Display unit

Abstract

To provide a display unit which can be easily installed and transported.SOLUTION: The display unit 10 includes a flexible display panel 11 having a display region 13 capable of displaying an image of a size extending over a plurality of game machines provided in an island and a non-display region 14 not displaying the image, a flexible cover sheet 12 covering a front surface side of the display panel 11, and a wiring protection member 20 attached to the non-display region 14 and having a wiring passage 21 capable of accommodating a wiring 19 of the display panel 11.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a display unit. [Background technology]

[0002] It is known that display panels are installed on the floor or walls of an amusement park or the like to provide island-by-island effects and notifications according to the playing status of each gaming machine. One such system involves installing a frame on the floor of a building, placing a translucent plate on the frame, and placing a light source in a light source storage space surrounded by the building floor, the frame, and the translucent plate, and controlling the flashing of the light source using a control device (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Furthermore, there are also those that perform presentation processing to enable the number of balls dispensed from a plurality of gaming machines to be distinguished by using floor lighting units laid in the passages between island facilities in gaming parlors and the like (for example, see Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-210824 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-37615 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] For display panels such as those exemplified above, when images, etc. are displayed on a large display area spanning multiple gaming machines installed on an island, the workload and costs of fixing many display panels to the floor one by one increases, as does the workload and costs of protecting and managing the wiring, etc. On the other hand, if a single display panel is enlarged to reduce the workload of installation, etc., this increases the workload of transportation work during delivery, and places where the display panel can be installed become limited.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a display unit that can be easily installed and transported. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The display unit of the present invention is characterized by comprising a flexible display panel having a display area capable of displaying an image large enough to span multiple gaming machines arranged on an island, and a non-display area in which the image is not displayed, a flexible covering sheet covering the front side of the display panel, and a wiring protection member attached to the non-display area and having a wiring passage capable of accommodating the wiring of the display panel. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, a single display panel can display an image on its display area large enough to span multiple gaming machines installed on an island. Furthermore, by storing the display panel's wiring in a wiring passage, the labor and cost of fixing multiple display panels to the floor one by one, as in the past, and the labor and cost of protecting and managing the wiring of multiple display panels can be reduced, thereby facilitating installation of the display panel. Furthermore, even in display units with large display areas, the display panel and covering sheet are flexible, so that, for example, the display unit can be bent for transportation, reducing the burden of transportation and allowing the display unit to be installed in a variety of locations. Therefore, the use of the display unit of the present invention has the effect of facilitating installation and transportation. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a display unit according to Example 1, in which a plurality of display units are connected and installed on the floor of a passageway in a game arcade. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the display unit. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a display unit. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing an enlarged portion of the display unit. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing the display unit, taken at the position of a wire protection member. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing the display unit, taken at the position of the ejection portion. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an electrical block diagram showing a display system. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display unit according to a second embodiment, installed on a staircase. [Figure 9] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating a display unit according to a third embodiment, in which the orientation of a panel sheet is changed. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display unit according to a fourth embodiment, in which adjacent panel sheets are oriented in opposite directions by a hinge portion. [Figure 11] 13 is a diagram showing a display unit according to a fifth embodiment, illustrating a state in which a panel sheet is pressed by a person. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown below. [1] The display unit of the present invention comprises a flexible display panel having a display area capable of displaying an image spanning multiple gaming machines installed on an island and a non-display area in which the image is not displayed; a flexible cover sheet covering the front side of the display panel; and a wiring protection member attached to the non-display area and having a wiring passageway capable of accommodating the wiring of the display panel. This allows a single display panel to display an image spanning multiple gaming machines installed on an island in the display area. Furthermore, by accommodating the display panel's wiring in the wiring passageway, the labor and cost of fixing multiple display panels to the floor one by one, as well as the labor and cost of protecting and routing the wiring of multiple display panels, can be reduced, thereby facilitating installation of the display panel. Furthermore, even in display units with large display areas, the display panel and cover sheet are flexible, so that the display unit can be transported while being bent, reducing the burden of transportation and allowing the display unit to be installed in a variety of locations. Therefore, the use of the display unit of the present invention has the effect of facilitating installation and transportation. [2] In the display unit described in [1] above, the wiring protection member may be attached to one of the outer edges of the display panel, and the wiring may be provided on the side of the one edge. This has the effect of reducing the risk of damage to the display panel wiring when the display unit is installed on the floor, since it reduces the chance of the display panel wiring being stepped on by a player passing by the floor compared to when the wiring is arranged on two or more edge sides of the display panel. [3] In the display unit described in [2] above, the wiring protection member may have a first member on the front side of the wiring and extending along the edge of the first member, and a second member on the back side of the wiring and extending along the edge of the first member, and the wiring passage is formed by fitting the first member and the second member together. This has the effect of facilitating the manufacture of the display unit, since the wiring of the display panel can be easily accommodated in the wiring passage by fitting the first member into the second member after arranging the wiring of the display panel on the front side of the second member. [4] In the display unit described in any one of [1] to [3] above, the display panel may have a flexible base sheet and multiple panel sheets fixed to the base sheet, the wiring may be provided for each panel sheet, and the wiring protection member may be configured to collectively accommodate the wiring of each of the multiple panel sheets. This reduces the manufacturing cost of the display panel compared to when a large display area is formed using a single large panel sheet. Furthermore, this reduces the workload and cost associated with protecting and routing the wiring provided for each panel sheet, thereby facilitating the installation of the display unit. [5] In the display unit described in [4] above, the wiring protection member may include a single discharge section configured to enable the wiring of the plurality of panel sheets to be discharged together to the display control section side. This allows the wiring of the plurality of panel sheets to be connected together to the display control section, thereby reducing the workload and costs associated with routing the wiring provided for each panel sheet, and thus facilitating the installation of the display unit.

[0011] Example 1 An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a plurality of display units 10 are connected and installed on the floor of a passageway in an amusement facility. As shown in FIG. 1, the display units 10 in this embodiment are configured to be able to display various images for purposes such as advertising, information guidance, spatial presentation, etc. The images can be displayed in full color and include still images, moving images, and videos. The display units 10 are configured to be able to be installed on the floor or wall of a building. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the display units 10 are connected and arranged side by side in the direction of the passageway in an amusement facility such as a pachinko parlor, formed between a chair 101 provided for each gaming machine installed on one gaming island and a chair 101 provided for each gaming machine installed on another gaming island. In this way, by configuring a plurality of display units 10 (for example, up to 10) to be connectable and configuring the connected plurality of display units 10 to be able to display a series of images, it is possible to improve the customizability of the installation location while displaying a series of impressive images and a lot of information at the installation location, thereby realizing improved customizability in installation and improved information transmission that makes effective use of the installation location.

[0012] Here, each component of the display unit 10 will be described with reference to Figures 2 and 3. Figure 2 is a front view of the display unit 10, and Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the display unit 10. The display unit 10 is composed of at least a display panel 11, a covering sheet 12, and a wiring protection member 20. The display panel 11 is also composed of at least eight panel sheets 16 and a base sheet 15 on which the eight panel sheets 16 are placed.

[0013] For ease of explanation, the following description of each component will refer to the side on which the wiring protection member 20 is provided as the upper side, the side on which the covering sheet 12 is provided as the front side, and the right side and left side when viewing the display unit 10 from the front side with the wiring protection member 20 facing upward as the right side and the left side, respectively.

[0014] In addition, in each drawing, the positive direction of the X axis indicates upward, the negative direction of the X axis indicates downward, the positive direction of the Y axis indicates the front, the negative direction of the Y axis indicates the back, the positive direction of the Z axis indicates the right, and the negative direction of the Z axis indicates the left. Note that the up-down (X axis) direction, the front-back (Y axis) direction, and the left-right (Z axis) direction do not indicate the positional relationship or direction in actual use. The up-down and left-right directions merely indicate two orthogonal directions along the surface of the display unit 10. In each drawing, for the convenience of explanation, some of the configuration may be exaggerated or simplified. Furthermore, the dimensional ratios of each part may differ from the actual ones.

[0015] The display unit 10 as a whole has a substantially rectangular sheet shape with the long side in the Z-axis direction. The left-right dimension of one display unit 10 is configured to be larger than the width of two gaming machines lined up in the left-right direction. Specifically, if the width of one gaming machine is 522 millimeters (hereinafter, "millimeters" will be abbreviated as "mm"), the width of two gaming machines is 1,044 mm, so the left-right dimension of one display unit 10 is configured to be 1,044 mm or more (see FIG. 1). The vertical dimension of the display unit 10 is configured to match the width of the aisle. For example, if chairs 101 are placed on both sides of the aisle, the display unit 10 may be configured to a dimension that allows it to be installed between the chairs 101 (e.g., approximately 990 mm). If the aisle is only wide enough for one person to pass, the display unit 10 may be configured to a dimension equivalent to the width of a person. Furthermore, if the aisle is wide enough to allow multiple people to pass each other, the display unit 10 may be configured to match that width.

[0016] Display panel 11 has a plurality of light-emitting elements (not shown, light-emitting diodes, hereinafter referred to as "LEDs") arranged in a matrix, and is formed with a display area 13 (see the shaded area in FIG. 2) formed by an area where an image can be displayed by each LED, and a non-display area 14 formed by an area where the image cannot be displayed, and where a drive circuit and a driver IC, which will be described later, are arranged. Display area 13 occupies most of display panel 11 and is rectangular in shape extending in the left-right direction as a whole.

[0017] The horizontal dimension of the display area 13 is large enough to span the multiple gaming machines installed on the island, and the display area 13 is configured to be able to display a series of images of that size.

[0018] As described above, a plurality of LEDs (not shown) (each measuring 2.1 mm in the X-axis direction and 2.1 mm in the Z-axis direction) are arranged in a matrix (for example, 160 LEDs in the X-axis direction and 32 LEDs in the Z-axis direction, for a total of 5,120 LEDs) in the display area 13 of one panel sheet 16. The LEDs are spaced apart from one another in the X-axis direction and the Z-axis direction (5 mm intervals in the X-axis direction and 4.75 mm intervals in the Z-axis direction), and are configured to be able to display full-color images using a so-called dot matrix method.

[0019] The non-display area 14 is formed on the left edge, right edge, lower edge, and upper edge (first edge) of each panel sheet 16. The non-display area 14 is strip-shaped and is formed along the left edge, right edge, lower edge, and upper edge of each panel sheet 16. The upper edge of each panel sheet 16 is sandwiched by a wiring protection member 20. The non-display area 14 of each panel sheet 16 is small compared to the entire display area 13, so the effect of the non-display area 14 on the image displayed in the entire display area 13 is limited.

[0020] The cover sheet 12 has a rectangular shape that is the same as or approximately the same as the display panel 11, and covers the entire front surface of the display panel 11. The cover sheet 12 is made of a material that transmits visible light and has flexibility and suppleness (for example, a transparent vinyl chloride sheet). The cover sheet 12 has a thickness of 5 mm. The cover sheet 12 may also be made of another transparent resin material (for example, a soft polyethylene sheet).

[0021] As described above, the display panel 11 is composed of one base sheet 15 and eight panel sheets 16. Both the base sheet 15 and the panel sheets 16 are flexible. This makes the entire display panel 11 flexible, allowing it to be folded at any position or rolled in any direction.

[0022] The base sheet 15 has a rectangular shape that is the same as or approximately the same as the display panel 11 and the covering sheet 12, and covers the entire underside of the wiring protection member 20 and the entire underside of the panel sheet 16. An extension 17 that partially extends upward is provided on the upper edge of the base sheet 15. The extension 17 is located approximately in the center of the base sheet 15 in the left-right direction. A discharge section 33, which will be described later, is located on the front side of the extension 17.

[0023] The base sheet 15 is made of an elastic material (e.g., rubber), and is made of, for example, a black material that blocks visible light. The thickness of the base sheet 15 is smaller than the thickness of the cover sheet 12 and the thickness of the panel sheet 16. The base sheet 15 may also be made of another elastic resin sheet.

[0024] The panel sheets 16 (8) are arranged in a row in the left-right direction on the front side of the base sheet 15, and are individually fixed to the surface of the base sheet 15 with double-sided tape or the like.

[0025] Each panel sheet 16 is provided with a number of LEDs, a panel base 18, and wiring 19 for lighting the LEDs. Each panel sheet 16 is made waterproof by applying a sealant or the like.

[0026] The panel base 18 has a substantially rectangular shape, and is disposed with its longitudinal direction facing up and down and its short side facing left and right. The long sides of adjacent panel bases 18 are disposed so as to contact each other when the panel sheet 16 is fixed to the base sheet 15 (see FIG. 2). The panel base 18 is flexible and can be bent in any direction, so that the panel base 18 itself can be rolled up and down or left and right, for example. The panel base 18 is, for example, black and is made of a material that blocks visible light. The thickness of the panel base 18 is desirably as thin as possible, for example, 1.7 mm.

[0027] The panel base 18 includes a flexible substrate and is equipped with drive circuits (scanning line drive circuit, signal line drive circuit, etc.) for driving the LEDs, a driver IC (Integrated Circuit) for controlling the operation of the LEDs, etc. The LEDs are arranged in an area excluding the outer periphery of the panel base 18, and a drive circuit is formed around the periphery of this area.

[0028] The driver IC is disposed on the outer edge of the front side of the panel base 18 and controls a large number of LEDs disposed over almost the entire surface of the panel base 18. As a result, the LEDs, drive circuit, and driver IC are disposed on the front surface of the panel base 18, while the back surface of the panel base 18 is flat. By providing the drive circuit and driver IC on the outer edge of the front side of the panel base 18 in this way, the panel sheet 16 is made thin and highly flexible at the same time. The front side of the driver IC is covered with a black covering tape (not shown) that is the same color as the panel base 18. The covering tape appears to blend in and be integrated with the panel base 18. The outer edge of the panel base 18 frames the image displayed on the panel sheet 16.

[0029] In this way, even if the display unit 10 is large enough to span the width dimensions of multiple gaming machines, by constructing it using a flexible display panel 11 (panel sheet 16), covering sheet 12, and base sheet 15, the display unit 10 itself can be made thin, and it can be easily delivered and installed without any construction work on the floor, etc., thereby reducing transportation costs and construction costs.

[0030] 2, the wiring 19 extends from the corners of the upper edge of each panel base 18. The wiring 19 includes a power cable connected to a power supply device 42 (described later) and a LAN cable connected to a control device 41 (described later), and constitutes a power supply line and a data signal line to the display panel 11. The wiring 19 is configured to communicate with a wiring passage 21 formed inside the wiring protection member 20, extends along the upper edge of the panel sheet 16, and is gathered in an outlet portion 33. The wiring protection member 20 is formed to a size that can accommodate all of the wiring 19 of the eight panel sheets 16 inside.

[0031] 5, the wire protection member 20 is attached to the upper edge of the display panel 11 by clamping the upper edge of the panel sheet 16 that constitutes the display panel 11. The wire protection member 20 has a flat shape.

[0032] The wire protection member 20 is formed from a metal plate material. Therefore, while forming the wire protection member 20 from a resin material requires a mold, forming the wire protection member 20 from a metal plate material eliminates the need for a mold, thereby reducing manufacturing costs. Furthermore, since the wire protection member 20 formed from a metal plate material has high rigidity, it is less likely to deform even if stepped on by a person when the display unit 10 is installed on the floor. By connecting the wires to the wire passage 21 inside the wire protection member 20, the wires 19 themselves are protected, making them less likely to be stepped on by a person and reducing the risk of wire breakage.

[0033] Returning to Figure 3, the explanation will continue. The wiring protection member 20 is formed by fitting together a first member 22 and a second member 23. Both the first member 22 and the second member 23 have a shape that is long in the left-right direction. The first member 22 and the second member 23 are each divided at the center of the display unit 10 in the left-right direction. The first member 22 is arranged on the front side of the wiring 19. The second member 23 is arranged on the back side of the wiring 19. The first member 22 is placed over the second member 23 and fixed by a fixing member S (see Figure 4). A plate 38 and a cap 39 are attached to the right end of the wiring protection member 20.

[0034] The first member 22 has a sloped portion 24 (see FIG. 5). The sloped portion 24 is gently inclined from the center toward the outer edge of the display unit 10 toward the rear. The sloped portion 24 is formed over the entire length of the first member 22 in the left-right direction (see FIG. 3).

[0035] The second member 23 is placed on the surface of the base sheet 15 (see FIGS. 4 and 5). The second member 23 has a bottom surface 25, a pair of side surfaces 26, and a pair of protruding portions 27. The pair of side surfaces 26 rise vertically from the bottom surface 25 to the front side. An introduction portion 36 is formed in the lower side surface 26 for introducing the wires 19 into the wire passage 21 (see FIG. 4).

[0036] The pair of protruding portions 27 are parallel to the bottom surface portion 25 and protrude toward each other from the front ends of the side surface portions 26 (see FIGS. 4 and 5). An open portion 28 is formed between the pair of protruding portions 27, allowing the wiring 19 to be freely inserted and removed. The open portion 28 is closed by the first member 22. The bottom surface portion 25, the pair of side surface portions 26, and the first member 22 surround the wiring passage 21. The wiring passage 21 extends in the left-right direction along the upper edge of the display panel 11.

[0037] The wiring protection member 20 has a clamping portion 29 that clamps the upper edges of the covering sheet 12 and the panel sheet 16 (see FIGS. 4 and 5). The clamping portion 29 is composed of a front surface portion 31 provided on the first member 22 and a back surface portion 32 provided on the second member 23. The covering sheet 12 and the panel base 18 are in close contact between the front surface portion 31 and the back surface portion 32. A gap is formed between the covering sheet 12 and the panel base 18 in the region other than the area between the front surface portion 31 and the back surface portion 32.

[0038] The wiring protection member 20 has an outlet portion 33 (see FIG. 2). The outlet portion 33 protrudes upward at the center position in the left-right direction of the wiring protection member 20. The outlet portion 33 is configured to collect the wiring 19 extending from each panel sheet 16 and to be able to collectively discharge the wiring 19 toward the display control unit 44.

[0039] The discharge portion 33 is formed by fitting together a first discharge member 34 and a second discharge member 35 (see FIG. 4). The first discharge member 34 is disposed on the front side of the wiring 19. The second discharge member 35 is disposed on the back side of the wiring 19. The first discharge member 34 has an inclined portion 37 that is continuous with the slope portion 24 of the first member 22. The inclined portion 37 is formed on both the left and right sides of the first discharge member 34.

[0040] 6, the internal space 33S of the ejection section 33 communicates with the wiring passage 21 and opens upward. The first ejection member 34 is disposed on the front side of the first member 22, and the lower end of the first ejection member 34 is placed on the first member 22. The second ejection member 35 is placed on the surface of the extension section 17 of the base sheet 15 (see FIG. 4). The thickness of the display unit 10 including the base sheet 15 at the position of the ejection section 33 is 12 mm.

[0041] Next, a configuration example of a display system 40 using the display unit 10 will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a schematic electrical block diagram showing the display system 40. The display system 40 has at least the display unit 10, a control device 41, and a power supply device 42.

[0042] The power supply device 42 includes an AC adapter. The AC adapter may be placed in the internal space 33S of the exhaust section 33. The AC adapter supplies power to each panel sheet 16 via a power cable included in the wiring 19. This allows batteries and other components to be removed from the display unit 10, making it possible to provide a cheaper, lighter, and more flexible display unit 10. The power supply device 42 may include a DC / DC converter between the AC adapter and the display unit 10. The DC / DC converter converts the voltage of the power input and output to and from each display unit 10.

[0043] The control device 41 collectively manages the eight panel sheets 16 and controls the display of the display area 13. The control device 41 can display different images individually on the eight panel sheets 16. The control device 41 can display a single image made up of eight divided images in the entire display area 13 by displaying an image divided on the eight display units 10. Furthermore, when a plurality of display units 10 are connected, the control device 41 is configured to be able to display and control the display content of all of the connected display units 10.

[0044] The control device 41 has a management unit 43, a display control unit 44, and a receiving unit 45. The management unit 43 is, for example, a PC (desktop PC, notebook PC, etc.), a smartphone, a tablet terminal, etc. used by the user. The user operates the management unit 43 to edit image data to be displayed in the series of display areas 13 composed of eight panel sheets 16, create programs to display images, send image data and display programs, etc. The management unit 43 may be portable so that the user can carry it with them, or may be stationary. The management unit 43 may have a general-purpose configuration. User convenience can be improved by installing an application dedicated to the display unit 10 in the management unit 43.

[0045] The display control unit 44 is equipped with a memory. The display control unit 44 receives image data, display programs, etc. transmitted from the management unit 43, converts them into a format compatible with the display unit 10, and stores them in the memory. The display control unit 44 retrieves the image data and display programs stored in the memory and transmits them to the receiving unit 45. The receiving unit 45 may be disposed in the internal space 33S of the discharge unit 33.

[0046] The receiving unit 45 receives the image data and display program sent from the display control unit 44, and controls the drive circuit of the panel sheet 16 based on the received information. As a result, the image of the display program set by the user in the management unit 43 is displayed in the display area 13 of the display unit 10.

[0047] The management unit 43, the display control unit 44, the receiving unit 45, and the drive circuit of the panel sheet 16 are configured to be able to input and output information (signals) via a LAN cable included in the wiring 19. The LAN cable includes, for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable, an HDMI (registered trademark) (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) cable, etc.

[0048] The management unit 43, the display control unit 44, the receiving unit 45, and the drive circuit of the panel sheet 16 may be configured to input and output information via a wireless communication method. Examples of wireless communication methods include Wi-Fi (registered trademark) and Bluetooth (registered trademark), but the communication method is not particularly limited. The communication method may involve direct data exchange without going through a server or router, or data exchange via a server or router.

[0049] Here, we will explain an example of the work of assembling the display unit 10. The assembly work of the display unit 10 may be performed before shipping from a factory or the like, or may be performed at the site where the display unit 10 is to be installed (in an amusement park or the like).

[0050] The display panel 10 is assembled by first forming the display panel 11 (see FIG. 3). Specifically, eight panel sheets 16 are arranged and fixed to one base sheet 15. The panel sheets 16 are fixed to the base sheet 15 one by one with adhesive tape or the like. All of the panel sheets 16 are arranged with their long sides in contact with each other, with no gaps between them. This prevents the outer shapes of the panel sheets 16 from interfering with each other and causing the panel sheets 16 to become misaligned with respect to the base sheet 15.

[0051] Next, the covering sheet 12 is placed on the front side of the panel sheet 16. The upper edge of the covering sheet 12 is overlapped with the upper edge of the panel sheet 16 on the front side.

[0052] Next, the wiring protection member 20 is attached. Specifically, the second member 23 is placed along the upper edge of the panel sheet 16 (see FIG. 4). At this time, the position of the introduction portion 36 is aligned with the corner of the panel base 18 (the portion from which the wiring 19 is pulled out), and the wiring 19 is placed on the front side of the second member 23. The second member 23 is placed on the front side of the base sheet 15, and the back surface portion 32 of the second member 23 is placed on the back side of the upper edge of the panel sheet 16.

[0053] Next, the second ejection member 35 is disposed at the center in the left-right direction of the second member 23. The second ejection member 35 is disposed on the front side of the extension portion 17 of the base sheet 15.

[0054] Next, the wiring 19 is connected to the power supply device 42 and the receiving unit 45, respectively, and the power supply device 42 and the receiving unit 45 are disposed on the front side of the second discharge member 35. The bundle of wiring 19 is gathered together and disposed between the pair of side portions 26 of the second member 23 (see FIG. 5).

[0055] Next, the first member 22 is placed over the second member 23. The first member 22 is placed on the front side of the protruding portion 27 of the second member 23 (see FIG. 5). The front surface 31 of the first member 22 is placed on the front side of the upper edge of the covering sheet 12. The first member 22 and the second member 23 are fixed by the fixing member S. The upper edge of the covering sheet 12 and the upper edge of the panel sheet 16 are sandwiched between the front surface 31 of the first member 22 and the back surface 32 of the second member 23. The wiring 19 is surrounded and protected by the wiring protection member 20.

[0056] Next, the first ejection member 34 is placed over the second ejection member 35 (see FIG. 6). The front side of the wiring 19, the power supply device 42, and the receiving unit 45 is covered by the first ejection member 34. The LAN cable connecting the receiving unit 45 and the display control unit 44 extends from the ejection member 33 toward the display control unit 44. The first ejection member 34 is fixed to the first member 22 and the second ejection member 35 by fixing members S (see FIG. 4). The wiring protection member 20 is attached to the display panel 11, and the assembly of the display unit 10 is completed.

[0057] Next, an example of the transportation and installation of the display unit 10 will be described.

[0058] As described above, the display unit 10 is configured to be flexible, so that multiple display units 10 can be unfolded one by one and stacked front and back, rolled up around the wiring protection member 20 to form a tube, or folded at any position to form a compact state. The base sheet 15 is elastic, so damage to the display unit 10 in its compact state can be suppressed. By compacting the display unit 10, multiple display units 10 can be placed in the space of one display unit 10. This allows for efficient transportation and easy storage. The display unit 10 is primarily made of a sheet-like material, so it is lightweight. This allows for easy transportation and installation of the display unit 10, reducing delivery and installation costs.

[0059] When installing the display unit 10 on the floor of an amusement facility or the like, all that is required is to place the display unit 10 on the floor and connect the wiring 19 to the display control unit 44. In this case, by arranging the ejection unit 33 facing the display control unit 44, the work of connecting the wiring 19 to the display control unit 44 can be easily performed. Because the display unit 10 is sheet-shaped and has a relatively large area, the display unit 10 placed on the floor has large friction with the floor surface, making it less likely to shift position relative to the floor. Furthermore, by connecting the wiring 19 to the display control unit 44, the tension in the wiring 19 makes it even less likely to shift position relative to the floor. Since there is no need to fix the display unit 10 to the floor with a fixing member or the like, installation of the display unit 10 is easy.

[0060] When the display unit 10 is installed on the floor, it is subjected to a load from people passing by on the front side of the display unit 10. Because the display unit 10 is composed of an elastic base sheet 15 and an elastic cover sheet 12, even if such a load occurs, the elastic force of the cover sheet 12 and the base sheet 15 can mitigate the load applied to the display panel 11 (wiring 19), thereby improving the durability of the display unit 10. Furthermore, the slope portion 24 and the inclined portion 37 provided on the wiring protection member 20 reduce the step at the upper edge of the display unit 10, so the wiring protection member 20 itself is less likely to obstruct passing traffic. This prevents the display unit 10 from shifting position due to a passerby's foot getting caught on the wiring protection member 20.

[0061] Next, the operation and effect of the embodiment configured as described above will be described. The display unit 10 comprises a flexible display panel 11, a flexible covering sheet 12, and a wire protection member 20 having a wire passage 21 capable of accommodating the wires 19 of the display panel 11. The display panel 11 has a display area 13 and a non-display area 14. The display area 13 is capable of displaying an image large enough to span multiple gaming machines installed on an island. The non-display area 14 does not display an image. The covering sheet 12 covers the front side of the display panel 11. The wire protection member 20 is attached to the non-display area 14.

[0062] This configuration allows a single display panel 11 to display an image on the display area 13 large enough to span multiple gaming machines installed on an island. Furthermore, by storing the wiring 19 of the display panel 11 in the wiring passage 21, the labor and cost of fixing multiple display panels to the floor one by one, as in the past, and the labor and cost of protecting and managing the wiring of multiple display panels can be reduced, thereby facilitating installation of the display panel. Furthermore, even for display units 10 with large display areas 13, the flexibility of the display panel 11 and the covering sheet 12 allows the display unit 10 to be transported while being bent, reducing the burden of transportation and enabling the display unit 10 to be installed in a variety of locations. Therefore, the use of the display unit 10 facilitates installation and transportation.

[0063] Furthermore, the wiring protection member 20 is attached to the upper edge of the outer edge of the display panel 11, and the wiring 19 is provided on the upper edge side. With this configuration, when the display unit 10 is installed on the floor, the wiring 19 is less likely to be stepped on by a player passing by on the floor compared to when the wiring 19 is arranged not only above the display panel 11 but also below, to the right and left, and therefore damage to the wiring 19 of the display panel 11 can be suppressed.

[0064] The wire protection member 20 also has a first member 22 and a second member 23. The first member 22 is on the front side of the wires 19 and extends along the upper edge. The second member 23 is on the back side of the wires 19 and extends along the upper edge. The wire passage 21 is formed by fitting the first member 22 and the second member 23 together. With this configuration, after the wires 19 of the display panel 11 are arranged on the front side of the second member 23, the wires 19 of the display panel 11 can be easily accommodated in the wire passage 21 by fitting the first member 22 into the second member 23, which makes it easy to manufacture the display unit 10.

[0065] The display panel 11 also has a flexible base sheet 15 and eight panel sheets 16 fixed to the base sheet 15. Wiring 19 is provided for each panel sheet 16. The wiring protection member 20 is configured to be able to collectively accommodate the wiring 19 of each of the eight panel sheets 16. This configuration reduces the manufacturing cost of the display panel 11 compared to when the large display area 13 is formed using a single large panel sheet. Furthermore, the workload and cost associated with protecting and routing the wiring 19 provided for each panel sheet 16 can be reduced, making it easier to install the display unit 10.

[0066] The wiring protection member 20 includes one discharge section 33. The discharge section 33 is configured to be able to discharge the wiring 19 of the eight panel sheets 16 together toward the display control section 44. With this configuration, the wiring 19 of the eight panel sheets 16 can be connected together to the display control section 44, which reduces the workload and cost associated with handling the wiring 19 provided for each panel sheet 16, thereby facilitating the installation of the display unit 10.

[0067] <Example 2> Next, a display unit 60 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 8. The display unit 60 of this embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that it is installed on a staircase 102 rather than on the floor. Note that the same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0068] The display unit 60 includes a display panel 11, a cover sheet 12, and a wiring protection member (not shown in FIG. 8), similar to the first embodiment. The display panel 11 includes a plurality of panel sheets 16 and a base sheet 15, similar to the first embodiment. The space between adjacent panel sheets 16 is configured so that each panel sheet 16 can be bent in an accordion-like manner, and in the example shown in FIG. 8, adjacent panel sheets 16 are bent and arranged to form a right angle.

[0069] The display unit 60 is arranged with the arrangement direction of the panel sheets 16 (left and right direction in the first embodiment) facing the ascending and descending direction of the stairs 102. The dimensions of the display unit 60 may be changed as appropriate according to the number of steps and width of the stairs 102 to be installed. If the stairs 102 have a large number of steps, multiple display units 60 may be lined up in the ascending and descending direction of the stairs 102.

[0070] The width dimension of each panel sheet 16 (left and right direction in Example 1) is preferably 22 cm or less. This allows one panel sheet 16 to be placed on each tread 103 and riser 104 of the stairs. The length dimension of each panel sheet 16 (vertical dimension in Example 1) may be changed to match the width dimension of the stairs 102. If the width dimension of the stairs 102 is large, multiple display units 60 may be used lined up in the width direction of the stairs 102.

[0071] The wire protection member may be disposed on one side in the width direction of the staircase 102. In this case, the wire protection member may be formed to be flexible along the steps of the staircase 102. For example, the wire protection member may be made of rubber or flexible resin. The wire protection member may be formed in an accordion-like shape to be flexible. The wire protection member may be a covering tape or the like wound spirally around the outer periphery of the bundle of wires 19. The wire protection member may be fixed to the display unit 60 using a known fixing device or the like.

[0072] Similar to the first embodiment, the display system 40 includes a display unit 60, a control device 41, and a power supply device 42 (see FIG. 7). Similar to the first embodiment, the control device 41 integrally manages a large number of panel sheets 16 and controls the display of the display area 13.

[0073] The control device 41 can correlate and display the content displayed on one panel sheet 16 with the content displayed on a panel sheet 16 adjacent to the panel sheet 16 adjacent to the one panel sheet 16. Specifically, one image (referred to as a first image) can be displayed using images displayed on a plurality of treads 103, and another image (referred to as a second image) can be displayed using images displayed on a plurality of risers 104. This allows the overall display content seen from above the stairs 102 to be displayed differently from the overall display content seen from below the stairs 102. In other words, a person going down the stairs 102 can see the first image, and a person going up the stairs 102 can see the second image, so that a person going down the stairs 102 and a person going up the stairs 102 can obtain different information.

[0074] The display unit 60 of this embodiment can easily display different guidance to players going up the stairs 102 and players going down the stairs 102, which is particularly advantageous in urban amusement parks that operate on multiple floors and where different guidance needs to be displayed to players going up the stairs 102 and players going down the stairs 102.

[0075] According to the display unit 60 of this embodiment, it is not necessary to install one display panel each on the treads 103 and risers 104 of the stairs 102, which reduces the workload and cost and facilitates installation on the stairs 102. In addition, the display unit 60 can be folded between adjacent panel sheets 16 and the panel sheets 16 can be stacked in the front-to-back direction to create a compact state, which makes transportation and storage easy.

[0076] Example 3 Next, a display unit 70 according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 9. Fig. 9 is a diagram showing how the orientation of the panel sheet is changed in the display unit 70 according to the third embodiment. The display unit 70 of this embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the panel sheets 16 can be rotated individually. Note that the same components as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0077] The display unit 70 includes a plurality of panel sheets 16, a wiring protection member 20, and a movable portion 71. The vertical and horizontal dimensions of each panel sheet 16 and the display unit 70 may be changed as appropriate depending on the installation location and installation purpose.

[0078] The orientation of the panel sheets 16 can be changed individually by a movable unit 71. The movable unit 71 is provided on one side of each panel sheet 16 in the left-right direction. The movable unit 71 rotates the panel sheets 16 around an imaginary rotation axis L extending in the up-down direction. The movable unit 71 rotates each panel sheet 16 in the same direction by the same angle, and can hold them at any tilt angle. The display direction of an image can be changed by orienting multiple panel sheets 16 in the same direction. If the surfaces of multiple panel sheets 16 are oriented to the right, a person on the right side of the display unit 70 can view the image straight on. If the surfaces of multiple panel sheets 16 are oriented to the left, a person on the left side of the display unit 70 can view the image straight on. If multiple panel sheets 16 are oriented forward, a person in front of the display unit 70 can view the image straight on.

[0079] Similar to the first embodiment, the display system 40 includes a display unit 70, a control device 41, and a power supply device 42 (see FIG. 7). Similar to the first embodiment, the control device 41 performs integrated management of a large number of panel sheets 16 and controls image display.

[0080] The panel sheet 16 may be provided on both the front and back sides. The display control unit 44 may execute different image displays on the front and back sides. This allows the display unit 70 to display various information on both the front and back sides, thereby enabling a greater variety of information to be displayed in a smaller space.

[0081] The display unit 70 of this embodiment can be used as a blind, a guide sign, etc., and can be installed in various locations. Each amusement center has different numbers of machines and island configurations, as well as different aisle widths and wall sizes. Furthermore, urban amusement centers have limited floor space. The display unit 70 of this embodiment can effectively utilize floor space to display various types of information.

[0082] Example 4 Next, a display unit 80 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 10. Fig. 10 is a diagram showing the display unit 80 according to the fourth embodiment in a state where the orientations of adjacent panel sheets 16 are reversed by a hinge portion 81. The display unit 80 of this embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that it has a hinge portion 81 between adjacent panel sheets 16. Note that the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0083] The display unit 80 includes a panel sheet 16, a wiring protection member 20, and a hinge portion 81. The vertical and horizontal dimensions of each panel sheet 16 and display unit 80 may be changed as appropriate depending on the installation location and installation purpose.

[0084] The hinge portion 81 can reverse the orientation of adjacent panel sheets 16. The hinge portion 81 rotates the display unit 80 around an imaginary rotation axis L that extends in the vertical direction. The hinge portion 81 can adjust the angle α between the left and right display panel sheets 16 to any angle and can maintain that angle. By orienting one adjacent panel sheet 16 to the right and the other to the left, the hinge portion 81 can distinguish between an image that can be viewed directly from a person on the right side of the display unit 80 and an image that can be viewed directly from a person on the left side.

[0085] 10, the wire protection member 20 may be provided along only the upper edge of the display panel sheet 16, along both the upper and lower edges, or along only the lower edge of the display panel sheet 16. The wire protection member 20 may be configured to follow the inclination angle of the display panel sheet 16, or may not be configured to follow the inclination angle.

[0086] Similar to the first embodiment, the display system 40 includes a display unit 80, a control device 41, and a power supply device 42 (see FIG. 7). Similar to the first embodiment, the control device 41 manages a large number of panel sheets 16 in an integrated manner and controls the display of the display area 13. The control device 41 can correlate and display the content to be displayed on one panel sheet 16 with the content to be displayed on a panel sheet 16 adjacent to the panel sheet 16 adjacent to the first panel sheet 16. Specifically, one image can be displayed by an image on a panel sheet 16 facing left, and another image can be displayed by an image on a panel sheet 16 facing right. This allows different images to be shown to people on the right and left of the display unit 80.

[0087] The panel sheet 16 may be provided on both the front and back sides. The display control unit 44 may display different images on the front and back sides. This allows the display unit 80 to display various information on both the front and back sides, thereby saving space and displaying a wider variety of information.

[0088] The display unit 80 can be used as a guide sign, a partition wall, etc., and can be installed in various locations. Each amusement center has different numbers of machines and island configurations, as well as different aisle widths and wall sizes. Furthermore, urban amusement centers have limited floor space. The display unit 80 of this embodiment can effectively utilize floor space to display various information.

[0089] According to the display unit 80 of this embodiment, the display content can be changed depending on the viewing direction, so that a single display unit 80 can display a variety of information.

[0090] <Example 5> Next, a display unit 90 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 11. Fig. 11 is a diagram showing the display unit 90 according to the fifth embodiment, in which the panel sheet 16 is pressed by a person. The display unit 90 of this embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that it is used like a noren (shop curtain) or a curtain. Note that the same components as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations will be omitted.

[0091] The display unit 90 includes a panel sheet 16 and a wiring protection member 20, similar to the first embodiment. The vertical and horizontal dimensions of each panel sheet 16 and display unit 90 may be changed as appropriate depending on the installation location and installation purpose. The display unit 90 is installed in various locations, such as the entrance and exit of a store or between rooms. The wiring protection member 20 may be used as a member for fixing the display unit to the installation location.

[0092] Each panel sheet 16 hangs down individually from the wiring protection member 20. When a person passing underneath pushes each panel sheet 16, it can bend toward the front or back, or the space between the panel sheets 16 can be widened to the left or right.

[0093] Similar to the first embodiment, the display system 40 includes a display unit 90, a control device 41, and a power supply device 42 (see FIG. 7). Similar to the first embodiment, the control device 41 manages a large number of panel sheets 16 in an integrated manner and controls the display of the display area 13. The control device 41 can alternately display different contents on the panel sheets 16 arranged in the left-right direction, or can display all of the contents in an associated manner.

[0094] The panel sheet 16 may be provided on both the front and back sides. The display control unit 44 may execute different image displays on the front and back sides. This allows the display unit 90 to display various information on both the front and back sides, thereby saving space and displaying a wider variety of information.

[0095] The display unit 90 can be hung and placed in various locations. Each amusement center has different numbers of machines and island configurations, as well as different aisle widths and wall sizes. Furthermore, urban amusement centers have limited floor space. The display unit 90 of this embodiment can effectively utilize floor space to display various information.

[0096] According to the display unit 90 of this embodiment, the display content of the display unit 10 can be changed depending on whether it is on the front or back side, so a variety of information can be displayed on a single display unit 10. In this case, if the display unit 90 is installed at an entrance, different guidance displays can easily be displayed for people entering the entrance and people leaving the entrance. This is advantageous in cases where different guidance content needs to be displayed for people moving between areas, such as in an amusement parlor that operates by dividing one floor into multiple areas.

[0097] <Other Examples> The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings, and the following embodiments are also included within the technical scope of the present invention. (1) In the above embodiment, the display units 10, 60, 70, 80, and 90 are installed in an amusement arcade. However, the display units may be installed in various other establishments, not just in an amusement arcade. (2) In the above embodiments, the display units 10, 60, 70, 80, and 90 each include a plurality of panel sheets 16. However, the number of panel sheets 16 may be changed as appropriate, or only one large flexible panel sheet may be included. (3) In the above embodiment, organic EL elements, liquid crystal elements, etc. can be used as the light emitting elements. (4) In the above embodiment, the display units 10, 60, 70, 80, and 90 are connected to the power supply unit 42, but the display units may also be provided with batteries. (5) In the above embodiments, the display units 10, 60, 70, 80, and 90 may have a built-in wireless communication function, or may have an external wireless communication function. (6) In the above embodiments, the dimensions of the display units 10, 60, 70, 80, and 90 may be changed as appropriate depending on the installation location, the specifications of the panel sheet, and the like. (7) In the above embodiment, the non-display area 14 is formed on the outer edge of the panel sheet 16, but this is not limiting and the location of the non-display area may be changed as appropriate depending on the size and shape of the panel sheet. (8) In the first embodiment, adjacent panel sheets 16 are arranged with their long sides in contact with each other. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the panel sheets 16 may be arranged with their long sides overlapping each other. (9) In the above-described first embodiment, the wire protection member 20 has a first member 22 arranged on the front side of the wire 19 and a second member 23 arranged on the back side of the wire 19. However, the wire protection member is not limited to this, and may be composed of a member arranged on the lower side of the wire and a member arranged on the upper side of the wire. [Explanation of symbols]

[0098] 10...Display unit 11...Display panel 12...Covering sheet 13…Display area 14…Hidden area 15...Base sheet 16...Panel sheet 19...Wiring 20...Wiring protection member 21...Wiring passage 22...First member 23...Second member 33…Discharge section 44...Display control unit

Claims

1. a flexible display panel having a display area capable of displaying an image spanning a plurality of gaming machines provided on the island and a non-display area in which the image is not displayed; a flexible cover sheet that covers the front surface side of the display panel; a wiring protection member attached to the non-display area and having a wiring passage capable of accommodating wiring of the display panel. A display unit characterized by:

2. The wiring protection member is attached to one of the outer edges of the display panel; The wiring is Provided on the first edge side 2. The display unit according to claim 1.

3. The wiring protection member is a first member on the front side of the wiring and extending along the one edge portion; a second member on the rear side of the wiring and extending along the first edge portion; The wiring passage is formed by fitting the first member and the second member together.

3. The display unit according to claim 2.

4. The display panel includes: a flexible base sheet; a plurality of panel sheets fixed to the base sheet; The wiring is provided for each of the panel sheets, The wiring protection member is The panel sheet is configured to accommodate the wiring of each of the plurality of panel sheets.

4. The display unit according to claim 1, wherein the display unit is a display unit having a display area of ​​100 mm or less.

5. The wiring protection member is a discharge unit configured to be able to discharge the wiring of the plurality of panel sheets together to the display control unit side; 5. The display unit according to claim 4.

Images