Display switching device, information display device, display device for game machine, and switch

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12204203-B2
Application number	US-202217895110-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 25, 2022
Priority date	Sep 28, 2021
Publication date	Jan 21, 2025
Grant date	Jan 21, 2025

Abstract

A display switching device according to one or more embodiments may include a lens array including an array of a plurality of lenses and a display unit. Light from each of the plurality of light source positions transmits through a different position on the display unit and is focused by a corresponding lens. A transmittance on the display unit through which the light transmits differs depending on a position on the display unit. The transmittance at a position of a plurality of positions on the display unit is a transmittance of one of three or more types.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A display switching device for switching display images by switching light illumination from a plurality of light source positions, the display switching device comprising:
a lens array comprising an array of a plurality of lenses; and
a display unit, wherein
light from each of the plurality of light source positions transmits through a different position on the display unit and is focused by a corresponding lens in the lens array,
a transmittance of the light through the display unit differs depending on a position on the display unit corresponding to at least one predetermined stationary pattern based on the plurality of light source positions,
an assignment of the plurality of light source positions is switched by the display switching device such that the at least one predetermined stationary pattern is changed to another predetermined stationary pattern corresponding to the switched assignment of the plurality of light source positions,
the transmittance at a position of a plurality of positions on the display unit is a transmittance of one of three or more types,
the display unit comprises
a plurality of pixel portions each comprising a portion to allow passage of light from a light source position of the plurality of light source positions focused by the corresponding lens in the lens array, and
a pixel peripheral portion located at a periphery of each of the plurality of pixel portions,
the transmittance in each of the plurality of pixel portions is set in accordance with the at least one predetermined stationary pattern,
an area ratio of an area of a pixel portion, of the plurality of pixel portions, to an area of a unit image portion is an area ratio of one of three or more types, where the unit image portion comprises the pixel portion, of the plurality of pixel portions, comprising a portion to allow passage of light from a single light source position of the plurality of light source positions focused by a corresponding lens in the lens array and comprises the pixel peripheral portion located at the periphery of the pixel portion, and the unit image portion comprises one pixel of the at least one predetermined stationary pattern, and
an intermediate area ratio other than a maximum and a minimum of the types of area ratio is different from the maximum and the minimum by 10% or greater of a difference between the maximum and the minimum.

2. The display switching device according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least one predetermined stationary pattern comprises a plurality of predetermined stationary patterns corresponding to the plurality of light source positions, and
the transmittance is a transmittance of one of three or more types at the position of the light on the display unit in correspondence with at least one of the plurality of predetermined stationary patterns.

3. The display switching device according to claim 1 , wherein
the transmittance in the pixel peripheral portion is constant independently of a position on the display unit.

4. The display switching device according to claim 1 , wherein
a total area of the plurality of pixel portions in the display unit is 60% or less of a total area of the plurality of pixel portions and the pixel peripheral portion of each of the plurality of pixel portions.

5. The display switching device according to claim 1 , wherein
the area ratio varies as a length of the pixel portion changes in a predetermined first direction parallel to a surface of the display unit.

6. The display switching device according to claim 1 , wherein
in the unit image portion, the pixel portion has a shape longest in a predetermined second direction parallel to a surface of the display unit and shortest in a predetermined third direction parallel to the surface of the display unit and orthogonal to the second direction.

7. The display switching device according to claim 6 , wherein
a plurality of light emitters comprised in one light source is arranged in line in a predetermined direction at the single light source position, and
the predetermined direction in which the plurality of light emitters is arranged matches the second direction.

8. The display switching device according to claim 7 , wherein
the unit image portion extends in a predetermined fourth direction and a predetermined fifth direction, and the fourth direction and the fifth direction are parallel to the surface of the display portion and are orthogonal to each other,
the second direction is different from the fourth direction and the fifth direction, and
the third direction is different from the fourth direction and the fifth direction.

9. The display switching device according to claim 1 , wherein
in the unit image portion, the pixel portion comprises a plurality of partial pixel portions spaced from each other.

10. The display switching device according to claim 1 , wherein
a predetermined reference distance is set with respect to a distance between a center of the display unit and a center of the unit image portion, and
a maximum of the area ratio in the unit image portion in which the distance is greater than the reference distance is greater than a maximum of the area ratio in the unit image portion in which the distance is less than the reference distance.

11. The display switching device according to claim 1 , wherein
a position of a pixel portion, of the plurality of pixel portions, in a unit image portion is a position of one of three or more types, where the unit image portion comprises the pixel portion, of the plurality of pixel portions, comprising a portion to allow passage of light from a single light source position of the plurality of light source positions focused by a corresponding lens in the lens array and comprises the pixel peripheral portion located at the periphery of the pixel portion, and the unit image portion comprises one pixel of the at least one predetermined stationary pattern.

12. The display switching device according to claim 11 , wherein
a difference between a maximum and a minimum of a distance between centers of gravity of two of the pixel portions that are adjacent to each other and comprised in the unit image portion is 10% or greater of the maximum.

13. The display switching device according to claim 11 , wherein
a combination of a position of the pixel portion and an area ratio of the pixel portion in the unit image portion is a combination of one of three or more types.

14. The display switching device according to claim 13 , wherein
an amount of change of the position of the pixel portion is less than or equal to half of an amount of change of a size of the pixel portion in a direction in which the position of the pixel portion changes.

15. The display switching device according to claim 1 , wherein
a distance between at least one lens of the plurality of lenses and the display unit is different from a focal length of the at least one lens.

16. The display switching device according to claim 15 , wherein
a distance between at least one lens of the plurality of lenses and the display unit is shorter than a focal length of the at least one lens.

17. The display switching device according to claim 1 , wherein
the lens array comprises a portion in which an average value of a curvature radius of lenses of the plurality of lenses is different in accordance with a distance from a predetermined lens reference position on a lens array surface in which the plurality of lenses are arranged.

18. The display switching device according to claim 17

Assignees

• Omron Tateisi Electronics Co

Inventors

• Shinohara Masayuki
• Kurata Gouo
• Mori Yuto
• Mishina Masao
• Okayasu Yutaka
• UETSUJI Yasuhito
• Yoshida Hayato

Classifications

• G02F1/133607

  the light controlling member including light directing or refracting elements, e.g. prisms or lenses · CPC title

• G02B13/009

  having zoom function · CPC title

• G02F1/1326

  Liquid crystal optical waveguides or liquid crystal cells specially adapted for gating or modulating between optical waveguides · CPC title

• G02F1/133601 Primary

  for spatial active dimming · CPC title

• G09F9/33 Primary

  being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes · CPC title