JP2006162902A - Display apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a display apparatus in which facing display panels can be recognized by simple constitution. <P>SOLUTION: An input electrode 42a and an output electrode 42b are respectively formed on the front and rear surfaces of each display panel 11 and the display panel 11 is provided with a circuit in which in accordance with a signal inputted from an output electrode 42a of one adjacent display panel to the input electrode 42a, a prescribed signal is outputted from the output electrode 42b to an input electrode 42a of another adjacent display panel. A main body 10 is provided with a recognition means for recognizing what order is the facing display panels 11 in accordance with a signal inputted from the circuit through respective communication means arranged between the main body 10 and the circuits of a plurality of display panels 11. When a signal indicating that the input electrode 42a is turned to an open state is inputted from the circuit, the recognition means determines that the display panel 11 provided with the circuit outputting the signal comes into a spread state. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a display device, and particularly to a display device having a rewritable display panel.

  In recent years, with the development of information equipment, the need for a low-power consumption and thin display device has increased, and in particular, a display device having a rewritable display panel replacing paper is drawing attention. Here, as a display device provided with such a rewritable display panel, a plurality of thin rewritable display panels can be used by binding them to the main body so that they can be spread and bound together. There is one that can remove the panel and the main body.

  As such a display device, for example, a display device in which a connection terminal having a physical or electrical connection function is provided in a display panel (electronic paper) and a main body and bundled in a file type is proposed. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). In addition, a display device has been proposed that can write a character or an image on a display panel of a desired page when the display panel is bound to the main body as well as bundling a plurality of display panels (for example, Patent Documents). 2)

JP 2001-31227 A JP 2004-184914 A

  However, in a display device having such a conventional rewritable display panel, for example, when the display panel is bound in a file type and bound, the display panel is connected to the main body on a one-to-one basis. It is necessary to connect with. In this case, since a connection connector for performing page recognition is required in addition to a connection connector for writing characters and images on the display panel, the structure becomes complicated. Further, when a plurality of display panels are bundled, the number of connection points increases and the cost increases.

  On the other hand, in a display device capable of writing characters and images on the display panel of a desired page, when page information of the display panel is set in advance, it is set when the user binds the display panel to the main body so that the display panel can be opened. If the display panel that is bound to the main body is in a double-page spread state, the double-sided display panel cannot be recognized on the main body side. If the display panel spread in this way cannot be recognized on the main body side, images and characters cannot be written on the spread display panel.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object thereof is to provide a display device that can recognize a spread display panel with a simple configuration.

  In a display device including a rewritable display panel and a main body that binds a plurality of the display panels so that the display panels can be spread and controls a display operation of the display panel, input electrodes provided on both front and back surfaces of the display panel, respectively And an output electrode, and a predetermined signal corresponding to a signal input to the input electrode from the output electrode of one of the adjacent display panels is provided on the display panel. A circuit for outputting to an input electrode; a communication means provided between the main body and the circuits of the plurality of display panels; and a circuit provided in the main body and input via the communication means. Recognizing means for recognizing what number of the display panel is opened in response to the signal of, the recognizing means from the circuit When a signal indicating that the electrode has become an open state is input, it is characterized in that to determine that a state in which the display panel with a circuit which outputs the signal was wide open.

  By providing an input electrode and an output electrode on both the front and back surfaces of the display panel as in the present invention, and determining that the display panel that has output a signal indicating that the input electrode is in an open state has been opened. The spread display panel can be recognized with a simple configuration.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the display device includes a display panel 11 that displays images and characters, and a display panel 11 that is detachable. And a main body 10 that controls the display of the display panel 11.

  Here, the display panel 11 includes a display unit 21 and a drive unit 22 for driving the display unit 21 as shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the display panel 11 is an electrophoretic display device that performs display by moving charged particles. Display is performed by moving charged particles according to a signal from the drive unit 22. To do.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the main body 10 and the display panel 11 include a primary coil 32 provided in the main body 10, a secondary coil 33 provided in the display panel 11, and the first and second coils 32. , 33 constitutes a communication means 34 capable of communication between the main body 10 and the display panel 11 by electromagnetic coupling with the ferromagnetic ring 31 inserted between them.

  By the way, as shown in FIG. 1, an electrode pair 42 including a pair of input electrodes 42a and an output electrode 42b is provided on both the front and back surfaces of the display panel 11. The electrode pairs 42 of the display panel 11 When the panel 11 is in the closed state, they are electrically connected as shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the display panel 11 includes a page recognition circuit 41 and a storage element 44 that is storage means for storing page data, that is, the display panel 11 at which the display panel 11 is stored. . The page recognition circuit 41 includes a clock signal input terminal 43 to which a clock signal common to all panels is input, an output terminal 47 to a storage element 44 for storing page data, and an input terminal for performing communication between display panels. 45 and an output terminal 46.

  Here, when a High signal is input to the input terminal 45 from the input electrode 42a constituting the pair of electrode pairs 42, the page recognition circuit 41 outputs the output electrode 42b constituting the pair of electrode pairs 42 via the output terminal 46. And a low signal are output, a high signal is output when the next clock signal is input to the clock signal input terminal 43, and a low signal is output after the next clock signal. Note that the input terminal 45 of the page recognition circuit 41 has a structure that is pulled up to a fixed potential. That is, the page recognition circuit 41 has its input signal transitioned from Low to High, and the next clock signal is input. It is configured to output a high signal only when it is turned on, and output a low signal otherwise.

  Then, by providing the page recognition circuit 41 having such a configuration, an identification unit that is provided in the main body 10 as shown in FIG. 3 and identifies which number of the display panel 11 is open. A certain identification unit 35 can recognize, for example, the display panel 11 in a spread state based on a signal from the page recognition circuit 41. Further, page recognition of the display panel 11 can be performed.

  Next, the recognition operation of such a spread display panel 11 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, when the display panel 11 having the display units 21 on both the front and back sides and the input electrode 42a from the previous page and the output electrode 42b to the next page on each side is opened, Since the input electrode 42a on the front side of the display panel 11 located at is not in contact with the output electrode 42b of the adjacent display panel 11, it is opened (opened).

  Therefore, a potential pulled up to a fixed potential, for example, a High signal, is input to the input terminal 45 of the page recognition circuit 41 of the display panel 11 located in a spread. Thereafter, a clock signal is input from the main body 10 to the clock signal input terminal 43 at a predetermined timing via the communication means 34, and accordingly, a potential signal is input to the input terminal 45. Even when the clock signal is input in this manner, the High signal is continuously input to the display panel 11 to be displayed.

  Here, when the high signal is continuously input a plurality of times according to the clock signal in this way, in the present embodiment, it is recognized that the display panel 11 itself is located in a spread, in advance. The page information recognized and stored in the storage element 44 is transmitted to the main body 10 via the communication means 34. Based on this signal, the identification unit 35 of the main body 10 can recognize the display panel 11 in the spread position.

  Next, the page recognition operation of the display panel 11 will be described.

  When all the display panels 11 in the display panel group are closed, for example, the input terminal 45 of the page recognition circuit 41 of the display panel 11a located on the first page shown in FIG. 4 is located on the first page. Since the input electrode 42a on the surface of the display panel 11a is electrically open, it is pulled up to a fixed potential. Therefore, when the first clock signal is input to the page recognition circuit 41 of each display panel 11a, 11b, 11c, the input of the page recognition circuit 41 of the display panel 11a located on the first page is as shown in FIG. High signal.

  At this time, since the output signal of the page recognition circuit 41 of the display panels 11a and 11b as the previous page is input as the input of the page recognition circuit 41 of the display panels 11b and 11c for the second and subsequent pages, the first clock signal Is input to each page recognition circuit 41, a Low signal is input to the page recognition circuits 41 of the display panels 11b and 11c located after the second page.

  Next, when the second clock is input, the display panel 11a located on the first page remains electrically high because it is electrically open, but the second clock causes the position on the first page. A high signal is input from the display panel 11a to the page recognition circuit 41 of the display panel 11b located on the second page.

  When a high signal is input in this way, a signal indicating the number of clocks when the high signal is input from the page recognition circuit 41 to the storage element 44 via the output terminal 47 is output. The storage element 44 stores that the display panel 11b is the second page. At this time, a low signal is continuously input to the page recognition circuit 41 of the display panel 11c located after the third page.

  Further, after this, when the third clock is input, the display panel 11a located on the first page remains electrically high because it is electrically open, but this second clock causes the second page to be displayed. A high signal is input to the page recognition circuit 41 of the display panel 11c located on the third page from the display panel 11b located on the third page. At this time, the page recognition circuit 41 of the display panel 11b located on the second page becomes a Low signal.

  As described above, the display panel 11 itself is connected to the main body 10 by counting the clock signal until the signal input to the page recognition circuit 41 transitions from the Low potential to the High potential for each of the display panels 11a, 11b, and 11c. It is possible to recognize the bound permutation. Then, by causing the display panel 11 to recognize the permutation bound to the main body 10, it is possible to write images and characters on the desired display panel 11 according to the permutation of the display panel 11 on the main body 10 side. Become.

  In addition, it is preferable to use a non-volatile memory as the storage element 44, and even when the display panel 11 is removed from the main body 10 by storing the permutation information of the display panel 11 in such a storage element 44. The display panel 11 can keep storing its own page number. Thereby, when the display panel 11 is bound to the main body 10 again, the permutation information of the display panel 11 when it is bound immediately before can be held. It is possible to select whether the permutation information is retained as it is or whether the permutation information on the display panel 11 is newly rewritten.

  Next, a means for writing images and characters on the desired display panel 11 will be described.

  First, from the main body 10, the page recognition circuit 41 of the display panel 11 using the communication means 34 including the primary coil 32 and the ferromagnetic ring 31 provided in the main body 10 and the secondary coil 33 provided in the display panel 11. The page information obtained by the above is transmitted to the display panel 11 side.

  When the page information is transmitted in this way, only the display panel 11 corresponding to the transmitted page information becomes active, and the other display panels become inactive. Thereafter, by transmitting image data or character data from the main body 10 to the display panel 11 corresponding to the page information, it becomes possible to write an image or character only on the desired display panel 11. Thereby, the power supply to the display panel 11 which does not need to write a character or an image can be stopped, and low power consumption can be realized.

  By the way, in such a display device, data communication becomes possible by electrically contacting the output electrode 42b of the display panel 11 located on the last page and an electrode (not shown) provided in the main body 10, and this data communication is possible. Thus, the total number of display panels 11 can be recognized.

  Next, the total number recognition operation will be described.

  When the next clock signal transitioning from the Low signal to the High signal is input to the input of the page recognition circuit 41 of the display panel 11 positioned on the final page, the display panel positioned on the final page is synchronized with this. A high signal is output from the output electrode 42 b of the eleventh page recognition circuit 41 to the electrode provided in the main body 10.

  In this case, the High signal from the display panel 11 positioned on the last page is input to the identification unit 35 provided in the main body 10 serving as the number recognition unit in this case, and the Low signal is input to the identification unit 35. By counting the number of clocks until the transition to the High signal, the total number of display panels 11 bound to the main body 10 can be recognized.

  As described above, the input electrode 42a and the output electrode 42b are provided on both the front and back surfaces of the display panel 11, and when the input electrode 42a is in an open state, a signal indicating that the input electrode 42a is in an open state is output. By determining that the display panel 11 including the page recognition circuit 41 has been opened, the opened display panel 11 can be recognized with a simple configuration.

  When the display panel 11 is opened, the output electrode 42b of the immediately preceding display panel 11 is in an open state. When a signal indicating that the output electrode 42b is in an open state is input, this signal is The display panel 11 including the output page recognition circuit 41 can also be determined as the display panel in front of the double-opened display panel.

  Then, by recognizing the display panel 11 (and the immediately preceding display panel) that has been opened in this manner, a desired image or character can be written on the desired display panel.

  In the description so far, the display device using the display panel 11 provided with the display unit 21 on both sides has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the display provided with the display unit 21 only on one side. Even when the panel 11 is spread, the display panel 11 positioned in the spread can be recognized by the same operation.

  The communication means between the display panel 11 and the main body 10 is not limited to the configuration described so far, and communication may be performed by providing a connection terminal between the main body 10 and the display panel 11 and connecting the connection terminal. Communication may be performed using a wireless IC.

1 is a perspective view of a display device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an overview diagram of a display panel constituting the display device. FIG. 2 is an overview diagram illustrating a communication method between a display panel and a main body in the display device. The schematic diagram which shows the structure which performs the permutation recognition of the said display panel. 4 is a timing chart showing an input signal synchronized with a clock signal of a page recognition circuit provided in the display panel.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Main body 11 Display panel 21 Display part 22 Drive part 31 Ferromagnetic ring 32 Primary coil 33 Secondary coil 34 Communication means 41 Page recognition circuit 42 Electrode pair 42a Input electrode 42b Output electrode 44 Memory element

Claims (8)

In a display device comprising a rewritable display panel, and a main body that controls a display operation of the display panel while binding a plurality of the display panels so as to be spread apart,
An input electrode and an output electrode respectively provided on the front and back surfaces of the display panel;
A predetermined signal is output from the output electrode to the input electrode of another adjacent display panel in response to a signal input to the input electrode from the output electrode of one adjacent display panel provided in the display panel Circuit,
Communication means provided between the main body and the circuits of the plurality of display panels,
Recognizing means provided on the main body for recognizing what number of display panels are opened in response to a signal from the circuit input via the communication means;
With
When the signal indicating that the input electrode is in an open state is input from the circuit, the recognizing unit determines that the display panel including the circuit that outputs the signal is open. A display device characterized by that.   When the signal indicating that the output electrode is in an open state is input from the circuit, the recognizing unit is in a state where the display panel in front of the display panel including the circuit that outputs the signal is opened. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display device is determined to be. Each of the display panels includes storage means for storing what number the display panel is.
In the circuit, when all of the plurality of display panels are closed, a number of the display panel is stored in the storage unit based on a signal input to the input electrode from the output electrode of the adjacent display panel. The display device according to claim 1, wherein the display device stores whether it is a display panel.   4. The display device according to claim 3, wherein the recognizing unit determines the number of the display panels that are bound so as to be openable based on information stored in the storage unit.   5. The display device according to claim 3, wherein the storage unit stores what number the display panel is after the display panel is detached from the main body.   6. The display device according to claim 1, wherein a desired image or character can be written on a desired display panel by controlling the main body.   The display device according to claim 6, wherein a desired image or character can be written on at least the spread display panel by controlling the main body. The display device according to claim 1, wherein an electrophoretic display device is used as the display panel.

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