Display devices and buildings

Abstract

To provide a display device that can improve usability.SOLUTION: A display device includes a display unit (touch panel 20) that can display an image, and a control unit 40 that displays the image on the display unit (touch panel 20). The control unit 40 can set a plurality of designated areas 50 which are areas within a predetermined range of the display unit (touch panel 20), and can operate a first application (mini application 80). An application image obtained by the operation of the application (mini application 80) can be displayed in the designated area 50 corresponding to the first application (mini application 80) from among the plurality of designated areas 50.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a display device capable of displaying an image and a building equipped with the display device. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, display devices capable of displaying screens obtained by application functions have been known, as described in Patent Document 1, for example.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a smartphone installed with an application (operation app) for operating home appliances installed in a room. A user sets the operating conditions of the home appliances by operating the operation app screen displayed on the smartphone.

[0004] However, because the screen size of the above-mentioned smartphones is relatively small, it is difficult to simultaneously display the screens of multiple operation apps, and it is thought that only one operation app will be displayed on the screen. Therefore, when using multiple operation apps, it is necessary to switch between the screens of each operation app, and further improvement is desired from the viewpoint of usability. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-031333 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a display device and a building that can improve usability. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The problem to be solved by the present invention is as described above, and the means for solving this problem will now be described.

[0008] That is, in claim 1, a display unit capable of displaying an image and a control unit that causes the display unit to display the image are provided, and the control unit sets a plurality of designated areas that are areas of a predetermined range on the display unit, and Multiple A first application is operable; Each An application image obtained by the operation of the first application can be displayed in a designated area corresponding to the first application among the plurality of designated areas. The plurality of designated areas include a first designated area corresponding to one of the plurality of first applications and a second designated area corresponding to another of the first applications different from the one of the first applications and disposed at a position on the display unit different from the first designated area, and when the control unit displays a first application image among the application images corresponding to the first designated area in the first designated area, the control unit displays a second application image related to the first application image among the application images corresponding to the second designated area in the second designated area. It is something.

[0009] In claim 2 , this The display device is provided with a communication unit capable of two-way communication between content entered by a business operator related to the building in which the display device is installed and content entered by users of the building, and the multiple designated areas include a communication area that displays an application image used for communication by the communication unit.

[0010] In claim 3, The control unit is capable of enlarging and reducing the display of the application image displayed in the designated area without changing the size of the designated area, and the application image displayed in one of the plurality of designated areas is not displayed in the other designated areas. It is something.

[0011] In claim 4, the display device is provided with an information acquisition unit capable of acquiring information about the building in which the display device is installed, and at least one of the first application image and the second application image is based on information acquired by the information acquisition unit.

[0012] In claim 5, the control unit constantly displays the application image in the designated area.

[0013] In claim 6, the control unit stores a second application that operates multiple first applications, and the multiple first applications are stored in a control device external to the display device.

[0014] In claim 7, A building having at least a dining room, comprising the display device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the display device is installed on a wall surface of the dining room or a space adjacent to the dining room. It is something. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] The present invention has the following effects.

[0017] In the present invention, the usability of the display device can be improved. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view showing a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing a display device and a house. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a display device, an external server, and a house. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a display device and an external server. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a modification of the installation position of the display device in a house. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] A display device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below. In the following description, the front-rear direction, left-right direction, and up-down direction will be defined based on the arrows in the drawings.

[0020] 1 and 2 is installed in a room of a house 100 and displays an image. An example of the house 100 in which the display device 1 is installed will be described below with reference to FIGS. 2 and 5.

[0021] The house 100 shown in FIG. 2 has multiple rooms (spaces). The illustration shows the first floor of the house 100, which is a detached house. Note that the house 100 is not limited to a detached house, but may also be an apartment building. The house 100 has at least a kitchen 110, a dining room 120, a living room 130, a staircase 140, and an entrance hall 150. Note that the spaces described below include the walls that divide the spaces.

[0022] The kitchen 110 is a space equipped with cooking facilities. The kitchen 110 is located in the eastern part of the house 100. The kitchen 110 is equipped with a system kitchen 111 having a cooking appliance and a sink, a cupboard 112, a refrigerator 113, a range hood 114, and a storage section 115. In this embodiment, the system kitchen 111 is installed in the southern area of ​​the kitchen 110. The system kitchen 111 is formed in a shape that is elongated in the east-west direction. An L-shaped kitchen counter 111a is provided on the western edge of the system kitchen 111 in a plan view and on part of the southern edge (west portion).

[0023] In this embodiment, the cupboard 112 is installed opposite the system kitchen 111 (north area of ​​the kitchen 110), and the refrigerator 113 is installed to the west of the cupboard 112. A range hood 114 is installed above the system kitchen 111 (heating cooker). A storage section 115 is located to the east of the system kitchen 111. The storage section 115 opens to the north and is configured to be able to store items.

[0024] The dining room 120 is a space for eating meals. The dining room 120 is provided adjacent to the kitchen 110 (in the illustrated example, adjacent to the south side of the kitchen 110). A table and chairs are provided in the dining room 120.

[0025] A wall 121 is provided between the kitchen 110 and the dining room 120. More specifically, the wall 121 extends in the east-west direction to separate the eastern portion of the system kitchen 111 (the portion where the kitchen counter 111a is not provided) and the storage area 115 from the dining room 120. The wall 121 is disposed with its wall surface facing the north-south direction. A range hood 114 is disposed on the western side of the wall 121, on the surface facing the kitchen 110 (north side).

[0026] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5 , a storage section 122 is provided on the east side of the wall 121, on the surface facing the dining room 120 (south side). The storage section 122 is a section for storing papers such as advertisements (flyers), notices and guides (printed materials), and manuals for the home appliances 160 and the equipment of the house 100 (described later). The storage section 122 is formed by recessing the south side of the wall 121 toward the north. The storage section 122 opens toward the south so that papers can be taken in and out from the dining room 120 side. The storage section 122 is located, for example, at a higher position than the kitchen counter 111a. The storage section 122 can store papers by aligning the backside of the papers with the surface facing south (the back side). In this way, the storage section 122 can store papers so that they are displayed facing the dining room 120 side.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 5, the storage section 122 is provided with a door section 122a that can open and close and cover the opening. The door section 122a is fixed to the wall section 121 via hinges or the like. When the door section 122a is closed, the panel surface faces north-south. When the door section 122a is open, the panel surface faces east-west. When the door section 122a is open, the papers in the storage section 122 can be stored in a state where they can be seen by the resident. When there are guests in the dining room 120, the papers in the storage section 122 can be hidden by closing the door section 122a.

[0028] As shown in Fig. 2, a bathroom and a washroom (dressing room) are provided on the north side of the dining room 120. In addition, a toilet is provided on the west side of the washroom.

[0029] The living room 130 is a space used as a living room. The living room 130 is provided adjacent to the dining room 120 (in the illustrated example, adjacent to the west side of the dining room 120). A sofa and a television are installed in the living room 130.

[0030] The staircase 140 is a passageway for ascending and descending between the first and second floors of the house 100. The staircase 140 is provided on the west side of the kitchen 110. The staircase 140 is provided so that it can be ascended and descended from the kitchen 110 and dining room 120 sides.

[0031] A wall portion 141 is provided between the staircase 140 and the kitchen 110. The wall portion 141 is arranged with its wall surface facing in the east-west direction. In addition, a wall portion 142 is provided between the staircase 140 and the living room 130. The wall portion 142 is arranged with its wall surface facing in the north-south direction.

[0032] The entrance 150 is a space where an entrance to the house 100 is provided. The entrance 150 is provided on the west side (northwest side) of the living room 130. A hallway is interposed between the entrance 150 and the living room 130.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 2, a Japanese-style room is provided on the north side of the living room 130.

[0034] Next, the home appliances 160 and the control device 170 provided in the house 100 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0035] The home appliances 160 are installed in the rooms of the house 100 and operate using electricity. The home appliances 160 are IoT (Internet of Things) home appliances that can communicate with external devices such as mobile phones via the Internet. The home appliances 160 can communicate with the display device 1 through appropriate wireless communication. The home appliances 160 can be remotely controlled, their status can be checked, and their settings can be configured via communication. The home appliances 160 include, for example, lighting, air conditioners, vacuum cleaners, televisions, and electric locks. The home appliances 160 may also include the refrigerator 113. Note that the home appliances 160 are not limited to the above examples, and various home appliances (household electrical machinery and appliances) used in the house 100 can be used.

[0036] The control device 170 is capable of managing the amount of power (power consumption) consumed in the house 100 by power loads such as the home appliances 160. The control device 170 is mainly configured with a processing unit such as a CPU, storage devices such as RAM and ROM, and input / output devices. Such a control device 170 is configured, for example, by a HEMS (Home Energy Management System). Furthermore, if the house 100 is equipped with a power supply system including a storage battery and a solar power generation device, the control device 170 can be configured to manage the power supply system.

[0037] Next, the display device 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 3. The display device 1 displays a screen obtained by the operation of an application 60. The display device 1 is formed in a substantially plate-like shape (thin). The application 60 will be described in detail later.

[0038] The display device 1 is installed in the living room 130 of the house 100 described above. In this embodiment, an example is shown in which the display device 1 is installed on the surface (south surface) of the wall 142 facing the living room 130. The display device 1 can be installed in a manner such that it is attached to the wall 142 via an appropriate mounting fixture (wall-mounted type), or in a manner that it is embedded in the surface of the wall 142 (embedded type). The display device 1 includes a frame 10, a touch panel 20, a communication unit 30, and a control unit 40.

[0039] The frame 10 shown in FIG. 1 is a portion that surrounds a touch panel 20, which will be described later. The frame 10 is formed in a four-sided frame shape. The frame 10 may be colored or decorated to resemble a wooden frame (picture frame) used for a cork board, blackboard, or the like. The frame 10 may also be configured to include an appropriate camera, microphone, and speaker.

[0040] The touch panel 20 shown in FIG. 1 is capable of outputting (displaying) any image. Furthermore, the touch panel 20 allows a user (resident) to input information or perform appropriate operations by touching it with a finger or a touch pen (stylus pen). The touch panel 20 is configured with a liquid crystal display or the like. The touch panel 20 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the front. The touch panel 20 is surrounded by a frame 10.

[0041] The touch panel 20 is formed to be larger than the screen of a smartphone or tablet terminal. Specifically, the touch panel 20 is formed to be approximately 15 to 20 inches in size. The size of the touch panel 20 is not limited to the above example, and a size exceeding 20 inches can be adopted. The touch panel 20 can also display images (hereinafter referred to as "application images") obtained by the operation of an application 60 (mini app 80) described later in a plurality of designated areas 50 set by a control unit 40 described later. The designated areas 50 will be described in detail later.

[0042] Furthermore, the touch panel 20 can display a background image in the area excluding the specified area 50. The background image can be set to various images according to the resident's preferences, such as a corkboard-style background, a blackboard-style background, or a computer desktop-style background.

[0043] 3 transmits and receives information to and from an external server 200, a home appliance 160, and a control device 170, which will be described later. The communication unit 30 is capable of communication via the Internet and appropriate wireless communication.

[0044] 3 sets a designated area 50 (described later) on the touch panel 20, runs an application 60, and displays an application image obtained by running the application 60 (mini app 80) in the designated area 50. The control unit 40 can store information about the application 60 (super app 70 (described later)) and the like. The control unit 40 is mainly composed of a processing unit such as a CPU, and storage devices such as RAM, ROM, and HDD.

[0045] The following describes the designated area 50 set by the control unit 40, using FIG. 1. The designated area 50 is a predetermined range (part) of the entire area in which the touch panel 20 can display an image. In this embodiment, an example is shown in which multiple (eight types of) designated areas 50 are set. The multiple designated areas 50 correspond to multiple mini apps 80, which will be described later. In the designated area 50, an application image obtained by operating the corresponding mini app 80 is displayed. The number and size of the above designated areas 50 can be set appropriately depending on the type of mini app 80.

[0046] A user (resident) can display an application image of a desired one of the multiple mini apps 80 in a desired one of the multiple designated areas 50. The display of the desired application image can be performed by managing the correspondence between the mini apps 80 and the designated areas 50 using an app management app 86, which will be described later.

[0047] In this embodiment, as an example, the correspondence between the mini-apps 80 and the designated areas 50 is managed, and as a result, eight types of mini-apps 80 (basic life information app 81, etc.) are associated (linked) with the multiple (eight types) designated areas 50 shown below.

[0048] The multiple specified areas 50 include a basic living information area 51, a schedule area 52, a photo area 53, a power consumption area 54, a home appliance control area 55, an application management area 56, a message memo area 57, and a communication area 58.

[0049] The basic life information area 51 corresponds to the basic life information application 81, which will be described later. That is, an application image obtained by operating the basic life information application 81 is displayed in the basic life information area 51. The basic life information area 51 is provided at the top end of the touch panel 20. The basic life information area 51 is provided across the entire touch panel 20 in the left-right direction.

[0050] The schedule area 52 corresponds to a schedule application 82, which will be described later. That is, an application image obtained by the operation of the schedule application 82 is displayed in the schedule area 52. The schedule area 52 is provided below the basic life information area 51. The schedule area 52 is provided across the entire touch panel 20 in the left-right direction.

[0051] The photo area 53 corresponds to a photo application 83, which will be described later. That is, an application image obtained by the operation of the photo application 83 is displayed in the photo area 53. The photo area 53 is provided below the schedule area 52. In this embodiment, two photo areas 53 are arranged side by side.

[0052] The power consumption area 54 corresponds to a power consumption application 84, which will be described later. That is, the power consumption area 54 displays an application image obtained by the operation of the power consumption application 84. The power consumption area 54 is provided below the photo area 53 on the left side.

[0053] The home appliance control area 55 corresponds to a home appliance control application 85, which will be described later. That is, the home appliance control area 55 displays an application image obtained by operating the home appliance control application 85. The home appliance control area 55 is provided below the photo area 53 on the right side.

[0054] The application management area 56 corresponds to an application management application 86, which will be described later. That is, the application management area 56 displays an application image obtained by operating the application management application 86. The application management area 56 is provided below the home appliance control area 55.

[0055] The message memo area 57 corresponds to a message memo application 87, which will be described later. That is, an application image obtained by the operation of the message memo application 87 is displayed in the message memo area 57. The message memo area 57 is provided below the power consumption area 54 and the application management area 56. The message memo area 57 is provided across the entire touch panel 20 in the left-right direction.

[0056] The communication area 58 corresponds to a communication application 88, which will be described later. That is, an application image obtained by operating the communication application 88 is displayed in the communication area 58. The communication area 58 is provided below the message memo area 57. The communication area 58 is also provided at the bottom end of the touch panel 20. The communication area 58 is provided across the entire touch panel 20 in the left-right direction.

[0057] The following describes application 60 executed by control unit 40 with reference to Fig. 4. Application 60 is a program that displays application images obtained by the operation of application 60 (mini appli 80, described later) in multiple designated areas 50 set on touch panel 20. Application 60 includes super appli 70 and mini appli 80.

[0058] The super app 70 runs multiple mini appli 80, which will be described later. The super appli 70 is stored (installed) in the control unit 40 and is an application (native application) that can be executed directly on the operating system executed by the control unit 40. The super appli 70 can be downloaded from an appropriate app market (an application provision service via the Internet). The super appli 70 provides an environment for running the mini appli 80.

[0059] The mini apps 80 run on the super app 70. The mini apps 80 are associated with multiple designated areas 50 so as to correspond to each of them. The multiple mini apps 80 perform different functions. The mini apps 80 are provided by businesses related to the home 100, such as home builders. The control unit 40 displays an application image drawn by the operation of the mini app 80 in the designated area 50 corresponding to that mini app 80. Here, the application image includes text and images (video) showing the results of the function of the mini app 80 being performed, as well as buttons and icons that can be operated via the designated area 50 (touch panel 20).

[0060] The mini app 80 is stored in the external server 200. In other words, the mini app 80 is not stored in the control unit 40. Here, the external server 200 is a control device that is provided outside the display device 1 (house 100) and is capable of storing and calculating various types of information. The external server 200 is mainly composed of a processing unit such as a CPU, storage devices such as RAM and ROM, input / output devices, etc.

[0061] The external server 200 is operated (managed) by a business operator related to the house 100, such as a housing manufacturer. The external server 200 is capable of communicating with the display device 1. The external server 200 is also capable of communicating with external services related to the house 100, such as a call center of the housing manufacturer. The external server 200 is also capable of communicating with external web services, such as a weather information service, a calendar service, and an IoT service (an external service related to IoT). Note that the external web services are not limited to the above-mentioned examples, and various web services that transmit information from outside the external server 200 can be adopted.

[0062] The multiple mini apps 80 include eight types of mini apps 80: a basic life information app 81, a schedule app 82, a photo app 83, a power consumption app 84, a home appliance control app 85, an app management app 86, a message memo app 87, and a communication app 88.

[0063] The basic life information application 81 displays application images showing basic information used in daily life (basic life information) such as the time, date, weather, temperature, and traffic information in the basic life information area 51 shown in FIG. 1. More specifically, the basic life information application 81 displays the current time and date. The basic life information application 81 also displays the current weather and temperature. The basic life information application 81 also displays traffic information for transportation such as the nearest station and bus stop to the current location (the address of the house 100). The basic life information application 81 can display information from external web services such as the weather information service shown in FIG. 3. The basic life information application 81 can also display application images showing the resident information on currently available transportation using information such as the distance from the house 100 to the nearest station or bus stop and the travel time.

[0064] The schedule application 82 displays an application image showing calendar information in which a schedule can be entered in the schedule area 52 shown in FIG. 1. The schedule application 82 has a function for entering notes and markers on the calendar (application image showing calendar information). The entry can be made by the user (resident) using a finger or a touch pen. The schedule application 82 can employ a configuration that allows the display to be switched between yearly, monthly, and weekly units. The schedule application 82 can display information from external web services such as the calendar service shown in FIG. 3.

[0065] The photo application 83 displays photos stored in a predetermined storage medium as application images in the photo area 53 shown in FIG. 1. The photo application 83 has a function for managing photo data based on date and time information contained in the photo data. The photo display mode of the photo application 83 can be selected from a display mode in which any photo stored in the storage medium is continuously displayed, and a display mode in which the displayed photos are switched every certain time. The control unit 40 of the display device 1 or the external server 200 can be used as the storage medium in which the photos are stored.

[0066] The power consumption application 84 displays an application image showing information about the power consumption of the house 100 in the power consumption area 54 shown in FIG. 1. The power consumption application 84 displays information about the amount of power consumption acquired from the control device 170 using the communication unit 30. The power consumption application 84 can display, for example, graphs (bar graphs or line graphs) showing the amount of power consumption by time (yearly, monthly, weekly, daily, or hourly). The power consumption application 84 can also display an application image showing details of the power consumption at a certain time (for example, a certain day).

[0067] The home appliance control app 85 displays application images showing information for remotely controlling the home appliance 160 via the communication unit 30, checking the status, setting, etc., in the home appliance control area 55 shown in FIG. 1. The home appliance control app 85 has a function that enables remote control of the home appliance 160, etc., to be performed by the user (resident). The above operations can be performed via the application image displayed in the home appliance control area 55. The home appliance control app 85 can display information from external web services, such as the IoT service shown in FIG. 3.

[0068] The application management application 86 manages the correspondence between the designated area 50 and the mini appli- cations 80. An application image of the application management application 86 is displayed in the application management area 56 shown in FIG. 1. The application management application 86 can display icons of multiple mini appli- cations 80, including the eight types of mini appli- cations 80 shown in FIG. 4, as application images. The application management application 86 has a function to associate (link) a desired mini appli- cation 80 selected by a resident's operation with a desired designated area 50. This allows the resident to display an application image of a desired mini appli- cation 80 from among the multiple mini appli- cations 80 in a desired designated area 50 from among the multiple designated areas 50. The application management application 86 also has a function to change the designated area 50 in which the application image is displayed (for example, to change the position or size of the designated area 50 on the touch panel 20). This allows the resident to change the position or size in which the application image is displayed to suit their preferences.

[0069] The message memo application 87 displays an application image in which a resident can write a memo in the message memo area 57 shown in Fig. 1. The message memo application 87 has a function to display a memo handwritten by the user (resident) using a finger or a touch pen.

[0070] The communication application 88 displays application images used for two-way communication between a business related to the home 100, such as a home builder, and a resident in the communication area 58 shown in Fig. 1. The communication application 88 has a function for exchanging messages via chat or email, and for communicating between the resident and the business via video or voice calls, using the communication unit 30. The above communication can be performed using an appropriate camera, microphone, and speaker provided in the display device 1 (frame unit 10).

[0071] By using the communication application 88, when a problem occurs with the facilities of the house 100, the resident can receive after-sales support using the application image in the communication area 58. Furthermore, the communication application 88 can display application images for exchanging messages via chat function or email, or for communication via video calls or voice calls, as necessary. Furthermore, the communication application 88 can display, as an application image, a contact button that can be used to contact, for example, a call center or a person in charge at the home builder.

[0072] The following describes an example of how the communication app 88 can be used. By operating the contact button displayed in the communication area 58, a resident can report a problem with the facilities of the home 100 to a call center or a representative from the home builder. The report can be made via email or chat.

[0073] The communication app 88 can also display, as an application image, replies from a person in charge of the home builder or a maintenance company arranged by the person in charge. The replies can be sent via email or a chat function. For example, when a maintenance company related to equipment in the home 100 needs to visit the home 100 for repairs or other purposes, the communication app 88 can display, as an application image, a message indicating that fact and the time of arrival. In this case, the communication app 88 can display the message in a conspicuous manner, such as a pop-up display. The communication app 88 can also display, as an application image, notices and advertisements from the home builder, in addition to the above-mentioned notices regarding malfunctions. In this embodiment, the app management app 86 cannot change the size of the communication area 58 (e.g., reduce it), or hide the application image of the communication app 88 (disconnect the link between the communication app 88 and the communication area 58). This prevents information from businesses (home builders) and the like from being hidden or difficult to view, making it easier for residents to view the information at all times.

[0074] The above-described mini-apps 80 primarily perform functions related to the daily lives (activities centered around the home 100) of the residents (users) of the home 100. Note that the above-described mini-apps 80 (basic daily life information app 81, etc.) are merely examples, and mini-apps 80 that perform various functions related to the daily lives of the residents, such as car sharing, car dispatch services, shopping, etc., can be used in addition to or instead of the above-described ones.

[0075] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the mini apps 80 stored in the external server 200, rather than in the control unit 40, are configured to run on the super app 70. This allows the functions of the mini apps 80 to be realized without having to be installed on the control unit 40. This also means that even if the use of some of the multiple mini apps 80 is suspended due to maintenance or the like, it is not necessary to suspend the use of all of the functions, as is the case when, for example, an application stored in the control unit 40 itself has multiple functions, thereby improving convenience.

[0076] As described above, the control unit 40 (display device 1) can operate a mini appli 80 and display an application image obtained by operating the mini appli 80 in one of the multiple designation areas 50 that corresponds to the mini appli 80. In this way, by configuring the application image to be displayed in the designation area 50 rather than on the entire touch panel 20, the application image can be displayed simultaneously in multiple designation areas 50. This improves the visibility of the application images displayed on the touch panel 20, and improves the usability of the display device 1.

[0077] 2, in this embodiment, the display device 1 is installed on a wall 142 facing the living room 130. By installing the display device 1 in the living room 130 where residents tend to gather in this way, the residents can easily view the display device 1, thereby improving the usability of the display device 1.

[0078] Furthermore, the location where the display device 1 is installed (wall 142 facing the living room 130) is a place where residents frequently pass through. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, when residents move between the entrance 150 and Japanese-style room and the other rooms on the first floor (living room 130, dining room 120, kitchen 110, bathroom, washroom, and toilet), they pass through the location where the display device 1 is installed. In addition, when residents move between the entrance 150 and Japanese-style room and the stairs 140, which are the passage to the second floor, they also pass through the location where the display device 1 is installed. In this way, the display device 1 is installed on a passage (traffic line) that residents frequently use when going out or returning home, or when moving between rooms. This allows the display device 1 to be installed in a location that is easily visible to residents, further improving the usability of the display device 1.

[0079] Furthermore, the control unit 40 can perform control to constantly display the application image in the designated area 50. That is, even if the display device 1 is not operated for a long period of time, the control unit 40 can continue to display the application image without performing control to temporarily stop the display of the designated area 50 (putting the display device 1 into a sleep state). This allows a resident passing by the display device 1 to view the application image without having to perform an operation to display the application image. Furthermore, by installing the display device 1 in a frequently used passage (traffic line) as in this embodiment, the resident can obtain information displayed as an application image in the designated area 50 when passing by the display device 1 without being particularly aware of it.

[0080] According to the display device 1 of this embodiment as described above, unlike when using a smartphone or tablet terminal that displays one application image on the screen, even when using multiple apps, there is no need to switch between each application image, thereby improving usability.

[0081] Furthermore, for example, when displaying an application image on the screen of a smartphone or tablet device, each user must launch the app, authenticate the app, and perform other procedures, which is cumbersome and unsuitable for sharing within the home. On the other hand, the display device 1 according to this embodiment allows residents to view the application image that is always displayed in each designated area 50 without launching the app or performing other procedures such as authentication, making it suitable for sharing within the home.

[0082] Furthermore, the control unit 40 can display an application image in the designated area 50 in the following manner.

[0083] Based on the operation of the resident (user) via the touch panel 20, the control unit 40 can enlarge or reduce the size of the application image displayed in the designated area 50. In this case, the control unit 40 does not change the size of the designated area 50. In other words, the control unit 40 can enlarge or reduce the size of the characters and images displayed in the designated area 50 without changing the size of the designated area 50 itself. This makes it possible to make the application image displayed in the designated area 50 easier to see while ensuring that the images can be viewed at a glance.

[0084] In addition, when the control unit 40 displays a certain application image (first application image) among the application images corresponding to a certain designated area 50, it can automatically display a second application image related to the first application image among the application images corresponding to another designated area 50.

[0085] Specifically, for example, when a photo taken on a certain date and time is displayed as an application image in the photo area 53, the control unit 40 can automatically display an application image indicating the date on which the photo was taken in the schedule area 52. The display is performed by the control unit 40 linking the schedule application 82 with the photo application 83. This allows the resident to check the date on which a certain photo was taken.

[0086] Furthermore, for example, when an application image showing the amount of power consumption for a certain day is displayed in the power consumption area 54, the control unit 40 can automatically display a photo taken on that day as an application image in the photo area 53. The above display is performed by the control unit 40 linking the photo app 83 with the power consumption app 84. This allows the resident to check, for example, what the resident was doing on a day when the amount of power consumption was high, by looking at the photo. In this way, by displaying the application images obtained by the operation of each mini app 80 in association (linking) with each other, the resident can compare multiple related application images.

[0087] Furthermore, for example, when the control unit 40 receives a message from the communication application 88 informing the user that a maintenance worker will be visiting the house 100, the control unit 40 can automatically update the calendar so that the date and time when the maintenance worker will be visiting the house 100 is displayed in the schedule area 52. The display is performed by the control unit 40 linking the schedule application 82 with the communication application 88. This allows the control unit 40 to automatically add a schedule using the communication application 88.

[0088] Furthermore, the control unit 40 prevents an application image displayed in one of the multiple designated areas 50 from being displayed in the other designated areas 50. This prevents the same application image from being displayed in multiple designated areas 50.

[0089] As described above, the display device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention has the following features: a display unit (touch panel 20) capable of displaying images; a control unit 40 that displays an image on the display unit (touch panel 20); Equipped with The control unit 40 A plurality of designated areas 50, which are areas of a predetermined range within the display unit (touch panel 20), can be set, a first application (mini app 80) can be operated, and an application image obtained by operation of the first application (mini app 80) can be displayed in the designated area 50 corresponding to the first application (mini app 80) among the plurality of designated areas 50.

[0090] Such a configuration can improve the usability of the display device 1. That is, by configuring the application image to be displayed in the designated area 50 rather than on the entire display unit (touch panel 20), the application image can be displayed simultaneously in multiple designated areas 50. This can improve the visibility of images displayed on the display unit (touch panel 20), and can improve the usability of the display device 1.

[0091] In addition, the control unit 40 The application image displayed in the designated area 50 can be enlarged or reduced without changing the size of the designated area 50; The application image displayed in one of the plurality of designated areas 50 is not displayed in the other designated areas 50.

[0092] This configuration can further improve the usability of the display device 1. That is, it is possible to make the application image displayed in the designation area 50 easier to see while ensuring the ability to view images at a glance. It is also possible to prevent the same application image from being displayed in multiple designation areas 50. In this way, it is possible to further improve the usability of the display device 1.

[0093] The plurality of designated areas 50 include a first designated area 50 and a second designated area 50 different from the first designated area 50, The control unit 40 When a first application image among the application images corresponding to the first specified area 50 is displayed in the first specified area 50, a second application image among the application images corresponding to the second specified area 50, which is related to the first application image, is displayed in the second specified area 50.

[0094] With this configuration, in conjunction with the display of an application image (first application image) in the first specified area 50, an application image (second application image) related to the first application image can be displayed in the second specified area 50. This allows the user (resident) to compare multiple related application images.

[0095] The display device further includes an information acquisition unit (control unit 40) capable of acquiring information (power consumption) about the building (house 100) in which the display device is installed, At least one of the first application image and the second application image is based on the information (power consumption amount) acquired by the information acquisition unit (control unit 40).

[0096] With this configuration, when a user (resident) checks information (power consumption) about a building (residence 100), the user can compare the information about the building (residence 100) with application images related to the information about the building (residence 100) (power consumption).

[0097] In addition, the control unit 40 The application image is always displayed in the designated area 50 .

[0098] Such a configuration can further improve the usability of the display device 1. That is, by constantly displaying an application image in the designated area 50, the user (resident) can view the application image without having to perform any operation to display the application image.

[0099] In addition, the control unit 40 a second application (super application 70) that runs a plurality of the first applications (mini application 80); The plurality of first applications (mini apps 80) The information is stored in a control device (external server 200) external to the display device 1.

[0100] This configuration can further improve the usability of the display device 1. That is, the first application (mini appli 80) stored in a control device (external server 200) external to the display device 1 is operated by the second application (super appli 70), thereby displaying the application image in the specified area 50. This allows various functions of the first application (mini appli 80) to be exercised without installing the first application (mini appli 80) on the display device 1.

[0101] The display device 1 further includes a communication unit 30 that enables two-way communication between a business operator related to the building (house 100) in which the display device 1 is installed and a user of the building (house 100), The plurality of designated areas 50 include a communication area (communication area 58) that displays an application image used for communication by the communication unit 30.

[0102] Such a configuration can improve the ease of use when a business operator and a user of the building (house 100) communicate with each other.

[0103] In addition, the building (house 100) according to one embodiment of the present invention is A building (residence 100) equipped with a display device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention and having at least a dining room 120, The display device 1 includes: It is installed on the wall of the dining room 120 or the space adjacent to the dining room 120 (living room 130).

[0104] This configuration can improve the usability of the display device 1 installed in the building (house 100). That is, by installing the display device 1 in a space where residents tend to gather relatively easily and where the residents can easily see the display device 1, the usability of the display device 1 can be improved.

[0105] The touch panel 20 according to this embodiment is one form of a display unit according to the present invention. The control unit 40 according to this embodiment is one form of an information acquisition unit according to the present invention. The communication area 58 according to this embodiment is one form of the communication area according to the present invention. The super application 70 according to this embodiment is one form of the second application according to the present invention. The mini appli 80 according to this embodiment is one form of the first application according to the present invention. The house 100 according to this embodiment is one form of a building according to the present invention. The external server 200 according to this embodiment is one form of an external control device according to the present invention.

[0106] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above configuration, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention described in the claims.

[0107] For example, in this embodiment, an example is shown in which the display device 1 is installed in the living room 130 (wall portion 142), but the space in which the display device 1 is installed is not limited to the living room 130, and various installation locations can be adopted, as in the modified example shown in Figure 5.

[0108] For example, as shown in Fig. 5, the display device 1 may be installed in the kitchen 110. More specifically, the display device 1 may be installed on the surface (east side) of the wall 141 facing the kitchen 110. The display device 1 may also be installed on the door surface of the cupboard 112 in the kitchen 110.

[0109] In this way, by installing the display device 1 in the kitchen 110, which is used relatively frequently by residents, it is possible to improve the usability of the display device 1. In addition, in the above example, the display device 1 is installed near the refrigerator 113, which is more likely to be seen by residents.

[0110] The display device 1 may also be installed in the dining room 120. More specifically, the display device 1 may be installed on the surface (south surface) of the wall 121 facing the dining room 120. In this embodiment, an example is shown in which the display device 1 is installed on the western part of the wall 121 (the part on the surface facing the kitchen 110 where the range hood 114 is provided). The display device 1 may also be installed on the inner surface of the door 122a of the storage section 122 (the surface facing the interior of the storage section 122 when closed). In this case, the display device 1 faces the dining room 120 (west side) when the door 122a is open.

[0111] In this way, by installing the display device 1 in the dining room 120 where residents tend to gather, the residents can easily view the display device 1, and the usability of the display device 1 can be improved.

[0112] The installation location of the display device 1 is not limited to the above example, and the display device 1 can be installed in various locations within the house 100.

[0113] In addition, in this embodiment, as an example, an example is shown in which the eight types of mini apps 80 shown in Figure 4 are linked to the eight types of designated areas 50 shown in Figure 1, but this is not limited to this example, and various types of mini apps 80 can be linked to the designated areas 50.

[0114] In addition, in the present embodiment, an example has been shown in which the display unit of the display device 1 is the touch panel 20 through which information can be input, but this is not limited to this. For example, the display unit may be a display that does not allow information to be input. In this case, a separate input unit through which information can be input may be provided.

[0115] In addition, in the present embodiment, an example has been shown in which an application image is displayed in the designated area 50 by the operation of a mini app 80 that is not stored in the display device 1 (controller 40), but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which an application image is displayed in the designated area 50 by the operation of a native app that is stored in the display device 1 (controller 40).

[0116] The display device 1 may be configured to be able to communicate with not only the home appliances 160, the control device 170, and the external server 200 as shown in Fig. 3, but also with terminals such as the resident's mobile phone, tablet terminal, or personal computer. In this case, the display device 1 may be operated using the terminal, or an image displayed on the display device 1 may be displayed on the terminal.

[0117] Furthermore, the display device 1 is not limited to being installed in one place inside the house 100. For example, a plurality of display devices 1 may be installed inside the house 100.

[0118] In addition, in the present embodiment, the building in which the display device 1 is installed is the house 100, but the present invention is not limited to this. The building in which the display device 1 is installed may be an accommodation facility such as a hotel, a commercial facility, or a public facility. [Explanation of symbols]

[0119] 1 Display device 20 Touch Panel 30 Communications Department 40 Control Unit 50 Specified area 70 Super Apps 80 Mini Apps 100 Housing 200 External Server

Claims

1. a display unit capable of displaying an image; a control unit that causes the display unit to display an image; Equipped with The control unit a plurality of designated areas, which are areas of a predetermined range, are set on the display unit, and a plurality of first applications are operable, and an application image obtained by operation of each of the first applications is displayable in a designated area corresponding to the first application among the plurality of designated areas; the plurality of designated areas include a first designated area corresponding to one of the plurality of first applications, and a second designated area corresponding to another of the first applications different from the one of the plurality of first applications and located at a position on the display unit different from the first designated area; The control unit when a first application image among the application images corresponding to the first designated area is displayed in the first designated area, a second application image among the application images corresponding to the second designated area, which is related to the first application image, is displayed in the second designated area; Display device.

2. A communication unit capable of two-way communication between information input by a business operator related to a building in which the display device is installed and information input by a user of the building, the plurality of designated areas include a communication area for displaying an application image used for communication by the communication unit; The display device according to claim 1 .

3. The control unit The application image displayed in the designated area can be enlarged or reduced without changing the size of the designated area; The application image displayed in one of the plurality of designated areas is not displayed in the other designated areas. The display device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. an information acquisition unit capable of acquiring information about a building in which the display device is installed; At least one of the first application image and the second application image is based on information acquired by the information acquisition unit. The display device according to claim 1 .

5. The control unit always displaying the application image in the designated area; The display device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The control unit a second application that runs a plurality of the first applications; The plurality of first applications include: stored in a control device external to the display device; The display device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. A building comprising the display device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 and having at least a dining room, The display device includes: It is installed on the wall of the dining room or the space adjacent to the dining room. building.

Images