Output apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12474877-B2
Application number	US-202118246628-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 30, 2021
Priority date	Oct 7, 2020
Publication date	Nov 18, 2025
Grant date	Nov 18, 2025

Abstract

There is provided an output apparatus that includes one or more display panels, a support member, and an actuator section. The one or more display panels are capable of displaying an image. The support member includes a support portion for supporting the respective one or more display panels. The actuator section is disposed between the one or more display panels and the support portion and vibrates the respective one or more display panels. In this output apparatus, an image is output by the one or more display panels. Further, the actuator section is disposed between the display panels and the support portion of the support member, and the display panels are vibrated.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . An output apparatus, comprising:
at least one display panel configured to display an image; a support member that includes a support portion configured to support the at least one display panel; an actuator section between the at least one display panel and the support portion, wherein
the actuator section is configured to vibrate the at least one display panel, and
the actuator section includes at least one actuator;
a detection section configured to detect a vibration state of the at least one display panel; and a drive control section configured to:
generate a drive signal based on the detected vibration state; and
drive the at least one actuator based on the generated drive signal.

2 . The output apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the support member is configured to support the at least one display panel via the actuator section.

3 . The output apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein
the at least one display panel includes a display surface and a back surface portion, the back surface portion is on a side opposite to the display surface, the at least one display panel is configured to display the image on the display surface, the at least one actuator is connected to the back surface portion of the at least one display panel, and the support portion is configured to fix and hold the at least one actuator.

4 . The output apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising a fixing mechanism configured to fix the at least one actuator to the support portion.

5 . The output apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein
the fixing mechanism includes a fastening member, and the fastening member is configured to fix the at least one actuator to the support portion.

6 . The output apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein
the fixing mechanism includes a magnet, and the magnet is configured to fix the at least one actuator to the support portion based on a magnetic force of the magnet.

7 . The output apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one actuator includes at least one of an electromagnetic actuator, a piezoelectric actuator, or a magnetostrictive actuator.

8 . The output apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising a fixing mechanism that includes a magnet, wherein
the at least one actuator is an electromagnetic actuator that includes a magnetic circuit, the magnet is connected to the electromagnetic actuator, and an orientation of a magnetic pole of the magnet is based on a configuration of the magnetic circuit.

9 . The output apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the magnetic circuit includes the magnet.

10 . The output apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one actuator is detachably attached to the at least one display panel.

11 . The output apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising a plurality of actuators that includes the at least one actuator, wherein the actuator section further include a frame member configured to hold each of the plurality of actuators in a specific positional relationship.

12 . The output apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein
each of the plurality of actuators is detachably screwed to the back surface portion of the at least one display panel, and the frame member is further configured to rotatably hold the plurality of actuators.

13 . The output apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one actuator is connected to a position corresponding to a node of natural vibration in the display panel.

14 . The output apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a connection mechanism configured to connect the at least one actuator to the at least one display panel.

15 . The output apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein
the at least one actuator is an electromagnetic actuator that includes a coil and a bobbin around which the coil is wound, and the connection mechanism includes a connection member configured to connect the bobbin to the at least one display panel.

16 . The output apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a reinforcing member connected to a back surface portion of the at least one display panel.

17 . The output apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of display panels that includes a plurality of display surfaces, wherein
the plurality of display panels is configured to display the image on the plurality of display surfaces; the plurality of display surfaces is in a two-dimensional arrangement, each of adjacent display panels includes a structure configured to reduce friction between end surfaces of the adjacent display panels, and the plurality of display panels further includes the adjacent display panels and the at least one display panel.

18 . The output apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of display panels that includes a plurality of display surfaces, wherein
the plurality of display panels is configured to display the image on the plurality of display surfaces, the plurality of display surfaces is in a two-dimensional arrangement arranged, each of adjacent display panels includes a structure configured to reduce a contact area between end surfaces of the adjacent display panels, and the plurality of display panels includes the adjacent display panels and the at least one display panel.

19 . The output apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of display units, wherein each of the plurality of display units includes the at least one display panel, the actuator section, and the support member.

20 . An output apparatus, comprising:
a plurality of display panels that includes:
adjacent display panels; and
a plurality of display surfaces, wherein
the plurality of display panels is configured to display an image on the plurality of display surfaces, and
each of the adjacent display panels includes a structure configured to reduce friction between end surfaces of the adjacent display panels;

a support member that includes a support portion configured to support at least one display panel of the plurality of display panels; and an actuator section between the at least one display panel and the support portion, wherein the actuator section is configured to vibrate the at least one display panel.

Assignees

• Sony Group Corp

Inventors

• Shinmen Naoki
• Igarashi Go
• Asada Kohei
• Kuroda Yoshiyuki
• Kamata Masaki

Classifications

• H04R2499/15

  Transducers incorporated in visual displaying devices, e.g. televisions, computer displays, laptops · CPC title

• H04R2440/05

  Aspects relating to the positioning and way or means of mounting of exciters to resonant bending wave panels · CPC title

• H04R1/02 Primary

  Casings; Cabinets {; Supports therefor;} Mountings therein (H04R1/28 takes precedence {; attachments for microphones H04R1/08; mounting of transducers in earpieces H04R1/1075}) · CPC title

• G06F1/1605 Primary

  Multimedia displays, e.g. with integrated or attached speakers, cameras, microphones · CPC title

• G06F3/016

  Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user · CPC title