Device

Abstract

To draw characters with smooth lines. [Solution] An apparatus comprising: a first segment group having one or more first display segments representing at least a part of a first state of a predetermined character; and a second segment group having one or more second display segments representing at least a part of a second state of the predetermined character, wherein an intermittent portion is formed in at least a part of the first segment group, and at least a part of the second display segments is located in the intermittent portion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, an apparatus (toy) including a liquid crystal screen including a plurality of pixels has been widespread (Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, the drawings of characters displayed on the liquid crystal screen are expressed by rough lines in the form of dot pictures, and there is room for further improvement.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] To achieve the above object, the apparatus of the present invention includes a first segment group having one or more first display segments representing at least a part of a first state of a predetermined character, and a second segment group having one or more second display segments representing at least a part of a second state of the predetermined character, wherein at least a part of the first segment group has an intermittent portion, and at least a part of the second display segment is located in the intermittent portion.

Effects of the Invention

[0006] According to the apparatus of the present invention, a character can be depicted with smooth lines.

[0007] The effects described above are merely illustrative for the sake of explanation and are not limiting. In addition to, or in lieu of, any other effects described herein or that would be obvious to those skilled in the art may be achieved. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a front view of Toy 1 related to this disclosure. [Figure 2] This is a cylinder representing an example of the configuration of the control device 7. [Figure 3] This is an explanatory diagram of the multiple display segments 20 that make up the display 5. [Figure 4] This is an example of a character 5a and background design 5b displayed on display 5. [Figure 5] This is an example of a character 5a and background design 5b displayed on display 5. [Figure 6] This is an example of a character 5a and background design 5b displayed on display 5. [Figure 7] This is an enlarged view of the area S1 in Figure 3. [Figure 8] This is an enlarged view of the area S2 in Figure 7. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings.

[0010] Referring to Figure 1, a front view of the toy 1 according to this disclosure is shown. The toy 1 is a portable device that a user holds in their hand to play with. The toy 1 comprises an operation button 3, a display 5, and a control device 7. The operation button 3 is a button that the user presses with their finger. The display 5 is a display device that displays a predetermined character 5a and a predetermined background design 5b, for example, in monochrome. The display 5 displays multiple types of images, although details will be described later. For the sake of explanation, as shown in Figure 1, the right side of the page will be referred to as the right, the left side as the left, the top of the page as the up, and the bottom of the page as the down.

[0011] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the control device 7. The control device 7 has a hardware configuration similar to that of a known computer, and includes, for example, an arithmetic unit 11, a storage unit 12, an input unit 13, and an output unit 14. The arithmetic unit 11 includes, for example, a hardware processor. The hardware processor is a CPU (Central Processing Unit), an integrated circuit, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), etc. The storage unit 12 stores various data and various information. The storage unit 12 stores a program for controlling the entire toy 1. The storage unit 12 includes, for example, a storage medium such as a semiconductor memory device and a magnetic disk device. Some or all of the storage medium may be a non-transitory storage medium. The control device 7 performs the processing described in this embodiment by having the hardware processor execute the program for controlling the entire toy 1.

[0012] The input unit 13 is electrically connected to the operation button 3 and receives electrical signals related to the pressing operation of the operation button 3. The output unit 14 is electrically connected to the display 5 and changes the display mode of the display 5 based on the calculation results of the calculation unit 11. For example, when the calculation unit 11 detects the pressing operation of the operation button 3 by the input unit 13, it performs calculation processing to identify the image to be displayed on the display 5 and displays the image on the display 5 via the output unit 14. Note that the devices electrically connected to the input unit 13 and the output unit 14 are not limited to the operation button 3 and the display 5. That is, the input unit 13 may be electrically connected to a sound-collecting device such as a microphone, an electrostatic sensor, a touch sensor, and an acceleration sensor located on the front of the display 5. The output unit 14 may also be electrically connected to a sound-producing device such as a speaker. Furthermore, the control device 7 may include a communication device that functions as the input unit 13 and the output unit 14. Furthermore, the control device 7 may be located inside the toy 1, or control may be performed by communication from the outside via wired or wireless.

[0013] Referring to Figure 3, an explanatory diagram of the multiple display segments 20 that make up the display 5 is shown. The display 5 displays a character 5a and a background design 5b. Character 5a is a drawing of a character that the user operates in the toy 1. For example, if the toy 1, as an example of a device, is a game machine for a game in which a character is raised, then character 5a will be shown to grow and express emotions in response to the user's actions. In other words, character 5a will change in response to the user's actions, etc. Background design 5b is a drawing that represents, for example, the sun and the moon. In other words, background design 5b is a drawing that decorates the background behind character 5a.

[0014] The display 5 has multiple display segments 20 that can be switched between a displayed state and a hidden state by control of the control device 7 (Figure 2). The display segments 20 are LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) segments whose color changes when power is supplied, for example. The color-changed display segments 20 become a different color from the base 6 of the display 5. That is, the display segments 20 become a displayed state when power is supplied and they become a different color from the base 6 of the display 5, and become a hidden state when power is not supplied and they become the same color as the base 6. Therefore, the display 5 changes the display mode of the character 5a and background design 5b by switching each of the multiple display segments 20 between a displayed state and a hidden state.

[0015] Referring to Figures 4-6, examples of character 5a and background design 5b displayed on display 5 are shown. Specifically, Figure 4 shows an example of the first image displayed on display 5, and Figure 6 shows an example of the second image displayed on display 5. Figure 5 also shows a reference diagram in which the first image is displayed as a thin line on the second image displayed on display 5.

[0016] According to Figure 4, the display 5 displays the first drawing by displaying the display segments 20 that constitute the first segment group 31. The first drawing is a drawing that shows a first state of character 5a. The character 5a in the first state is, for example, a character 5a that expresses happiness. The first drawing includes a first line 41. The first line 41 is a line that represents a straight line or a curve. The first line 41 is a virtual line that forms the first drawing.

[0017] The first segment group 31 is formed along the first drawing line 41. Specifically, the first segment group 31 has one or more first display segments 21 that represent at least a part of the first drawing in the first state of the character 5a among the display segments 20. This first segment group 31 may not have a uniform thickness, for example, and may have one or more intermittent portions. That is, the first segment group 31 only needs to represent a figure that allows the user to recognize continuity at a glance.

[0018] According to FIG. 6, the display 5 displays the second drawing by bringing the display segments constituting the second segment group 32 into a display state. The second drawing is a drawing showing the second state of the character 5a. The character 5a in the second state is, for example, a character expressing sleeping. The second drawing includes a second drawing line 42. The second drawing line 42 is a virtual line forming the second drawing. The second segment group 32 is formed along the second drawing line 42. Specifically, the second segment group 32 has one or more second display segments 22 that represent at least a part of the second drawing in the second state of the character 5a among the display segments 20. This second segment group 32 represents a straight line or a curve in the same manner as the first segment group 31, and represents a figure that allows the user to recognize continuity at a glance.

[0019] According to FIG. 5, the display 5 includes a common segment group 35 having one or more display segments 20. The common segment group 35 represents the common part of the character 5a in the first state and the character 5a in the second state. In other words, the first segment group represents the part of the drawing representing the first state other than the part represented by the common segment group 35. The common segment group 35 has one or more common display segments 25 that represent at least a part of the first drawing line 41 and the second drawing line 42 among the display segments 20.

[0020] Here, when switching the image displayed on the display 5 from the first image to the second image, the calculation unit 11 maintains the display state of the common display segment 25 of the common segment group 35, hides the first display segment 21 of the first segment group 31, and displays the second display segment 22 of the second segment group 32. Specifically, when the first segment group 31 is displayed to represent the first image, the second segment group 32 is hidden. Also, when the second segment group 32 is displayed to represent the second image, the first segment group 31 is hidden. On the other hand, the common segment group 35 is displayed in both cases: when the first segment group 31 is displayed and when the second segment group 32 is displayed.

[0021] In this way, the display 5 switches the display state or the hidden state of the first display segment 21 of the first segment group 31 and the second display segment 22 of the second segment group 32, respectively. As a result, the display 5 can change the first image representing the first state of the character 5a and background design 5b to the second image representing the second state. Consequently, the display 5 can create an effect in which the character 5a and background design 5b change from the first state to the second state.

[0022] Referring to Figure 7, an enlarged view of the range S1 in Figure 3 is shown. Also, referring to Figure 8, an enlarged view of the range S2 in Figure 7 is shown. Multiple intermittent sections 45 are formed in the first segment group 31, the second segment group 32, and the common segment group 35. An intermittent section 45 is a portion of a segment group formed along a drawing line in which no display segments are formed. For example, the intermittent section 45 formed in the first segment group 31 is sandwiched between the two ends 21a of the first display segment 21 (P1 in Figure 7). That is, the intermittent section 45 of the first segment group 31 is on the first drawing line 41 in which the first display segment 21 is not formed. The same applies to the intermittent section 45 of the second segment group 32 (P2 in Figure 7) and the intermittent section 45 of the common segment group 35 (P3 in Figure 7).

[0023] As shown in Figure 8, at least a portion of the second display segment 22 is located in the intermittent portion 45 (P4 in Figure 8) of the first segment group 31. Because the second display segment 22 is located in the intermittent portion 45 of the first segment group 31, the display 5 displays the second display segment 22 at the point where the first line 41 and the second line 42 intersect. That is, when the first segment group 31 is displayed, the first line 41 is not represented in the intermittent portion 45, and when the second segment group 32 is displayed, the second display segment 22 is displayed at the position corresponding to the intermittent portion 45. In this way, the display 5 can form the second segment group 32 such that the first line 41 is represented by the first segment group 31 in which the intermittent portion 45 is formed, and the second display segment 22 is displayed at the position corresponding to the intermittent portion 45.

[0024] Furthermore, the first segment group 31 also has intermittent sections 45 at positions different from those where at least a portion of the second display segment 22 is located (P5 in Figure 8). This allows the display 5 to display the first line 41 intermittently in areas other than where the first line 41 and the second line 42 intersect. Therefore, compared to the case where the intermittent sections 45 are formed only at the intersection of the first line 41 and the second line 42 in the first segment group 31, the display 5 can hinder the user's ability to predict the intersection of the lines, thereby improving the aesthetic appeal.

[0025] Figure 8 shows a circular first line 41. Inside the circle drawn by the first line 41, there is a hatching display segment 26. Specifically, the first line 41 represents the outline of the character 5a's eye. The hatching display segment 26 represents the pupil of the character 5a's eye. The hatching display segment 26 is the part that represents filled areas, such as the pupil of the character 5a's eye, with hatching. That is, the hatching display segment 26 is a display segment formed in a zigzag shape, for example.

[0026] As a result, the display 5 can represent the character 5a in the filled area as if it were a hand-drawn illustration. In addition, intermittent portions 45 are formed in the hatching display segment 26 (P6 in Figure 8). This allows the display 5 to represent intermittent portions in the filled area, such as the glossiness of the pupil.

[0027] As described above, the toy 1 according to the present disclosure comprises a first segment group 31 having one or more first display segments 21 that represent at least a part of a first state of character 5a, and a second segment group 32 having one or more second display segments 22 that represent at least a part of a second state of character 5a. At least a part of the first segment group 31 has an intermittent portion 45, and at least a part of the second display segments 22 is located in the intermittent portion 45.

[0028] As a result, the toy 1 according to this disclosure can display the character 5a in a first state on the display 5 by displaying the first segment group 31. The toy 1 can also display the character 5a in a second state on the display 5 by hiding the first segment group 31 and displaying the second segment group 32. Furthermore, since at least a part of the second display segment 22 is positioned in the intermittent portion 45 formed in the first segment group 31, the display 5 can represent the intersection of the character 5a in the first state and the character 5a in the second state using the display segment. Consequently, the toy 1 can use the display segment 20 to display characters 5a with different states, such as facial expressions, at substantially the same position on the display 5.

[0029] Furthermore, in the toy 1 according to this disclosure, the intermittent portion 45 is sandwiched between the two ends 21a of the first display segment 21 of the first segment group 31. As a result, the toy 1 according to this disclosure can position the second display segment 22 so as to be sandwiched between the two ends 21a of the first display segment 21. Therefore, the first segment group 31 can represent the character 5a in the first state so as to be continuous with the second display segment 22 in between.

[0030] Furthermore, in the toy 1 according to this disclosure, one or more intermittent portions 45 are formed in the first segment group 31 at positions different from the intermittent portions 45. As a result, the toy 1 according to this disclosure can intermittently represent the character 5a in the first state even in parts other than the parts where the first line 41 and the second line 42 intersect.

[0031] Furthermore, the toy 1 according to this disclosure includes a common segment group 35 having one or more display segments 20. The common segment group 35 represents the common portion of the character 5a in the first state and the character 5a in the second state. As a result, the toy 1 according to this disclosure can switch the common display segment 25 of the common portion of the character 5a in the first state and the character 5a in the second state to a display state or a hidden state all at once.

[0032] Furthermore, in toy 1 according to this disclosure, when the first segment group 31 is displayed, the second segment group 32 is hidden. Conversely, when the second segment group 32 is displayed, the first segment group 31 is hidden. In addition, the common segment group 35 is displayed in both cases, whether the first segment group 31 or the second segment group 32 is displayed. As a result, toy 1 according to this disclosure can switch between the displayed and hidden states of the first segment group 31 and the second segment group 32 while keeping the common segment group 35 displayed. Therefore, toy 1 can switch the state of character 5a between the first state and the second state.

[0033] Furthermore, in the toy 1 according to this disclosure, the first segment group 31 is formed along the first line 41. As a result, the toy 1 according to this disclosure can represent the character 5a in a first state as a diagram using the first segment group 31. Furthermore, in the toy 1 according to this disclosure, the second segment group 32 is formed along the second line 42. As a result, the toy 1 according to this disclosure can represent the character 5a in a second state as a diagram using the second segment group 32.

[0034] Furthermore, the toy 1 according to this disclosure includes a hatching display segment 26 that represents the filled-in portion of character 5a using hatching. This allows the toy 1 according to this disclosure to represent the filled-in portion of character 5a as if it were a hand-drawn illustration.

[0035] Furthermore, in toy 1 according to this disclosure, the first display segment 21 and the second display segment 22 are monochrome. This allows toy 1 according to this disclosure to represent character 5a as if it were a hand-drawn sketch.

[0036] From another perspective, the toy 1 according to the present disclosure comprises a first segment group 31 having one or more first display segments 21 that represent at least a portion of a first state of character 5a, and a second segment group 32 having one or more second display segments 22 that represent at least a portion of a second state of character 5a. The first segment group 31 forms a first line 41. As a result, the toy 1 according to the present disclosure can represent the first line 41 as a smooth line compared to a toy having a liquid crystal screen with multiple pixels, because the first display segments 21 are formed in the shape of the first line 41.

[0037] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments and various modifications are possible. For example, in this embodiment, a portable toy 1 that a user holds in their hand to play with was described as an example of a device. However, the device may be a wristwatch-type device attached to the user's arm, a necklace-type device worn around the user's neck, or a device that the user remotely controls with a controller. Also, in this embodiment, an operation button 3 was described. However, the toy 1 may be configured to have an electrostatic sensor on the liquid crystal screen, or to have a touch sensor and an acceleration sensor, etc., as long as it is configured to accept input to the toy 1, such as user operation.

[0038] Furthermore, in this embodiment, character 5a was described as a drawing of a character operated by the user in toy 1. However, character 5a may change over time regardless of user operation. Also, in this embodiment, a background design 5b that decorates the area behind character 5a was described on display 5. However, display 5 may also display an item held by character 5a, or it may display text.

[0039] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the display 5 displays the first image by displaying the first segment group 31 and the common segment group 35 and hiding the second segment group 32. In other words, in this embodiment, the display 5 displays either the first segment group 31 or the second segment group 32. However, the display 5 may display both the first segment group 31 and the second segment group 32 simultaneously, or it may gradually hide some segments while gradually displaying others, or it may display by combining the display parts of each segment.

[0040] Furthermore, in this embodiment, it has been explained that the intermittent portion 45 (P1 in Figure 7) formed in the first segment group 31 is sandwiched between the two ends 21a of the first display segment 21. This "sandwiched" includes both cases where they are sandwiched in close proximity and cases where they are sandwiched at a distance from each other. That is, the distance between the ends of each display segment in each intermittent portion 45 may be different. Note that in cases where a display segment is located in the intermittent portion 45, such as the intermittent portion 45 of the first segment group 31 where the second display segment 22 is located (P4 in Figure 8), it is preferable that the distance is greater than or equal to the width of the display segment.

[0041] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the intermittent portion 45 is a part of the segment group formed along the drawing line in which no display segments are formed. However, the intermittent portion 45 may also be a display segment, and may be controlled to become visible depending on the state of the character 5a, etc. That is, the display segment as the intermittent portion 45 may be invisible when functioning as the intermittent portion 45, and visible when displayed as a drawing (P7 in Figures 4-6). Alternatively, the intermittent portion 45 may be formed to maintain its invisible state by covering the display segment with a light-shielding material.

[0042] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the display 5 has been described as a monochrome display. However, the display 5 may have at least one color of a plurality of display segments 20 that is different from the other display segments 20, or it may use display segments 20 whose colors can be changed.

[0043] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the display 5 changes the character's expression by switching between the first and second drawings by displaying or hiding the first segment group 31, the second segment group 32, and the common segment group 35. However, the display 5 may also represent a third drawing, a fourth drawing, etc., by switching between displaying and hiding the display segments 20 that constitute each segment group. As a specific example, the display 5 may represent a third drawing by displaying at least a part of the first display segment 21 in the first segment group 31 and at least a part of the second display segment 22 in the second segment group 32. This allows the display 5 to display a different expression for character 5a than that of the first and second drawings.

[0044] Furthermore, the designations in the embodiments described above are merely used to distinguish the configurations from one another, and other designations may be used depending on the function and form. Also, even if the descriptions "first," "second," etc. are used in this disclosure, it does not mean that it is limited to only the two elements to which these designations are attached. Naturally, "third," "fourth," and more elements may be included, and a third display segment different from the first display segment 21 and the second display segment 22 may be located in the intermittent portion 45 of the second segment group 32. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0045] 1 Toy (device) 5 displays 5a character 7 Control device 20 display segments 21. First display segment 21a End 22. Second display segment 25 Common Display Segments 26 Hatching display segments 31. First Segment Group 32. Second Segment Group 35 Common Segment Groups 41. First line 42. Second line 45 Intermittent section

Claims

1. A first segment group having one or more first display segments that represent at least a part of a first facial expression of a predetermined character, A second segment group having one or more second display segments that represent at least a part of the second facial expression of the predetermined character, Equipped with, At least a portion of the first segment group has an intermittent portion formed therein. At least a portion of the second display segment is located in the intermittent portion, Device.

2. The intermittent portion is sandwiched between the two ends of the first display segment having the first segment group. The apparatus according to claim 1.

3. The first segment group comprises a plurality of the first display segments, The first segment group has one or more intermittent sections formed at positions different from the intermittent sections. The apparatus according to claim 1.

4. A common segment group having one or more display segments, The common segment group represents the common portion of the predetermined character of the first facial expression and the predetermined character of the second facial expression. The apparatus according to claim 1.

5. When the first segment group is displayed, the second segment group is hidden. When the second segment group is displayed, the first segment group becomes hidden. The common segment group is displayed in both the case where the first segment group is displayed and the case where the second segment group is displayed. The apparatus according to claim 4.

6. The first segment group is formed along the first line, The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The second segment group is formed along the second line, The apparatus according to claim 6.

8. The system includes a hatching display segment that represents the filled portion of the predetermined character using hatching. The apparatus according to claim 6.

9. The first display segment and the second display segment are monochrome displays. The apparatus according to claim 1.

10. A first segment group having one or more first display segments that represent at least a part of a first facial expression of a predetermined character, A second segment group having one or more second display segments that represent at least a part of the second facial expression of the predetermined character, Equipped with, At least one of the one or more first display segments is formed in the shape of a line. Device.

Images