The present disclosure relates to a display apparatus.
There are display apparatuses that are operated by receiving infrared signal light output from a remote controller (hereinafter also simply referred to as a “remote”). An example of such a display apparatus is a television set (hereinafter also simply referred to as a “TV”). A TV includes an infrared light receiving unit that receives infrared signal light from a remote.
For example, according to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2014-68163 (Publication date: Apr. 17, 2014), a TV includes a frame that surrounds a display panel and further includes a protruding portion that protrudes downward from the lower hem of the frame. The infrared light receiving unit is incorporated into the protruding portion.
In recent years, multi-display apparatuses that provide a large screen have been developed. A multi-display apparatus is formed by arranging multiple display apparatuses. An image displayed on the multi-display apparatus is formed by combining images displayed by each of the display apparatuses that constitute the multi-display apparatus. A TV may be used as a display apparatus that constitutes a multi-display apparatus.
However, if the TV described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2014-68163 is used as a display apparatus that constitutes a multi-display apparatus, a gap (the space between the neighboring TVs) is formed in the screen due to the protruding portion that protrudes from the lower hem of the frame of each TV. For this reason, a single image formed on the multi-display apparatus is split into multiple images.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the gap between multiple display apparatuses that constitute a multi-display apparatus is minimized.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a display apparatus includes a light receiving unit disposed so as not to protrude from a side surface of the display apparatus, where the light receiving unit receives infrared light output from a remote controller used to operate the display apparatus, and a light guide unit configured to guide the infrared light to the light receiving unit. The light guide unit is mounted on the side surface of the display apparatus in a demountable manner.
Configuration of Display Apparatus
The display panel 11 is a display unit that displays various types of information, such as video and text. The bezel 12 is disposed so as to surround all four sides of the display panel 11. That is, the bezel 12 corresponds to a frame region of the display apparatus 1. A display region of the display panel 11 is located inside the bezel 12. Therefore, the bezel 12 corresponds to a non-display region in the display apparatus 1.
The light receiving substrate 13 is disposed near the lower side surface of the display apparatus 1. The light receiving substrate 13 has a light receiving unit 21 mounted thereon. The light receiving unit 21 receives infrared light output from a remote controller. The lower side surface of the display apparatus 1 is one of the four side surfaces of the display apparatus 1 and corresponds to the bottom surface of the display apparatus 1. More specifically, the light receiving substrate 13 is disposed so as not to protrude from the lower side surface of the display apparatus 1. Since the light receiving unit 21 is mounted on the light receiving substrate 13, the light receiving unit 21 is also disposed so as not to protrude from the lower side surface of the display apparatus 1, just like the light receiving substrate 13. That is, the light receiving substrate 13 is disposed at a position such that it has no impact on the width of the bezel 12.
The holding portion 14 is disposed near the lower side surface of the display apparatus 1 to hold the light receiving substrate 13. The holding portion 14 is fixed to an external cabinet of the display apparatus 1 disposed behind the bezel 12. Since the light receiving substrate 13 is fixed to the holding portion 14, the light receiving substrate 13 is fixed to the external cabinet of the display apparatus 1. For this reason, it is difficult to easily remove the light receiving substrate 13 and the holding portion 14 from the display apparatus 1. The holding portion 14 is disposed so as not to protrude from the lower side surface of the display apparatus 1. That is, the holding portion 14 is disposed at a position such that it has no impact on the width of the bezel 12.
The light guide unit 15 guides, to the light receiving unit 21, infrared light 5 that is output from the remote controller and that is incident on the light guide unit 15. The light guide unit 15 is mounted on the lower side surface of the display apparatus 1 in a demountable manner. That is, the light guide unit 15 has a protruding structure that protrudes from the lower side surface of the display apparatus 1 toward the outside of the display apparatus 1. To maximize the light receiving range of the light guide unit 15 that receives infrared light output from the remote controller, the front surface of the light guide unit 15 is located near the front surface of the display apparatus 1.
As illustrated in
To mount the light guide unit 15 on the lower side surface of the display apparatus 1, a hook portion (not illustrated) located on one side of the light guide unit 15 is inserted into the through-hole 34 of the holding portion 14 and is hooked to the holding portion 14. In addition, the screw 16 is screwed into the screw hole 33 so that the light guide unit 15 is fixed to the holding portion 14. The light guide unit 15 fixed in this manner can be easily dismounted from the lower side surface of the display apparatus 1 by removing the screws 16 using a Phillips screwdriver. That is, the light guide unit 15 is fixed to the lower side surface of the display apparatus 1 in a demountable manner by using the screw 16.
Operation and Effect
Since the display apparatus 1 includes the light receiving substrate 13 and the holding portion 14, the light guide unit 15 can be dismounted from the display apparatus 1 without generating a protruding structure on the lower side surface of the display apparatus 1 while keeping the light receiving unit 21 at a desired position in the display apparatus 1. Furthermore, since the light receiving substrate 13 and the holding portion 14 are disposed at a position such that they have no impact on the width of the bezel 12, the bezel 12 can have a narrow frame structure without being restricted by the light receiving substrate 13 and the holding portion 14. As a result, when the multi-display apparatus 100 is configured, the bezel 12 can have a structure that does not interfere with the display screen.
Since the light guide unit 15 can be dismounted from the lower side surface of the display apparatus 1, a side surface of a display apparatus 1 can be brought as close as possible to a side surface of a neighboring display apparatus 1 when the multi-display apparatus 100 is configured. This allows the gap between the neighboring display apparatuses 1 in the configured multi-display apparatus 100 to be minimized. In this manner, high-quality large screen images can be displayed on the multi-display apparatus 100.
In terms of the mode of the display apparatus 1, one of two modes can be selected: a mode in which the infrared light receiving performance of the light receiving unit 21 is fully satisfied by mounting the light guide unit 15 and a mode in which the display apparatus 1 has a narrow frame structure without a protruding structure by removing the light guide unit 15. One end of the light guide unit 15 turns its front toward the light receiving unit 21, and the other end turns its front in the frontal direction of the display apparatus 1. For this reason, when the light guide unit 15 is mounted on the display apparatus 1, infrared light can be led from the vicinity of the front of the frame (the bezel 12) of the display apparatus 1. This structure provides a satisfactory light receiving sensitivity for the infrared light output from the remote controller. In addition, even when the light guide unit 15 is dismounted, the light receiving substrate 13 remains held by the holding portion 14, allowing the user to fully operate the display apparatus 1 by using the remote controller at a short distance.
To block the user's finger from entering the display apparatus 1, the through-holes 31 and 32 are formed as holes of the bare minimum size. This allows the structure of the multi-display apparatus 100 to have a usable strength even when the light guide unit 15 is dismounted.
The direction in which the light receiving substrate 13 extends is parallel to the direction in which the lower side surface of the display apparatus 1 extends. As a result, an elongated light receiving substrate 13 can be employed in the display apparatus 1 that still has a narrow frame.
Since a part used to fix the light guide unit 15 is the screw 16, the light guide unit 15 can be easily mounted or dismounted by simply screwing or unscrewing the screw 16.
Since a television set can be used as the display apparatus 1, a television set can be achieved that can configure a multi-display apparatus in which a gap between neighboring display apparatuses 1 is minimized.
Modification of Fixing Technique
The screw 16 is only an example of a fixing part that fixes the light guide unit 15 to the display apparatus 1 in a demountable manner. The display apparatus 1 may be provided with another fixing part that fixes the light guide unit 15 to the display apparatus 1 in a demountable manner by using a mechanism different from that of the screw 16. An example of such a fixing part is illustrated in
In the example illustrated in
The light guide unit 15 can be fixed to the display apparatus 1 in a demountable manner by using a technique different from the fixing technique using the screw 16 or the hooking portion 52. Examples of such a technique include a sliding technique, a rotating and sliding technique, and a technique to directly screwing the light guide unit 15 itself.
Modification of Configuration of Multi-Display Apparatus
In an example 1010 illustrated in
In an example 1020 illustrated in
In an example 1030 illustrated in
Other Modifications
The holding portion 14 may be a part of the bezel 12. In this case, the light receiving substrate 13 is fixed to the bezel 12. In addition, the light guide unit 15 is fixed to the bezel 12 by using the screw 16. Even in this example, the light guide unit 15 can still be mounted to the lower side surface of the display apparatus 1 in a demountable manner.
The locations at which the light receiving substrate 13, the holding portion 14, and the light guide unit 15 are disposed are not limited to the vicinity of the lower side surface of the display apparatus 1, but may be other locations in accordance with various conditions, such as the design of the display apparatus 1. For example, the light guide unit 15 may be mounted on a side surface of the display apparatus 1 other than the lower side surface. That is, the light guide unit 15 may be mounted on any one of the upper side surface, left side surface, and right side surface of the display apparatus 1. In this example, the light receiving substrate 13 and the holding portion 14 are disposed in the vicinity of the side surface on which the light guide unit 15 is mounted such that they do not protrude from the side. To mount the light guide unit 15 on a side surface other than the lower side surface, it is desirable that a technique of fixing the light guide unit 15 without using the screw 16 be employed, because the technique minimizes the impact on the appearance of the display apparatus 1.
In the example illustrated in
According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a display apparatus includes a light receiving unit disposed so as not to protrude from a side surface of the display apparatus, where the light receiving unit receives infrared light output from a remote controller used to operate the display apparatus, and a light guide unit configured to guide the infrared light to the light receiving unit. The light guide unit is mounted on the side surface of the display apparatus in a demountable manner.
According to the above configuration, a user can dismount the light guide unit from the side surface of the display apparatus. For this reason, a side surface of a display apparatus can be brought as close as possible to a side surface of a neighboring display apparatus when a multi-display apparatus is configured. This structure can minimize a gap between the neighboring display apparatuses in the configured multi-display apparatus.
According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, the display apparatus may include a light receiving substrate having the light receiving unit mounted thereon, where the light receiving substrate is disposed so as not to protrude from the side surface, and a holding portion configured to hold the light receiving substrate. The holding portion may be disposed so as not to protrude from the side surface.
According to the above configuration, the light guide unit can be dismounted without generating a protruding structure on a side surface of the display apparatus while keeping the light receiving unit at a desired position.
According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, in the display apparatus according to the second aspect of the present disclosure, a light receiving direction of the light receiving unit may be oriented toward the side surface. An opening may be formed in the holding portion at a position facing the light receiving unit, and the light guide unit may face the light receiving unit through the opening.
According to the above configuration, since the light receiving direction of the light receiving unit is oriented toward the outside of the display apparatus through the opening of the holding portion when the light guide unit is dismounted, infrared light can reach the light receiving unit through the opening. As a result, if infrared light is emitted from a remote to the vicinity of the light receiving unit of the display apparatus whose light receiving unit has been dismounted among the plurality of display apparatuses, the display apparatus can receive the infrared light.
This allows the infrared light receiving function of the multi-display apparatus to be maintained to a certain degree.
According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, the display apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects described above may further include a fixing part configured to fix the light guide unit to the display apparatus in a demountable manner.
According to the above configuration, the light guide unit can be easily mounted and dismounted by operating the fixing part.
According to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, in the display apparatus according to the fourth aspect described above, the fixing part may be a screw.
According to the above configuration, the light guide unit can be easily mounted and dismounted by simply screwing or unscrewing the screw.
According to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, in the display apparatus according to the second or third aspect described above, a direction in which the light receiving substrate extends may be parallel to a direction in which the side surface extends.
According to the above configuration, an elongated light receiving substrate can be employed in the display apparatus that still has a narrow frame.
According to a seventh aspect of the present disclosure, the display apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects described above may be a television set.
According to the above configuration, a television set that can configure a multi-display apparatus with a minimum gap can be achieved.
The present disclosure is not limited to each of the embodiments described above, but various changes can be made within the scope of the claims. In addition, embodiments obtained by combining technical units disclosed in different embodiments as appropriate are also encompassed in the technical scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, new technical features can be formed by combining the technical units disclosed in the embodiments.
The present disclosure contains subject matter related to that disclosed in Japanese Priority Patent Application JP 2020-117984 filed in the Japan Patent Office on Jul. 8, 2020, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occur depending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they are within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
JP2020-117984 | Jul 2020 | JP | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
5218466 | Brooks | Jun 1993 | A |
5477275 | Toyoshima | Dec 1995 | A |
5530578 | Takemoto | Jun 1996 | A |
5570220 | Matsumoto | Oct 1996 | A |
5726645 | Kamon | Mar 1998 | A |
5815297 | Ciciora | Sep 1998 | A |
5894278 | Kubo | Apr 1999 | A |
5903374 | Kobayashi | May 1999 | A |
5953145 | Koyama | Sep 1999 | A |
6005700 | Pressler | Dec 1999 | A |
6115161 | Cho | Sep 2000 | A |
6128117 | Kim | Oct 2000 | A |
6264376 | Savage, Jr. | Jul 2001 | B1 |
6313880 | Smyers | Nov 2001 | B1 |
6486994 | Giles | Nov 2002 | B1 |
6501581 | Snyder | Dec 2002 | B1 |
6724442 | Zyskowski | Apr 2004 | B1 |
6769129 | Perlman | Jul 2004 | B1 |
6927760 | Chin | Aug 2005 | B2 |
6962448 | Kelsay | Nov 2005 | B2 |
6967835 | Chiang | Nov 2005 | B2 |
7023498 | Ishihara | Apr 2006 | B2 |
7039326 | Chung | May 2006 | B1 |
7140033 | Durden | Nov 2006 | B1 |
7215553 | Neal | May 2007 | B2 |
7764190 | Mortensen | Jul 2010 | B2 |
7809274 | Wu | Oct 2010 | B2 |
7932811 | Tanabe | Apr 2011 | B2 |
8295707 | Wu | Oct 2012 | B2 |
8313379 | Ikeda | Nov 2012 | B2 |
8559102 | Tuchman | Oct 2013 | B2 |
8880360 | Mischel, Jr. | Nov 2014 | B2 |
8909055 | Kawaida | Dec 2014 | B2 |
9081426 | Armstrong | Jul 2015 | B2 |
9082298 | Chen | Jul 2015 | B2 |
RE45905 | Ikeda | Mar 2016 | E |
9357303 | Ogawa | May 2016 | B2 |
9432125 | Castano | Aug 2016 | B2 |
9435926 | Yamamoto | Sep 2016 | B2 |
9438339 | Chan | Sep 2016 | B1 |
9588550 | Smith | Mar 2017 | B2 |
9632227 | Kawaida | Apr 2017 | B2 |
9768882 | Castano | Sep 2017 | B2 |
9964684 | Nakamura | May 2018 | B2 |
10088623 | Nakamura | Oct 2018 | B2 |
10091019 | Arling | Oct 2018 | B2 |
10585310 | Ryu | Mar 2020 | B2 |
10880009 | DiDonato | Dec 2020 | B2 |
20010019367 | Walton | Sep 2001 | A1 |
20020076178 | Klocek | Jun 2002 | A1 |
20020158771 | Mears | Oct 2002 | A1 |
20020158772 | Mears | Oct 2002 | A1 |
20030189509 | Hayes | Oct 2003 | A1 |
20040075588 | Wang | Apr 2004 | A1 |
20040193647 | Ueda | Sep 2004 | A1 |
20060124851 | Kajikuri | Jun 2006 | A1 |
20070206949 | Mortensen | Sep 2007 | A1 |
20070290885 | Tanabe | Dec 2007 | A1 |
20080291074 | Tzeng | Nov 2008 | A1 |
20120206555 | Yoshida | Aug 2012 | A1 |
20120293722 | Kawai | Nov 2012 | A1 |
20130156435 | Hsieh | Jun 2013 | A1 |
20140105560 | Kawaida | Apr 2014 | A1 |
20140166834 | Kuroyanagi | Jun 2014 | A1 |
20140340929 | Nakamura | Nov 2014 | A1 |
20140376928 | Castano | Dec 2014 | A1 |
20150212248 | Yamamoto | Jul 2015 | A1 |
20160098922 | Lee | Apr 2016 | A1 |
20160195428 | McRae | Jul 2016 | A1 |
20200271846 | Kurihara | Aug 2020 | A1 |
20210219016 | Zanetti | Jul 2021 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
2014-68163 | Apr 2014 | JP |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20220011527 A1 | Jan 2022 | US |