposed at one end and a lamp chamber is formed which directs light emitted from the light-emitting element to the other end, and a dial disposed at the other end of the case, wherein the contact portion of the case with the dial is formed into a convex shape toward the dial. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, the contact portion of the case with the dial is formed in a convex shape (convex shape) toward the dial, so that the thickness of the side wall is ensured while allowing light to enter the convex portion, thereby achieving a balanced display. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention during display. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a front view of the display device shown in FIG. [Diagram 3] 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of the display device 1 shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of the display device 1 shown in FIG. 2. [Diagram 5] FIG. 3 is a top view of the case shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a modified example of the case. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a diagram of a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention during display. Fig. 2 is a front view of the display device shown in Fig. 1. Note that the following description will be given using a seven-segment display device, but is not limited to seven segments. It is sufficient that there are at least two or more segments, and that the two segments are arranged adjacent to each other with a relatively thin side wall, light-shielding wall, or the like in between.

[0012] As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the display device 1 is composed of seven segments. That is, it is composed of segments S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, and S7. These segments S1 to S7 are arranged to form the number eight as shown in the figures, so that numbers, alphabets, and other characters can be displayed. In addition, in the display device according to this embodiment, the ends of the side walls are formed in an arc shape as described later, so that the ends of the segments are displayed in a gradation pattern as shown in Fig. 1.

[0013] Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of the display device 1 shown in Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 3, the display device 1 includes a substrate 2, an LED 3, a case 4, and a dial 5.

[0014] The substrate 2 is formed with printed wiring for lighting the LEDs 3. Although Fig. 3 shows only one LED because it is a cross section of the segment S4, LEDs 3 are similarly arranged in the segments S1 to S7, and the substrate 2 is also formed with wiring so that each LED 3 can be independently lit.

[0015] The LED 3 is a light emitting element mounted on the surface of the substrate 2. The LED 3 is controlled to be turned on or off by the wiring described above.

[0016] The bottom and top of the case 4 are open. The LED 3 is disposed on the bottom (one end) of the case 4. The dial 5 is placed on the top (other end) so as to cover the opening of the case 4. The space surrounded by the LED 3 (substrate 2), the dial 5, and the side walls of the case 4 (indicated by symbols 4a and 4b in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 3) forms the lamp chamber 4c.

[0017] The lamp chamber 4c guides the light emitted from the LED 3 to the dial 5 (the other end). The lamp chamber 4c has side walls 4a and 4b that have a tapered cross section so that the width increases from the bottom to the top. The side walls 4a and 4b function as light-shielding walls that separate the adjacent segments.

[0018] In addition, the case 4 has an end 4a1 of the side wall 4a facing the dial 5 and an end 4b1 of the side wall 4b facing the dial 5, each of which is formed to have an arc-shaped cross section. In other words, the portion of the case 4 that comes into contact with the dial 5 is not flat but has a convex shape.

[0019] The dial 5 is placed on the case, and at positions corresponding to the segments S1 to S7, designs are formed in the shapes of the segments S1 to S7 as shown in Fig. 2. In other words, designs are formed in the shapes of the segments S1 to S7 shown in Fig. 1 that transmit light and emit light.

[0020] Fig. 4 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of the display device 1 shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken from a different direction (perpendicular to line AA) to Fig. 3. The view shown in Fig. 4 is basically the same as Fig. 3, but the side walls of the case 4 are designated by symbols 4d and 4e instead of 4a and 4b. This is because the direction of the cross section is different, as shown in Fig. 2. Therefore, the lamp chamber 4c is surrounded by side walls 4a, 4b, 4d, and 4e.

[0021] In addition, an end 4d1 of side wall 4d facing the dial 5 and an end 4e1 of side wall 4e facing the dial 5 are formed flat, i.e., not convex. This is because the side walls 4d and 4e do not have adjacent segments, and therefore do not have a thin wall thickness like the side walls 4a and 4b.

[0022] FIG. 5 shows a top view of the case 4. As is clear from the above description, the lamp chambers 4c are formed in the locations corresponding to the segments S1 to S7. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the lamp chambers 4c (segments S1 to S7) appear as holes from the top. The upper surfaces of the side walls that form the boundaries with the adjacent segments are formed in a convex shape (arcuate). That is, the case 4 has a plurality of lamp chambers 4c, and each of the plurality of lamp chambers 4c constitutes a segment.

[0023] 5, the boundary 41 between segments S1 and S4, the boundary 42 between segments S1 and S2, the boundary 43 between segments S2 and S6, the boundary 44 between segments S6 and S3, the boundary 45 between segments S3 and S7, the boundary 46 between segments S7 and S5, the boundary 47 between segments S5 and S6, and the boundary 48 between segments S6 and S4 are all convex. Therefore, the ends of the segments sandwiching these boundaries 41 to 48 appear to have a gradation on the display, and the pitch between the segments appears to be narrower than it actually is.

[0024] According to this embodiment, the display device 1 includes a substrate 2 on which an LED 3 is provided, a case 4 in which the LED 3 is disposed at one end and a lamp chamber 4c is formed for directing light emitted from the LED 3 to the other end, and a dial 5 disposed at the other end of the case 4. Ends 4a1 and 4b1, which are contact portions of the case 4 with the dial 5, are formed in a cross-sectional arc shape that is convex toward the dial 5.

[0025] By configuring the display device 1 as described above, the contact portion of the case 4 with the dial 5 is formed in a convex shape toward the dial 5, so that the longitudinal ends of the segments are extended in a gradational manner. Therefore, the pitch between adjacent segments appears narrower on the display without thinning the thickness of the side walls. Therefore, the display can be balanced by allowing light to enter the arc-shaped portion while ensuring the thickness of the side walls 4a, 4b.

[0026] In addition, because the convex shape has an arc-shaped cross section, it can make contact with the dial 5 along a line rather than a surface. Therefore, light enters the arc-shaped portion, so a display range wider than the width of the lamp chamber 4c can be ensured.

[0027] In addition, a plurality of lamp chambers 4c are formed in the case 4, and the plurality of lamp chambers 4c respectively constitute the segments S1 to S7. For example, in the segment S4, the cross-sectional shape of the ends 4a1, 4b1 of the side walls 4a, 4b of the lamp chamber 4c with the adjacent segment is formed in a convex shape, and the cross-sectional shape of the ends 4d1, 4e1 of the side walls 4d, 4e of the lamp chamber 4c with no adjacent segment is formed in a flat shape. In this way, the side walls with adjacent segments can be made convex, and the side walls with no adjacent segments can be made flat as in the past. Therefore, by forming a convex shape in the area where it is necessary to secure a wall thickness, the convex shape can be formed only in the necessary area.

[0028] In the above embodiment, the convex shape is an arc-shaped cross section, but it may be a triangular cross section as shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 6 shows the end 4a1 of the side wall 4a. The triangular cross section shown in Fig. 6 allows contact with the dial 5 by a line rather than a surface. Therefore, light enters the arc-shaped portion, and a display range wider than the width of the lamp chamber 4c can be secured.

[0029] Furthermore, the display device according to the above-described embodiment is suitable mainly for use as a display device for a head-mounted display (head-up display), but can also be used for displays other than a head-mounted display.

[0030] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment. That is, a person skilled in the art can implement the present invention by modifying it in various ways according to conventionally known knowledge without departing from the gist of the present invention. As long as the display device of the present invention is still provided with the configuration thereof even after such modification, it is of course included in the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 1 Display device 2. Board 3 LED (light emitting element) 4 Cases 4a side wall 4a1 End 4b side wall 4b1 End 4c light room 5 Dial S1~S7 segments

Claims

1. A substrate on which a light emitting element is provided; a case having a light chamber formed in one end of which the light emitting element is disposed and which guides light emitted from the light emitting element to the other end; a dial disposed at the other end of the case; Equipped with A display device, characterized in that a portion of the case that comes into contact with the dial is formed in a convex shape toward the dial.

2. The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the convex shape has an arc-shaped cross section.

3. The display device according to claim 1 , wherein the convex shape has a triangular cross section.

4. A plurality of the lamp chambers are formed in the case, Each of the plurality of lamp chambers constitutes a segment, In one of the segments, the cross-sectional shape of an end portion of the side wall of the lamp chamber where the adjacent segment is located and contacts the dial is formed in the convex shape, and the cross-sectional shape of an end portion of the side wall of the lamp chamber where the adjacent segment is not located and contacts the dial is formed in a flat shape.

4. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display device is a liquid crystal display.

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