Patent Application
20200389987
The present invention relates to an image display device, and to a multi-display system including the image display device.
A multi-display system has hitherto been proposed. The multi-display system includes a plurality of image display devices in which a plurality of display elements such as light emitting diodes (LEDs) are disposed, and displays an image on a large screen obtained by combining screens of the plurality of image display devices. The multi-display system is often used in advertisement displays indoors as well as outdoors, owing to enhanced performance and reduced costs of the display elements. The multi-display system was formerly mainly used for displaying a moving image, such as a natural image and animation.
However, the development of further narrowing pixel pitches due to downsized display elements resulted in achievement of appropriate display quality even at a short visible distance. Consequently, the multi-display system came into use as an image display for a computer to be used in a meeting room, used for a monitoring purpose, etc., as well as the indoor advertisement display, for example. Particularly, some multi-display systems used for a monitoring purpose display a computer image that nearly is a still image.
As the multi-display systems, surface mount devices (SMD), in which a small LED display module is mounted on a substrate, were mainly used, and thus large multi-display systems having a pixel pitch of 3 mm or more were formed. Further, the LED display module was formed by mounting LED display elements inside the cavities of a molded article, which is molded using ceramic, resin, or the like, and then fixing the LED display elements using a sealing resin.
In recent years, however, under circumstances of reduced costs and improved resolutions of LED display elements with use of a high-density packaging component, the market has been introduced with large multi-display systems, in which a plurality of image display devices including LED display elements having a pixel pitch of approximately from 1 to 2 mm are arrayed in a tile-like pattern. Note that, in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, for example, a configuration and a retaining method of an image display device of a multi-display system are disclosed.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-248498
Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-62454
In a multi-display system in which a plurality of image display devices each having a display screen are arrayed, level difference between display screens of the plurality of image display devices in a front and rear direction may be sometimes noticeable on the display screens. In this manner, uniformity of surface flatness in the display screen surfaces of a plurality of image display devices has a great impact on image quality. Therefore, retaining and fixing of each image display unit is essential for the multi-display system. However, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 do not consider elimination of the level difference between display screens of the image display devices.
In view of the above, the present invention has been made in order to solve the problems as above, and has an object to provide a technology capable of reducing level difference between display screens of image display devices.
An image display device according to the present invention includes an image display module, a frame, an adjustment unit, and a fixing unit. Display elements are disposed on the image display module. The image display module is to be fixed to the frame. The adjustment unit adjusts a position of the image display module in a direction perpendicular to a display screen of the image display module while the image display module is temporarily fixed to the frame. The fixing unit fixes, to the frame, the image display module that is temporarily fixed to the frame. The adjustment unit includes an adjustment screw that is turned during adjustment. The fixing unit includes a fixing screw that is turned during fixing. A turning axis of the adjustment screw and a turning axis of the fixing screw are arranged coaxially.
According to the present invention, the adjustment unit and the fixing unit are included, and therefore level difference between the display screens of the image display devices can be reduced.
These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The adjustment screw 61 and the fixing nut 62 fall under the concept of an adjustment unit. As in clear description given below, the adjustment unit adjusts positions of the LED modules 1000 in a direction perpendicular to the display screens of the LED modules 1000 while the LED modules 1000 are temporarily fixed to the housing frame 5. Through this adjustment, front surfaces of the LED modules 1001 to 1004 to be disposed on the image display device 100 can have uniform height, and level difference therebetween can be reduced. Note that, the adjustment screws 61 are turned during the adjustment.
The fixing screw 30 and the retaining member 35 fall under the concept of a fixing unit. As in clear description given below, the fixing unit fixes, to the housing frame 5, the LED modules 1000 that are temporarily fixed to the housing frame 5. Note that, the fixing screws 30 are turned during the fixing. Further, a turning axis of the adjustment screw 61 and a turning axis of the fixing screw 30 are arranged coaxially.
As shown in
The magnet 611 is provided inside the cylinder of the adjustment screw 61 on the LED module 1000 side of the adjustment screw 61. The magnet 611 can be attracted to the retaining member 35 by a magnetic force, and can thereby temporarily fix the retaining member 35 and the adjustment screw 61.
An attracting force as the magnetic force of the magnet 611 is herein set to at least have strength capable of keeping one LED module 1000 onto the housing frame 5 at attachment positions using as many adjustment screws 61 as used for one LED module 1000. With this, the magnet 611 of the adjustment screw 61 can temporarily fix the LED module 1000 and the housing frame 5.
The male threads 612 are provided on an outer surface of the cylinder of the adjustment screw 61. The male threads 612 are engaged with the housing frame 5 while the retaining member 35 and the adjustment screw 61 are temporarily fixed and the adjustment screw 61 is freely movable in a direction perpendicular to the display screen of the LED module 1000.
One side of the adjustment screw 61 opposite to the LED module 1000 is proved with a groove 614 for allowing a mechanical tool such as a driver to tighten the adjustment screw 61. Turning the adjustment screw 61 using the groove 614, the adjustment screw 61 can be moved with respect to the housing frame 5 with the adjustment screw 61 penetrating the housing frame 5. That is, the adjustment screw 61 can be screwed toward the LED module 1000 side from the rear of the housing frame 5 while maintaining the above-mentioned temporary fixing.
The fixing nut 62 serves as a nut for preventing movement of the adjustment screw 61 with respect to the housing frame 5, further, movement thereof in a direction perpendicular to the display screen of the LED module 1000, and also serves as a nut for fixing the adjustment screw 61 to the housing frame 5.
Incidentally, even though the LED module 1000 is temporarily fixed to the housing frame 5, the LED module 1000 may be detached from the housing frame 5 if a force of separating the LED module 1000 from the housing frame 5 exceeds the attracting force of the magnet 611. Such detachment is convenient when intentional detachment is carried out, such as in a case of maintenance; however, there is a disadvantage in that positional displacement or falling of the LED module 1000 occurs in the event of an earthquake, for example.
In view of this, the fixing screw 30 is capable of fastening the temporarily fixed retaining member 35 and adjustment screw 61, that is, capable of fastening the temporarily fixed LED module 1000 and housing frame 5. Specifically, the female threads 613 are provided on an inner surface of the cylinder of the adjustment screw 61. The female threads 613 are engaged with the male threads 301 of the fixing screw 30 such that the fixing screw 30 fixes the temporarily fixed retaining member 35 and adjustment screw 61. Note that, the cylindrical adjustment screw 61 can expose the groove 302 of the fixing screw 30 that is engaged with the female threads 613.
<Procedures of Adjusting and Attaching/Detaching LED Module>
While the LED module 1000 is temporarily fixed by the magnet 611, a mechanical tool such as a driver is fitted into the groove 614 of the adjustment screw 61 from the rear, and the adjustment screw 61 is then turned. With this, the position of the LED module 1000 is adjusted so as to reduce level difference between display screens of the LED modules 1000 in the housing frame 5.
After the adjustment, the male threads 301 of the fixing screw 30 on the LED module 1000 side and the female threads 613 of the adjustment screw 61 on the housing frame 5 side are fastened with a screw. Then, the position of the adjustment screw 61 with respect to the housing frame 5 is fixed with the fixing nut 62. That is, the LED module 1000 and the housing frame 5 are fixed. Note that, a turning axis of the adjustment screw 61 and a turning axis of the fixing screw 30 are arranged coaxially.
When manufactured, the LED module 1000 is fixed as follows: a mechanical tool 500 such as a driver is fitted into the groove 302 of the fixing screw 30 from the rear of the multi-display system 200, and the fixing screw 30 is then turned.
In contrast, after the multi-display system 200 is installed, the LED module 1000 is attached and detached as follows: the fixing screw 30 is turned from the display screen side of the LED module 1000 using an attachment/detachment jig 510.
In this case, the attachment/detachment jig 510 has a flange portion 511 in which a plurality of magnets having different magnetic poles are disposed, similarly to the flange portion 303 of the fixing screw 30 of the LED module 1000. The flange portion 511 is opposed to the flange portion 303 of the fixing screw 30, thereby forming a magnetic coupling conjointly with the flange portion 303. With this, the fixing screw 30 can be turned by turning the flange portion 511 of the attachment/detachment jig 510, and the LED module 1000 can accordingly be attached and detached.
<Gist of First Embodiment>
Incidentally, an image display device in which a turning axis of an adjustment screw and a turning axis of a fixing screw are arranged at separate positions may cause displacement in adjustment positions when the LED module 1000 is fixed with a fixing unit after adjusting the position of the LED module 1000 with an adjustment unit.
Contrastingly, in the image display device 100 according to the first embodiment, a turning axis of the adjustment screw 61 and a turning axis of the fixing screw 30 are arranged coaxially. With such a configuration, displacement in adjustment positions can be reduced when the LED module 1000 is fixed after adjusting the position of the LED module 1000. Therefore, deflection in the LED module 1000, which is caused due to positional displacement between the turning axis of the adjustment screw 61 and the turning axis of the fixing screw 30, can be reduced.
Further, reducing deflection in the LED module 1000 can lead to reduction in stress applied to solder portions of components mounted on the LED board 1. Therefore, enhancement in reliability of the LED board 1 in long-term use can be expected.
Note that, deflection of an LED module 1000 in a case of reattaching the LED module 1000 during maintenance service etc. may cause repeated attaching operation a number of times in order to eliminate level difference between display screens of adjacent LED modules 1000. In the first embodiment, however, deflection during the fixing of the LED module 1000 can be reduced. Accordingly, the number of times of repetition of attaching operation can be decreased, and thus operation can be facilitated.
Further, since the first embodiment includes the adjustment unit, level difference between the display screens of the image display devices 100 can be reduced, and image quality can thereby be enhanced. In addition, since the LED module 1000 is fastened and fixed with the fixing screw 30, positional displacement and falling of the LED module 1000 that may be caused due to vibration such as that in an earthquake can be prevented after the multi-display system 200 is installed.
Further, in the first embodiment, the fixing screw 30 is retained by the retaining member while the flange portion 303 including a plurality of magnets of the fixing screw 30 is opposed to the LED module 1000. With such a configuration, the LED module 1000 can be attached and detached from the display screen side of the LED module 1000 using the attachment/detachment jig 510. With this, after the multi-display system 200 is installed, a maintenance space for a person need not be provided on the rear of the multi-display system 200, and therefore the installment space can be reduced.
Further, the retaining member 35 of the fixing screw 30 is made of a magnetic material. Therefore, the magnet of the fixing screw 30 is inclined to be attracted to the retaining member 35, and thereby the screw can be prevented from being loosened due to vibration or the like. Further, because the fixing screw 30 is maintained substantially perpendicularly to the LED module 1000 owing to the attracting force, the fixing screw 30 can be prevented from tilting in the gravity direction when the LED module 1000 is attached for use, which can enhance operability.
Further, in the first embodiment, since the adjustment screw 61 includes the magnet 611 for temporarily fixing the retaining member 35 and the adjustment screw 61, the position of the LED module 1000 can be comparatively easily adjusted.
Note that, in the first embodiment, as in
Further, in the first embodiment, the image display device 100 includes four LED modules 1000. However, the number of LED modules of the image display device 100 is not restricted, and the number may be one, or may be eight, for example.
The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the LED module 1000 is fixed using a usual fixing screw 40 (
Similarly to the retaining members 35 (
Note that, the fixing screw 40 and the retaining member 45 fall under the concept of a fixing unit. The fixing unit fixes, to the housing frame 5, the LED modules 1000 that are temporarily fixed to the housing frame 5. Note that, the usual fixing screws 40 are turned during the fixing. Further, a turning axis of the adjustment screw 61 and a turning axis of the fixing screw 40 are arranged coaxially.
As shown in
The magnet 611 is provided inside the cylinder of the adjustment screw 61 on the LED module 1000 side of the adjustment screw 61. The magnet 611 can be attracted to the retaining member 45 by a magnetic force, and can thereby temporarily fix the retaining member 45 and the adjustment screw 61.
An attracting force as the magnetic force of the magnet 611 is herein set to at least have strength capable of keeping one LED module 1000 onto the housing frame 5 at attachment positions using as many adjustment screws 61 as used for one LED module 1000. With this, the magnet 611 of the adjustment screw 61 can temporarily fix the LED module 1000 and the housing frame 5.
The male threads 612 are provided on an outer surface of the cylinder of the adjustment screw 61. The male threads 612 are engaged with the housing frame 5 while the retaining member 45 and the adjustment screw 61 are temporarily fixed and the adjustment screw 61 is freely movable in a direction perpendicular to the display screen of the LED module 1000.
One side of the adjustment screw 61 opposite to the LED module 1000 is proved with a groove 614 for allowing a mechanical tool such as a driver to tighten the adjustment screw 61. With this, the adjustment screw 61 can be screwed toward the LED module 1000 side from the rear of the housing frame 5 while maintaining the above-mentioned temporary fixing.
While the LED module 1000 is temporarily fixed by the magnet 611, a mechanical tool such as a driver is fitted into the groove 614 of the adjustment screw 61 from the rear, and the adjustment screw 61 is then turned. With this, the position of the LED module 1000 is adjusted so as to reduce level difference between display screens of the LED modules 1000 in the housing frame 5. After the adjustment, the position of the adjustment screw 61 with respect to the housing frame 5 is fixed with a fixing nut 62.
As shown in
<Gist of Second Embodiment>
According to the image display device 100 of the second embodiment, similarly to the image display device 100 of the first embodiment, a turning axis of the adjustment screw 61 and a turning axis of the fixing screw 40 are arranged coaxially. Therefore, deflection of the LED module 1000 can be reduced.
Further, similarly to the first embodiment, since the adjustment unit is included, level difference between the display screens of the image display devices 100 can be reduced, and image quality can thereby be enhanced. Further, since the LED module 1000 is fastened and fixed with the fixing screw 40, positional displacement and falling of the LED module 1000 that may be caused due to vibration such as that in an earthquake can be prevented after the multi-display system 200 is installed.
Note that, also in the second embodiment, the number of the fixing screws 40 and the number of the LED modules of the image display device 100 are not limited to each number shown in
Note that, in the present invention, each of the embodiments may be freely combined, and each of the embodiments may be modified or omitted as appropriate within the scope of the invention.
While the invention has been shown and described in detail, the foregoing description is in all aspects illustrative and not restrictive. It is therefore understood that numerous unillustrated modifications can be devised without departing from the scope of the invention.
5 housing frame, 30-32, 40 fixing screw, 35-37, 45-47 retaining member, 61 adjustment screw, 62 fixing nut, 100-106 image display device, 200 multi-display system, 302 groove, 611 magnet, 612 male thread, 451, 613 female thread, 1000-1004 LED module
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2017/045015 | 12/15/2017 | WO | 00 |
