Display unit and large screen display device

Abstract

To provide a display unit and a large-screen display device capable of suppressing an increase in the cost of manufacture, maintenance, etc., while enabling large-screen display.SOLUTION: A display unit 10 includes a plurality of display panels 11 arranged side by side and a base sheet 15 having a size capable of mounting the plurality of display panels 11, and the plurality of display panels 11 can display a series of images and are individually and detachably attached to the base sheet 15.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a display unit and a large-screen display device. [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] When using a display panel such as the one exemplified above to display images on a large display screen spanning multiple gaming machines installed on an island, it is necessary to enlarge the display panel, which tends to increase the costs of manufacturing, transporting, and installing it. Furthermore, a large display panel also tends to increase maintenance costs, since even damage to a portion of the display screen requires the entire panel to be replaced or repaired.

[0006] The present invention was completed based on the above circumstances, and aims to provide a display unit and a large-screen display device that are capable of large-screen display while suppressing increases in costs related to manufacturing, maintenance, etc. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The display unit of the present invention comprises a plurality of display panels arranged side by side and a base sheet large enough to support the plurality of display panels, and is characterized in that the plurality of display panels are capable of displaying a series of images and are individually and detachably attached to the base sheet.

[0008] The large-screen display device of the present invention is a large-screen display device having a plurality of the display units, each of which has a connecting member that can be connected to other of the display units, and which is characterized in that the large-screen display device has a display control means that can display a series of images using the plurality of display units connected by the connecting members. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the display unit of the present invention, a series of images can be displayed on a large screen using multiple display panels, allowing for a variety of highly visible information displays depending on the installation location, while also reducing manufacturing costs compared to using a single large-screen display panel. Furthermore, each display panel is individually detachable from the base sheet, allowing for individual maintenance. For example, if only one of the multiple display panels breaks down, only the broken display panel needs to be repaired or replaced, reducing maintenance costs compared to repairing or replacing the entire large-screen display panel. Therefore, while a large-screen display is possible, the display unit has the advantage of being able to reduce manufacturing and maintenance costs.

[0010] According to the large-screen display device of the present invention, a larger display screen can be formed by arranging display units and connecting them with connecting members, which reduces manufacturing costs compared to enlarging a single display panel. Furthermore, because each display unit or display panel is individually repairable or replaceable, even if one of the display units or display panels breaks down, maintenance costs can be reduced compared to repairing or replacing the entire enlarged display panel. Therefore, while a large-screen display is possible, the device has the advantage of being able to suppress increases in manufacturing and maintenance costs. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view showing a large-screen display device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a large screen display device in use. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a large-screen display device installed on the floor of a passageway in an amusement center. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the display unit. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a display unit. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a front view showing a display panel. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing a contact portion between left and right display panels in the display unit. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of a connecting member in the large-screen display device. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged front view showing the vicinity of a connecting member in the large-screen display device. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an electrical block diagram showing a large-screen display device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown below. [1] The display unit of the present invention comprises a plurality of display panels arranged side by side and a base sheet large enough to accommodate the plurality of display panels. The plurality of display panels are capable of displaying a series of images and are individually detachably attached to the base sheet. This configuration allows the plurality of display panels to display a series of images on a large screen, enabling various information displays with high visibility depending on the installation location, while reducing manufacturing costs compared to enlarging a single display panel. Furthermore, because each display panel is individually detachably attached to the base sheet, it can be maintained individually. For example, if only one of the plurality of display panels fails, only the failed display panel needs to be repaired or replaced, reducing maintenance costs compared to repairing or replacing the entire enlarged display panel. This provides the advantage of being able to display a large screen while reducing manufacturing and maintenance costs.

[0013] [2] In the display unit described in [1] above, the display panels may each have a linear edge and be arranged side by side on the base sheet with the edge of one display panel in contact with the edge of another display panel adjacent to the first display panel. This configuration allows the multiple display panels to be positioned relative to the base sheet by interference between the edges of the display panels due to contact between the edges of the display panels. This configuration has the advantage of reducing misalignment of the display panels when displaying a series of images on a large screen, while also reducing manufacturing costs compared to when a separate structure for positioning the display panels is provided.

[0014] [3] The display unit according to [1] or [2] above may further include a cover sheet that covers the front side of the display panel, and the cover sheet and the display panel may be configured to be separable from each other. This configuration allows the cover sheet and the display panel to be separated for repair or replacement, which has the effect of making maintenance easier than when the cover sheet and the display panel are inseparably integrated.

[0015] [4] The display unit described in [3] above may further include a holding member capable of clamping one side of the cover sheet and one side of each of the plurality of display panels, the holding member being detachable from the one side of the cover sheet and the one side of each of the plurality of display panels. This configuration allows the cover sheet, each display panel, and the holding member to be easily disassembled for repair or replacement, further reducing maintenance costs.

[0016] [5] The large-screen display device of the present invention is a large-screen display device including a plurality of display units according to [1] or [2] above, each of which has a connecting member that can be connected to other display units, and a display control unit that can display a series of images using the plurality of display units connected by the connecting member. This configuration allows a larger display screen to be formed by arranging the display units and connecting them with the connecting member, thereby reducing manufacturing costs compared to enlarging a single display panel. Furthermore, because each display unit or display panel is individually repairable or replaceable, even if one of the display units or display panels breaks down, maintenance costs can be reduced compared to repairing or replacing the entire enlarged display panel. This has the effect of enabling a large-screen display while reducing manufacturing and maintenance costs.

[0017] <Example> An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to Figs. 1 to 10. Fig. 1 shows a front view of a large-screen display device 40 according to this embodiment, and Fig. 2 shows a front view of the large-screen display device 40 in use. The large-screen display device 40 is configured to be able to display a variety of images for purposes such as advertising, information guidance, spatial presentation, etc. These images can be displayed in full color and include still images, moving images, and videos. The large-screen display device 40 is configured so that it can be installed on the floor or wall of a building.

[0018] The large-screen display device 40 includes multiple display units 10 and a connecting member 50. The large-screen display device 40 has a large-screen display area 59 formed by the multiple display units 10. In the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the large-screen display device 40 includes two display units 10. The large-screen display area 59 occupies most of the large-screen display device 40 and is capable of displaying a series of images. Large-screen images and a large amount of information can be displayed according to the space available at the installation location. The large-screen display device 40 can be installed in any location, making effective use of the installation location and providing effective presentations and information transmission. Note that while the present embodiment illustrates an example in which two display units 10 are connected as the large-screen display device 40, the large-screen display device 40 may also be configured by connecting three or more display units 10 depending on the size of the floor or wall surface. This configuration allows the large-screen display device 40 to be formed by connecting two or more display units 10 according to the desired installation location, and by effectively using the entire large-screen display device 40, a large amount of information and impressive images can be displayed to players, etc.

[0019] The connecting members 50 connect adjacent display units 10 together and fix the display units 10 to each other so that they do not separate. The display units 10 are configured to be connectable in a number (for example, up to 10) according to the display performance of the display control unit 41 described below, and the connecting members 50 make it easy to increase or decrease the number of display units 10, improving the customizability of the large-screen display device 40 according to the installation location.

[0020] Fig. 3 shows a schematic diagram of a state in which a large-screen display device 40 is installed in an amusement facility such as a pachinko parlor. In the example shown in Fig. 3, the large-screen display device 40 is placed on the floor of an aisle formed between chairs 101 provided for each gaming machine installed on one gaming island and chairs 101 provided for each gaming machine installed on another gaming island in the amusement facility. In the example shown in Fig. 3, a plurality of display units 10 are arranged side by side in the direction in which the aisle extends.

[0021] Fig. 4 shows a front view of the display unit 10, and Fig. 5 shows an exploded perspective view of the display unit 10. The display unit 10 is composed of at least a plurality of display panels 11, a cover sheet 12, a base sheet 15, and a holding member 20. Because each display panel 11, the base sheet 15, and the cover sheet 12 are all flexible, the display unit 10 can be folded at any position or rolled in any direction.

[0022] For ease of explanation, the following description of each component will refer to the side on which the holding member 20 is provided as the upper side, the side on which the cover 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 holding member 20 facing upward as the right side and the left side, respectively.

[0023] 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.

[0024] In this embodiment, a case will be described in which the display unit 10 has eight display panels 11. 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 (see FIG. 3). Specifically, if the width of one gaming machine is 522 millimeters (hereinafter, "millimeters" will be abbreviated to "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. The vertical dimension of the display unit 10 is configured to be a size that matches the width of the aisle.

[0025] 3, when chairs 101 are placed on both sides of an aisle, the vertical dimension of the display unit 10 may be a dimension (e.g., approximately 990 mm) that allows it to be installed between the chairs 101, or when the aisle is only wide enough for one person to pass, it may be a dimension equivalent to the width of a person. Also, when the aisle is wide enough to allow multiple people to pass each other, the dimension may be set to match that width.

[0026] As shown in Fig. 4, the display unit 10 has unit side edges 46 on both the left and right sides and a unit lower edge 47 on the lower side. Both the unit side edges 46 and the unit lower edge 47 extend linearly. The unit side edges 46 and the unit lower edge 47 are formed by the outer periphery of the cover sheet 12, the outer periphery of the display panel 11, or the outer periphery of the base sheet 15. The unit side edges 46 and the unit lower edge 47 each have a surface that is approximately perpendicular to the XZ plane.

[0027] The display unit 10 has a display area 13 (see the shaded area in FIG. 4) capable of displaying images using a plurality of light-emitting elements (light-emitting diodes, hereinafter referred to as "LEDs 48"), and a non-display area 14 in which the images cannot be displayed. The display area 13 occupies most of the display unit 10 and has a rectangular shape extending in the left-right direction as a whole. The left-right dimension of the display area 13 is large enough to span 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. The non-display area 14 of each display panel 11 is small compared to the entire display area 13, so the effect of the non-display area 14 on the images displayed in the entire display area 13 is limited.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 5, the covering sheet 12 has a rectangular shape that is the same as or approximately the same as the base sheet 15, and covers the entire front surface of the display panel 11 (8). The covering sheet 12 is separate from the display panel 11 (8) and is separated from the display panel 11. The covering sheet 12 is made of a material that transmits visible light and has flexibility and suppleness (for example, a transparent vinyl chloride sheet). The thickness of the covering sheet 12 is 5 mm. The covering sheet 12 may also be made of another transparent resin material (for example, a soft polyethylene sheet).

[0029] The base sheet 15 has a rectangular shape that is the same as or approximately the same as the cover sheet 12, and covers the entire back surface of the holding member 20 and the entire back surface of the display panel 11. The display panel 11 is placed on and attached to the base sheet 15. An extension portion 17 that partially extends upward is provided at the upper edge of the base sheet 15. The extension portion 17 is located approximately in the center of the base sheet 15 in the left-right direction. A second discharge member 35 of the discharge portion 33, which will be described later, is arranged on the front side of the extension portion 17.

[0030] The base sheet 15 is made of an elastic material (e.g., rubber), and is, for example, black and made of a 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 display panel 11 (see FIG. 7). The base sheet 15 may also be made of another elastic resin sheet.

[0031] The eight display panels 11 are capable of displaying a series of images (see FIG. 2). The eight display panels 11 are disposed on the front side of the base sheet 15 and are aligned in a row in the left-right direction. The eight display panels 11 are individually secured to the surface of the base sheet 15 by securing members (not shown). The securing members may be any known member for easily attaching and detaching objects to each other, such as double-sided tape, suction cups, hooks, or hook-and-loop fasteners.

[0032] 6 shows a front view of the display panel 11. The display panel 11 includes a large number of LEDs 48, a panel base 18, and wiring 19 for lighting the LEDs 48. The display panel 11 is made waterproof by applying a sealant or the like.

[0033] The panel base 18 is in the form of a substantially rectangular sheet. The length of the long side of the panel base 18 is 790 mm, and the length of the short side is 200 mm. It is desirable that the thickness of the panel base 18 is as thin as possible, for example, 1.7 mm. The panel base 18 is configured to highlight the display content of the LEDs 48 by blocking light from the back side of the display panel 11, and is made of a material that blocks visible light (for example, a black flexible resin material).

[0034] The panel base 18 includes a flexible substrate, and is provided with drive circuits (scanning line drive circuit, signal line drive circuit, etc.) for driving the LEDs 48 and drive components 49 (for example, driver ICs (Integrated Circuits)).

[0035] The LEDs 48 are arranged in a matrix across the entire central region of the panel base 18. The central region of the panel base 18 constitutes the display region 13. Each LED 48 measures 2.1 mm in the X-axis direction and 2.1 mm in the Z-axis direction, and for example, one panel base 18 may have 160 LEDs in the X-axis direction and 32 LEDs in the Z-axis direction, for a total of 5,120 LEDs. The LEDs 48 are arranged spaced apart from one another in the X-axis direction and Z-axis direction (at intervals of 5 mm in the X-axis direction and 4.75 mm in the Z-axis direction), and are configured to be able to display full-color images using a so-called dot matrix method.

[0036] The drive components 49 are disposed in the peripheral region of the panel base 18. The peripheral region of the panel base 18 constitutes the non-display region 14. The peripheral region of the panel base 18 is band-shaped and surrounds the central region, and has left and right first edges 53 and upper and lower second edges 54. The first edges 53 are the edges of the long sides, and the second edges 54 are the edges of the short sides. Both the first edges 53 and the second edges 54 are linear. The width dimension (left-right dimension) of the left and right first edges 53 is 20 mm, the width dimension (up-down dimension) of the lower second edge 54 is 8 mm, and the width dimension (up-down dimension) of the upper second edge 54 is 22 mm. The upper second edge 54 is clamped together with the cover sheet 12 by the clamping portion 29 of the holding member 20.

[0037] The driving components 49 are arranged on the first edge portions 53 on the left and right sides, and control the large number of LEDs 48 arranged throughout the central region. The LEDs 48 and the driving components 49 are both arranged on the surface of the panel base 18, making the entire back surface of the panel base 18 flat, thereby simultaneously achieving a thin and highly flexible display panel 11.

[0038] The front side of the driving component 49 is covered with a black covering tape 55, which is the same color as the panel base 18 (see FIG. 7). The covering tape 55 appears to blend in and be integrated with the panel base 18. The peripheral area of ​​the panel base 18 surrounds and frames the image displayed in the central area (see FIG. 2).

[0039] The panel base 18 has a first side surface 56 extending along the first edge portion 53 and a second side surface 57 extending along the second edge portion 54. The first side surface 56 extends linearly in the up-down direction, and the second side surface 57 extends linearly in the left-right direction. Both the first side surface 56 and the second side surface 57 are approximately perpendicular to the XZ plane.

[0040] 7 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the contact portion between adjacent display panels 11 on the left and right sides of the display unit 10. The right first side surface 56 of the left display panel 11 and the left first side surface 56 of the right display panel 11 are in contact with each other. This causes the first side surfaces 56 of the display panels 11 (the outer shapes of the display panels 11) to interfere with each other, thereby positioning the eight display panels 11 while suppressing misalignment in the left-right or up-down directions.

[0041] 6, the wiring 19 extends from the upper corners of each panel base 18. The wiring 19 includes a power cable connected to a power supply unit 42 (described later) and a LAN cable connected to a display control unit 41 (described later), and constitutes a power supply line and a data signal line to the display panel 11. The wiring 19 of the eight display panels 11 is collectively housed inside the holding member 20 and is collected in the ejection section 33 (see FIG. 4).

[0042] The holding member 20 is formed from a metal plate material painted black. Here, while forming the holding member 20 from a resin material would require a mold, forming the holding member 20 from a metal plate material eliminates the need for a mold, thereby reducing manufacturing costs. Furthermore, since the holding 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 placed on the floor, and by arranging the wiring 19 inside the holding member 20, the wiring 19 itself is protected, making it less likely to be stepped on by a person and reducing the risk of breakage.

[0043] As shown in Fig. 5, the holding member 20 has a first member 22 and a second member 23. Both the first member 22 and the second member 23 are elongated in the left-right direction and are divided at the left-right center of the display unit 10. The first member 22 is disposed on the front side of the cover sheet 12, and the second member 23 is disposed on the back side of the display panel 11. Either a cover member 16 consisting of a plate 38 and a cap 39 or a connecting member 50 is attached to both left-right ends of the holding member 20 (see Fig. 1).

[0044] The holding member 20 is formed by fitting the first member 22 and the second member 23 together and fixing them with the fixing member S, thereby sandwiching the second upper edge portion (one side portion) 54 of the display panel 11 and the upper edge portion (one side portion) of the cover sheet 12 (see FIG. 8). The holding member 20 is removed from the second upper edge portion 54 of the display panel 11 and the upper edge portion of the cover sheet 12 by separating the first member 22 and the second member 23. The fixing member S may be a fastening member such as a screw, or may be a known member that can easily fix and detach objects to each other. FIG. 5 shows only a portion of all the fixing members S.

[0045] The first member 22 has a horizontal portion 58 and a slope portion 24 (see FIG. 8). The horizontal portion 58 forms a horizontal surface along the surface of the covering sheet 12. The slope portion 24 gently slopes upward from the upper end of the horizontal portion 58 toward the rear. The horizontal portion 58 and the slope portion 24 are formed over the entire length of the first member 22 in the left-right direction (see FIG. 5).

[0046] The second member 23 is placed on the surface of the base sheet 15. The second member 23 has a bottom surface 25, a pair of side surfaces 26, and a pair of protruding portions 27 (see FIG. 8). The pair of side surfaces 26 rise vertically from the bottom surface 25 to the front side. The lower side surface 26 has an introduction portion 36 formed therein for introducing the wiring 19 into the inside of the holding member 20 (see FIG. 5). Between the pair of protruding portions 27, an opening 28 is formed so that the wiring 19 can be freely inserted and removed. The opening 28 is closed by the first member 22.

[0047] The holding member 20 has an ejection section 33 (see FIG. 4). The ejection section 33 protrudes upward at the center position in the left-right direction of the holding member 20. The ejection section 33 is configured to collect the wires 19 extending from the eight display panels 11 and to be able to eject the wires 19 collectively toward the display control section 44.

[0048] The discharge portion 33 is formed by fitting a first discharge member 34 and a second discharge member 35 together (see FIG. 5). The first discharge member 34 is disposed on the front side of the wiring 19, and 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 connects to the slope portion 24 of the first member 22. The inclined portions 37 are formed on both the left and right sides of the first discharge member 34. The first discharge member 34 is disposed on the front side of the first member 22, and is fixed to the first member 22 and the second discharge member 35 by a fixing member S. The second discharge member 35 is placed on the surface of the extension portion 17 of the base sheet 15.

[0049] The holding member 20 has a clamping portion 29 that clamps the upper edges of the cover sheet 12 and the display panel 11 (see FIG. 8). The clamping portion 29 is composed of a front portion 31 provided on the first member 22 and a back portion 32 provided on the second member 23. The front portion 31 is composed of the lower end portion of the horizontal portion 58. Between the front portion 31 and the back portion 32, the cover sheet 12 and the display panel 11 are in close contact with each other, and a gap is formed between the cover sheet 12 and the display panel 11 in the region other than between the front portion 31 and the back portion 32.

[0050] FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view of the connection portion between the display units 10 in the large-screen display device 40, and FIG. 9 is a partially enlarged front view of the connection portion between the display units 10 in the large-screen display device 40. Like the holding member 20, the connecting member 50 is formed from a black-painted metal plate and is generally rectangular in front view. The left-right dimension of the connecting member 50 is slightly larger than the up-down dimension, and the up-down dimension is equal to the up-down dimension of the horizontal portion 58 of the first member 22. The connecting member 50 is disposed on the front side of the first member 22 of the left-side display unit 10 and the first member 22 of the right-side display unit 10, spanning these members, and is fixed by a fixing member S. The fixing member S is fixed to a position of the horizontal portion 58 excluding the clamping portion 29.

[0051] The large-screen display device 40 includes a display control unit (display control means) 41 and a power supply unit 42. Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an electrical block diagram of the large-screen display device 40. Fig. 10 illustrates an example in which the large-screen display device 40 includes two display units 10.

[0052] The display control unit 41 comprehensively manages the display panels 11 of the two display units 10 provided in the large-screen display device 40, and controls the display in the large-screen display area 59. The display control unit 41 can individually display different images on the 16 display panels 11 provided in the two display units 10. The display control unit 41 can display an image divided into 16 parts in the large-screen display area 59, thereby displaying one image made up of the 16 divided images over the entire large-screen display area 59 (see FIG. 2).

[0053] The display control unit 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 on the large screen display area 59, create a program to display the image, send the image data and the display program, etc. The management unit 43 may be a portable type that the user can carry with them, or may be a stationary type. The management unit 43 may have a general-purpose configuration. User convenience can be improved by installing an application dedicated to the large screen display device 40 in the management unit 43.

[0054] 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 units 10, and stores them in the memory. The display control unit 44 retrieves image data and display programs stored in the memory according to the number of connected display units 10 and transmits them to the receiving unit 45 of each display unit 10. That is, the display control unit 44 determines the number of display units 10 connected to the display control unit 41 at a predetermined timing (e.g., upon startup, connection of a display unit 10, or during a setting operation), reads the necessary image data and display programs from the memory according to the determination result, and executes display control of the large-screen display device 40 using the read image data and display programs. The receiving unit 45 may be disposed inside the discharge unit 33 of each display unit 10.

[0055] A receiving unit 45 is provided for each display unit 10, receives image data and display programs transmitted from the display control unit 44, and controls the drive circuit of the display panel 11 equipped in each display unit 10 based on the received information. As a result, an image of the display program set by the user in the management unit 43 is displayed in the display area 13 of each display unit 10.

[0056] The management unit 43, display control unit 44, receiving unit 45, and drive circuit of the display panel 11 are configured to be able to input and output information (signals) via a LAN cable included in the wiring 19. The receiving units 45 provided in each display unit 10 may be connected to each other via a LAN cable or the like to be able to input and output information (signals), and one of the receiving units 45 may be connected to the management unit 43. The LAN cable includes, for example, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) cable, an HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) cable, or the like.

[0057] The management unit 43, the display control unit 44, the receiving unit 45, and the drive circuit of the display panel 11 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.

[0058] The power supply unit 42 includes an AC adapter. The AC adapter may be disposed inside the exhaust section 33 of each display unit 10. The AC adapter supplies power to each display panel 11 via a power cable included in the wiring 19. This allows batteries and other components to be removed from each display unit 10, making it possible to provide a cheaper, lighter, and more flexible display unit 10. The power supply unit 42 may include a DC / DC converter between the AC adapter and each display unit 10. The DC / DC converter converts the voltage of the power input and output to and from each display unit 10.

[0059] When assembling the large-screen display device 40, first, the display unit 10 is assembled. 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 large-screen display device 40 is to be installed (in an amusement park or the like).

[0060] The assembly sequence for each display unit 10 is as follows: first, eight display panels 11 are arranged and fixed to one base sheet 15. Each display panel 11 is fixed to the base sheet 15 one by one with a fastening member. Adjacent display panels 11 are arranged with their first side faces 56 in contact with each other, with no gaps between them (see FIG. 7). In this way, the outer shapes of the display panels 11 interfere with each other, so that the display panels 11 are fixed to the base sheet 15 without misalignment.

[0061] Next, the cover sheet 12 is placed on the front side of the display panel 11. The upper edge of the cover sheet 12 is overlapped on the front side of the second upper edge 54 of the display panel 11 (see FIG. 8).

[0062] Next, the holding member 20 is attached. Specifically, the second member 23 is placed along the second edge portion 54 on the upper side of the display panel 11. At this time, the position of the introduction portion 36 is aligned with the corner portion of the panel base 18 (the portion from which the wiring 19 is drawn out), and the wiring 19 is placed on the front side of the second member 23. In addition, the lower side surface portion 26 of the second member 23 is placed against the second side surface 57 of the second edge portion 54 of the display panel 11 and the side surface of the upper edge portion of the cover sheet 12. The back surface portion 32 of the second member 23 is placed between the second edge portion 54 of the display panel 11 and the base sheet 15.

[0063] Next, the second ejection member 35 is placed at the center of the second member 23 in the left-right direction, the wiring 19 is connected to the power supply unit 42 and the receiving unit 45, respectively, and the power supply unit 42 and the receiving unit 45 are placed on the front side of the second ejection member 35. The bundle of wiring 19 is gathered together and placed between the pair of side surface portions 26 of the second member 23. The receiving units 45 of the left and right display units 10 are connected to each other by a LAN cable included in the wiring 19.

[0064] 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. 8). The surface portion 31 of the first member 22 is placed on the front side of the upper edge portion of the cover sheet 12. The first member 22 and the second member 23 are fixed by the fixing member S. The upper edge portion of the cover sheet 12 and the second upper edge portion 54 of the display panel 11 are clamped by the clamping portion 29, and the wiring 19 is housed in the holding member 20.

[0065] Next, the first ejection member 34 is placed over the second ejection member 35. The front side of the wiring 19, the power supply unit 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 the fixing member S. In this way, the holding member 20 is attached, and the assembly work of the display unit 10 is completed.

[0066] Next, the assembled display units 10 are arranged side by side and connected by connecting members 50 (see FIG. 1). At this time, the right unit side edge 46 of the left display unit 10 is brought into contact with the left unit side edge 46 of the right display unit 10. This causes the outer shapes of the display units 10 to interfere with each other, thereby fixing the left and right display units 10 in place so that they do not shift out of position.

[0067] Next, the connecting member 50 is placed so as to span the holding member 20 of the left display unit 10 and the holding member 20 of the right display unit 10. The left portion of the connecting member 50 is fixed to the holding member 20 of the left display unit 10 with a fixing member S, and the right portion of the connecting member 50 is fixed to the holding member 20 of the right display unit 10 with a fixing member S (see Figure 9). This makes the left and right display units 10 inseparably connected. Thereafter, the receiving unit 45 and the display control unit 44 are connected with wiring 19. In this way, the assembly of the large-screen display device 40 and the installation work at the installation location are completed.

[0068] When the large-screen display device 40 is placed on the floor, it is less likely to shift from the floor due to the tension of the wiring 19 connected to the display control unit 44 and the power supply unit 42. Furthermore, because the large-screen display device 40 is sheet-shaped and has a relatively large area, the frictional force with the floor increases when placed on the floor, making it less likely to shift from the floor.

[0069] Furthermore, because the holding member 20 is provided with the slope portion 24 and the inclined portion 37, the holding member 20 itself is unlikely to obstruct passage when the large-screen display device 40 is installed on the floor. The connecting members 50 that connect the display units 10 together are also made of plate material that conforms to the surface of the holding member 20, so the connecting members 50 themselves are unlikely to obstruct passage. This makes it possible to prevent the large-screen display device 40 from shifting out of position due to a passerby's foot getting caught on the holding member 20 or the connecting members 50.

[0070] In this way, the large-screen display device 40 is unlikely to shift position relative to the floor surface even without being fixed to the floor surface with nails or the like, and therefore the installation work of the large-screen display device 40 is easy.

[0071] When installed on the floor, the large-screen display device 40 is directly subjected to the weight of people passing by on the front side of the large-screen display device 40. However, simply arranging multiple display devices side by side can easily cause the display devices to become misaligned due to external forces acting on the display devices during use. This misalignment can potentially prevent the intended content from being displayed. In other words, if misalignment occurs between the display units 10 (or the display panels 11), the greater the number of connected display units 10, the greater the risk of the image content deviating from the intended image content depending on the degree of misalignment between the display units 10. However, the two or more display units 10 included in the large-screen display device 40 are prevented from becoming misaligned by their mutual contact, the tension of the wiring 19, and the connection by the connecting members 50. The eight display panels 11 included in each display unit 10 are prevented from becoming misaligned by their mutual contact, their adherence to the base sheet 15, and their clamping by the clamping members 29. In this way, the large-screen display device 40 prevents misalignment of all display panels 11 that make up the large-screen display area 59, so even in an environment where external forces such as being stepped on by passersby are likely to act, misalignment of each display unit 10 and each display panel 11 can be effectively suppressed, and the intended content can be reliably presented.

[0072] The display panel 11 of the large-screen display device 40 is supported by an elastic base sheet 15 and its surface is covered by an elastic covering sheet 12. Therefore, even if a load is generated due to being stepped on by a passerby, the elastic force of these can alleviate the load applied to the display panel 11 (wiring 19), thereby improving the durability of the large-screen display device 40.

[0073] The magnitude of the load acting on the large-screen display device 40 due to being stepped on by passersby, etc., varies from part to part of the large-screen display device 40. For example, parts of the large-screen display device 40 located in areas with heavy pedestrian traffic (such as near the island entrance) are more likely to be stepped on than other parts, and are therefore more likely to be subjected to repeated loads. In such cases, the large-screen display device 40 can be partially maintained or replaced, either for each display unit 10 or each display panel 11, which is advantageous in that it reduces the number of maintenance steps and costs.

[0074] Specifically, maintenance work on the large-screen display device 40 can be performed as follows. For example, if the display panel 11 located at the left end of the large-screen display device 40 (the bottom end in FIG. 1 ) breaks down, only that display panel 11 can be replaced. More specifically, first, the first ejection member 34 of the left-side display unit 10 and the left half of the first member 22 are removed by loosening the fixing member S, for example. Next, the left end of the cover sheet 12 of the left-side display unit 10 is flipped over to remove the display panel 11 to be replaced from the base sheet 15. The removed display panel 11 is repaired or replaced, and the repaired or replaced display panel 11 is attached to the base sheet 15. The cover sheet 12 is then replaced, and the left half of the first member 22 and the first ejection member 34 that were previously removed are then reinstalled. This completes the maintenance work.

[0075] In this maintenance work, the right-side display unit 10 may remain installed on the floor, the right-side portion of the holding member 20 of the left-side display unit 10 may remain attached, and the left and right display units 10 may remain connected. In this way, since only the display panel 11 to be repaired or replaced can be individually detached while the large-screen display device 40 remains installed on the floor or the like, maintenance can be carried out very easily and costs can be prevented from increasing even if maintenance is performed frequently in an environment where the device is susceptible to external shocks.

[0076] In this way, the large screen display device 40 can prevent an increase in costs even if frequent maintenance is performed, and therefore, since there is no need to implement strict protection such as embedding the display device in the floor or wall to make it difficult for external forces to act directly on it, construction costs can be reduced.

[0077] Next, the operation and effects of the embodiment configured as described above will be described. The display unit 10 includes eight display panels 11 and a base sheet 15. The eight display panels 11 are arranged side by side. The base sheet 15 is large enough to accommodate the eight display panels 11. The eight display panels 11 are capable of displaying a series of images and are individually detachably attached to the base sheet 15. This configuration allows the eight display panels 11 to display a series of images on a large screen. This allows for highly visible information display depending on the installation location, while also reducing manufacturing costs compared to using a single large-screen display panel. Furthermore, because each display panel 11 is individually detachably attached to the base sheet 15, it can be maintained individually. For example, if only one of the eight display panels fails, only the failed display panel 11 needs to be repaired or replaced. This reduces maintenance costs compared to repairing or replacing the entire large-screen display panel. Therefore, while enabling large-screen display, increases in manufacturing and maintenance costs can be reduced.

[0078] Furthermore, in the display unit 10, the display panels 11 each have a linear first edge 53, and are arranged side by side on the base sheet 15, with the first edge 53 of one display panel 11 in contact with the first edge 53 of another display panel 11 adjacent to that one display panel 11. With this configuration, the multiple display panels 11 are positioned relative to the base sheet 15 by the first edges 53 of the display panels 11 contacting each other, thereby restricting their movement. This reduces manufacturing costs compared to when a separate structure for positioning each display panel 11 is provided, while also preventing misalignment of the display panels 11 when displaying a series of images on a large screen.

[0079] The display unit 10 also has a cover sheet 12 that covers the front side of the display panel 11, and the cover sheet 12 and the display panel 11 are configured to be separable from each other. With this configuration, the cover sheet 12 and the display panel 11 can be separated for repair or replacement, making maintenance easier than when the cover sheet and the display panel are inseparably integrated.

[0080] The display unit 10 also has a holding member 20 that can clamp the upper edge of the cover sheet 12 and the upper second edge 54 of the multiple display panels 11. The holding member 20 is configured to be detachable from the upper edge of the cover sheet 12 and the upper second edge 54 of the multiple display panels 11. With this configuration, the cover sheet 12, each display panel 11, and the holding member 20 can be easily disassembled for repair or replacement, further reducing maintenance costs.

[0081] The large-screen display device 40 includes a plurality of display units 10, each having a connecting member 50 that allows it to be connected to other display units 10. The large-screen display device 40 also includes a display control unit 41 that can display a series of images using the plurality of display units 10 connected by the connecting members 50. This configuration allows a larger display screen to be formed by arranging the display units 10 and connecting them with the connecting members 50, thereby reducing manufacturing costs compared to enlarging a single display panel. Furthermore, because each display unit 10 and each display panel 11 is individually repairable or replaceable, even if one of the display units 10 or display panels 11 breaks down, maintenance costs can be reduced compared to repairing or replacing the entire enlarged display panel. Therefore, while a large-screen display is possible, increases in manufacturing and maintenance costs can be reduced.

[0082] <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 large-screen display device 40 is described as being installed in an amusement center, but the large-screen display device 40 or the display unit 10 may be installed not only in an amusement center but also in various other stores (e.g., commercial facilities, restaurants, etc.). (2) In the above embodiment, one display unit 10 includes a plurality of display panels 11, but the number of display panels 11 in one display unit 10 may be changed as appropriate. (3) In the above embodiment, the LED 48 is used as the light emitting element, but an organic EL element, a liquid crystal element, or the like can also be used as the light emitting element. (4) In the above embodiment, the display unit 10 is connected to the power supply unit 42, but the display unit 10 may also be provided with a battery. (5) In the above embodiment, the display unit 10 may have a built-in wireless communication function, or the wireless communication function may be externally attached. (6) In the above embodiment, the dimensions of the display unit 10 may be changed as appropriate depending on the installation location, the specifications of the display panel 11, and the like. (7) In the above embodiment, the non-display area 14 is formed on the outer edge of the display panel 11, but this is not limited to this, and the location where the non-display area 14 is formed may be changed as appropriate depending on the size, shape, etc. of the display panel 11. (8) In the above embodiment, adjacent display panels 11 are arranged so that the first side surfaces 56 of the first edge portions 53 are in contact with each other. However, this is not limiting, and the display panels 11 may be arranged so that the first edge portions 53 overlap each other. (9) In the above embodiment, the display units 10 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction and connected together. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The display units 10 may be arranged side by side not only in the left-right direction but also in the up-down direction to form, for example, a large screen display area that is nearly square when viewed from the front. [Explanation of symbols]

[0083] 10...Display unit 11...Display panel 12...Covering sheet 15...Base sheet 20...Holding member 40...Large screen display device 41...Display control means 50...Connecting member 53...First edge portion (straight edge portion) 54...Second edge portion (one side portion)

Claims

1. A plurality of display panels arranged side by side; a base sheet having a size capable of mounting the plurality of display panels thereon; the plurality of display panels are capable of displaying a series of images and are individually and detachably attached to the base sheet; A display unit characterized by:

2. The display panels each have a linear edge; the display panels are arranged side by side on the base sheet with the edge of one of the display panels and the edge of another of the display panels adjacent to the one of the display panels being in contact with each other; 2. The display unit according to claim 1.

3. a cover sheet covering the front surface of the display panel; The cover sheet and the display panel are configured to be separable from each other.

3. The display unit according to claim 1 or 2.

4. a holding member capable of holding one side of the cover sheet and one side of the plurality of display panels; the holding member is configured to be detachable from the one side portion of the cover sheet and the one side portions of the plurality of display panels.

4. The display unit according to claim 3.

5. A large-screen display device comprising a plurality of display units according to claim 1 or 2, The display unit a connecting member that can be connected to another display unit; The large screen display device includes: a display control means for displaying a series of images using the plurality of display units connected by the connecting member; A large-screen display device characterized by:

Images