JP2842458B2 - Display device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a display device usable with a display panel such as a liquid crystal panel. recent years,
Matrix display devices using liquid crystal panels were commercialized,
It is used as a display terminal. These display devices are required to have an enlarged screen size and an increased display capacity.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An example of a liquid crystal panel is shown in FIGS. The liquid crystal panel 10 has liquid crystal (not shown) sealed between a pair of transparent substrates 1 and 2, and these transparent substrates 1 and 2 are provided with a matrix-like electrode. That is, one transparent substrate 1 is provided with a plurality of row electrodes 3 and the other transparent substrate 2 is provided with a plurality of column electrodes 4. Pixels are formed at the intersections of the row electrodes 3 and the column electrodes 4. The row electrodes 3 and the column electrodes 4 extend substantially from end to end of each of the transparent substrates 1 and 2, and at each end, the row electrodes 3 are connected to a row driver 5 and the column electrodes 4 are connected to a column driver 6, respectively. Signal waveforms applied from the row driver 5 and the column driver 6 to the row electrode 3 and the column electrode 4, respectively,
Blurring occurs in the liquid crystal panel due to the resistance of the electrodes and the capacitance of the liquid crystal. As the size of the display panel 10 increases, the rounding of the signal waveform increases, and it becomes impossible to apply a desired signal. Further, when the display capacity is increased, the frequency of the signal is increased, so that the influence of the rounding of the waveform is increased.

[0003]

For this purpose, a row driver 5 and a column driver 6 are arranged on both sides of the liquid crystal panel 10, respectively, and a signal voltage is applied to each row electrode 3 and column electrode 4 from both sides, so that the above-mentioned signal waveform is obtained. I was suppressing dullness. However, when the display screen is enlarged, the above method is not sufficient, and for example, it is necessary to arrange two display panels 10 side by side to realize a large screen. At this time, the row driver 5 or the column barrier 6 enters between these two display panels 10, and this portion becomes a non-display area, and the display screen becomes discontinuous. Therefore, when a non-display area is generated by the row driver 5 or the column driver 6, it is required to fill such a non-display area so that the display screen does not appear discontinuous.

An object of the present invention is to provide a display device capable of filling a non-display area so that a display screen does not appear discontinuous.

[0005]

As shown in FIG. 1, a display device according to the present invention has a display panel 10 having a plurality of pixels and an optical fiber arranged on the display panel and arranged in a plate shape. A fiber optic plate 12 and a prism 14 disposed on the fiber optic plate.

[0006]

In the display device described above, the light transmitted through a certain pixel A of the display panel 10 enters the optical fiber 11. Assuming that the optical fibers 11 are arranged obliquely with respect to the surface of the fiber optic plate 12, the light emitted from the optical fibers 11 exits obliquely with respect to the surface of the display panel 10 and passes through the prism 14. enter. The traveling direction of the light is changed by the prism 14, and finally, the light can travel in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the display panel 10.
Therefore, a viewer who sees this light can see the light on the display panel 1.
Recognize as if it came from point B of 0. Therefore, even if this point B is a non-display area at the position of the display panel 10, the viewer recognizes that the display area is shifted.

[0007]

FIG. 2 shows a display device 20 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The display device 20 includes two liquid crystal panels 10, and the liquid crystal panel 10 is formed by sealing a liquid crystal (not shown) between a pair of transparent substrates 1 and 2 as shown in FIGS. is there. These transparent substrates 1 and 2 are provided with the matrix-like row electrodes 3 and column electrodes 4 as described above, and pixels are formed at intersections of the row electrodes 3 and the column electrodes 4.
Further, the row electrode 3 and the column electrode 4 extend almost from end to end of each of the transparent substrates 1 and 2. At each end, the row electrode 3 is connected to the row driver 5 and the column electrode 4 is connected to the column driver 6, respectively. ing. In FIG. 2, two liquid crystal panels 10
Are arranged adjacent to each other, and the portion of the row driver 5 located at the center becomes a non-display area. Polarizing plates 7 and 8 are arranged on the front and back surfaces of each liquid crystal panel 10, and each liquid crystal panel 1
A backlight device 9 is provided on the back side of the backlight unit 0.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fiber optic plate 12 is arranged on each liquid crystal panel 10 and is formed by arranging optical fibers 11 in a plate shape. Such a fiber optic plate 12 is already known, and a large number of optical fibers 11 having a small diameter are arranged in a generally parallel, regular and close arrangement. In one fiber optic plate 12, the optical fibers 11 are arranged perpendicular to the surface of the fiber optic plate 12. In another fiber optic plate 12, the optical fiber 11
Are inclined with respect to the surface of the fiber optic plate 12. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the latter fiber optic plate 12 is used. However, if the fiber optic plate 12 and the liquid crystal panel 10 are arranged so as to be inclined in a V-shape, the former fiber optic plate 12 can be used. In the embodiment, the inclination angle of the optical fiber 11 is 45 degrees, and the thickness of the fiber optic plate 12 corresponds to the distance from the end of the display area to the end of the row driver 5.

In FIG. 2, two fiber optic plates 12 are arranged on each liquid crystal panel 10 so that the inclination directions of the optical fibers 11 face each other. Therefore, the back surface of each fiber optic plate 12 covers the display area of the associated liquid crystal panel 10 and opens a non-display area between the two liquid crystal panels 10. However, the actual display area is a portion of the liquid crystal panel 10 where the liquid crystal exists.
Also, the surfaces of each fiber optic plate 12 abut each other, making them suitable for forming a continuous display screen.

The prism 14 is formed in the same manner as a Fresnel lens as a prism array in which minute unit prisms are integrally formed. Each unit prism has a one-dimensional configuration extending long in a certain direction.
And a surface substantially perpendicular to the axis of the optical fiber 11. Therefore, in FIG. 2, the inclined surface of each prism 14 is arranged so as to be substantially perpendicular to the inclination of the optical fiber 11 of each fiber optic plate 12.

Therefore, referring to FIG.
The light transmitted through the pixel A having 0 enters the optical fiber 11 and
The light is emitted from the optical fiber 11 while repeating total reflection in the optical fiber 11, and the center of the emitted light is substantially the optical fiber 1.
It is the direction of one axis. The light emitted from the optical fiber 11 enters the prism 14, the traveling direction is changed by refraction by the prism 14, and finally the light can travel in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the display panel 10. Therefore, a viewer who sees this light recognizes that the light comes from the point B of the liquid crystal panel 10. Therefore, even if this point B is a non-display area at the position of the liquid crystal panel 10, the viewer does not perceive such a non-display area and displays the two liquid crystal panels 10 in one continuous display. I feel the screen.

Incidentally, for example, if there is no prism 14, FIG.
, The center of the light emitted from the optical fiber 11 is substantially the center of the optical fiber 11.
, And a viewer located in front cannot substantially see the light.

FIG. 3 shows a display device 30 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
Is shown. The display device 30 includes two liquid crystal panels 10 arranged adjacent to each other as in the first embodiment, and the portion of the row driver 5 located at the center is a non-display area. Polarizing plates 7 and 8 and a backlight device 9 are also provided. Further, each of the liquid crystal panels 1 is arranged such that the two fiber optic plates 12 face the inclination direction of the optical fiber 11.
Further, the prisms 14 arranged on the fiber optic plate 1
2 on one surface side.

In FIG. 3, another one is provided between the fiber optic plate 12 and the liquid crystal panel 10, respectively.
Two prisms 16 are provided. This prism 16 is also formed as a prism array similarly to the prism 14. The prism 16 has the same inclined surface as the prism 14, but is arranged such that the inclined surface is located on the liquid crystal panel 10 side.

In FIG. 1, a fiber optic plate 12 is transmitted through pixel points A and C of a liquid crystal panel 10.
The light incident on the optical fiber 11 is shown at an angle with respect to the surface of the liquid crystal panel 10. This is because, when the optical fibers 11 are arranged obliquely with respect to the surface of the fiber optic plate 12, the light that enters the optical fibers 11 and can be propagated while being totally reflected is a light having such an incident angle. It is shown that it is limited to. For example, light incident on the optical fiber 11 at an angle perpendicular to the surface of the liquid crystal panel 10 is not totally reflected in the optical fiber 11 and therefore does not propagate through the optical fiber 11. As described above, in the case of the inclined optical fiber 11, the available incident light is limited, and the display screen becomes relatively dark.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the liquid crystal panel 10
The light transmitted through the liquid crystal panel 10 at an angle perpendicular to the surface of the optical fiber 11 enters the inclined surface of the prism 16 and changes its traveling direction to the inclined direction of each optical fiber 11 so that the prism 16
From the optical fiber 11, and then enter the optical fiber 11, and propagate while totally reflecting inside the optical fiber 11. Therefore, according to this embodiment, since the strongest light component emitted from the liquid crystal panel 10 in the vertical direction can be used, the display screen can be made relatively bright. In this embodiment, a continuous display screen can be formed as in the previous embodiment.

[0017]

As described above, the display device according to the present invention comprises a display panel having a plurality of pixels, a fiber optic plate arranged on the display panel and having optical fibers arranged in a plate shape, and Since the configuration includes the prism disposed on the fiber optic plate, a continuous display screen can be formed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating the principle of the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is a side view illustrating a display device, and FIG. 1B is a diagram illustrating a light path;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a liquid crystal panel.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a liquid crystal panel.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Liquid crystal panel 11 ... Optical fiber 12 ... Fiber optic plate 14 ... Prism 16 ... Prism

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yoshiya Kaneko 1015 Uedanaka, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Inside Fujitsu Limited (56) References JP-A-62-2227 (JP, A) JP-A-61-24211 (JP) , A) (58) Fields surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G02F 1/1335

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A display panel having a plurality of pixels.
And an optical fiber (11) disposed on the display panel.
A display device comprising: a fiber optic plate (12) formed in a plate shape by arranging the prisms; and a prism (14) arranged on the fiber optic plate. 2. The optical fiber (11) of the fiber optic plate (12) is arranged obliquely with respect to the surface of the fiber optic plate, and the prism (14) has a surface substantially parallel to the surface of the display panel. The display device according to claim 1, further comprising a surface substantially perpendicular to an axis of the optical fiber. 3. The prism (14) is provided on one surface side of the fiber optic plate (12), and another prism is provided between the fiber optic plate (12) and the display panel (10). The display device according to claim 1, wherein (16) is provided.