Operation display apparatus

Abstract

Provided is an operation display apparatus that makes it possible to form (write) and edit a magnetic pattern at any time while confirming an operating state of a device installed in a display part while moving a magnetic sheet. This operation display apparatus comprises: a magnetic sheet drive part that moves a magnetic sheet; a drawing window part in which a magnetic visualization sheet that is a sheet for visualizing a magnetic pattern is disposed on the magnetic sheet, and the magnetic pattern is written by a magnet from above the magnetic visualization sheet; and a display part in which a device that is magnetically operated on the magnetic sheet is disposed.

Description

Operation display device

[0001] The present invention relates to a motion display device.

[0002] If the three-dimensional axes are defined as the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis, a conventionally known pin display has multiple pins arranged so that the axial direction of each pin is the z-direction and the set of x-coordinate and y-coordinate values ​​of the axis is different for each pin, and when not displaying, one end of all the pins (hereinafter referred to as the "top end") is located on the same z-coordinate plane, and by applying a force acting in the z-direction to the desired pin, the desired pin is moved in the z-direction, and information is displayed using a three-dimensional point cloud formed by the top ends of the multiple pins.

[0003] In order to display information using a conventional pin display device, it was necessary to electrically control each electromagnet corresponding to each pin. In other words, conventional pin display technology had the problem of requiring an electrical control mechanism involving a power supply and wiring. Non-Patent Document 1 is known as a pin display that solves this problem and does not require an electrical control mechanism involving a power supply and wiring.

[0004] Yasu Kentaro, "MagneShape: A Non-electrical Pin-Based Shape-Changing Display", UIST '22, 2022, pages 1 - 12.

[0005] In conventional technologies, forming a magnetic pattern on a magnetic sheet requires the use of a magnetizer such as a dedicated pattern generator or plotting machine, and there is a problem in that the magnetic pattern cannot be written, erased, or changed at any time. The object of the present invention is to provide an operation display device that can form (write) and modify a magnetic pattern while moving the magnetic sheet and checking the operating status of the device installed in the display unit at any time.

[0006] One aspect of the present invention is an operational display device having a magnetic sheet drive unit that moves a magnetic sheet, a drawing window unit in which a magnetic visualization sheet that visualizes a magnetic pattern is placed on the magnetic sheet and a magnetic pattern is written from above the magnetic visualization sheet using a magnet, and a display unit in which a device that operates by magnetism is placed on the magnetic sheet.

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to form (write) and modify a magnetic pattern while moving the magnetic sheet and checking the operating status of the device installed in the display unit at any time.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a pin display system 300. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the pin display system 300. FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating the pin display system 300. FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the housing 110 of the pin display device 100. FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the housing 110 of the pin display device 100, one pin 120 of the pin display device 100, and the state in which the pin 120 is inserted into the housing 110. FIG. 6A is a diagram illustrating the bottom surface 121a of a pot magnet 121. FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view illustrating the pot magnet 121. FIG. 6C is a cross-sectional view illustrating another example of the pot magnet 121. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the housing 110 of the pin display device 100. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the relationship between the magnetization of the upper surface of a magnetic sheet and the magnetic flux density in the space near the upper surface of the magnetic sheet. FIG. 9A is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of a magnetic pattern of a magnetic sheet 200. FIG. 9B is a perspective view illustrating the display state of the pin display device 100 when the magnetic sheet 200 is magnetized with the magnetic pattern illustrated in FIG. 9A. FIG. 10A is a schematic diagram illustrating another example of the magnetic pattern of the magnetic sheet 200. FIG. 10B is a perspective view illustrating the display state of the pin display device 100 when the magnetic sheet 200 is magnetized with the magnetic pattern illustrated in FIG. 10A. FIG. 11 is a side view illustrating the pin display system 301. FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating the pin display system 600. FIG. 13 is a top view illustrating the housing 510 of the pin display device 500. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the housing 510 of the pin display device 500. FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating pins 520-X1, 520-X2, and 520-X3 of the pin display device 500. FIG. 16A is a diagram for explaining magnetic flux density B(d). Fig. 16B is a diagram for explaining magnetic flux density B(d, d'). Figs. 17A and 17B are diagrams for explaining the visibility of the pin display device, and Fig. 17C is a diagram showing the bottom surface of the magnet and the squares showing the top surfaces of the pins. Fig. 18 is a perspective view illustrating a pin display system 1300.FIG. 19 is a perspective view illustrating a housing 1110 of a pin display device, one pin 1120 of the pin display device, and the pin 1120 being inserted into the housing 1110. FIG. 20A is a diagram illustrating an example of a pin having a square top surface, and FIG. 20B is a diagram illustrating an example of the arrangement of the pins in FIG. 20A rotated 45°. FIG. 21A is a diagram illustrating an example of a pin having a circular top surface, and FIG. 21B is a diagram illustrating an example of the arrangement of the pins in FIG. 21A rotated 90°. FIG. 22A is a diagram illustrating an example of a pin having a diamond top surface, and FIG. 22B is a diagram illustrating an example of the arrangement of the pins in FIG. 22A rotated 90°. FIG. 23A is a diagram illustrating an example of a pin having a regular hexagonal top surface, and FIG. 23B is a diagram illustrating an example of the arrangement of the pins in FIG. 23A rotated 90°. FIG. 24A is a diagram illustrating an example of a pin having an equilateral triangular top surface, and FIG. 24B is a diagram illustrating an example of the arrangement of the pins in FIG. 24A rotated 90°. FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the housing 1110 of the pin display device 1100. FIG. 26 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the housing 1110 of the pin display device 1100. FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the housing 1110 and pins 1120 of the pin display device 1100. FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the housing 1110 and pins 1120 of the pin display device 1100. FIG. 29A is a cross-sectional view illustrating the housing 1110 and pins 1120 of the pin display device 1100. FIG. 29B is an enlarged view of the portion surrounded by the dashed line in FIG. 29A. FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the housing 1110 and pins 1120 of the pin display device 1100. FIG. 31A is a diagram showing an interference range M of the magnetic field of a magnet 1121, and FIGS. 31B and 31C are diagrams showing examples of the arrangement of the magnet 1121. FIG. 32A is a diagram showing the interference range M of the magnetic field of magnet 1121, and FIG. 32B is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of magnet 1121. FIG. 33A is a diagram showing the interference range M of the magnetic field of magnet 1121, and FIG. 33B is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of magnet 1121. FIG. 34 is a diagram for explaining the relationship between magnet strength and spacing. FIG. 35 is a diagram showing the relationship between magnet diameter d, distance D(d, m), and pin weight m [g]. FIG. 36 is a diagram showing an example of magnetic sheet 200, magnetic patterns magnetized on magnetic sheet 200, and pin 1120. FIG. 37 is a diagram showing an example in which a small magnetic pattern passes between magnets 1121, preventing pin 1120 from being lifted properly.FIG. 38 is a diagram showing an example in which magnets 1121 overlap in the α direction (x direction). FIG. 39A is a diagram showing an example of the display state of the pin display device 1100 in the arrangement example of FIG. 20A, and FIG. 39B is a diagram showing an example of the display state of the pin display device 1100 in the arrangement example of FIG. 20B. FIG. 40 is a perspective view illustrating an example of an operation display device 2301. FIG. 41 is a side view illustrating an example of an operation display device 2301. FIG. 42 is a diagram showing an example in which two drawing window units 2351 and magnetic visualization sheets 2350 are arranged for one pin display device. FIG. 43 is a diagram showing an example in which two display units 2360 and pin display devices 1100 are arranged for the operation display device 2301 of FIG. 42. FIG. 44 is a diagram showing an example of an operation display device 2301 including an elevation unit 2371 that elevates and lowers the magnetic pattern erasure unit 2370. FIG. 45 is a diagram showing an example in which the operation display device 2301 is used in a game in which players defeat enemies. Fig. 46 is a diagram showing an example of using the operation display device 2301 in a game in which the player carries a ball to a goal. Figs. 47A to 47D are diagrams for explaining the problems with the pin display device 1100. Figs. 48A to 48C are diagrams for explaining a method for solving the problems with the pin display device 1100. Fig. 49 is a diagram for explaining the arrangement of magnets and magnetic patterns. Figs. 50A to 50C are diagrams for explaining a method for solving the problems with the pin display device 1100. Figs. 51A to 51C are diagrams showing an example of a device that operates by magnetism.

[0009] [First Embodiment] In the first embodiment, an example of a pin display system will be described. The pin display system 300 of the first embodiment includes a pin display device 100 and a magnetic sheet 200, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3. The pin display device 100 of the first embodiment includes a housing 110 and 25 pins 120. Hereinafter, the orthogonal axes in three-dimensional space will be referred to as the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The pin display device 100 and the magnetic sheet 200 are arranged such that the lower surface 110a of the housing 110 of the pin display device 100 and the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 are in contact with or close to each other. That is, the pin display device 100 is intended to be used as a pin display system 300 by bringing the lower surface 110a of the housing 110 into contact with or close to the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200. The upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 is one of two surfaces of the magnetic sheet 200. "Proximity" refers to a situation in which the pin display device 100 is affected by the magnetic field of the magnetic sheet 200 in a manner similar to a situation in which the lower surface 110a of the housing 110 of the pin display device 100 and the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 are not in contact with each other, such as when a thin-film object such as paper or cloth is placed on the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 and the lower surface 110a of the housing 110 of the pin display device 100 is placed on the thin-film object so that the lower surface 110a of the housing 110 of the pin display device 100 is in contact with the thin-film object. Note that although the pin display device 100 of the first embodiment has 25 pins 120, for ease of viewing in each drawing, only one pin 120 of the pin display device 100 is designated by a reference number. The same applies to the reference numbers of multiple pins, multiple pin insertion holes, and each part of the pins and pin insertion holes in the drawings described below. The pin display system 300 utilizes gravity to move the pins 120 in the negative z direction (i.e., the direction opposite to the direction indicated by the arrows indicating the z direction in Figures 1 to 3), and therefore the direction of gravity is preferably used as the negative z direction. In other words, the pin display system 300 is preferably configured such that the x-axis and y-axis are two orthogonal axes in a horizontal plane.However, the pin display system 300 may be configured so that the direction in which gravity acts is at least used as the negative z direction. In other words, the pin display system 300 can be used even when the x-axis and y-axis are two orthogonal axes in a plane slightly tilted relative to the horizontal plane.

[0010] <Housing 110> As illustrated in Fig. 4, the housing 110 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape including a bottom surface 110a, which is a plane perpendicular to the z direction, and a top surface 110b, which is a plane parallel to the bottom surface 110a and in the positive direction of the z direction relative to the bottom surface 110a, and includes 25 pin insertion holes 111. As illustrated in Fig. 5, each pin insertion hole 111 is a hole into which a pin 120 is inserted from the top surface 110b side, a hole for allowing the substantially cylindrical pin 120 to move in the z direction, and has a substantially cylindrical shape with a central axis in the z direction. As illustrated in Fig. 7, each substantially cylindrical pin insertion hole 111 has two parallel, substantially circular bottom surfaces: a top surface 111b located within the top surface 110b of the housing 110, and a bottom surface 111a, which is a plane perpendicular to the z direction and in the negative direction of the z direction relative to the cylindrical top surface 111b. The 25 pin insertion holes 111 are positioned at different positions in a plane perpendicular to the z direction. Specifically, the 25 pin insertion holes 111 are arranged in a 5 x 5 matrix, with five holes equally spaced in the x direction and five holes equally spaced in the y direction. The housing 110 is made of a material such as plastic, resin, or paper that does not block or reduce magnetic field lines, does not control the path of magnetic field lines, or generates magnetic field lines. The diameter of the approximately cylindrical shape of each pin insertion hole 111 is set in advance through experiments, etc. to a value slightly larger than the diameter of the approximately cylindrical shape of the pin 120 so that the approximately cylindrical pin 120 can easily move in both the positive and negative directions in the z direction but hardly moves in the x and y directions.

[0011] 5, each pin 120 is inserted into each pin insertion hole 111 of the housing 110, and has a substantially cylindrical outer shape with one end being a substantially circular lower surface 120a and the other end being an upper surface 120b that is a plane parallel to the lower surface 110a. Each pin 120 is provided with a pot magnet 121 at one end with the opening of the container (pot) facing outward, and is inserted into each pin insertion hole 111 of the housing 110 with the end provided with the pot magnet 121 facing in the negative z direction.

[0012] As shown in Fig. 6A (bottom view) and Fig. 6B (cross-sectional view taken along the dashed line in Fig. 6A ), the pot magnet 121 comprises a permanent magnet 1211 fixed inside a container 1212 made of a material with high magnetic permeability and having an opening 1212a on one side. One pole 1211b of the permanent magnet 1211 is in contact with a contact surface 1212b inside the container 1212, and the other pole 1211a of the permanent magnet 1211 is exposed through the opening 1212a of the container 1212 on the bottom surface 121a of the pot magnet 121. Examples of the high-permeability material include iron and stainless steel. A low-permeability layer 1213, which is a layer of low-permeability material, is provided between the non-pole portion of the permanent magnet 1211 and the container 1212 to prevent the non-pole portion of the permanent magnet 1211 from coming into contact with the container 1212 and short-circuiting the magnetic field lines. Examples of low-permeability materials include resin, paper, and air. The permanent magnet 1211 may be fixed to the container 1212 by using the attractive force generated between the pole 1211b of the permanent magnet 1211 and the contact surface 1212b of the container 1212, or by using an adhesive. In general, the permanent magnet 1211 and the container 1212 are often bonded together using an adhesive with strong adhesive strength so that they cannot be easily separated.

[0013] The bottom surface 121a of the pot magnet 121 is formed by the pole 1211a of the permanent magnet 1211, the opening 1212a of the container 1212 surrounding the pole 1211a of the permanent magnet 1211, and the bottom surface 1213a of the low permeable layer 1213 located between the pole 1211a of the permanent magnet 1211 and the opening 1212a of the container 1212. However, as mentioned above, the low permeable layer 1213 may be a layer of air, so the bottom surface 1213a of the low permeable layer 1213 may be invisible. In other words, the bottom surface 121a of the pot magnet 121 may be formed by the pole 1211a of the permanent magnet 1211 and the opening 1212a of the container 1212 surrounding the pole 1211a so as not to come into contact with the pole 1211a. On the lower surface 121a of the pot magnet 121, the pole 1211a of the permanent magnet 1211 and the opening 1212a of the container 1212 may be on the same plane as shown in FIG. 6B, or may not be on the same plane. As shown in FIG. 6C, the pole 1211a of the permanent magnet 1211 may be slightly closer to the inside of the container 1212 than the opening 1212a of the container 1212. For example, the pole 1211a of the permanent magnet 1211 may be 0.2 mm to 0.4 mm closer to the inside of the container 1212 than the opening 1212a of the container 1212. If the lower surface 1213a of the low permeability layer 1213 is clearly present, the lower surface 1213a of the low permeability layer 1213 may be on the same plane as the opening 1212a of the container 1212 or closer to the inside of the container 1212 than the opening 1212a of the container 1212.

[0014] In the following, for the sake of simplicity, unless otherwise explicitly stated, an example will be described in which the pole 1211a of the permanent magnet 1211, the opening 1212a of the container 1212, and the lower surface 1213a of the low permeability layer 1213 are on the same plane as illustrated in Figure 6B, i.e., an example in which the lower surface 121a of the pot magnet 121 is a circular flat surface, i.e., an example in which the lower surface 120a of the pin 120 is flat and the pin 120 is cylindrical.

[0015] The containers 1212 of the pot magnets 121 provided in all pins 120 are made of the same material and have the same shape. Furthermore, the permanent magnets 1211 of the pot magnets 121 provided in all pins 120 are made of the same material, shape, and strength. The poles 1211a of the permanent magnets 1211 of the pot magnets 121 provided in all pins 120 are the same pole (e.g., north pole). Each pot magnet 121 is provided on the lower surface 120a of each pin 120 with the lower surface 121a of the pot magnet 121 facing outward. That is, each pot magnet 121 is provided on the lower surface 120a of each pin 120 so that the lower surface 121a of the pot magnet 121 faces the lower surface 120a of the pin 120. For example, each pin 120 may be configured so that the lower surface 121a, which is a circular flat surface of each pot magnet 121, is the lower surface 120a, which is one of the circular flat surfaces of the pin 120. When the external magnetic field is small enough to be negligible, the lower surface 120a of each pin 120 contacts the lower surface 111a of each pin insertion hole 111 of the housing 110 due to gravity. When the lower surface 110a of the housing 110 and the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 come into contact with or are close to each other, if there is a repulsive force due to the magnetic force generated between each pot magnet 121 of each pin 120 and the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200, the pin 120 moves in the positive direction of the z direction (i.e., a direction that includes at least the direction opposite to gravity) due to the repulsive force. For this reason, each pot magnet 121 provided on each pin 120 needs to emit a magnetic field that can move each pin 120 in the positive direction of the z direction due to the repulsive force generated between the pot magnet 121 and the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200.

[0016] The length of each pin 120 (i.e., the height of the cylindrical shape of each pin 120) is the same as or longer than the depth (length) of each pin insertion hole 111 (i.e., the height of the cylindrical shape of each pin insertion hole 111). When the direction opposite to the z direction is the direction in which gravity is at least acting and the influence of an external magnetic field is small enough to be negligible, the top surface 120b of each pin 120 is at the same z coordinate position as the top surface 111b of the pin insertion hole 111, or at a position having a predetermined z coordinate in the positive direction than the top surface 111b of the pin insertion hole 111. In other words, when the direction opposite to the z direction is the direction in which gravity is at least acting and the influence of an external magnetic field is small enough to be negligible, the top surfaces 120b of all pins 120 are at the same height as the top surface 110b of the housing 110, or at a predetermined height higher than the top surface 110b of the housing 110. The plane formed by the top surfaces 120b of all the pins 120 when the effect of this external magnetic field is small enough to be negligible corresponds to a state in which nothing is displayed by the pin display device 100. Note that since the pin display device 100 displays information using a three-dimensional point cloud formed by the top surfaces 120b of all the pins 120, it is not essential that the top surface 120b of each pin 120 be flat, and for example, the top surface 120b of each pin 120 may include an open portion.

[0017] Each pin 120 moves in the positive z-direction due to a repulsive force caused by a magnetic force generated between each pot magnet 121 and the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200. To provide more variation in the display by the pin display device 100, it is preferable that the maximum amount of movement of each pin 120 in the z-direction is large. However, if the maximum amount of movement of each pin 120 in the z-direction is greater than the depth of each pin insertion hole 111 (i.e., the height of the cylindrical shape of each pin insertion hole 111), the pin 120 will pop out of the pin insertion hole 111 when the amount of movement of the pin 120 in the z-direction reaches its maximum. Therefore, the depth of each pin insertion hole 111 must be greater than the maximum amount of movement of each pin 120 in the z-direction, and the length of each pin 120 must be greater than the maximum amount of movement of each pin 120 in the z-direction.

[0018] However, when a commercially available, general-purpose pot magnet is used as each pot magnet 121 of each pin 120, it is often impossible to make the length of each pin 120 greater than the maximum amount of movement of each pin 120. In such cases, it is preferable to provide each pin 120 with a spacer 122, which is a part other than the pot magnet 121. Each spacer 122 should not block or reduce magnetic field lines, control the path of magnetic field lines, or generate magnetic field lines, and should be as lightweight as possible so as to minimize interference with the movement of each pin 120 in the positive z-direction due to the repulsive force caused by the magnetic force generated between each pot magnet 121 and the magnetic sheet 200. For example, it is preferable to make the spacer 122 from plastic or paper that has a large hollow portion, like a straw.

[0019] <Relationship between Strength and Spacing of Pot Magnets 121> The pin display device 100 displays information using a three-dimensional point cloud formed by the upper surfaces 120b of all pins 120 included in the pin display device 100 by moving a desired pin 120 among all pins 120 included in the pin display device 100 in the positive z direction by the magnetic repulsive force generated between the pot magnet 121 included in the pin 120 and the magnetic sheet 200. In order to increase the displayable range in the z direction by the pin display device 100, it is sufficient to increase the movable range in the z direction by the pin display device 100, and it is preferable that the magnetic field emitted by the pot magnets 121 included in each pin 120 included in the pin display device 100 is stronger. However, if the magnetic field emitted by the pot magnets 121 is too strong, the magnetic force generated between the pot magnets 121 included in adjacent pins 120 will affect the mutual movement of the adjacent pins 120. Therefore, it becomes necessary to increase the spacing between adjacent pins 120 so that the magnetic field emitted by the pot magnets 121 does not affect the movement of other pins 120. However, increasing the spacing between adjacent pins 120 reduces the display resolution of the pin display device in the x and y directions. Therefore, the spacing between adjacent pins 120 and the strength of the magnetic field emitted by the pot magnets 121 provided on each pin 120 must be determined taking into consideration the display resolution of the pin display device in the x and y directions and the displayable range of the pin display device 100 in the z direction. Specifically, the magnetic field emitted by the pot magnets 121 of each pin 120 must not affect the movement of the pin 120 due to the magnetic force generated between the pot magnets 121 provided on adjacent pins 120. In other words, the spacing between adjacent pin insertion holes 111 must be equal to or greater than the shortest distance at which the magnetic force generated between the pot magnets 121 provided on pins 120 inserted into adjacent pin insertion holes 111 does not affect the movement of the pin 120.

[0020] Furthermore, according to experiments conducted by the inventors, it has been made clear that the shortest distance over which the magnetic force generated between the pot magnets 121 provided on the pins 120 inserted into adjacent pin insertion holes 111 does not affect the movement of the pins 120 depends on the maximum value of the attractive force generated between the first pot magnet 121 provided on the first pin 120 inserted into a certain pin insertion hole 111 and the second pot magnet 121 provided on the second pin 120 inserted into the pin insertion hole 111 adjacent to that pin insertion hole 111, when they each move independently in the z direction. Given that pot magnets with the same configuration and characteristics are used for the first pot magnet 121 and the second pot magnet 121, this maximum value of attractive force can be calculated as the sum of, for example, the maximum value of magnetic flux density on a cylindrical surface located at a distance of half the distance from the central axis of the pot magnet 121 on the lower surface 121a side of the first pot magnet 121 (hereinafter referred to as the "first maximum value" for convenience), and the maximum value of magnetic flux density on a cylindrical surface located at a distance of half the distance from the central axis of the pot magnet 121 on the opposite side to the lower surface 121a of the second pot magnet 121 (i.e., the upper surface side) (hereinafter referred to as the "second maximum value" for convenience). In the pin display device 100 implemented by the inventors, it was found that if the sum of the first maximum value and the second maximum value is 4 mT or less, the magnetic force generated between the pot magnets 121 provided on the pins 120 inserted into adjacent pin insertion holes 111 does not affect the movement of the pins 120. Therefore, for example, for the same pot magnet as that used for the pot magnet 121, the maximum value of the magnetic flux density on the cylindrical surface at the same distance from the central axis of the pot magnet is measured for each of the lower surface side and the upper surface side of the pot magnet, and the shortest distance at which the magnetic force generated between the pot magnets 121 provided on the pins 120 inserted into adjacent pin insertion holes 111 does not affect the movement of the pins 120 is doubled.

[0021] However, the shortest distance at which the magnetic force generated between the pot magnets 121 provided on the pins 120 inserted into adjacent pin insertion holes 111 does not affect the movement of the pins 120 is based not only on the spatial spread of the magnetic flux formed by the pot magnets 121 but also on various factors such as the weight of the pins 120 and the friction between the pins 120 and the pin insertion holes 111, so it is best to determine this shortest distance experimentally.

[0022] <Magnetic Sheet 200> As described above, the housing 110 is disposed such that the lower surface 110a is in contact with or in close proximity to the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200. The magnetic sheet 200 has magnetized portions of the upper surface 200a facing the pot magnets 121 so that the pins 120 equipped with the pot magnets 121 move a desired distance in the z-direction due to the repulsive force generated between the pot magnets 121 and the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200. The magnetic sheet 200 is a rewritable magnetic sheet, i.e., a magnetic sheet whose polarity can be arbitrarily set to either an S pole or an N pole by exposing each portion of each surface to a magnetic field strong enough to be greater than a predetermined value. An example of a rewritable magnetic sheet is a ferrite magnetic rubber sheet, which is formed into a sheet by mixing a powdered ferromagnetic material with a material that does not block or reduce magnetic field lines, does not control the path of magnetic field lines, or does not generate magnetic field lines.

[0023] <Gap 112> Because the magnetic sheet 200 is capable of rewriting the orientation of local magnetic poles, when the top surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 and the pot magnet 121 come into contact, or are close enough to each other even if they are not in contact, the magnetic field emitted by the pot magnet 121 rewrites the orientation of the magnetic poles of the portion of the top surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 where the pot magnet 121 faces. This results in no repulsive force being generated between the pot magnet 121 and the portion of the top surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 where the pot magnet 121 faces. As a result, the pins 120 stop moving, and the pin display device 100 no longer displays anything. Conversely, if the pot magnet 121 is too far from the top surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200, no repulsive force is generated between the pot magnets 121 and the top surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200, even if the top surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 is magnetized as desired, and the pin display device 100 no longer displays anything as desired. For these reasons, as shown in the cross-sectional view of the housing 110 in FIG. 7 , between the bottom surface 110a of the housing 110 and the bottom surface 111a of each pin insertion hole 111 of the housing 110 (i.e., the bottom of each pin insertion hole 111), a length in the z direction is formed by the magnetic field emitted by the same pot magnet (i.e., a pot magnet that emits the same magnetic field as the pot magnet 121) used for the pot magnet 121, and the same magnetic sheet (i.e., a magnetic sheet with the same base material, the same ferromagnetic material, the same mixing ratio as the magnetic sheet 200, or the same type of material as the magnetic sheet 200) used for the magnetic sheet 200. It is necessary to provide a gap 112 having a length in the z direction that is equal to or greater than the shortest distance (hereinafter referred to as the "first shortest distance") at which the polarity of the pot magnet 121 (i.e., the pot magnet that emits the same magnetic field as the pot magnet 121) used in the pot magnet 121 and the same magnetic sheet 200 (i.e., a magnetic sheet with the same base material, the same ferromagnetic material, and the same mixing ratio as the magnetic sheet 200, or the same type of magnetic sheet as the magnetic sheet 200) is not rewritten. Note that the closer the gap is to the longest distance at which magnetic force is not generated between the pot magnet 121 and the magnetic sheet 200, the less the pin 120 can be moved, and the less variation there is in the display by the pin display device 100.Therefore, taking this point into consideration, it is preferable that the length of gap 112 in the z direction be the shortest distance or a length slightly longer than that shortest distance at which the magnetic field emitted by the same pot magnet as used for pot magnet 121 does not cause rewriting of the same magnetic sheet as used for magnetic sheet 200, i.e., the first shortest distance or a length slightly longer than the first shortest distance. Note that the distance between bottom surface 110a of housing 110 and bottom surface 111a of each pin insertion hole 111 of housing 110 (i.e., the bottom of each pin insertion hole 111) is the same as the distance between pot magnet 121 and the top surface of magnetic sheet 200 when pin 120 is not moving in the positive z direction due to the repulsive force of the magnetic force (when pot magnet 121 is attached to the bottom of pin insertion hole 111).

[0024] However, when the magnetic sheet is exposed to a magnetic field of a certain strength in the opposite direction, the magnetic field it emits weakens, although not strong enough to rewrite the magnetic pole orientation. Therefore, it is advisable to take this into consideration when determining the z-direction length of the gap 112. If the z-direction length of the gap 112 is close to the shortest distance (i.e., the first shortest distance) at which the magnetic field emitted by the same pot magnet 121 as used in the pot magnet 121 does not rewrite the polarity of a magnetic sheet made of the same material as used in the magnetic sheet 200, the magnetic field emitted by the pot magnet 121 will weaken the magnetic pole of the portion of the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 facing the pot magnet 121. This weakens the repulsive force between the pot magnet 121 and the portion of the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 facing the pot magnet 121. As a result, the pin 120 may not move, and the pin display device 100 may not display anything. Therefore, the length of gap 112 in the z direction should be equal to or greater than the shortest distance (hereinafter referred to as the "second shortest distance") that does not weaken the magnetic force of the same magnetic sheet used in magnetic sheet 200 due to the magnetic field emitted by the same pot magnet used in pot magnet 121. Note that the second shortest distance is longer than the first shortest distance. From the above, it follows that the length of gap 112 in the z direction must be equal to or greater than the first shortest distance, and is preferably equal to or greater than the second shortest distance. The length of gap 112 in the z direction may be determined experimentally or based on the following calculation.

[0025] First, the magnetic flux density B(d) at a point a distance d in the vertical direction from the center of a magnetic pole face of one side of a circular magnet with a radius R, which has a residual magnetic flux density Br, as shown in Figure 16A, is approximately expressed by the following formula (1): Note that, hereinafter, the unit of length is assumed to be mm, and the unit of magnetic flux density is assumed to be mT.

[0026] On the bottom surface 121a of the pot magnet 121, there is a magnetic pole face due to the pole 1211a of the permanent magnet 1211, and a magnetic pole face due to the opening 1212a of the container 1212, which is the opposite pole to the pole 1211a of the permanent magnet 1211. The pole 1211b, which is the opposite pole to the pole 1211a of the permanent magnet 1211, is in contact with the contact surface 1212b on the inside of the container 1212, so that the magnetic flux emitted from the pole 1211b of the permanent magnet 1211 passes through the container 1212 and is dispersed and emitted from the opening 1212a of the container 1212, so that the opening 1212a behaves like a magnetic pole. However, some of the magnetic flux leaks to the periphery of the container 1212. Therefore, if the radius of the poles 1211a and 1211b of the permanent magnet 1211 is R1, the radius of the inner circumference of the opening 1212a of the container 1212 is R2, the radius of the outer circumference of the opening 1212a of the container 1212 is R3, the area of ​​the poles 1211a and 1211b of the permanent magnet 1211 is S1, the area of ​​the opening 1212a of the container 1212 is S2, the residual magnetic flux density of the permanent magnet 1211 is Br, and the loss coefficient based on leakage is c, then the magnetic flux density B(d, d') at a point that is a distance d vertically from the center of the pole 1211a of the permanent magnet 1211 and a distance d' vertically from the center of the opening 1212a of the container 1212, as shown in Figure 16B, can be calculated by the following equation (2).

[0027] If the permanent magnet 1211 is a neodymium magnet, the residual magnetic flux density Br of the permanent magnet 1211 is approximately 800 mT to 1200 mT. The loss coefficient c depends on the magnetic permeability, thickness, and shape of the container 1212, but is generally approximately 0.8, falling within the range of approximately 0.5 to 1.0. When the pole 1211a of the permanent magnet 1211 and the opening 1212a of the container 1212 are on the same plane, as shown in FIG. 6B, d' = d. When the pole 1211a of the permanent magnet 1211 and the opening 1212a of the container 1212 are not on the same plane, as shown in FIG. 6C, d' = d + δ, where δ is the measured value. As mentioned above, δ is approximately 0.2 mm to 0.4 mm.

[0028] Therefore, the length of the gap 112 in the z direction must be such that the distance between the center of the pole 1211a of the permanent magnet 1211 of the pot magnet 121 and the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 is greater than or equal to the shortest distance d at which the magnetic flux density B(d, d') calculated by equation (2) using the above-mentioned values ​​becomes a value that does not rewrite the polarity of the magnetic sheet used in the magnetic sheet 200, and / or the distance between the center of the opening 1212a of the container 1212 of the pot magnet 121 and the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 becomes a value that does not rewrite the polarity of the magnetic sheet used in the magnetic sheet 200, calculated by equation (2) using the above-mentioned values. Furthermore, it is desirable that the length of the gap 112 in the z direction be a length such that the distance between the center of the pole 1211a of the permanent magnet 1211 of the pot magnet 121 and the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 is greater than the shortest distance d at which the magnetic flux density B(d, d') calculated by equation (2) using the above-mentioned values ​​becomes a value that does not weaken the magnetic force of the same magnetic sheet used in the magnetic sheet 200, and / or a length such that the distance between the center of the opening 1212a of the container 1212 of the pot magnet 121 and the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 becomes a value that does not weaken the magnetic force of the same magnetic sheet used in the magnetic sheet 200, calculated by equation (2) using the above-mentioned values.

[0029] According to experiments conducted by the inventors, for a pot magnet with a diameter of 5 mm and a height of 5 mm and a permanent magnet with a diameter of 3 mm and a height of 2 mm, the surface magnetic flux density at the center of the bottom surface of the pot magnet was approximately 300 mT. An experiment was conducted in which a pin 120 equipped with this pot magnet as the pot magnet 121 was lifted by a magnetic sheet 200 using housings 110 with gaps 112 of various different lengths in the z direction.The results showed that the pin 120 did not lift when the distance in the z direction between the opening 1212a of the container 1212 of the pot magnet 121 and the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 was 0.5 mm or less, the behavior of the pin 120 was unstable when the distance in the z direction between the opening 1212a of the container 1212 of the pot magnet 121 and the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 was 0.5 to 0.8 mm, and the pin 120 was lifted stably when the distance in the z direction between the opening 1212a of the container 1212 of the pot magnet 121 and the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 was 0.9 mm or more. Furthermore, at a point on the central axis of opening 1212a of container 1212 of pot magnet 121 where the distance between opening 1212a and top surface 200a of magnetic sheet 200 was 0.5 mm or less, the magnetic flux density of pot magnet 121 was 200 mT or more, and magnetic sheet 200 could be rewritten by the magnetic field emitted by pot magnet 121. Furthermore, at a point on the central axis of opening 1212a of container 1212 of pot magnet 121 where the distance between opening 1212a and top surface 200a of magnetic sheet 200 was 0.5 to 0.8 mm, the magnetic flux density of pot magnet 121 was 100 to 200 mT, and the magnetic field emitted by pot magnet 121 was sufficient to temporarily weaken the magnetic field emitted from magnetic sheet 200. Therefore, the inventor set the z-direction length of the gap 112 of the pin display device 100 so that the z-direction distance between the opening 1212a of the container 1212 of the pot magnet 121 of the pin display device 100 and the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 is 1.0 mm, assuming that the first shortest distance is 0.5 mm and the second shortest distance is 0.8 mm, in order to ensure more reliable control of the pin 120.

[0030] When the length of the gap 112 in the z direction is determined based on calculation, since the magnetic flux density that does not weaken the magnetic force of the same magnetic sheet used in the magnetic sheet 200 is less than 100 mT, the distance between the center of the pole 1211a of the permanent magnet 1211 of the pot magnet 121 and the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200, and / or the distance between the center of the opening 1212a of the container 1212 of the pot magnet 121 and the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 can be set so that the magnetic flux density B(d, d') calculated by equation (2) is less than 100 mT.

[0031] In the following, for the sake of simplicity, the length of the gap in the z direction will be described as d.

[0032] <Magnetic Pattern on the Top Surface 200a of the Magnetic Sheet 200> As described above, the magnetic sheet 200 is magnetized at the portions of the top surface 200a facing the pot magnets 121 so that the amount of movement of each pin 120 equipped with each pot magnet 121 in the positive z-direction is a desired amount due to the repulsive force generated by the magnetic force between each pot magnet 121 and the top surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200. If each pot magnet 121 and the top surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 are in contact, the magnetic pattern of the top surface 200a optimal for lifting the pin 120 is the same magnetic pattern as the lower surface 121a of the opposing pot magnet 121. However, even when each pin 120 has not moved at all in the positive z-direction, the lower surface 121a of each pot magnet 121 and the top surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 are separated by the length d of the gap 112 in the z-direction. Furthermore, when each pin 120 has moved a desired distance in the positive direction of the z-direction, the lower surface 121a of each pot magnet 121 and the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 are spaced apart by a distance equal to the sum of the distance d in the z-direction of the gap 112 and the distance D. ｉ (where i is a number that identifies each pin and is an integer between 1 and 25), then each pin 120 is moved by a desired amount D in the positive direction of the z direction. ｉ In order to move the magnets by this distance, the distance between the bottom surface 121a of each pot magnet 121 and the top surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 must be changed from d to d+D. ｉWhen the magnetic force is within the range of , the magnetic force generated between each pot magnet 121 and the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 must be such that it generates a repulsive force greater than the gravity acting in the negative z direction of each pin 120.

[0033] To this end, the inventors have noticed that the spatial spread of magnetic flux in three-dimensional space on the upper surface of a magnetic sheet differs depending on the spatial frequency of the magnetic pattern magnetized on the upper surface of the magnetic sheet. Figure 8 shows the results of measurements taken by the inventors on the upper surface of a magnetic sheet magnetized with a striped magnetic pattern consisting of a 2 mm to 6 mm wide strip of an N pole and a S pole sandwiching the N pole. The horizontal axis of Figure 8 represents the short-side direction of the strip, and the vertical axis represents the distance from the upper surface. As shown in Figure 8, when the width of the strip-shaped pole is narrow (i.e., when the short-side length of the strip-shaped pole is short), the spatial spread of magnetic flux is narrow, and the magnetic field lines are concentrated near the strip-shaped pole. When the width of the strip-shaped pole is wide (i.e., when the short-side length of the strip-shaped pole is long), the spatial spread of magnetic flux is wide, and the magnetic field lines are located farther from the strip-shaped pole.

[0034] Considering the spatial spread of magnetic flux in three-dimensional space on the upper surface side of the magnetic sheet, the magnetic pattern on the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200, which is suitable for lifting the pin 120, is similar to the magnetic pattern on the lower surface 121a of the opposing pot magnet 121, and is slightly larger than the magnetic pattern on the lower surface 121a of the opposing pot magnet 121. Therefore, when using a pin 120 equipped with a pot magnet 121 as illustrated in Figures 6A to 6C, the portion of the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 facing the pot magnet 121 of the pin 120 for which you want to maximize the amount of movement in the positive z direction can be magnetized with a magnetic pattern consisting of, for example, a circle of approximately the same size as the lower surface 121a of the opposing pot magnet 121, with the same pole (e.g., a north pole) as the pole 1211a of the permanent magnet 1211, and a ring-shaped circle surrounding the circle with the opposite pole (e.g., a south pole) to the pole 1211a of the permanent magnet 1211.

[0035] <Display at Various Heights of the Top Ends of the Pins 120> In order for the pin display device 100 to display the top ends of the pins 120 at various heights, it is necessary to control the amount of movement of each pin 120 in the positive z direction. However, because the pin display device 100 displays information using a three-dimensional point cloud formed by the top ends (top surfaces 120b) of the multiple pins 120, it is not necessary to strictly control the amount of movement of each pin 120 in the positive z direction. Instead, it is possible to display the top ends of the multiple pins 120 at various heights by controlling the relative magnitude of the movement of each pin 120 in the positive z direction. The relative magnitude of the movement of each pin 120 in the positive z direction can be controlled by taking into account the spatial spread of magnetic flux in three-dimensional space on the top surface side of the magnetic sheet.

[0036] When using pins 120 equipped with pot magnets 121 as illustrated in Figures 6A to 6C, for example, the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200, the greater the portion facing the pot magnet 121 of the pin 120 that is to be moved, is magnetized with a magnetic pattern similar to a magnetic pattern consisting of a circle of approximately the same size as the lower surface 121a of the opposing pot magnet 121, with the same pole (e.g., a north pole) as the pole 1211a of the permanent magnet 1211, and a ring-shaped circle surrounding the circle with the opposite pole (e.g., a south pole) to the pole 1211a of the permanent magnet 1211, so that the relative amount of movement of each pin 120 in the positive z direction can be controlled. Furthermore, when using pins 120 equipped with pot magnets 121 as illustrated in Figures 6A to 6C, and when using a magnetic pattern on the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 consisting of a pole of a band area and opposite poles on either side of the pole of the band area, if the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 is magnetized with a magnetic pattern similar to a magnetic pattern consisting of a band area of ​​the same pole (for example, a north pole) as the pole 1211a of the permanent magnet 1211, and areas of the opposite pole (for example, a south pole) to the pole 1211a of the permanent magnet 1211, with the width of the band area being the diameter of the lower surface 121a of the opposing pot magnet 121, the greater the portion facing the pot magnet 121 of the pin 120 that is to be moved, then the relative magnitude of the movement of each pin 120 in the positive z direction can be controlled. The magnetization of the portion of the upper surface 200 a of the magnetic sheet 200 that is not directly below or facing the periphery of the pot magnet 121 of any of the pins 120 is optional.

[0037] Therefore, when the pole 1211a of the permanent magnet 1211 of the pot magnet 121 is a north pole, and the portion of the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 that is colored dark in Figure 9A is magnetized to the north pole, as in the magnetic pattern illustrated in Figure 9A, and the portion of the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 that is not colored dark in Figure 9A is magnetized to the south pole, when the lower surface 110a of the housing 110 of the pin display device 100 and the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 are placed in contact or close proximity, the pin display device 100 will display as illustrated in Figure 9B. 9A and 9B, the portions of the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 that face the pot magnets 121 of the multiple pins 120 that move in the positive z direction are magnetized with a magnetic pattern consisting of a first portion that has the same polarity (e.g., N pole) as the pole 1211a of the permanent magnet 1211 of the opposing pot magnet 121, and a second portion that surrounds the first portion and has the opposite polarity (e.g., S pole) to the pole 1211a. Among the multiple pins 120 in 200a that move in the positive direction in the z direction, the magnetic pattern magnetized at the portion facing the pot magnet 121 of the pin 120 that has a first movement amount equal to the movement amount in the positive direction in the z direction is different from the magnetic pattern magnetized at the portion facing the pot magnet 121 of the pin 120 that has a second movement amount equal to the movement amount in the positive direction in the z direction equal to the movement amount in the positive direction in the z direction that is different from the first movement amount.

[0038] <Displaying the Binary Values ​​of High and Low of the Top Ends of Pins 120> In order to have the pin display device 100 display the binary values ​​of high and low of the top ends of a plurality of pins 120, it is only necessary to control, for example, whether or not each pin 120 moves in the positive direction in the z direction. In order to control whether or not each pin 120 moves in the positive direction in the z direction, the portion of the top surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 that faces the pot magnets 121 of each pin 120 may be magnetized in a manner that corresponds to whether or not a repulsive force that can move each pin 120 equipped with each pot magnet 121 in the positive direction in the z direction is exerted between each pot magnet 121 and the top surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200. For example, the portions of the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 facing the pot magnets 121 of the pins 120 that move in the positive z-direction may be magnetized with a magnetic pattern consisting of a first portion having the same polarity (e.g., north pole) as the pole 1211a of the permanent magnet 1211 of the opposing pot magnet 121, and a second portion surrounding the first portion and having the opposite polarity (e.g., south pole) to the pole 1211a. The second portion may completely surround the first portion, or may partially surround the first portion, for example, sandwiching the first portion from both sides. That is, the portions of the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 facing the pot magnets 121 of the pins 120 that move in the positive z direction may be magnetized with a striped magnetic pattern consisting of a first portion that is a band area of ​​the same polarity (e.g., N) as the pole 1211a of the permanent magnet 1211 of the opposing pot magnet 121, and second portions on both sides of the first portion that are of the opposite polarity (e.g., S) to the pole 1211a. The portions of the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 facing the pot magnets 121 of the pins 120 that do not move in the positive z direction may be magnetized with a magnetic pattern other than a magnetic pattern consisting of a third portion that has the same polarity (e.g., N) as the pole 1211a of the permanent magnet 1211 of the opposing pot magnet 121, and a fourth portion that surrounds the third portion and has the opposite polarity (e.g., S) to the pole 1211a.For example, the portions of the pins 120 that do not move in the positive z direction and that face each pot magnet 121 may be magnetized with a magnetic pattern consisting of a portion with a polarity opposite to that of the pole 1211a of the permanent magnet 1211 of the opposing pot magnet 121 (e.g., south pole) and a portion surrounding that portion with the same polarity as that of the pole 1211a (e.g., north pole), or only the polarity opposite to that of the pole 1211a of the permanent magnet 1211 of the opposing pot magnet 121 (e.g., south pole) or only the polarity same as that of the pole 1211a of the permanent magnet 1211 of the opposing pot magnet 121 (e.g., north pole) may be magnetized. Note that the magnetization of the portions of the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 that are not directly below or facing the periphery of the pot magnet 121 of any of the pins 120 is optional.

[0039] Therefore, when the pole 1211a of the permanent magnet 1211 of the pot magnet 121 is a north pole, and the portion of the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 that is colored dark in Figure 10A is magnetized to a north pole, as in the magnetic pattern illustrated in Figure 10A, and the portion of the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 that is not colored dark in Figure 10A is magnetized to a south pole, when the lower surface 110a of the housing 110 of the pin display device 100 and the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 are placed in contact or close proximity, the pin display device 100 will display as illustrated in Figure 10B.

[0040] 9A and 10A can be magnetized, for example, by first magnetizing the entire upper surface 200a of magnetic sheet 200 to the south pole, and then bringing the south pole of a powerful neodymium magnet into contact with the portion of upper surface 200a of magnetic sheet 200 that is colored dark in Figures 9A and 10A. When magnetizing the portion of upper surface 200a of magnetic sheet 200 that is colored dark in Figures 9A and 10A, for example, a magnetizer with a south pole of a neodymium magnet at its tip can be used, the tip of the magnetizer can be pressed against upper surface 200a of magnetic sheet 200, and the tip of the magnetizer can be moved so as to draw the portion that is colored dark in Figures 9A and 10A.

[0041] Second Embodiment The pin display system 300 described in the first embodiment is merely an example, and various modifications are possible as described in the second embodiment.

[0042] <Number of Pins and Pin Insertion Holes, and Arrangement of Pin Insertion Holes> In the first embodiment, an example was described in which the pin display device 100 includes 25 pins 120 and pin insertion holes 111. However, this number is not limited to this. That is, the pin insertion holes may be arranged at P×Q positions, where P and Q are integers greater than or equal to 2, and each position is determined by a pair of any one of the P x ​​coordinates and any one of the Q y coordinates. Therefore, the number of pins may be P×Q. Furthermore, the pin insertion holes do not need to be arranged in an array. The pin insertion holes may include multiple pins with different x coordinates and multiple pins with different y coordinates. The number of pins may be the same as the number of pin insertion holes. Depending on the application, only display on one axis perpendicular to the z direction may be required. In this case, for example, all of the multiple pin insertion holes may have the same x coordinates but different y coordinates, or all of the multiple pin insertion holes may have the same y coordinates but different x coordinates. That is, the multiple pin insertion holes only need to be at different positions in a plane perpendicular to the z direction, and the number of pins needs to be the same as the number of pin insertion holes.

[0043] <Shape of Pin, Shape of Pin Insertion Hole> In the first embodiment, an example was described in which the pin 120 and the pin insertion hole 111 were cylindrical, but the shapes of the pin and the pin insertion hole are not limited to being cylindrical and may be rectangular prisms or the like. Any shape may be used as long as it satisfies the condition that the pin can easily move in the pin insertion hole in both the positive and negative z directions but hardly moves in the x and y directions.

[0044] <Shape of the Housing> In the first embodiment, an example was described in which the housing 110 of the pin display device 100 has an outer shape of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped, but the outer shape of the housing is not limited to an approximately rectangular parallelepiped. For example, in the first embodiment, an example was described in which the upper surface 110b of the housing 110 is a plane parallel to the lower surface 110a. However, it is not essential that the upper surface of the housing be parallel to the lower surface of the housing, and it is not essential that the upper surface of the housing be a plane. Furthermore, it is not essential that the housing have side surfaces in the x direction or the y direction.

[0045] <Pot Magnet Shape, Material, and Magnet Strength> In the first embodiment, the pot magnets 121 included in all pins 120 have the same container 1212 made of the same material and shape, and the permanent magnets 1211 included in all pins 120 have the same material, shape, and strength. However, at least one of the container 1212 material, shape, and strength of the permanent magnet 1211 may be different for each pin. However, if at least one of the aforementioned materials, shapes, and strengths were different for each pin, it would be necessary to consider the differences in the container material, shape, and strength of the pot magnets and the permanent magnets for each pin when magnetizing the magnetic sheet to produce the desired display. This would increase the difficulty of creating the magnetic pattern to be magnetized on the magnetic sheet, and would also make it impossible to change the relative positions of the pin display device and the magnetic sheet, as described in the fourth embodiment. Therefore, it is better to keep the container material, shape, and strength of the pot magnets and the permanent magnets for all pins the same.

[0046] <Polarity of Pot Magnet> In the first embodiment, the poles 1211a of the permanent magnets 1211 of all the pot magnets 121 are the same (e.g., north pole), but the polarity of the permanent magnet exposed from the opening of the pot magnet container may be different for each pin. However, if the polarity of the permanent magnet exposed from the opening of the pot magnet container is different for each pin, it becomes necessary to consider the polarity of the permanent magnet exposed from the opening of the pot magnet container for each pin when magnetizing the magnetic sheet to create the desired display. This makes it more difficult to create the magnetic pattern to be magnetized on the magnetic sheet. Also, it becomes impossible to change the relative position of the pin display device and the magnetic sheet, as described in the fourth embodiment. Therefore, it is better to keep the polarity of the permanent magnet exposed from the opening of the pot magnet container for all pins the same.

[0047] <Presence or absence of a container> In the first embodiment, an example was described in which the pin 120 uses a pot magnet 121, but it is not essential that the magnet provided on the pin be a pot magnet, and a magnet without a container may also be used. However, in the case of a magnet without a container, the magnetic field lines do not concentrate on the opening surface of the container, so the pin spacing needs to be wider than when a pot magnet is used, and the display resolution in the x and y directions of the pin display device will be lower. Therefore, it is better for the magnet provided on the pin to be a pot magnet.

[0048] <Stacking of Magnetic Sheets> In the first embodiment, an example using a single magnetic sheet 200 has been described. However, using a single magnetic sheet is not essential, and multiple magnetic sheets may be stacked. In this case, multiple magnetic sheets may be stacked and then magnetized with a magnetic pattern, or each magnetic sheet may be magnetized with a magnetic pattern and then stacked. That is, all of the magnetic sheets (magnetic sheet materials) to be stacked may be pre-magnetized with the same magnetic pattern (the same texture with south and north poles), and the magnetic sheets may be stacked so that the same textures of all the stacked magnetic sheets are stacked in the same positions (laminated magnetic sheets) and used as the magnetic sheet 200. In this way, a stronger magnetic force can be obtained than when only one magnetic sheet is used, making it possible to increase the amount of movement of the pin in the positive z-direction. Furthermore, each of the stacked magnetic sheets (magnetic sheet materials) may be pre-magnetized with a different magnetic pattern (different textures with south and north poles), and these magnetic sheets may be stacked together (laminated magnetic sheets) and used as the magnetic sheet 200. In this way, it is possible to display a message that is like the sum of the messages displayed by each magnetic sheet.

[0049] [Third Embodiment] In the third embodiment, a usage form of the pin display system will be described. The pin display system 300 of the first and second embodiments displays by placing the bottom surface 110a of the housing 110 of the pin display device 100 and the top surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 in contact with or in close proximity to each other. Therefore, in order to make the pin display system 300 display various desired displays, a magnetic pattern (texture with south and north poles) corresponding to each desired display is magnetized in advance on one surface of each of a plurality of magnetic sheets 200-k (K sheets, K is an integer of 2 or more) (k is an integer of 1 to K), and one magnetic sheet 200-k from among the K magnetic sheets 200-1 to 200-K is magnetized. ｓ (k ｓ is any one integer between 1 and K, and the selected magnetic sheet 200-k ｓ The surface on which the magnetic pattern is previously magnetized is the upper surface 200a-k. ｓ As the magnetic sheet 200-k, ｓ Upper surfaces 200a-k ｓ is placed in contact with or in close proximity to the bottom surface 110a of the housing 110 of the pin display device 100. For example, the user can select a desired magnetic sheet k from among the K magnetic sheets 200-1 to 200-K. ｓ and select the magnetic sheet 200-k. ｓ Upper surfaces 200a-k ｓ The pin display device 100 may be placed so that the lower surface 110a of the housing 110 thereof is in contact with or in close proximity to the magnetic sheet 200-k. ｓ The upper surface 200a-k ｓ The pin display device 100 can be placed on top of the board.

[0050] For example, a magnetic sheet 200-k having a magnetic pattern shown in FIG. 9A magnetized on its upper surface. ｓ１ (k ｓ１ is any one integer between 1 and K, and ｓ１ Upper surfaces 200a-k ｓ１9B on the pin display device 100. Also, for example, a magnetic sheet 200-k having a magnetic pattern shown in FIG. 10A magnetized on its upper surface may be used. ｓ２ (k ｓ２ is 1 or more and K or less, k ｓ１ and (any one integer different from ｓ２ Upper surfaces 200a-k ｓ２ 10B. When the lower surface 110a of the housing 110 of the pin display device 100 is placed in contact with or in close proximity to the pin display device 100, the pin display device 100 can display the information shown in FIG. 10B.

[0051] It should be noted that any one of the K magnetic sheets 200-1 to 200-K may be used. ｓ By accepting the user's selection operation of selecting the magnetic sheet k corresponding to the selection information accepted by the input unit from among the K magnetic sheets 200-1 to 200-K, ｓ a selection unit which is a mechanical mechanism for selecting the magnetic sheet 200-k selected by the selection unit; ｓ Upper surfaces 200a-k ｓ The pin display system may also be provided with a placement unit, which is a mechanical mechanism that places the underside 110a of the housing 110 of the pin display device 100 in contact with or close to the pin display device 100.

[0052] [Fourth Embodiment] In the fourth embodiment, a usage form of the pin display system will also be described. Instead of using multiple magnetic sheets as in the third embodiment, magnetic patterns (textures with south and north poles) corresponding to each desired display are pre-magnetized at different positions on the upper surface 200a of a magnetic sheet 200, which has an area larger than the lower surface 110a of the housing 110 of the pin display device 100. When the lower surface 110a of the housing 110 of the pin display device 100 and the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 are brought into contact with or close to each other, the relative position between the pin display device 100 and the magnetic sheet 200 can be changed in a direction perpendicular to the z-direction. The pin display system 300 of the fourth embodiment can also display various desired displays using changes in the relative position between the pin display device 100 and the magnetic sheet 200.

[0053] For example, magnetic patterns corresponding to each desired display may be magnetized in advance at different positions on the upper surface of a magnetic sheet 200 having an area larger than the lower surface 110a of the housing 110 of the pin display device 100, and the user may change the relative positions of the pin display device 100 and the magnetic sheet 200 in a direction perpendicular to the z-direction while the lower surface 110a of the housing 110 of the pin display device 100 and the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 are in contact with or close to each other. In simpler terms, the magnetic sheet 200 may be placed with the upper surface 200a facing upward, the pin display device 100 may be placed on top of it, and the user may hold or support the pin display device 100 and / or the magnetic sheet 200 and move them in a direction perpendicular to the z-direction.

[0054] Alternatively, the pin display system may include a mechanical mechanism that changes the relative position of the pin display device 100 and the magnetic sheet 200 in a direction perpendicular to the z-direction while the lower surface 110a of the housing 110 of the pin display device 100 is placed in contact with or close to the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200. An example of such a pin display system is shown in FIG. 11 . The pin display system 301 of FIG. 11 includes the pin display device 100, the magnetic sheet 200, a first roller 210, a second roller 220, a handle 230, and a support 240. The magnetic sheet 200 is in the form of an endless belt. The first roller 210 and the second roller 220 are supported by the support 240 and are arranged so that their respective axes are parallel to each other, supporting the endless belt-like magnetic sheet 200 from the lower surface 200b. The handle 230 is fixed to the first roller 210 and rotates simultaneously with the first roller 210. The pin display device 100 is supported by the support 240 in a state in which the lower surface 110a of the housing 110 of the pin display device 100 is placed in contact with or close to the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200. As a result, when a user rotates the handle 230 clockwise or counterclockwise, the first roller 210 and the second roller 220 rotate in the same direction as the handle 230, and in a state in which the lower surface 110a of the housing 110 of the pin display device 100 is placed in contact with or close to the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200, the relative positions of the pin display device 100 and the magnetic sheet 200 can be changed in the x direction, which is a direction perpendicular to the z direction.

[0055] In addition, when the relative position of the pin display device 100 and the magnetic sheet 200 is changed in a direction perpendicular to the z direction, in order to prevent the display from ending in an instant and to prevent the pin 120 from moving frequently in the z direction (i.e., the pin 120 from moving up and down frequently), it is preferable that the magnetization of the pole same as the pole 1211a of the permanent magnet 1211 of the pot magnet 121 on the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 is in the form of a band with the length direction being the direction in which the relative position is changed, rather than in the form of a point similar in shape to the pole 1211a.

[0056] Fifth Embodiment When the influence of an external magnetic field is negligibly small, the plane formed by the upper ends of all pins of the pin display device may be inclined with respect to the z-direction, and therefore the upper side of the housing may be stepped. This embodiment will be described as the fifth embodiment, focusing on differences from the first embodiment. Below, specific examples will be described, with X representing an integer between 1 and 4, and Y representing an integer between 1 and 3. A pin display system 600 of the fifth embodiment includes a pin display device 500 and a magnetic sheet 200, as illustrated in FIG. 12 . The pin display device 500 of the fifth embodiment includes a housing 510 and 12 pins 520-XY. Similar to the pin display device 100 and magnetic sheet 200 of the first embodiment, the pin display device 500 and the magnetic sheet 200 are arranged such that the lower surface 510a of the housing 510 of the pin display device 500 and the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 are in contact with or adjacent to each other. The pin display system 600 of the fifth embodiment can be used in the manners of use described in the third and fourth embodiments, similar to the pin display system 300 of the first embodiment.

[0057] 13 illustrates a top view, and FIG. 14 illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along the dashed line in FIG. 13, of the housing 510 of the pin display device 500 of the fifth embodiment. The housing 510 has one flat bottom surface 510a and three top surfaces 510b-1, 510b-2, and 510b-3, which are flat surfaces parallel to the bottom surface 510a in the positive z direction relative to the bottom surface 510a and are at different distances from the bottom surface 510a. The top surface 510b-1 is a partial area obtained by dividing the bottom surface 510a into three equal parts in the y direction, and the partial area with the smallest y coordinate is separated from the other by a distance z in the z direction. １ The upper surface 510b-2 is a surface that corresponds to a partial area that is divided into three equal parts in the y direction and has the second smallest y coordinate, and is moved by a distance z ２ The upper surface 510b-3 is a surface that is equivalent to a partial area obtained by dividing the lower surface 510a into three equal parts in the y direction, and that has the third smallest y coordinate (i.e., the partial area with the largest y coordinate) is moved by a distance z in the z direction. ３ The distance z２ is the distance z １ greater than the distance z ３ is the distance z ２ That is, the distance z from the lower surface 510a to the upper surfaces 510b-1, 510b-2, and 510b-3 is １ , z ３ , z ３ The larger the y coordinate, the larger the

[0058] The housing 510 has twelve pin insertion holes 511-XY. The twelve pin insertion holes 511-XY are arranged in a 4 x 3 matrix, with four holes equally spaced in the x direction and three holes equally spaced in the y direction. Like the pin insertion holes 111 of the housing 110 of the first embodiment, each pin insertion hole 511-XY is a hole for allowing a cylindrical pin 520-XY (described later) to move in the z direction, and is cylindrical with its central axis in the z direction. The top surface 511b-X1 of the four pin insertion holes 511-X1, which are equally spaced in the x direction, is located within the top surface 510b-1 of the housing 510. The top surface 511b-X2 of the four pin insertion holes 511-X2, which are equally spaced in the x direction, is located within the top surface 510b-2 of the housing 510. The top surface 511b-X3 of the four pin insertion holes 511-X3 arranged at equal intervals in the x direction is located within the top surface 510b-3 of the housing 510.

[0059] The lower surface 511a-XY of each pin insertion hole 511-XY is a plane perpendicular to the z direction in the negative direction of the z direction relative to the upper surface 511b-XY, that is, a plane parallel to the lower surface 510-a of the housing 510. Between the lower surface 511a-XY of each pin insertion hole 511-XY and the lower surface 510-a of the housing 510, a gap 512-XY that satisfies the conditions described in the first embodiment is provided. That is, the length d of all the gaps 512-XY in the z direction ＸＹ In other words, the distance d between the bottom surface 511a-XY of all the pin insertion holes 511-XY and the bottom surface 510-a of the housing 510 is ＸＹ The distances d and d are the same. Therefore, the depth of each pin insertion hole 511-1Y (i.e., the height of the cylindrical shape of each pin insertion hole 511-1Y) is z １ -d, and the depth of each pin insertion hole 511-2Y (i.e., the height of the cylindrical shape of each pin insertion hole 511-2Y) is z ２-d, and the depth of each pin insertion hole 511-3Y (i.e., the height of the cylindrical shape of each pin insertion hole 511-3Y) is z ３ It is -d.

[0060] <Pins 520-XY> Each pin 520-XY is inserted into a corresponding pin insertion hole 511-XY in the housing 510 (i.e., a pin insertion hole having the same X and Y values ​​as the pin). As illustrated in FIG. 15, each pin 520-XY has a cylindrical outer shape with one end being a lower surface 520a-XY that is a circular flat surface, and the other end being an upper surface 520b-XY that is a flat surface parallel to the lower surface 510a-XY. Each pin 520-XY is similar to the pin 120 of the first embodiment except for the length, which will be described below. In other words, the pot magnets 521-XY and spacers 522-XY of each pin 520-XY are similar to the pot magnets 121 and spacers 122 of the pin 120 of the first embodiment.

[0061] The length of each pin 520-XY (i.e., the height of the cylindrical shape of each pin 520-XY) is equal to or greater than the depth of the pin insertion hole 511-XY into which the pin is inserted (i.e., the pin insertion hole has the same X and Y values ​​as the pin). Therefore, the length L of each pin 520-X1 １ haz １ -d or more, and the length L of each pin 520-X2 ２ haz ２ -d or more, and the length L of each pin 520-X3 ３ haz ３ It is equal to or greater than -d.

[0062] However, in the pin display device 500, the plane formed by the upper ends of all pins is inclined with respect to the z direction when the external magnetic field is small enough to ignore its influence, so even if the length of the pin 520-XY is greater than the depth of the pin 511-XY into which the pin is inserted, it is preferable to make it slightly greater than the depth of the pin 511-XY into which the pin is inserted. Therefore, if δ' is set to a sufficiently small value, the length L of each pin 520-X1 １ haz １ -d or z １-d+δ', and the length L of each pin 520-X2 ２ haz ２ -d or z ２ -d+δ', and the length L of each pin 520-X3 ３ haz ３ -d or z ３ It is −d+δ′.

[0063] <Variations> The pin display system 600 described above is merely one example, and the pin display system 600 of the fifth embodiment can also be modified in various ways similar to those described in the second embodiment for the pin display system 300 of the first embodiment.

[0064] For example, the above description has been given of an example in which the housing 510 of the pin display device 500 has three upper surfaces 510b-1, 510b-2, and 510b-3 that are at different distances from the lower surface 510a. However, any number of upper surfaces may be provided as long as the distances from the lower surface are different. However, it is preferable that the multiple upper surfaces are arranged so that the distances from the lower surface increase in order. Note that, when the pin display device 500 of the fifth embodiment is configured in this manner, each pin display device 100 may be provided with at least one pin insertion hole 111 and one pin 120. That is, in the pin display device 500 of the fifth embodiment, the upper surface of the housing is made up of J planes corresponding to J different partial areas (J is an integer of 2 or greater) of the lower surface of the housing that are moved by different distances in the positive z direction, and the J planes that are the upper surfaces of the housing are arranged so that the distances from the lower surface of the housing increase in order. The multiple pin insertion holes are arranged so that at least one pin can be inserted from each of the J planes that are the upper surfaces of the housing.

[0065] In other words, the pin display device 500 of the fifth embodiment is configured such that a plurality of pin display devices 100, each having a housing 110 whose upper surface 100b has a different height from the lower surface 110a and a pin 120 corresponding to the housing 110, are arranged so that the lower surfaces 110a of all the pin display devices 100 are on a single plane perpendicular to the Z direction, and the housings 110 of the plurality of pin display devices 100 are connected together so that the distance from the lower surface 110a to the upper surface 110b increases in order.

[0066] Sixth Embodiment As described in the first embodiment, it is necessary to increase the spacing between adjacent pins to prevent the magnetic field emitted by the pot magnet from affecting the movement of other pins. However, increasing the spacing between adjacent pins reduces the surface area formed by the top ends of the pins per unit area, resulting in reduced visibility. Therefore, in this embodiment, the pin pitch is maintained while the surface area formed by the top ends of the pins is increased to improve visibility. For example, when the letter "C" is displayed on a pin display device with the same pin pitch, the visibility is higher in Figure 17B than in Figure 17A . To achieve this configuration, in this embodiment, the pin includes a main body and a magnet, and the magnet is attached to one end (the end on the bottom side) of the main body, and the area of ​​the other end (the end on the top side, the end displaying information) of the main body is larger than the area of ​​the bottom surface of the magnet. The black circles in Figure 17C represent the surface formed by the bottom surface of the magnet, and the rectangles surrounding each black circle represent the top surface of the pin. In the first embodiment, the area of ​​the top surface of the pin and the area of ​​the bottom surface of the magnet are approximately the same, but in this embodiment, the area of ​​the top surface of the main body is made larger than the area of ​​the bottom surface of the magnet while maintaining the spacing between the magnets. This configuration increases the area of ​​the surface formed by the top end of the pin, improving visibility.

[0067] The following mainly describes the differences from the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, an example of a pin display system will be described. The pin display system 1300 of the first embodiment includes a pin display device 1100 and a magnetic sheet 200, as exemplified in FIG. 18 . The pin display device 1100 of the sixth embodiment includes a housing 1110 and 25 pins 1120. The magnetic sheet 200 and the arrangement of the pin display device 1100 and the magnetic sheet 200 are as described in the first embodiment.

[0068] <Housing 1110> The housing 1110 differs from the housing 110 of the first embodiment in that the pin insertion hole 1111 thereof is substantially rectangular prism-shaped. The other configurations are the same as those of the housing 110 of the first embodiment. Note that the inner periphery of the substantially rectangular prism-shaped pin insertion hole 111 is set in advance through experiments, etc. to be slightly larger than the outer periphery of the substantially rectangular prism-shaped pin 1120 so that the substantially rectangular prism-shaped pin 1120 can easily move in both the positive and negative z directions, but the substantially rectangular prism-shaped pin 1120 hardly moves in the x and y directions.

[0069] <Pin 1120> As illustrated in Figure 19, each pin 1120 includes a main body portion 1122 and a pot magnet 121, and is inserted into each pin insertion hole 1111 of the housing 1110. One end (the end on the lower surface side) is a substantially circular shape formed by the lower surface 121a of the pot magnet 121, and the other end is an upper surface 1120b that is a plane parallel to the lower surface of the housing 1110. The main body portion 1122 has an outer shape of a substantially rectangular prism, with one end being an approximately square upper surface 1120b (one bottom surface) and the other end being an approximately square lower surface (the other bottom surface). Since the outer shape of the pin 112 depends largely on the outer shape of the main body portion 1122, the pin 112 as a whole has an outer shape of a substantially rectangular prism. A pot magnet 121 is fixed to one end of each main body portion 1122 with the opening of the container (pot) facing outward, and each pin 1120 is inserted into each pin insertion hole 1111 of the housing 1110 with the end with the pot magnet 121 facing in the negative z direction. For example, an adhesive can be used to fix the pot magnet 121 to the main body portion 1122. The area of ​​the upper surface 1120b of the main body portion 1122 is larger than the area of ​​the lower surface 121a of the pot magnet 121.

[0070] The pot magnet 121 itself has the same configuration as in the first embodiment. Each pot magnet 121 is fixed to the lower surface of the main body 1122 of each pin 1120 with the lower surface 121a of the pot magnet 121 facing outward. In other words, each pot magnet 121 is provided on the lower surface of the main body 1122 of each pin 1120 with the lower surface 121a of the pot magnet 121 facing the lower surface of the pin 1120.

[0071] Each main body portion 1122 desirably does not block or reduce magnetic field lines, does not control the path of magnetic field lines, does not generate magnetic field lines, is as lightweight as possible, and has a certain degree of rigidity so as to minimize the interference with the movement of each pin 1120 in the positive z-direction due to the magnetic repulsive force generated between each pot magnet 121 and the magnetic sheet 200. For example, it is preferable that the main body portion 1122 does not deform due to the vertical movement of the pin 1120, its own weight, or human hands, and is desirably made of a material with a low specific gravity and low elasticity, such as styrene foam (expanded polystyrene or urethane). In this embodiment, the main body portion 1122 has an outer shape of a roughly rectangular prism.

[0072] As in the first embodiment, the length of each pin 1120 (i.e., the height of the rectangular prism of each pin 1120) is the same as the depth of each pin insertion hole 1111 (i.e., the height of the rectangular prism of each pin insertion hole 1111) or is longer than the depth (length) of the rectangular prism of each pin insertion hole 1111. The length of the pin 1120 is approximately the same as the sum of the length of the main body portion 1122 (i.e., the height of the rectangular prism of the main body portion 1122) and the length of the pot magnet 121 (i.e., the height of the cylindrical pot magnet 121).

[0073] Also, as in the first embodiment, in order to provide more variety in the display by the pin display device 100, the maximum amount of movement of each pin 120 in the z direction should be larger, and the weight of the pin 1120, i.e., the total weight of the pot magnet 121 and the main body portion 1122, should be smaller.

[0074] The depth of each pin insertion hole 1111 must be greater than the maximum amount of movement in the z direction of each pin 1120, and the length of each pin 1120 must be greater than the maximum amount of movement in the z direction of each pin 1120. With this configuration, the area of ​​the surface formed by the upper ends of the pins can be increased while maintaining the pin pitch, thereby improving visibility.

[0075] [Seventh Embodiment] The pin display system 1300 described in the sixth embodiment is merely one example, and various modifications can be made to the pin display system 1300 of the sixth embodiment in the same manner as those described in the second embodiment for the pin display system 300 of the first embodiment. Here, modifications different from the second embodiment will be described.

[0076] <Shape and Arrangement of Pins 1120 and Pin Insertion Holes 1111> To improve visibility, it is desirable to increase the surface area formed by the upper ends of the pins 1120 in the pin display system 1300. Therefore, it is desirable to arrange the pins 1120 as densely as possible, and it is desirable to arrange the upper surfaces of pins of the same size and shape as densely as possible. This arrangement is also referred to as the "closest-packed pin arrangement" below. By adopting the closest-packed pin arrangement, a high-density pin display can be realized, allowing the desired magnetic pattern to be displayed with high precision. Furthermore, if the spacing between the upper surfaces 1120b of the pins 1120 is not uniform, uneven display content will occur depending on the position, even if the same magnetic pattern is displayed. Therefore, it is desirable to arrange the upper surfaces 1120b of the pins 1120 in a matrix with equal spacing in the x and y directions.

[0077] The main body 1122 of the pin 1120 is preferably cylindrical so as to minimize the obstruction of movement in the z-direction. For example, the shape of the top surface 1122b of the main body 1122 may be an N-gon (N is an integer greater than or equal to 3), a circle, an ellipse, a star, a heart, or the like. FIG. 20A shows an example of a square, FIG. 21A shows an example of a circle, FIG. 22A shows an example of a diamond, and FIG. 23A shows an example of a regular hexagon. When the top surface 1122b of the main body 1122 is a circle, a diamond, a regular hexagon, or the like, the closest-packed pin arrangement is an arrangement in which the center of the shape is the vertex of an equilateral triangle. Note that, in addition to the pot magnet 121, the magnet included in the pin 1120 can also be a columnar body that is uniformly magnetized in the axial direction, such as a cylindrical magnet 1121. For example, the magnet 1121 can be created by using a magnetic sheet and a drilling tool to carve out a circle from the magnetic sheet (see Non-Patent Document 1). This configuration reduces the cost of producing the magnet and also reduces the weight of the pin 1120. One end of the pin 1120 is one bottom surface of the cylindrical magnet 1121, and the other end of the pin 1120 is one bottom surface of the cylindrical main body 1122, and the other bottom surface of the magnet 1121 and the other bottom surface of the main body 1122 are fixed in a position where the axes of the respective cylinders are aligned.

[0078] In this case, the housing 1110 preferably has pin insertion holes 1111 arranged in a matrix at equal intervals in the x and y directions so that the pins can be arranged as densely as possible on the top surface of the main body portion. Furthermore, it is preferable to have the pin insertion holes 1111 so that the pins are arranged as densely as possible. Each pin insertion hole 1111 is a hole into which a pin 1120 is inserted from the top surface side of the housing 1110, a hole for allowing the columnar pin 1120 to move in the z direction, and the columnar body has a central axis in the z direction. The pin insertion hole 1111 has a shape that matches the shape of the main body portion 1122, and its cross section is, for example, a square, circle, rhombus, or regular hexagon. The inner circumference of each pin insertion hole 1111 is set in advance through experiments, etc., to be slightly larger than the inner circumference of the columnar body of the pin 1120 so that the columnar pin 1120 can easily move in both the positive and negative z directions but hardly moves in the x and y directions.

[0079] From the perspective of increasing the surface area formed by the upper ends of the pins 1120 in order to improve visibility, the pin display system 1300 may have a cross-sectional shape such as an equilateral triangle for the upper surface 1122b of the main body 1122 and the pin insertion holes 1111, as shown in Figure 24A. However, in the case of Figure 24A, the spacing D1-24A and D2-24A between the magnets in the y direction is not uniform, resulting in unevenness in the displayed content. By rotating the arrangement of the pins 1120 and the pin insertion holes 1111 by 90 degrees on the xy plane, the spacing D-24B between the magnets in the y direction can be made uniform, but the spacing D-24B between the magnets in the x direction will no longer be uniform, resulting in unevenness in the displayed content.

[0080] In the first embodiment, as illustrated in Fig. 7, each pin insertion hole 111 in the housing 110 has a bottom to provide a gap 112, but may also penetrate the housing 1110 as illustrated in Fig. 25. In this case, the two parallel, approximately circular bottom surfaces of each pin insertion hole 1111 in the housing 1110 are an upper surface 1111b located within an upper surface 1110b of the housing 1110, and a lower surface 1111a located within a lower surface 1110a of the housing 1110, as illustrated in Fig. 25.

[0081] Furthermore, a second housing 1110-2, which is a separate member for providing the gap 112, is attached to the housing 1110 (see FIGS. 25 and 26).

[0082] 26, the second housing 1110 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape including a bottom surface 1110a-2 that is a plane perpendicular to the z direction, and a top surface that is a plane parallel to the bottom surface 1110a-2 and in the positive direction of the z direction relative to the bottom surface 1110a-2. The second housing 1110 is hollow, and the top surface of the second housing 1110 is open. The material of the second housing 1110-2 is a material that does not block or reduce magnetic field lines, does not control the path of magnetic field lines, or does not generate magnetic field lines, such as plastic, resin, or paper, and is, for example, the same material as the housing 1110. In addition, when the pin 1120 is not moving in the positive z direction due to the repulsive force of the magnetic force (the end of the pin 1120 on the magnet 1121 side is in contact with the inner surface of the second housing 1110, and the bottom surface of the second housing 1110-2 is in contact with the top surface of the magnetic sheet 200), the length in the z direction between the magnet 1121 and the top surface of the magnetic sheet 200 is equal to or greater than the length in the z direction of the magnet 1121 used for the magnetic sheet 200 (i.e., a magnet that emits the same magnetic field as the magnet 1121) due to the magnetic field emitted by the same magnet used for the magnet 1121 (i.e., a magnet that emits the same magnetic field as the magnet 1121). A gap 112 must be provided having a length in the z direction that is greater than the shortest distance at which the polarity of the magnet used in magnet 1121 (i.e., a magnet that emits the same magnetic field as magnet 1121) and the same magnetic sheet used in magnetic sheet 200 (i.e., a magnetic sheet with the same ferromagnetic material and the same mixing ratio as the substrate, or a magnetic sheet of the same type as magnetic sheet 200) is not rewritten, and is less than the longest distance at which magnetic force is not generated between the same magnet used in magnet 1121 (i.e., a magnet that emits the same magnetic field as magnet 1121) and the same magnetic sheet used in magnetic sheet 200 (i.e., a magnetic sheet with the same substrate as magnetic sheet 200, the same ferromagnetic material and the same mixing ratio as magnetic sheet 200, or a magnetic sheet of the same type as magnetic sheet 200).

[0083] 27 is a diagram illustrating the length of each pin 1120. In this configuration, the length of each pin 1120 (i.e., the height of the column of each pin 1120) is the same as or longer than the distance D2 from the top surface 1110b of the housing 1110 to the inner circumferential surface of the second housing 1110-2, which is parallel to the top surface 1110b.

[0084] 28 , each main body portion 1122 of each pin 1120 may have a protrusion 1122A extending outward from the central axis at the end in the negative z-direction. The shape and size of the protrusion 1122A may be such that it cannot pass through the pin insertion hole 1111 and does not engage with adjacent protrusions 1122A. With this configuration, the lower surface 1111 a of the pin insertion hole 1111 abuts against the upper surface of the protrusion 1122A, preventing the pin 1120 from jumping out of the pin insertion hole 1111 when, for example, the pin display device 1300 is turned upside down.

[0085] Also, as shown in FIG. 29A, each main body portion 1122 of each pin 1120 may have a protrusion 1122B at the end in the positive z direction that extends outward to expand the shape of the upper surface 1122b of the main body portion 1122 (for example, an N-sided polygon (N is an integer greater than or equal to 1), a circle, an ellipse, a star, or a heart). The size of the protrusion 1122B may be such that adjacent protrusions 1122B do not engage with each other. This configuration increases the surface area formed by the upper end of the pin per unit area, improving visibility. In this case, the length of each pin 1120 (i.e., the height of the column of each pin 1120) is the same as or longer than the distance D2 from the top surface 1110b of the housing 1110 to the inner circumferential surface of the second housing 1110-2, which is parallel to the top surface 1110b, plus the thickness (length in the z direction) of the protrusion 1122B. If the protrusions 1122B are provided, for some reason (e.g., the gap between the main body 1122 and the pin insertion hole 1111 is larger than expected, causing the pin 1120 to move more obliquely than expected, resulting in misalignment in at least one of the x and y directions), adjacent protrusions 1122B may engage with each other, hindering the movement of the pin 1120 in the z direction. Figure 29B is an enlarged view of the dashed line portion in Figure 29A. As shown in FIG. 29B, such problems can be alleviated by rounding the corners of at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the protrusion 1122B.

[0086] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 30, each body portion 1122 of each pin 1120 may have a protrusion 1122A and a protrusion 1122B.

[0087] In the configurations of FIGS. 28 to 30, the axial length of the portion of the main body 1122 excluding the convex portions 1122 A and 1122 B is longer than the axial length of the pin insertion hole 1111 .

[0088] <Shape and arrangement of magnets 1121> The shape of the magnets 1121 may be a shape other than a cylinder, and may be a pillar, for example, a polygonal prism. A certain distance must be maintained between adjacent magnets 1121 to prevent magnetic field interference, but this depends on the magnetic field distribution of each magnet 1121. For example, if the magnets 1121 have a magnetic field interference range M as shown in Figure 31A, then arrangements such as those shown in Figures 31B and 31C are adopted so that the interference ranges M do not overlap.

[0089] Furthermore, even if the shape of the magnet is the same, the magnetic field distribution may differ depending on the shape of the magnetized magnetic field. The magnets 1121 in Figures 32A and 33A are quadrangular prisms with rectangular upper and lower surfaces, but their interference ranges M are different. Therefore, the optimal arrangement changes depending on the area in which the spacing should be provided. For example, if the magnetic field interference range M of Figure 32A is present, an arrangement such as that of Figure 32B is adopted so that the interference ranges M do not overlap, and if the magnetic field interference range M of Figure 33A is present, an arrangement such as that of Figure 33B is adopted so that the interference ranges M do not overlap.

[0090] <Relationship between the Strength and Spacing of the Magnets 1121> When the magnets 1121 are cylindrical, the magnetic field emitted by the magnets 1121 can be increased by increasing the area of ​​the bottom surface. As explained in the first embodiment, it is preferable that the magnetic field emitted by the magnets 1121 provided in each pin 1120 provided in the pin display device 1300 is stronger. However, if the magnetic field emitted by the magnets 1121 is too strong, the magnetic force generated between the magnets 1121 provided in adjacent pins 1120 will affect the mutual movement of the adjacent pins 1120. Specifically, the magnetic field emitted by the magnets 1121 of each pin 1120 must not be such that the magnetic force generated between the magnets 1121 provided in adjacent pins 1120 will affect the movement of the pins 1120. In other words, it is preferable to prepare magnets whose magnetic fields are the largest within a range that does not affect each other's magnetic fields relative to the pin pitch.

[0091] Here, as a simple example, a case will be described in which the pin 1120 includes a rectangular prism-shaped main body 1122 and a cylindrical magnet 1121, as shown in FIG. 34. The cylindrical magnet 1121 is formed by hollowing out a circle from a magnetic sheet. If X is the length of the square side of the bottom surface of the rectangular prism-shaped main body 1122, W is the thickness of the wall of the housing 1110 separating adjacent pins 1120, and a is the play between the main body 1122 and the wall of the housing 1110, then the pin pitch P can be expressed as P=X+2a+W. The play a is the space (gap) between the main body 1122 and the wall that allows the pin 1120 to move smoothly in the z direction, and is usually set to about 0.05 to 0.5 mm. m is the weight (X) of the main body 1122 of the pin 1120. ２ × length of pin × specific gravity of material of main body portion 1122), d is the diameter of the bottom surface of cylindrical magnet 1121, and D(d, m) is the distance between two magnets of diameter d carrying a load of weight m [g], at which the influence of each other's magnetic field can be ignored. The diameter d should be selected so as to satisfy P≧D(d, m)+d.

[0092] D(d,m) can be determined by experiment or simulation. For example, Figure 35 shows the relationship between diameter d, distance D(d,m), and weight m [g]. We investigated the case where the main body 1122 is not included and the case where the weight of the main body 1122 is 0.029 g. The heavier the main body 1122 is, the smaller the distance D(d,m) at which the influence of the mutual magnetic fields is negligible. Furthermore, when D(d,m)+d is on a scale of 10 mm or less, D(d,m)+d also increases with the size of the diameter d of the magnet 1121, so D(d,m)+d can be expressed approximately as a linear function.

[0093] For example, if the length of the side of the square bottom surface of main body portion 1122 is 5 mm, the height (length in the z direction) of main body portion 1122 is 20 mm, the weight of main body portion 1122 is m = 0.029 g, W is the thickness of the wall of casing 1110 separating adjacent pins 1120, W = 1 mm, and play a = 0.15 mm, then d satisfies 6.3 ≧ d+D(d, 0.029), and d = 4.5 mm is obtained.

[0094] <Factors determining the configuration of pin 1120> The shape, size and material density of main body portion 1122, thickness W of the wall formed by housing 1110, play a between main body portion 1122 and the wall formed by housing 1110, thickness of gap 112 provided in housing 1110, area and height of the bottom surface of the cylinder of magnet 1121, shape of magnet 1121 itself, shape of the magnetic field magnetized in magnet 1121, arrangement and weight of magnet 1121, thickness and magnetic pattern of magnetic sheet 200 are set so that the maximum amount of movement of each pin 1120 in the z direction is the desired value. For example, if the maximum amount of movement of each pin 1120 in the z direction is smaller than the desired value, possible measures include reducing the height of main body portion 1122 to reduce its size, reducing the specific gravity of the material, thinning gap 112 provided in housing 1110 or second housing 1110-2, increasing the area of ​​the bottom surface of the columnar body of magnet 1121, increasing the height of magnet 1121, and increasing the thickness of magnetic sheet 200. Conversely, if pin 1120 jumps out of pin insertion hole 1111 when the amount of movement of pin 1120 in the z direction reaches its maximum value, the opposite measure can be considered.

[0095] [Eighth Embodiment] The pin display system 1300 described in the sixth and seventh embodiments can also be used in the usage patterns described in the third and fourth embodiments, similar to the pin display system 300 of the first embodiment. Here, a case where it is used in the usage pattern described in the fourth embodiment will be described.

[0096] In this embodiment, as in the fourth embodiment, magnetic patterns (textures with south and north poles) corresponding to each desired display are magnetized in advance at different positions on the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200, which has an area larger than the lower surface 1110a of the housing 1110 of the pin display device 1100, and when the lower surface 1110a of the housing 1110 of the pin display device 1100 and the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 are brought into contact with or close to each other, the relative position of the pin display device 1100 and the magnetic sheet 200 can be changed in a direction perpendicular to the z direction, and the pin display system 1300 displays various desired displays depending on this change in relative position. The direction in which the relative position of the pin display device 1100 and the magnetic sheet 200 is changed is defined as the α direction, and the direction perpendicular to the z direction and the α direction is defined as the β direction.

[0097] For example, the pin display system is provided with a mechanical mechanism that changes the relative position of the pin display device 1100 and the magnetic sheet 200 in a direction α perpendicular to the z direction. The pin display system 1301 in Fig. 11 includes the pin display device 1100, the magnetic sheet 200, a first roller 210, a second roller 220, a handle 230, and a support tool 240. In this configuration, the α direction is a predetermined direction, and in the example of Fig. 11, the α direction is the x direction. The β direction is the y direction.

[0098] FIG. 36 shows an example of a magnetic sheet 200, a magnetic pattern magnetized on the magnetic sheet 200, and a pin 1120.

[0099] Each pin 1120 moves in the positive z direction due to a repulsive force caused by a magnetic force generated between each magnet 1121 and the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200, and displays information using a three-dimensional point cloud consisting of the upper surfaces of the pins 1120. In the case where the surface of the magnet 1121 facing the magnetic sheet 200 is the north pole, and the portion of the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 that is colored dark in Fig. 36 is magnetized to the north pole, and the portion of the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 that is not colored dark in Fig. 36 is magnetized to the south pole, as in the magnetic pattern illustrated in Fig. 36 (a handwritten magnetic pattern "A" in this example), when the lower surface 1110a of the housing 1110 of the pin display device 1100 and the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 are placed in contact with or close to each other, the pin display device 1100 displays information using a three-dimensional point cloud corresponding to the magnetic pattern (a handwritten magnetic pattern "A" in this example). That is, on the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200, the portions facing the magnets 1121 of the multiple pins 1120 that move in the positive z direction are magnetized with a magnetic pattern consisting of a first portion having the same polarity (e.g., N pole) as the surface of the opposing magnet 1121 facing the magnetic sheet 200, and a second portion surrounding the first portion and having the opposite polarity (e.g., S pole) to the polarity of the surface of the magnet 1121 facing the magnetic sheet 200. Among the multiple pins 1120 in 00a that move in the positive z direction, the magnetic pattern magnetized at the portion facing the magnet 1121 of the pin 1120 whose first movement amount is the movement amount in the positive z direction is different from the magnetic pattern magnetized at the portion facing the magnet 1121 of the multiple pins 1120 that move in the positive z direction and whose second movement amount is different from the first movement amount.

[0100] When the magnets 1121 are projected in the α direction, if the spacing between the projected magnets 1121 in the β direction (y direction) is large and the magnetic pattern is smaller than that spacing, the small magnetic pattern may pass between the magnets 1121 and the pin 1120 may not be lifted properly, as shown in Figure 37. This type of problem is particularly likely to occur when the magnetic pattern is written by hand using a magnet or the like, without using a pattern generator or plotting machine or the like.

[0101] To solve this problem, when the magnets 1121 are projected in the α direction, it is desirable that the spacing between the projected magnets 1121 in the β direction (y direction) be as small as possible. It is desirable that at least one of the magnets 1121 arranged at different positions in the β direction reacts to the smallest expected magnetic pattern in the β direction, causing the pin 1120 to lift. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 38 , the magnets 1121 may overlap in the α direction (x direction), and the spacing between the magnets 1121 may be zero in the β direction (y direction). In other words, when the magnets 1121 are projected in the α direction, the projected magnets 1121 may overlap, and the spacing between the projected magnets 1121 may be zero.

[0102] Each pin insertion hole 1111 is provided in the housing 1110 so that when the magnets 1121 of each pin 1120 inserted into each pin insertion hole 1111 are projected in the α direction, the spacing between the projected magnets 1121 is small in the β direction (y direction). To achieve this, a closest-packed pin arrangement is determined that increases the area of ​​the surface formed by the upper ends of the pins per unit area, in accordance with the shape of the surface formed by the upper ends of the pins. Furthermore, the closest-packed pin arrangement is rotated on the surface for which the closest-packed pin arrangement is determined, and when the magnets of the pins are projected in the α direction, the angle at which the spacing between the projected magnets 1121 is small in the β direction (y direction) is determined. Pin insertion holes 1111 corresponding to the determined closest-packed pin arrangement and angle are provided in the housing 1110, and the pins 1120 are inserted into the pin insertion holes 1111.

[0103] For example, if the shape of the top surface 1122b of the main body portion 1122 is square, both Figures 20A and 20B show the closest pin arrangement, but the arrangement of Figure 20B, which is rotated 45 degrees from the arrangement of Figure 20A, has a smaller spacing between the projected magnets 1121 in the β direction (y direction). For example, if the shape of the top surface 1122b is square, the length of the square side of the bottom surface of each square is 5 mm, the diameter d of each magnet 1121 is 3 mm, and the pin pitch is 6.3 mm, in the case of the arrangement of Figure 20A, the distance between the central axes of the projected magnets 1121 in the β direction (y direction) is the same as the pin pitch of 6.3 mm, and in the case of the arrangement of Figure 20B, the distance between the central axes of the projected magnets 1121 in the β direction (y direction) is 4.45 mm. 39A is a diagram showing an example of the display state of the pin display device 1100 in the arrangement example of FIG. 20A, and FIG. 39B is a diagram showing an example of the display state of the pin display device 1100 in the arrangement example of FIG. 20B.

[0104] 21A and 21B show the case where the shape of the upper surface 1122b of the main body portion 1122 is circular, Figures 22A and 22B show the case where the shape of the upper surface 1122b of the main body portion 1122 is rhombic, and Figures 23A and 23B show the case where the shape of the upper surface 1122b of the main body portion 1122 is regular hexagonal, and all of these are close-packed pin arrangements with the center of each shape being the center of an equilateral triangle. In this case, the arrangements of Figures 21B, 22B, and 23B, which are rotated 90 degrees from the arrangements of Figures 21A, 22A, and 23A, have a smaller spacing between the projected magnets 1121 in the β direction (y direction).

[0105] [Ninth embodiment] Forming a magnetic pattern on the magnetic sheet 200 requires the use of a magnetizer such as a dedicated pattern generator or plotting machine, which presents the problem that the magnetic pattern cannot be written, erased, or changed at any time.

[0106] The operation display device of this embodiment includes a magnetic sheet drive unit that moves the magnetic sheet, a drawing window unit in which a sheet that visualizes a magnetic pattern (hereinafter also referred to as a "magnetic visualization sheet") is placed on the magnetic sheet and a magnetic pattern is written on the magnetic visualization sheet using a magnet, and a display unit in which a magnetically operated device is placed on the magnetic sheet. Here, the pin display devices described in the first to eighth embodiments can be used as the magnetically operated device on the magnetic sheet. In this example, the pin display device 1100 is used. As described in the eighth embodiment, when moving the magnetic sheet, the spacing between the projected magnets 1121 in the β direction (y direction) of the pin display device 1100 is made as small as possible so that the magnetic sheet can operate accurately even with small magnetic patterns.

[0107] With this configuration, it is possible to move the magnetic sheet and visually check the operating status of the device installed on the display unit at any time while forming (writing) and modifying magnetic patterns, making it possible to interactively design magnetic patterns according to the operating status of the device installed on the display unit.

[0108] Fig. 40 is a perspective view illustrating the operation display device 2301, and Fig. 41 is a side view illustrating the operation display device 2301. The operation display device 2301 includes a magnetic sheet 200, a motor 205, a first roller 210, a second roller 220, a magnetic visualization sheet 2350, a drawing window portion 2351, a pin display device 1100, a display portion 2360, a support 240, and a magnetic pattern erasing portion 2370.

[0109] <First roller 210, second roller 220, and motor 205> Magnetic sheet 200 is in the form of an endless belt. First roller 210 and second roller 220 are supported by support 240 and are arranged so that their respective axes are parallel to each other, supporting endless belt-like magnetic sheet 200 from the lower surface 200b side.

[0110] Furthermore, a motor 205, for example, a stepping motor, is fixed to the second roller 220, and rotating the stepping motor simultaneously rotates the second roller 220. The magnetic visualization sheet 2350, the pin display device 1100, and the magnetic pattern erasing unit 2370 are arranged in this order in the positive x-direction. The drawing window 2351, the display unit 2360, and the magnetic pattern erasing unit 2370 are supported by the support 240 with the lower surface of the magnetic visualization sheet 2350, the lower surface of the housing 1110 of the pin display device 1100, and the lower surface of the magnetic pattern erasing unit 2370 in contact with or close to the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200. The magnetic visualization sheet 2350 is supported by the support 240 via the drawing window 2351, and the pin display device 1100 is supported by the support 240 via the display unit 2360.

[0111] As a result, by rotating motor 205 clockwise or counterclockwise, first roller 210 and second roller 220 rotate in the same direction as motor 205, and with the lower surface of magnetic visualization sheet 2350, the lower surface of housing 1110 of pin display device 1100, and the lower surface of magnetic pattern erasing unit 2370 placed in contact or close proximity with upper surface 200a of magnetic sheet 200, the relative positions of magnetic visualization sheet 2350, pin display device 1100, and magnetic pattern erasing unit 2370 and magnetic sheet 200 can be changed in the x direction, which is perpendicular to the z direction.

[0112] In this example, the first roller 210, the second roller 220, and the motor 205 correspond to the magnetic sheet drive unit. The motor 205 is, for example, a stepping motor, and the rotation direction, rotation speed, etc. can be easily controlled by a microcomputer. The motor 205 may be configured to automatically feed out the magnetic sheet 200 at a constant speed. Alternatively, a switch may be provided to control the speed (including speed = 0) and direction at which the magnetic sheet 200 is fed out, and the user may operate the motor by pressing the switch. Alternatively, for example, the magnetic sheet 200 for one screen displayed in the drawing window 2351 may be fed out at regular intervals or by pressing a specific switch, etc.

[0113] Alternatively, an input information reading unit (not shown) may be provided to read the written magnetic pattern and control the motor based on the read rotation direction, rotation speed, etc. For example, the input information reading unit may include a camera, an image recognition unit, and a motor control unit. The camera may capture an image of the magnetic visualization sheet 2350, the image recognition unit may perform image recognition processing on the captured image, and the motor control unit may control the motor 205 based on the recognition result. Note that a magnetic pattern reading device may be provided instead of a camera, and recognition processing may be performed on the magnetic pattern read by the recognition unit. For example, if the recognition result indicates the text "play" or some symbol (e.g., ">") or gesture (e.g., a gesture of tapping a specific position on the magnetic visualization sheet 2350) that indicates playback, the motor control unit rotates the motor 205 clockwise at a predetermined speed. The motor control unit may control the rotation direction, rotation speed, rotation time, number of rotations, etc. of the motor 205. Furthermore, for example, if the recognition result indicates the text "erase" or some other symbol (e.g., an eraser mark) or gesture (e.g., a gesture of double-tapping a specific position on the magnetic visualization sheet 2350) that signifies erasure, the motor control unit rotates the motor 205 clockwise or counterclockwise at a predetermined speed until a predetermined position on the top surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 makes a full rotation and returns to its original position. Through this processing, the magnetic pattern erasing unit 2370, which will be described later, can magnetize the entire top surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 to the desired magnetic pole, thereby resetting the magnetic pattern.

[0114] By using the motor 205, it is expected that the time between input and output will be shortened. This will increase the interactivity of the 3D presentation, allowing for a 3D presentation that feels like drawing a picture. However, instead of the motor 205, a handle may be provided, and as explained in the fourth embodiment, the magnetic sheet may be driven by the user rotating the handle clockwise or counterclockwise.

[0115] <Drawing Window 2351 and Magnetic Visualization Sheet 2350> In the drawing window 2351, the magnetic visualization sheet 2350 is placed on the magnetic sheet 200, and a magnetic pattern is written onto the magnetic visualization sheet 2350 using a magnet.

[0116] The magnetic visualization sheet 2350 is a sheet that allows visual confirmation of the strength of the magnetic field and the boundaries of the magnetic poles of a magnetic sheet placed in contact with or close to the magnetic visualization sheet 2350. For example, the sheet in Reference 1 can be considered. (Reference 1) "Magnet Viewer," [online], [searched September 17, 2023], Internet <URL: https: / / www.amazon.co.jp / magfine-%E3%83%9E%E3%82%B0%E3%83%8D%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%83%93%E3%83%A5%E3%83%BC%E3%82%A2-200x200-mm / dp / B0125WO82Q>. In this example, the magnetic visualization sheet 2350 includes a film-like sheet and a magnetic material encapsulated in microcapsules, with the microcapsules sandwiched between the film-like sheet. When the sheet comes into contact with a magnet (which generates magnetic field lines), the magnetic material reacts and changes orientation. The color changes due to a change in light reflectivity, allowing the user to visually perceive the strength of the magnetic field and the boundaries between magnetic poles.

[0117] <Display Unit 2360 and Pin Display Device 1100> In the display unit 2360, the pin display device 1100, which is a device that operates by magnetism, is arranged on the magnetic sheet 200.

[0118] <Magnetic pattern erasing unit 2370> The magnetic pattern erasing unit 2370 is a powerful magnet that can magnetize the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 to a desired magnetic pole by contacting or bringing it close to the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200. The length of the magnetic pattern erasing unit 2370 in the y direction is equal to or greater than the length of the magnetic sheet 200 in the y direction. For example, the magnetic pattern erasing unit 2370 is a neodymium magnet, which is a powerful magnet. The magnetic pattern erasing unit 2370 plays a role in resetting the magnetic pattern on the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200, and is placed in a location other than between the magnetic visualization sheet 2350 and the pin display device 1100.

[0119] <Operation Example> A description will be given of an operation example of the operation display device 2301. For example, the entire upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 facing the lower surface of the magnetic visualization sheet 2350 is magnetized to the south pole.

[0120] The desired magnetic pattern can be magnetized by contacting the south pole of a magnet with the magnetic visualization sheet 2350 to a portion of the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 that corresponds to the desired magnetic pattern. To magnetize the portion of the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 that corresponds to the desired magnetic pattern, for example, a magnetizer with a neodymium magnet at its tip can be used in the drawing window 2351. The tip of the magnetizer can be pressed against the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 via the magnetic visualization sheet 2350, and the tip of the magnetizer can be moved to draw the portion that corresponds to the desired magnetic pattern. This configuration allows the user to visually check the strength and weakness of the magnetic field of the magnetic sheet 200 and the boundaries of the magnetic poles through the magnetic visualization sheet 2350. When magnetizing the desired magnetic pattern on the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200, other magnets, such as a stamp with a magnetic sheet cut out in a shape corresponding to the desired magnetic pattern, may also be used.

[0121] After the desired magnetic pattern is magnetized on the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200, the motor 205 is rotated clockwise, and the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 with the desired magnetic pattern magnetized thereon advances from the lower surface of the magnetic visualization sheet 2350 to the lower surface 1110a of the housing 1110 of the pin display device 1100.

[0122] When there is a repulsive force due to the magnetic force generated between each magnet 1121 of each pin 1120 and the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200, each pin 1120 moves in the positive z direction (i.e., a direction that at least includes the direction opposite to gravity) due to that repulsive force, and information is displayed using a three-dimensional point cloud.

[0123] At this time, if the user wants to check the operating status of the device and correct the operation, he or she rotates motor 205 counterclockwise to move upper surface 200a of magnetic sheet 200, on which the magnetic pattern has been magnetized, toward the underside of magnetic visualization sheet 2350, and while visually checking the strength of the magnetic field of magnetic sheet 200 and the boundary between magnetic poles through magnetic visualization sheet 2350, for example, using a magnetizer with the south pole of a neodymium magnet at its tip, press the tip of the magnetizer against upper surface 200a of magnetic sheet 200 through magnetic visualization sheet 2350 and move the tip of the magnetizer so as to trace the part corresponding to the magnetic pattern that needs to be corrected.

[0124] For example, if the lower surface (not shown) of the magnetic pattern erasing unit 2370 is the north pole of a powerful neodymium magnet, when the lower surface of the magnetic pattern erasing unit 2370 is placed in contact with or close to the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 and the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 moves in the positive x-direction, the entire upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 can be magnetized to the south pole, and the magnetic pattern can be reset.

[0125] With this configuration, users can easily write magnetic patterns using magnets without using magnetizers such as dedicated pattern generators or plotting machines.Furthermore, they can immediately check the actual operating status of the pin display device that operates according to the magnetic pattern, and can modify the magnetic pattern taking into account the actual operating status, allowing for interactive magnetic pattern design.

[0126] Tenth Embodiment The operation display device 2301 described in the ninth embodiment is merely an example, and various modifications are possible as described in the tenth embodiment.

[0127] 42 , two drawing windows 2351 and two magnetic visualization sheets 2350 may be arranged for one pin display device. In each drawing window 2351, the magnetic visualization sheet 2350 is arranged on the magnetic sheet 200, and a magnetic pattern is written from above the magnetic visualization sheet 2350 using a magnet.

[0128] With this configuration, of the two drawing windows 2351 aligned in the positive x-direction, a magnetic pattern written in the first drawing window 2351 can be corrected in the second drawing window 2351. Three or more drawing windows 2351 and magnetic visualization sheets 2350 may be arranged.

[0129] Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 43, two display units 2360 and pin display devices 1100 may be arranged for the operation display device 2301 in Fig. 42. Each display unit 2360 is provided with a pin display device 1100, which is a device that operates by magnetism, arranged on a magnetic sheet 200.

[0130] With this configuration, of the two drawing windows 2351 and display units 2360 aligned in the positive x-direction, the operating status of the first pin display device 1100 in response to the magnetic pattern written in the first drawing window 2351 can be confirmed on the first display unit 2360, the magnetic pattern can be corrected in consideration of the actual operating status in the second drawing window 2351, and the operating status of the second pin display device 1100 in response to the corrected magnetic pattern can be confirmed on the second display unit 2360. Three or more display units 2360 and pin display devices 1100 may be arranged.

[0131] <Position of magnetic pattern erasing unit 2370> In the ninth embodiment, the magnetic visualization sheet 2350, the pin display device 1100, and the magnetic pattern erasing unit 2370 are arranged in this order in the positive direction of the x direction. However, as long as the magnetic pattern written on the magnetic visualization sheet 2350 is displayed on the pin display device 1100, the magnetic pattern erasing unit 2370 may be arranged anywhere other than between the magnetic visualization sheet 2350 and the pin display device 1100. For example, the magnetic pattern erasing unit 2370, the magnetic visualization sheet 2350, and the pin display device 1100 may be arranged in this order in the positive direction of the x direction.

[0132] 44 , in the case where the magnetic pattern erasing unit 2370 includes an elevator 2371 that raises and lowers the magnetic pattern erasing unit 2370, the magnetic pattern erasing unit 2370 may be disposed between the magnetic visualization sheet 2350 and the pin display device 1100. The elevator 2371 is supported by a support 240, and lowers the magnetic pattern erasing unit 2370 until the lower surface of the magnetic pattern erasing unit 2370 is in contact with or close to the upper surface 200 a of the magnetic sheet 200, or raises the magnetic pattern erasing unit 2370 so that the distance from the lower surface of the magnetic pattern erasing unit 2370 to the upper surface 200 a of the magnetic sheet 200 is equal to or greater than the shortest distance that does not weaken the magnetic force of the same magnetic sheet used for the magnetic sheet 200 due to a magnetic field emitted by the same magnet used for the magnet 1121.

[0133] When the upper surface 200 a of the magnetic sheet 200 facing the lower surface of the magnetic visualization sheet 2350 is moved in the positive x-direction, the elevator 2371 raises the magnetic pattern erasing unit 2370, and the magnetic pattern written in the drawing window 2351 is displayed on the display unit 2360. On the other hand, when the upper surface 200 a of the magnetic sheet 200 facing the lower surface of the housing of the pin display device 1100 is moved in the negative x-direction, the elevator 2371 lowers the magnetic pattern erasing unit 2370, and the written magnetic pattern is erased. Note that when erasing the magnetic pattern, an operation for erasing the magnetic pattern (for example, pressing a switch or an operation using an input information reading unit) may be performed in addition to an operation for moving the upper surface 200 a of the magnetic sheet 200 facing the lower surface of the housing of the pin display device 1100 in the negative x-direction.

[0134] In this example, the ends of the magnetic sheet 200 in the x direction are fixed to the first roller 210 and the second roller 220, respectively, and the two motors 205 are fixed to the first roller 210 and the second roller 220, respectively. By rotating the motor 205 fixed to the second roller 220 clockwise, the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 advances in the positive direction of the x direction, and by rotating the motor 205 fixed to the first roller 210 counterclockwise, the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 advances in the negative direction of the x direction.

[0135] [Eleventh Embodiment] In the ninth and tenth embodiments, the operation display device 2301 is intended to display the magnetic pattern written on the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200, but the three-dimensional shape presented by the pin display device 1100 may also be used for games, etc. The increased interactivity of the operation display device 2301 makes such applications possible.

[0136] <Example of use as a game> For example, in the example of Figure 45, an enemy 2401 and an ally 2402 are placed on top of the pin display device 1100, and the action display device 2301 is used in a game in which the enemy is defeated using a three-dimensional object corresponding to a magnetic pattern written on the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200.

[0137] Also, for example, in the example of Figure 46, a ball 2404 is placed on top of the pin display device 1100, and the motion display device 2301 is used in a game in which the ball 2404 is carried to the goal at the end in the positive x-direction by using a solid corresponding to the magnetic pattern written on the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200.

[0138] Furthermore, interactivity can be further enhanced by combining a camera, an image recognition unit, a projector, etc. For example, by capturing an image of the top surface of the pin display device 1100 with a camera, the image recognition unit performs image recognition processing on the captured image, and then using a projector to overlap the image into a three-dimensional shape and perform projection mapping, interactivity can be further enhanced and a wider variety of expressions can be achieved.

[0139] Furthermore, a configuration that combines a camera, an image recognition unit, a projector, etc. to perform projection mapping can be used not only as a game, but also in combination with the pin display systems of the sixth to eighth embodiments and the motion display devices of the ninth and tenth embodiments. By pasting images onto a three-dimensional shape and coloring them, a wider variety of expressions become possible.

[0140] Other possible uses of the motion display device 2301 include the following examples. (1) Use as an interactive advertising medium: A desired advertisement is written in advance on the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 using a magnetic pattern. The motor 205 moves the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 in the positive x-direction so that the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 on which the advertisement is written using a magnetic pattern faces the lower surface of the drawing window 2351. A user can check the advertisement written in advance on the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 via the magnetic visualization sheet 2350. The user can write the desired text on the advertisement. For example, writing can be performed by contacting a magnet, via the magnetic visualization sheet 2350, with the portion of the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 that corresponds to the desired writing.

[0141] Furthermore, the motor 205 is rotated clockwise, and the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200, which is magnetized with a magnetic pattern that has been modified by adding the user's writing to the pre-written magnetic pattern, moves from the lower surface of the magnetic visualization sheet 2350 to the lower surface 1110a of the housing 1110 of the pin display device 1100.

[0142] When there is a repulsive force due to the magnetic force generated between each magnet 1121 of each pin 1120 and the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200, each pin 1120 moves in the positive z direction (i.e., a direction that includes at least the direction opposite to gravity) due to the repulsive force, and information is displayed as a three-dimensional point cloud. With this configuration, users can write their own comments on the advertisements that are being displayed.

[0143] (2) Shape Transmission Two operation display devices 2301 can be combined to transmit a three-dimensional shape. A magnetic pattern reading device is disposed between the drawing window 2351 and the magnetic pattern erasing unit 2370 of the operation display device 2301 on the side that reads the magnetic pattern, reads the magnetic pattern written in the drawing window 2351, and transmits the read magnetic pattern via the transmission unit to the operation display device 2301 on the writing side. A device that writes the received magnetic pattern onto the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 is disposed in a location other than between the display unit 2360 and the magnetic pattern erasing unit 2370 of the operation display device 2301 on the writing side. This configuration enables shape transmission. By disposing a magnetic pattern reading device and a magnetic pattern writing device on each of the two operation display devices 2301, magnetic pattern data can be sent bidirectionally, and shapes can be transmitted.

[0144] (3) Control of Motor 205 The motor 205 included in the magnetic sheet driving unit that moves the magnetic sheet may be controlled using input values ​​or electrical signals from other sensors.

[0145] [Twelfth Embodiment] In an attempt to represent a large convex surface as shown in Fig. 47A using a pin display device 1100, if a magnet is used to magnetize the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 with a magnetic polarity opposite to that of the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 as shown in Fig. 47B and the magnetic pattern is filled in to form a desired magnetic pattern corresponding to the large convex surface, magnetic field lines are concentrated at the boundaries of the magnetic poles as shown in Fig. 47C and magnetic field lines are difficult to generate in the center portion, resulting in a problem that the pins in the center portion do not rise and are represented as recessed as shown in Fig. 47D, making it impossible to display information corresponding to the desired magnetic pattern. More specifically, in addition to the problem of the conventional technology in that increasing the spacing between adjacent pins reduces the surface area formed by the upper ends of the pins per unit area and reduces visibility, there is also the problem that when an attempt is made to represent a large magnetic pattern, the pins in the center portion do not rise and are represented as recessed, making it impossible to display information corresponding to the desired magnetic pattern. The purpose of this embodiment is to provide a pin display device and pin display system that can display information corresponding to a large magnetic pattern, with a large surface area formed by the upper ends of the pins, high visibility, while maintaining the pin pitch.

[0146] Therefore, by using a magnetizer as shown in Figure 48A, which writes a magnetic pattern in which the magnetic pole that lifts pin 1120 is located directly below magnet 1121 of pin 1120, a magnetic pattern as shown in Figure 48B can be magnetized, generating uniform magnetic lines of force, and magnetic lines of force are also formed in the central part, presenting a large convex surface as shown in Figure 48C, and information corresponding to the desired magnetic pattern can be displayed.

[0147] In order to generate uniform magnetic field lines, in this embodiment, the magnetic pattern is magnetized in a striped pattern as shown in Figure 48B. As shown in Figure 49, the magnets 1121 are arranged so that when the magnets 1121 are projected in the α direction (the direction that changes the relative position of the pin display device 1100 and the magnetic sheet 200, for example, the x direction), there is a gap between the projected magnets in the β direction (a direction perpendicular to the z direction and perpendicular to the α direction, for example, the y direction), and a magnetic pattern consisting of the same magnetic pole as the magnetic pole (for example, N pole) of the magnet 1121 is written on the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 directly below the magnet 1121 whose position changes relatively. The width of the dark-colored portion of the stripes in Figure 49 is, for example, the length of the magnet 1121 in the β direction, and the spacing between the stripes is, for example, the same spacing as the spacing between the projected magnets 1121 in the β direction. However, this is just one example, and the width of the darkly colored stripe portion may be any width that allows the desired amount of movement of pin 1120 in the z direction due to the repulsive force caused by the magnetic force generated between magnet 1121 and upper surface 200a of magnetic sheet 200. The spacing between the stripes may be sufficient to generate uniform magnetic field lines.

[0148] As a method for magnetizing the magnetic pattern in a stripe shape, the following method can be considered, for example.

[0149] (1) A thin sheet made of a material with high magnetic permeability, such as iron or stainless steel, is cut into the desired shape to use as a masking sheet, and magnets for writing magnetic patterns, each having the same length as the length of magnet 1121 in the β direction, are placed on top of the masking sheet at the same intervals as the intervals between the projected magnets 1121 in the β direction, and slid in the x direction to magnetize a striped magnetic pattern. Note that magnets with magnetic polarities opposite to those of the magnets for writing magnetic patterns may be placed between the magnets for writing magnetic patterns, and magnetized with the magnetic polarity opposite to that of the striped magnetic pattern.

[0150] (2) Magnetization is performed using a stamp having a magnetic sheet corresponding to the desired striped magnetic pattern as shown in FIG.

[0151] Conversely, by magnetizing the entire surface with a magnetic pattern that lifts the pins in advance, it is possible to create an effect in which only the areas where handwritten patterns are written are depressed.

[0152] In this case, first, the entire upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 is magnetized in a striped pattern as shown in Fig. 50A. Possible methods for magnetizing the magnetic pattern in a striped pattern include arranging magnets for writing the magnetic pattern, each having the same length as the length of the magnet 1121 in the β direction, at the same interval as the interval between the projected magnets 1121 in the β direction, and sliding them in the x direction to magnetize the striped magnetic pattern, or magnetizing the pattern using a stamp equipped with a striped magnetic sheet.

[0153] Using a writing magnet with the same magnetic pole as the magnet 1121 (e.g., a north pole), the portion of the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 that is to be recessed is magnetized with the opposite magnetic pole (e.g., a south pole) to the magnetic pole of the magnet 1121, thereby eliminating the stripes (see Figure 50B).

[0154] By placing the display device 1100 on the upper surface 200a of the magnetic sheet 200 as shown in FIG. 50B, only the portion corresponding to the desired shape can be recessed as shown in FIG. 50C, and desired information can be displayed.

[0155] [Thirteenth Embodiment] This section focuses on differences from the ninth embodiment. Instead of a pin display device, the motion display device 2301 may be configured to include a magnetically operated device mounted on the magnetic sheet 200. Any magnetically operated device may be used, such as the toy (see FIGS. 51A and 51B) and musical device (see FIG. 51C) described in Non-Patent Document 1, and the toy described in Reference Document 2. (Reference Document 2) "Magnetact Animal Opening," [online], [searched September 17, 2023], Internet URL: https: / / www.youtube.com / watch?v=wZ1CE_zbxp0>. The toys described in FIGS. 51A and 51B and Reference Document 2 are devices in which a portion of an object is moved by a magnetic pattern, and the musical device described in FIG. 51C is a device that generates sound in response to the magnetic pattern. By placing a magnetically operated device on the display unit 2360 in this manner, as in the ninth embodiment, it is possible to move the magnetic sheet and form (write) and modify magnetic patterns while checking the operating status of the device placed on the display unit at any time, thereby making it possible to interactively design magnetic patterns according to the operating status of the device placed on the display unit.

[0156] [Other Modifications, etc.] It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and that appropriate modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. An operational display device having: a magnetic sheet drive unit which moves a magnetic sheet; a drawing window unit in which a magnetic visualization sheet which is a sheet for visualizing a magnetic pattern is placed on said magnetic sheet and in which a magnetic pattern is written from above said magnetic visualization sheet by a magnet; and a display unit in which a device which operates by magnetism is placed on said magnetic sheet.

2. An operational display device according to claim 1, comprising a powerful magnet that can be brought into contact with or close to the upper surface of the magnetic sheet to magnetize the upper surface of the magnetic sheet with a desired magnetic pole, and a magnetic pattern erasing unit that has a length greater than or equal to the length of the magnetic sheet in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the magnetic sheet and in a direction perpendicular to at least the negative direction in which gravity acts, and is positioned in a location other than between the magnetic visualization sheet and the device.

3. The motion display device of claim 1, comprising: a powerful magnet that can magnetize the upper surface of the magnetic sheet with a desired magnetic pole by contacting or bringing it close to the upper surface of the magnetic sheet, the magnet having a length equal to or greater than the length of the magnetic sheet in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the magnetic sheet and perpendicular to at least the negative direction in which gravity acts, the magnetic pattern erasing unit being disposed between the magnetic visualization sheet and the device; and a lifting unit for raising and lowering the magnetic pattern erasing unit, an operation display device, when the upper surface of the magnetic sheet facing the lower surface of the magnetic visualization sheet is advanced to a position facing the lower surface of the device, the lifting unit raises the magnetic pattern erasing unit so that the distance from the lower surface of the magnetic pattern erasing unit to the upper surface of the magnetic sheet is equal to or greater than the shortest distance that does not weaken the magnetic force of the same magnetic sheet used for the magnetic sheet due to a magnetic field emitted by the same magnet as used for the magnet, and when the upper surface of the magnetic sheet facing the lower surface of the device is advanced to a position facing the lower surface of the magnetic visualization sheet, the lifting unit lowers the magnetic pattern erasing unit until the lower surface of the magnetic pattern erasing unit is positioned in contact with or close to the upper surface of the magnetic sheet.

4. A motion display device according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic sheet drive unit includes a motor, and the magnetic sheet is moved by rotation of the motor.

5. A motion display device according to claim 1, wherein the device is a pin display device having a housing and a plurality of pins, and is intended to be used as a pin display system by bringing the bottom surface of the housing into contact with or close to the top surface of the magnetic sheet, with the direction in which gravity acts being the negative direction of the z direction, and the housing has the bottom surface of the housing which is a plane perpendicular to the z direction, the top surface of the housing which is in the positive direction of the z direction relative to the bottom surface of the housing, and pin insertion holes in the same number as the pins, each of the pin insertion holes being a hole into which a pin is inserted, and the pin insertion holes in the same number as the pins are located at different positions on the plane perpendicular to the z direction, and the material of the housing is a material which does not block or reduce magnetic field lines, does not control the path of magnetic field lines, and does not generate magnetic field lines, Each of the pins includes a cylindrical main body and a cylindrical magnet, the magnet is uniformly magnetized in the axial direction, one end of each pin is one bottom surface of the magnet and the other end of each pin is one bottom surface of the main body, the area of ​​the bottom surface of the main body is larger than the area of ​​the bottom surface of the magnet, and one end of each pin which is one bottom surface of the magnet is inserted into the pin insertion hole facing in the negative z direction, each of the magnets emits a magnetic field that can move the pin equipped with the magnet in the positive z direction due to a repulsive force caused by a magnetic force generated between the magnet and the upper surface of the magnetic sheet when the pin equipped with the magnet is inserted into the pin insertion hole, the distance between adjacent pin insertion holes is equal to or greater than the shortest distance at which the magnetic force generated between the magnets of the pins inserted into the adjacent pin insertion holes does not affect the movement of the pin, An operational display device characterized in that, when the pin is not moving in the positive z direction due to the repulsive force of the magnetic force, a gap is provided between the magnet and the upper surface of the magnetic sheet, the length of which in the z direction is greater than the shortest distance over which a magnetic sheet of the same type as the magnetic sheet is not rewritten by a magnetic field emitted by a magnet that emits the same magnetic field as the magnet.

6. A motion display device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the magnets are arranged so that when the magnets are projected in the α direction, which is the direction in which the magnetic sheet is moved, there is a gap between the magnets when projected in the β direction, which is perpendicular to the z direction and perpendicular to the α direction, and a magnetic pattern consisting of the same magnetic poles as the magnets is written on the upper surface of the magnetic sheet directly below the magnets, whose position changes relatively.

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